Abstract: The invention provides an electrical combination including a power tool having a housing supporting a motor, which is operable to drive a tool element. The electrical combination also includes a battery and an adapter supportable on the housing of the power tool and electrically connectable to the power tool and the battery such that the adapter transfers electrical power between the battery and the motor. The adapter has a locking arrangement engageable with the battery for preventing the adapter from being removed from the power tool housing while the battery is connected to the adapter.

Abstract: An electrical combination, a method and a power tool. An electrical combination may includes an electrical component including a component housing, and an electrical circuit supported by the component housing, a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit, and a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit. The second battery may be different than the first battery.

Abstract: A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrical combination including a power tool having a housing supporting a motor, which is operable to drive a tool element. The electrical combination also includes a battery and an adapter supportable on the housing of the power tool and electrically connectable to the power tool and the battery such that the adapter transfers electrical power between the battery and the motor. The adapter has a locking arrangement engageable with the battery for preventing the adapter from being removed from the power tool housing while the battery is connected to the adapter.

Abstract: A battery pack that is configured to be coupled to an electrical device comprises a housing, at least one battery cell positioned in the housing, and a terminal assembly configured to electrically connect the battery cell to the electrical device. The battery pack also includes a locking assembly that is configured to engage the electrical device. The locking assembly includes a locking member, an actuator coupled to the locking member, and a biasing member. The locking member is movable about a pivot point between a first position to engage the electrical device and a second position. The actuator is actuatable to move the locking member from the first position to the second position. The biasing member biases the locking member to the first position.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack includes a housing, a cell supported by the housing, a circuit supported by the housing and operable to control a function of the battery pack, and a heat sink in heat transfer relationship with the circuit and operable to dissipate heat from the circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack configured to be interfaced with a power tool includes a housing, a cell, a controller, and a circuit. The circuit is operable to enable the controller to operate when the voltage supplied by the cell to the controller is below an operating voltage threshold off the controller.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a power tool battery pack operable to supply power to a power tool includes a controller. The controller is operable to sample a battery pack condition in at least a first sampling mode and a second sampling mode to produce a plurality of measurements. The controller is further operable to average the plurality of measurements to produce an averaged measurement, and operable to modify operation of the battery pack when the averaged measurement is outside a specified range.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool manufactured by a first power tool company, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, a battery manufactured by a second power tool company, and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a driver drill capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, a circular saw capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, and a power tool battery pack operable to supply power to the driver drill and to the circular saw, the battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells each having a lithium-based chemistry.

Abstract: A battery pack for powering a cordless power tool. The battery pack includes at least one battery cell operable to supply a discharge current, a switch operable to control the discharge current and a protection device to protect the switch. The protection device is positioned such that the device absorbs a current traveling in a direction opposite to that of the discharge current supplied from the battery cell.

Abstract: A power tool including a body housing a motor and a drive mechanism driven by the motor, the drive mechanism being operable to drive a tool element, the body including a support portion, a battery electrically connectable with the motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the motor, the battery including an adapter support portion connectable to the body support portion along an adapter attachment axis, one of the support portion of the body and the adapter support portion of the battery including a track and a ramp positioned along the track and angled with respect to the attachment axis, and an other of the support portion of the body and the adapter support portion of the battery including a protrusion engageable with the track to connect the battery to the body and engageable with the ramp.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a method of a method for operating a battery pack. The battery pack having a battery pack condition, and the battery pack condition having a range. The method including the acts of conducting an operation including the battery pack, measuring a first measurement of the battery pack condition, measuring a second measurement of the battery pack condition, averaging the first measurement and the second measurement to provide an average measurement and if the average measurement is within the range, continuing the operation including the battery pack. At least one of the first measurement and the second measurement being outside of the range.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack including a housing, a cell supported by the housing and power being transferable between the cell and an electrical device, a circuit supported by the housing and operable to control a function of the battery pack, and a heat sink in heat transfer relationship with the circuit and operable to dissipate heat from the circuit.

Abstract: An electrical combination, a method and a power tool. An electrical combination may includes an electrical component including a component housing, and an electrical circuit supported by the component housing, a first terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a second terminal assembly at least electrically connectable to the electrical circuit, a first battery including a first battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the first terminal assembly to electrically connect the first battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the first battery and the electrical circuit, and a second battery including a second battery terminal assembly electrically connectable to the second terminal assembly to electrically connect the second battery to the electrical circuit such that power is transferable between the second battery and the electrical circuit. The second battery may be different than the first battery.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool manufactured by a first power tool company, the power tool including a tool housing and an electric motor supported by the tool housing and operable to drive a tool element, a battery manufactured by a second power tool company, and an adapter separate from and connectable between the battery and the tool housing to support the battery on the tool housing.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a method of conducting an operation including a battery pack, includes the acts of monitoring a first battery pack condition at a first monitoring rate, determining when a second battery pack condition reaches a threshold, after the second battery pack condition reaches the threshold, monitoring the first battery pack condition at a second monitoring rate, the second monitoring rate being different than the first monitoring rate.

Abstract: An adapter for a power tool battery. The adapter enables a battery having a first configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration, to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having a second configuration, such as a “tower” configuration. The adapter may also enable a battery having one general configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration or a “tower” configuration, and a first connecting structure to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having the same general configuration, such as the “slide-on” configuration or the “tower” configuration, respectively, and a second connecting structure different than the first connecting structure.

Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a method of conducting an operation including a battery pack, includes the acts of monitoring a first battery pack condition at a first monitoring rate, determining when a second battery pack condition reaches a threshold, after the second battery pack condition reaches the threshold, monitoring the first battery pack condition at a second monitoring rate, the second monitoring rate being different than the first monitoring rate.

Abstract: An adapter for a power tool battery. The adapter enables a battery having a first configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration, to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having a second configuration, such as a “tower” configuration. The adapter may also enable a battery having one general configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration or a “tower” configuration, and a first connecting structure to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having the same general configuration, such as the “slide-on” configuration or the “tower” configuration, respectively, and a second connecting structure different than the first connecting structure.