Ruggedized tradesworkers radio

Abstract

A tradesworker's radio has a weather and impact resistant features to enable a tradesworker to use the radio under adverse working conditions, such as construction or other work sites. Louvered grills covering moisture resistant loudspeakers are angled downward to protect the speakers from direct splash in case the radio is left outdoors in a heavy downpour. A layer of felt-like material is interspersed between the louvered grills and the loudspeaker cones to offer improved moisture resistance. A non-telescoping antenna of the rubber covered spring type material folds neatly into recess when not in use. The controls include waterproof pushbuttons for on/off, volume adjustment, a weather channel, AM/FM selection and tuning. Elastomeric blocks are bonded to the interior of the housing and the blocks have bonded threaded studs, which are used to shock mount the radio circuit board to the inside of the housing. This circuit board is treated with a conformal coating to improve its moisture resistance. The preferred housing material is a layer of rigid plastic, which is impact resistant and the outer covering is a resilient tough elastomer. The radio can be used with an adapter to convert to a power hand tool battery pack to accommodate a variety of different battery packs and adapters. The battery compartment is generous in size and lined with a soft polyurethane material to protect the battery pack from damage.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a charger disposed within the housing;   a receptacle in the charger;   a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, mounted in the receptacle;   an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger;   a first electrical circuit for charging the battery pack and for powering the audio circuit; and   a cable connector for connecting the first electrical circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a charger disposed within the housing for charging a power tool battery pack detachably connectable to a power tool;   an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger;   a power supply circuit disposed within the housing for providing power to at least one of the charger and the audio circuit; and   a cable connector for connecting the power supply circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       7. A method for charging a power tool battery pack comprising:
 providing an audio equipment component having a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a charger disposed within the housing, an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being connected to the power supply;   connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;   connecting the charger to the power supply;   connecting the battery pack to the charger;   providing power to the battery pack; and   disconnecting the battery pack from the charger.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing power to the audio circuit while providing power to the battery pack. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio circuit from the battery pack. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   an audio circuit for producing an audio signal disposed in the housing;   a charger disposed in the housing;   a receptacle in the charger;   a battery pack detachably connectable in a power tool mounted in the receptacle;   a first electrical circuit in the charger for charging the battery pack and for powering the audio circuit; and   a cable connector for connecting the first electrical circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the apparatus further comprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       15. A method for charging a power tool battery pack comprising:
 providing an audio equipment component having a power supply, a circuit for producing an audio signal connected to the power supply and a charger connected to the power supply;   disposing the battery pack in the charger;   connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;   providing power to the battery pack; and   removing the battery pack from the charger.   
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing power to the audio signal circuit while providing power to the battery pack. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio signal circuit from the battery pack. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus comprising:
 a charger electrically connectable to an AC power source;   a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, connectable to the charger; and   an audio circuit electrically connected to at least one of the battery pack and the charger for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being powerable by at least one of the battery pack and the AC power source.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a housing for enclosing the audio circuit. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a housing for enclosing the charger. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a power supply circuit electrically connecting the audio circuit to the AC power source. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a charger disposed within the housing;   a receptacle in the charger;   a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, and mounted in the receptacle, said battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at a first nominal DC voltage;   an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, said audio circuit being designed to be powered by a DC supply signal having a second nominal DC voltage different from said first nominal DC voltage;   a first electrical circuit for charging the battery pack by providing a charge current to said two external terminals at said first nominal DC voltage and for powering the audio circuit at said second nominal DC voltage; and   a cable connector for connecting the first electrical circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus further comprising a second electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit when the connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a charger disposed within the housing for charging a power tool battery pack detachably connectable to a power tool, said battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at a first nominal DC voltage;   an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, said audio circuit being designed to be powered by a supply signal having a second nominal DC voltage different from said first nominal DC voltage;   a first electrical circuit for charging the battery pack by providing a charge current to said two external terminals at said first nominal DC voltage;   a second electrical circuit for powering said audio circuit at said second nominal DC voltage;   a power supply circuit disposed within the housing for providing power to both of said first and second electrical circuits; and   a cable connector for connecting the power supply circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a third electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit at said second nominal DC voltage when the cable connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage. 
     
     
       32. A method for charging a power tool battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at a first DC nominal voltage, the method comprising:
 providing an audio equipment component having a housing, a power supply disposed within the housing, a charger disposed within the housing, the charger comprising a charging circuit for charging a battery pack by providing a charge current to said two external terminals at said first nominal DC voltage, an audio circuit disposed within the housing for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being connected to the power supply and configured to be powered by a supply signal having a second nominal DC voltage different from said first DC nominal voltage;   connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;   connecting the charger to the power supply;   connecting the battery pack to the charger via said two external terminals;   providing charge current to the battery pack at said first nominal DC voltage; and   disconnecting the battery pack from the charger.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32, further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32, further comprising providing power to the audio circuit while providing power to the battery pack. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32, further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio circuit from the battery pack. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 32 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a charger disposed in the housing;   a receptacle in the charger;   a battery pack, detachably connectable to a power tool, and mounted in the receptacle, said battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at a first nominal DC voltage;   an audio circuit for producing an audio signal disposed in the housing, said audio circuit being configured to be powered by a supply signal having a second nominal DC voltage different from said first nominal DC voltage;   a first electrical circuit in the charger for charging the battery pack by providing a charge current to said two external terminals at said first nominal DC voltage, and a second electrical circuit for powering the audio circuit at said second nominal DC voltage; and   a cable connector and power supply for connecting the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit to an AC power source.   
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the apparatus further comprising a third electrical circuit connectable to the battery pack for powering the audio circuit at said second nominal DC voltage when the cable connector is disconnected from the AC power source. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       42. A method for charging a power tool battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at a first nominal DC voltage, the method comprising:
 providing an audio equipment component having a power supply, an audio circuit for producing an audio signal connected to the power supply, the audio circuit being configured to be powered by a supply signal having a second nominal DC voltage different from said first nominal DC voltage, and a charger connected to the power supply, the charger having a charging circuit for charging a battery pack by providing a charge current at said first nominal DC voltage;   disposing the battery pack in the charger so as to connect the battery pack via said two external terminals to said charging circuit;   connecting the power supply to an AC power source via a cable;   providing charge current to the battery pack at said first nominal DC voltage; and   removing the battery pack from the charger.   
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42, further comprising inserting the battery pack into a power tool. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing power to the audio signal circuit while providing power to the battery pack. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 42, further comprising manually switching the power supply to provide power to the audio signal circuit from the battery pack. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 42 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage. 
     
     
       47. An apparatus comprising:
 a charger electrically connectable to an AC power source, the charger having a first circuit for providing charging current at a first nominal DC voltage and a second circuit for providing a supply signal at a second nominal DC voltage different from said first nominal DC voltage;   a battery pack having at least two external terminals for electrical connection to the battery pack, said battery pack further providing a DC supply voltage across said two external terminals at said first nominal DC voltage, the battery pack being detachably connectable to a power tool and connectable to the charger via said two external terminals; and   an audio circuit electrically connected to at least one of the AC power source, the battery pack and the charger for producing an audio signal comprising audio unrelated to the charger, the audio circuit being configured to be powered by a supply signal at said second nominal DC voltage and selectively powerable by at least one of the battery pack and the AC power source.   
     
     
       48. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a housing for enclosing the audio circuit. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a housing for enclosing the charger. 
     
     
       50. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a power supply circuit electrically connecting the audio circuit to the AC power source. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the audio circuit is a radio circuit. 
     
     
       52. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said first nominal DC voltage is substantially greater than said second nominal DC voltage.