Adapter socket for a rechargeable battery

A method for connecting a battery to a device plug, the device plug having an outer surface including a conductive portion thereof and a center conductive pin, the method comprising:

• connecting a first battery terminal contact to the conductive portion of the outer surface of the device plug with an electrical adapter;
• and
• connecting a second battery terminal contact to the center conductive pin of the device plug with the electrical adapter,
• the electrical adapter comprising:
• an adapter socket including a conductive sleeve and a conductive contact, the sleeve being substantially electrically insulated from the contact, the sleeve forming a passage having an open first end, the sleeve being adapted for (i) receiving the device plug therein and (ii) providing electrical contact to the conductive portion of the outer surface of the device plug, the contact being positioned within the passage at a second end thereof and being adapted for providing electrical contact to the center conductive pin of the device plug;
• first and second conductive members electrically connected to the sleeve and contact, respectively, each of the first and second conductive members having a corresponding first substantially rigid elongated end thereof, the corresponding first ends of the first and second conductive members being arranged in a substantially parallel spaced-apart arrangement thereby forming a first electrical plug, the first electrical plug being thereby adapted for engaging the first and second battery terminal contacts and thereby providing electrical connections (i) between the conductive sleeve and the first battery terminal contact and (ii) between the conductive contact and the second battery terminal contact.

A method, comprising:

• providing to a user an electrical adapter;
• instructing the user to disengage a rechargeable battery from a cordless power tool or a battery charger;
• instructing the user to engage a first electrical plug of the electrical adapter and first and second battery terminal contacts of the rechargeable battery;
• and
• instructing the user to plug a device plug into the adapter socket, thereby connecting the device plug and the rechargeable battery,
• the device plug having an outer surface including a conductive portion thereof and a center conductive pin, and
• the electrical adapter comprising:
• an adapter socket including a conductive sleeve and a conductive contact, the sleeve being substantially electrically insulated from the contact, the sleeve forming a passage having an open first end, the sleeve being adapted for (i) receiving the device plug therein and (ii) providing electrical contact to the conductive portion of the outer surface of the device plug, the contact being positioned within the passage at a second end thereof and being adapted for providing electrical contact to the center conductive pin of the device plug;
• first and second conductive members electrically connected to the sleeve and contact, respectively, each of the first and second conductive members having a corresponding first substantially rigid elongated end thereof, the corresponding first ends of the first and second conductive members being arranged in a substantially parallel spaced-apart arrangement thereby forming a first electrical plug, the first electrical plug being thereby adapted for engaging the first and second battery terminal contacts and thereby providing electrical connections (i) between the conductive sleeve and the first battery terminal contact and (ii) between the conductive contact and the second battery terminal contact.