BATTERY PACK
A backpack vacuum cleaner configured to be carried on a user's back includes a housing enclosing a suction source, a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source, a shoulder strap coupled to the housing, and a battery receptacle located on the housing. A battery is removably coupled to the battery receptacle to provide power to the suction source, and the battery includes a battery housing and a handle extending from the battery housing. The battery can be decoupled and removed from the battery receptacle with one hand while the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back.
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/896,989, filed Dec. 9, 2015, which is the national stage of International Application No. PCT/US2015/032461, filed May 26, 2015, which claims priority to Chinese Design Application No. 201430476283.8, filed Nov. 26, 2014, the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to battery packs, and more particularly to latching arrangements for battery packs.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a backpack vacuum cleaner configured to be carried on a user's back. The backpack vacuum cleaner includes a housing enclosing a suction source, a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source, a shoulder strap coupled to the housing, and a battery receptacle located on the housing. A battery is removably coupled to the battery receptacle to provide power to the suction source, and the battery includes a battery housing and a handle extending from the battery housing. The battery can be decoupled and removed from the battery receptacle with one hand while the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a backpack vacuum cleaner configured to be carried on a user's back. The backpack vacuum cleaner includes a housing enclosing a suction source, a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source, a shoulder strap coupled to the housing, and a battery receptacle located on the housing. A battery is insertable into the battery receptacle along an axis to provide power to the suction source. The battery includes a battery housing and a handle extending from the battery housing. The battery can be decoupled and removed from the battery receptacle in a single pulling motion along the axis.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of removing a battery from a battery receptacle of a backpack vacuum. The method includes grasping a handle extending from a housing of the battery, moving an actuator on the handle with one hand to unlatch the battery from the battery receptacle, and pulling on the handle in a removal direction with the one hand to remove the battery from the battery receptacle.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is a backpack-style vacuum cleaner and includes straps 30 coupled to the main body 14, allowing the vacuum cleaner 10 to be carried on a user's back. In other embodiments, other types and styles of vacuum cleaners can be utilized (e.g., canister, handheld, upright, utility, etc.). Furthermore, although the illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is intended for dry surfaces, the vacuum cleaner can be configured for wet surfaces. Therefore, the term “vacuum cleaner” used herein should be understood to include carpet extractors, hard floor cleaners, and the like. Furthermore, although the battery pack 100 is described for use with a vacuum cleaner, the battery pack 100 could also be used with other powered devices such as power tools, outdoor power equipment, or any other device that utilizes a battery to power electric components such as a motor, a light, or electronics.
With continued reference to
With reference to the orientation of
The illustrated housing 104 includes first and second cooperating housing portions 124, 128 that can be coupled together by any suitable means, such as by fasteners, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, a snap-fit, and the like (
Referring to
Referring again to
With reference to
Referring to
With reference to
The handle 160 is generally hollow and includes a cavity 208 defined between the inner wall 164 and an outer wall 212 spaced from the inner wall 164 (
With continued reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the receptacle 34 can include an additional set of recesses (not shown) in which the latch members 180, 184 are engageable to define a second latched state (not shown) offset along the insertion axis (132) from the latched state of
Because the button portion 192 is easily accessible when the user grasps the grip portion 172 of the handle 160, the user can actuate the latching arrangement 176 with the same hand used to grasp the handle 160, allowing the battery pack 100 to be unlatched and withdrawn from the receptacle 34 with one hand. Additionally, the position of the button 192 allows the user to depress the button 192 and remove the battery pack 100 with a single pulling motion in the removal direction A along the insertion axis 132. The handle 160 also provides a convenient means to carry the battery pack 100 when it is separated from the receptacle 34.
In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A backpack vacuum cleaner configured to be carried on a user's back, the backpack vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a housing enclosing a suction source;
- a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source;
- a shoulder strap coupled to the housing;
- a battery receptacle located on the housing; and
- a battery removably coupled to the battery receptacle to provide power to the suction source, the battery including a battery housing and a handle extending from the battery housing,
- wherein the battery can be decoupled and removed from the battery receptacle with one hand while the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back.
2. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the battery receptacle is disposed between the suction source and the bottom end of the housing.
3. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the housing includes wherein the battery receptacle includes an opening in the first lateral side of the housing, wherein the battery is removable from the battery receptacle along an axis, and wherein the axis extends through the opening.
- a first lateral side,
- a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side,
- a back side extending between the first and second lateral sides, the back side being oriented away from the user when the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back, and
- a front side opposite the back side, the front side being oriented toward the user when the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back,
4. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 3, further comprising an air inlet in fluid communication with the dirt separator and the suction source, wherein the air inlet is located adjacent the top end of the housing.
5. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 3, further comprising a latching arrangement for inhibiting the battery pack from being removed from the receptacle, the latching arrangement including
- an actuator movable between a first position and a second position, and
- a latch member movable from a latched position to an unlatched position in response to movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position to decouple the battery from the battery receptacle,
- wherein the handle and the actuator are accessible through the opening in the first lateral side of the housing.
6. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the actuator is movable between the first position and the second position in a direction parallel to the axis, and wherein the latch member is movable from the latched position to the unlatched position in a direction transverse to the axis.
7. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the dirt separator is positioned between the top end of the housing and the suction source.
8. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a waist belt coupled to the housing, wherein the battery receptacle is positioned below the waist belt.
9. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery has a nominal output voltage of about 40 volts.
10. A backpack vacuum cleaner configured to be carried on a user's back, the backpack vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a housing enclosing a suction source;
- a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source;
- a shoulder strap coupled to the housing;
- a battery receptacle located on the housing; and
- a battery insertable into the battery receptacle along an axis to provide power to the suction source, the battery including a battery housing and a handle extending from the battery housing,
- wherein the battery can be decoupled and removed from the battery receptacle in a single pulling motion along the axis.
11. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the housing includes wherein the battery receptacle includes an opening in the first lateral side of the housing, and wherein the axis extends through the opening.
- a first lateral side,
- a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side,
- a back side extending between the first and second lateral sides, the back side being oriented away from the user when the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back, and
- a front side opposite the back side, the front side being oriented toward the user when the backpack vacuum cleaner is positioned on the user's back,
12. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 11, further comprising a latching arrangement for inhibiting the battery pack from being removed from the receptacle, the latching arrangement including
- an actuator movable between a first position and a second position along the axis, and
- a latch member movable from a latched position to an unlatched position in response to movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position to decouple the battery from the battery receptacle.
13. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the handle and the actuator are accessible through the opening in the first lateral side of the housing. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the handle includes an inner wall defining an aperture between the handle and the battery housing, and wherein the actuator extends through an actuator opening in the inner wall when the actuator is in the first position.
15. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the suction source is positioned between the battery receptacle and the dirt separator in a length direction of the backpack vacuum cleaner.
16. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the battery is removable from the battery receptacle in a width direction of the backpack vacuum cleaner.
17. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the battery has a nominal output voltage of about 40 volts.
18. A method of removing a battery from a battery receptacle of a backpack vacuum, the method comprising:
- grasping a handle extending from a housing of the battery;
- moving an actuator on the handle with one hand to unlatch the battery from the battery receptacle; and
- pulling on the handle in a removal direction with the one hand to remove the battery from the battery receptacle.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the actuator and pulling on the handle are performed with a single pulling motion in the removal direction, and wherein the battery is removable from the battery receptacle through an opening in a first lateral side of the housing.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the battery receptacle is positioned underneath a suction source of the backpack vacuum.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2018
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2019
Inventors: Thomas Manion (Tallmadge, OH), Douglas Arney (North Canton, OH), Douglas Ritterling (Chagrin Falls, OH)
Application Number: 16/170,806