Electric tool powered by a plurality of battery packs and adapter therefor

An electric power tool, comprising:

• a main body supporting a tool;
• an electric motor housed in the main body and configured to drive the tool;
• a plurality of first battery interfaces, each having a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal, integrally formed on the main body, each first battery interface being configured to removably receive a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal of one first battery pack and to electrically connect a plurality of attached first battery packs in series with the electric motor;
• and
• a plurality of indicators, each configured to indicate at least one condition of a respective first battery pack attached to the main body, wherein the indicators are arranged so as to be simultaneously viewable in at least one direction,
• wherein each of the plurality of first battery packs comprises a latch configured to engage a corresponding engagement structure defined on or near the corresponding first battery interface.

An electric power tool comprising:

• a main body supporting a tool;
• an electric motor housed in the main body and configured to drive the tool;
• a plurality of first battery interfaces, each configured to removably receive one first battery pack and to electrically connect a plurality of attached first battery packs in series with the electric motor;
• and
• a plurality of indicators, each configured to indicate at least one condition of a respective first battery pack attached to the main body, wherein the indicators are arranged so as to be simultaneously viewable in at least one direction;
• wherein:
• the first battery interfaces are provided on a detachable adapter,
• the main body comprises a second battery interface configured to receive a second battery pack, which has a different engagement structure than the first battery pack, and to electrically connect the attached second battery pack to the motor,
• the adapter comprises a connector configured to be removably attached to the second battery interface, and
• the plurality of first battery packs attached to the plurality of first battery interfaces is electrically connected within the adapter to the connector.

A power supply interface for an electric power tool, comprising:

• a first battery pack interface configured to detachably attach a first battery pack and comprising a first positive battery electrode input terminal and a first negative battery electrode input terminal,
• a second battery pack interface configured to detachably attach a second battery pack and comprising a second positive battery electrode input terminal and a second negative battery electrode input terminal, the first negative battery electrode input terminal being electrically connected in series with the second positive battery electrode input terminal, wherein the first positive battery electrode input terminal is electrically connectable with the second negative battery electrode input terminal via a load of the electric power tool,
• a first visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the first battery pack is in an abnormal or discharged state,
• a second visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the second battery pack is in an abnormal or discharged state, the first and second visual indicators having the same or substantially the same illumination direction,
• a housing having a first portion with the first and second battery pack interfaces and the first and second visual indicators disposed on a surface thereof, wherein the housing further comprises a second portion with a power tool interface disposed on a surface thereof, the power tool interface comprising:
• a positive battery electrode output terminal electrically connected to the first positive battery electrode input terminal, and
• a negative battery electrode output terminal electrically connected to the second negative battery electrode input terminal,
• wherein the power tool interface is configured to be detachably attachable to a battery pack interface of the electric power tool, and
• wherein the first portion of the housing is physically and electrically connected to the second portion of the housing via a flexible electric cord.

A power tool comprising:

• an electric load disposed within a tool housing, and
• a power supply interface comprising:
• a first battery pack interface configured to detachably attach a first battery pack and comprising a first positive battery electrode input terminal and a first negative battery electrode input terminal,
• a second battery pack interface configured to detachably attach a second battery pack and comprising a second positive battery electrode input terminal and a second negative battery electrode input terminal, the first negative battery electrode input terminal being electrically connected in series with the second positive battery electrode input terminal, wherein the first positive battery electrode input terminal is electrically connectable with the second negative battery electrode input terminal via the electric load,
• a first visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the first battery pack is in an abnormal or discharged state, and
• a second visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the second battery pack is in an abnormal or discharged state, the first and second visual indicators having the same or substantially the same illumination direction,
• wherein the first and second battery pack interfaces and the first and second visual indicators are disposed on a surface of the tool housing and the first positive battery electrode input terminal and the second negative battery electrode input terminal are selectively electrically connectable with the electric load.

An electric power tool comprising:

• a housing;
• an electric motor disposed within the housing;
• a first battery pack interface defined on the housing and configured to detachably attach to a connector of a first battery pack, the first battery pack interface comprising a first positive battery electrode input terminal and a first negative battery electrode input terminal that are configured to detachably and electrically contact positive and negative electrode output terminals, respectively, included in the connector of the first battery pack, and
• a second battery pack interface defined on the housing side-by-side with the first battery pack interface and configured to detachably attach to a connector of a second battery pack, the second battery pack interface comprising a second positive battery electrode input terminal and a second negative battery electrode input terminal that are configured to detachably and electrically contact positive and negative electrode output terminals, respectively, included in the connector of the second battery pack, wherein the first negative battery electrode input terminal is electrically connected in series with the second positive battery electrode input terminal, and wherein the first positive battery electrode input terminal is electrically connectable with the second negative battery electrode input terminal via the motor,
• a first visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the first battery pack is in an abnormal and/or discharged state, and
• a second visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the second battery pack is in an abnormal and/or discharged state, the first and second visual indicators having the same or substantially the same illumination direction.

An electric power tool comprising:

• a housing,
• an electric motor disposed within the housing,
• a first battery pack interface defined on the housing and configured to detachably attach to a connector of a first battery pack, the first battery pack interface comprising a first positive battery electrode input terminal and a first negative battery electrode input terminal that are configured to detachably and electrically contact positive and negative electrode output terminals, respectively, included in the connector of the first battery pack, and
• a second battery pack interface defined on the housing side-by-side with the first battery pack interface and configured to detachably attach to a connector of a second battery pack, the second battery pack interface comprising a second positive battery electrode input terminal and a second negative battery electrode input terminal that are configured to detachably and electrically contact positive and negative electrode output terminals, respectively, included in the connector of the second battery pack, wherein the first negative battery electrode input terminal is electrically connected in series with the second positive battery electrode input terminal, and wherein the first positive battery electrode input terminal is electrically connectable with the second negative battery electrode input terminal via the motor,
• a first visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the first battery pack is in an abnormal and/or discharged state,
• a second visual indicator configured to visually indicate when the second battery pack is in an abnormal and/or discharged state, the first and second visual indicators having the same or substantially the same illumination direction,
• a first diode having a cathode electrically connected to the positive battery input terminal of the first battery pack interface and an anode electrically connected to the negative battery input terminal of the first battery pack interface, the first diode having the property that it becomes conductive when a reverse voltage is generated across the positive and negative battery input terminals of the first battery pack interface, and
• a second diode having a cathode electrically connected to the positive battery input terminal of the second battery pack interface and an anode electrically connected to the negative battery input terminal of the second battery pack interface, the second diode having the property that it becomes conductive when a reverse voltage is generated across the positive and negative battery input terminals of the second battery pack interface.