Universal accessories for oscillating power tools

• US 10,040,186 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaye, Jr., Thomas R., Niblett, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): GATES, ERIC ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/968,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 279141, 279143-145, 30329-331, 30337-339, 83597, 8369811, 83782, 83835, 451356, 451357, 451359, D8 20, D8 70, D8 71, D24146, 606 79, 606 82
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/10 characterised by the retaining or gripping devices or their immediate operating means
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/19 moving parallel to the axis of the chuck B23B31/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 61/006 Oscillating saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/005 Auxiliary devices used in connection with portable grinding machines, e.g. holders
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/04 with oscillating grinding tools; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 19/006 with oscillating saw blades; Hand saws with oscillating saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/30 for mounting or securing saw blades or saw spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/32 Devices for securing circular saw blades to the saw spindle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/33 Member applies axial force component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3406 Adapter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7062 Clamped members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7045 Arcuately oscillating tool carried on single pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9319 Toothed blade or tooth therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9457 Joint or connection

Abstract

An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool includes a working end, an opposite rear end, and a fitment portion adjacent the rear end portion. The fitment portion includes a central opening having a central portion and a rearward portion open to the rear end, and configured to receive a post of a tool clamping mechanism. The fitment portion further includes a first plurality of openings in communication with and extending radially outward from the central portion, a second plurality of openings not in communication with and positioned radially outward from the central portion. The central portion, the first plurality of openings, and the second plurality of openings are configured to couple the fitment portion to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools.

Claims

1. An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool, the accessory comprising:

a working end portion; and

an opposite rear end portion configured to be coupled to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools, the rear end portion including;

a generally central opening open to the rear end portion, the central opening having a central portion configured to receive a central post of a tool clamping mechanism, and a rearward portion in communication with the central portion and open to the rear end portion of the accessory;

a first plurality of elongated openings disposed radially outward from the central portion of the central opening, the first plurality of openings including a first radial slot at approximately 90 degrees to the central portion, a second radial slot at approximately 180 degrees to the central portion, and a third radial slot at approximately 270 degrees from the central portion;

a second plurality of elongated openings not in communication with the central opening, the second plurality of openings including a first radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial slots at an angle of approximately 120 degrees relative to the central portion, and a second radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial slots at an angle of approximately 240 degrees relative to the central portion with each of the second plurality of openings having a substantially rectangular shape defined by a pair of substantially straight elongated sidewalls and a pair of substantially straight end walls,

wherein at least a first portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive a first plurality of projections on a first attachment mechanism of a first oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the first oscillating power tool, and at least a second portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive different second plurality of projections on a different second attachment mechanism of a different second oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the second oscillating power tool.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of openings further comprises a third radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first radial slot and the central opening at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the central portion, and a fourth radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the third radial slot and the central opening at an angle of approximately 300 degrees relative to the central portion.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of openings further comprises a fifth radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first radial opening and the second radial slot at an angle of approximately 150 degrees relative to the central portion, and a sixth radial opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second radial slot and the second radial opening at an angle of approximately 210 degrees relative to the central portion.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first attachment mechanism has a first pair of clamping plates, a central post extending axially between the first pair of clamping plates, and the first plurality of projections extending axially from one of the first pair of clamping plates toward the other of the first pair of clamping plates and radially arranged about the post, such that the central opening receives the post without removal of one of the first pair of clamping plates from the post, and at least one of the first and second plurality of openings receive the first plurality of projections.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the second attachment mechanism has a second pair of clamping plates, one of which includes the second plurality of projections radially arranged around a center axis, such that at least one of the first and second plurality of openings receive the second plurality of projections.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the central opening comprises a pair of parallel side edges.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the central opening further comprises a pair of non-parallel side edges tapering outwardly and rearwardly from the parallel side edges.

8. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising notches defined in a pair of opposed edges of the central opening.

9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the working end portion comprises at least one of a cutting edge, a saw blade, a sanding surface, and an abrading surface.

