Removable Battery Pack with Latching Mechanism

Abstract

A latching assembly for a removable battery package to an electrically powered cleaning device is provided along with the electrically powered cleaning device and the electrical combination with the battery charger. The latching assembly on the battery package comprises at least one moveable first engagement member, in movable cooperation with at least one rod which is in movable cooperation with a user contact. The first engagement member secures the removable battery package with another engagement member associated at least with the cleaning device. The first engagement member is located toward a side of a long end of the battery package opposite the end with the user contact Moving the user contact moves the member through the rod between an engaged position to thereby secure the battery package to the cleaning device and an unengaged position for removal of the battery package from the cleaning device.

1 . A latching assembly for securing a battery package to an electrically powered cleaning device, comprising:
 at least one moveable first engagement member, located toward a side of a long end of the battery package and configured for movement between an engaged position to thereby secure the battery package to the cleaning device and an unengaged position for removal of the battery package from the cleaning device;   at least one rod having a longitudinal axis movably mounted to the battery package to interface with the first engagement member; and   at least one user contact movably mounted to the battery package around the opposing end along the longitudinal axis of the battery package from the first engagement member to interface with the rod for movement of the rod to move the first engagement member between the engaged position and the unengaged position with the cleaning device.   
   
   
       2 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein rod is configured for axial movement to retract the first engagement member to enable the battery package to be removed from the cleaning device. 
   
   
       3 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rod movement occurs along a first axis and the movement of the first engagement member moves to an unlatched position along a second different axis. 
   
   
       4 . The latching assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second axis is oriented approximately normal to the first axis. 
   
   
       5 . The latching assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the rod has a tapered engagement section between the rod and the engagement member to translate movement of the rod along the first axis to movement of the engagement member along the second axis. 
   
   
       6 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , which includes at least one biasing member arranged to bias the first engagement member to protrude from the battery package to engage a respective other engagement member on the cleaning device to thereby secure the battery package to cleaning device. 
   
   
       7 . A latching assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is a coiled spring. 
   
   
       8 . The latching assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first engagement member is configured for movement between the latched position which is protruding and the unlatched position which is retracted. 
   
   
       9 . The latching assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the rod has a retracted position and protruding position whereby the rod acts against the biasing member to retract the engagement member and protrudes through an aperture at bottom of battery package to eject package from cleaning device. 
   
   
       10 . The latching assembly of  claim 9 , which includes a second biasing member which is associated with the rod to urge the rod to the first retracted position. 
   
   
       11 . The latching assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a coiled spring. 
   
   
       12 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user contact is a lever pivotably mounted to the battery package for movable association with the rod for movement of the lever from a first position to a second position to actuate the first engagement member between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
   
   
       13 . The latching assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lever is configured to move from the first position to the second position through an angle from greater than 1 to less than 180 degrees. 
   
   
       14 . A latching assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to the battery package, the pivot point located between an end for user contact and the moving association to the rod. 
   
   
       15 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement member is a latch to secure to the battery package to the other engagement member on the cleaning device which is a catch. 
   
   
       16 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the battery package has a housing with a top, bottom, and at least one side to substantially enclose a plurality of batteries and has an electrical connection for the batteries to connect with an electrical connection in the cleaning device. 
   
   
       17 . The latching assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the battery package has at least two opposing matched shells that mate to form a housing having front and rear faces, sides, top and bottom ends. 
   
   
       18 . The latching assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the housing has a longitudinal cavity along a longitudinal side wherein rod is slidably mounted and has a cavity substantially normal to the vertical along a bottom portion of the housing in which the engagement member with a distal and proximal contact part is slidably mounted and wherein each cavity has an aperture in the same corner of the housing for protruding of the engagement member and the rod. 
   
   
       19 . An electrical combination comprising: an electrically powered cleaner including a body with a nozzle, and a suction motor fan assembly supported by the body for fluid communication of at least the fan with the nozzle; and a removable battery package selectively engagable with the body and electrically connectable with the motor such that the battery selectively supplies power to the motor; wherein a single latch assembly for securing the battery package comprises at least one moveable latch, located toward a side of a long end of the battery package and configured for movement between an engaged position to thereby secure the battery package to the cleaning device and an unengaged position for removal of the battery package from the cleaning device, at least one rod having a longitudinal axis movably mounted to the battery package to interface with the latch; and at least one user contact movably mounted to the battery package around the opposing end along the longitudinal axis of the battery package from the latch to interface with the rod for movement of the rod to move the first engagement member between the engaged position and the unengaged position with the cleaning device. 
   
   
       20 . An electrically powered cleaning kit with rechargeable battery, comprising:
 at least one dc powered cleaning device having a body with a nozzle, a suction motor fan assembly supported by the body, where at least the fan is in fluid communication with the nozzle and the body has a battery package receiving opening;   a rechargeable battery package having a plurality of batteries with an electrical connection at the end for placement in the opening and a latching assembly for securing the battery package to an electrically powered cleaning device, comprising:   at least one moveable first engagement member, located toward a side of a long end of the battery package and configured for movement between an engaged position to thereby secure the battery package to the cleaning device and an unengaged position for removal of the battery package from the cleaning device; at least one rod having a longitudinal axis movably mounted to the battery package to interface with the first engagement member; at least one user contact movably mounted to the battery package around the opposing end along the longitudinal axis of the battery package from the first engagement member to interface with the rod for movement of the rod to move the first engagement member between the engaged position and the unengaged position with the cleaning device; and an electrical connection on the portion of the longitudinal end of the battery package that has the engagement member, and   a battery charger with a battery package receiving opening wherein opening for both the cleaning device and charger has at least one of a bottom and side having an electrical connection which mates with the electrical connection of the rechargeable removable battery package when the battery is placed in either opening.