10. An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool, the accessory comprising:

a working end portion;

an opposite rear end portion configured to couple the rear end portion to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools, the rear end portion including;

a central opening open to the rear end portion, the central opening having a central portion configured to receive a central post of a tool clamping mechanism, and a rearward portion in communication with the central portion and open to the rear end portion of the accessory;

a first plurality of elongated openings disposed radially outward from the central portion of the central opening, the first plurality of openings including a first radial slot at approximately 90 degrees to the central portion, a second radial slot at approximately 180 degrees to the central portion, and a third radial slot at approximately 270 degrees from the central portion with at least one of the first plurality of openings in communication with the central opening;

a second plurality of openings not in communication with the central opening, the second plurality of openings including a first elongated opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial slots at an angle of between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees relative to the central portion, and a second elongated opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial slots at an angle between approximately 210 degrees and approximately 240 degrees relative to the central portion; and

a pair of notches defined in a pair of opposed edges of the central opening,

wherein at least a first portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive a first plurality of projections on a first attachment mechanism of a first oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the first oscillating power tool, and at least a second portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive different second plurality of projections on a different second attachment mechanism of a different second oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the second oscillating power tool.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the pair of opposed edges are disposed in the rearward portion of the central opening.

12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the pair of opposed edges comprise parallel side edges of the central opening.

13. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the pair of opposed edges comprise chamfered edges that taper outward from the central portion of the central opening to the rear end portion.

14. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the first elongated opening includes a first arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial arm openings, and the second elongated opening includes a second arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial arm openings.

15. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the first elongated opening includes a first pair of radial openings elongated in a radial direction and spaced radially from the central portion between the first and second radial arm slots at angles of approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees relative to the axis, and the second elongated opening includes a second pair of radial openings elongated in a radial direction and spaced radially from the central portion between the second and third radial arm slots at angles of approximately 210 degrees and approximately 240 degrees relative to the axis.

16. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the working end portion comprises at least one of a cutting edge, a saw blade, a sanding surface, and an abrading surface.

17. An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool, the accessory comprising:

a working end portion;

an opposite rear end portion configured to couple the fitment rear end portion to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools, the rear end portion including;

a central opening open to the rear end portion, the central opening having a central portion configured to receive a central post of a tool clamping mechanism, and a rearward portion in communication with the central portion and open to the rear end portion of the accessory;

a first plurality of elongated openings disposed radially outward from the central portion of the central opening, the first plurality of openings including a first radial slot at approximately 90 degrees to the central portion, a second radial slot at approximately 180 degrees to the central portion, and a third radial slot at approximately 270 degrees from the central portion with at least one of the first plurality of openings in communication with the central opening;

a second plurality of openings not in communication with the central opening, the second plurality of openings including a first elongated opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial slots at an angle of between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees relative to the central portion, and a second elongated opening spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial slots at an angle between approximately 210 degrees and approximately 240 degrees relative to the central portion; and

a rear edge defining a pair of notches on opposite sides of the central opening,

wherein at least a first portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive a first plurality of projections on a first attachment mechanism of a first oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the first oscillating power tool, and at least a second portion of the rear end portion is configured to receive different second plurality of projections on a different second attachment mechanism of a different second oscillating power tool to couple the accessory to the second oscillating power tool.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the first elongated opening includes a first arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial arm openings, and the second elongated opening includes a second arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial arm openings.

19. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the first elongated opening includes a first pair of radial openings elongated in a radial direction and spaced radially from the central portion between the first and second radial arm slots at angles of approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees relative to the axis, and the second elongated opening includes a second pair of radial openings elongated in a radial direction and spaced radially from the central portion between the second and third radial arm slots at angles of approximately 210 degrees and approximately 240 degrees relative to the axis.

20. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the working end portion comprises at least one of a cutting edge, a saw blade, a sanding surface, and an abrading surface.