Power tool, such as a metal shears

• US 10,710,257 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bublitz, Scott D., Eisenhardt, Scott D., Hui, Hongping, Plowman, Andrew M., Steele, Michael, Yang, Guojian
• Primary Examiner(s): Prone, Jason Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/690,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 30199-211, 30228, D8 67- 69
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 29/005 for cutting sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 15/00 Hand-held shears with motor-driven blades

Abstract

A power tool includes a housing having a first portion defining a forward end of the housing, a second portion defining a rearward end of the housing, an upper surface extending rearwardly from the forward end, and a lower surface extending forwardly from the rearward end. The power tool also includes a motor positioned within the housing, a drive mechanism coupled to the motor and positioned within the housing, an output element coupled to the drive mechanism at the forward end of the housing, a battery pack supported at the rearward end of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor, and an actuator operable to selectively power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element. The actuator is supported by the housing forward of and above the battery pack.

Claims

1. A power tool when in an upright orientation comprising:

a housing including a motor housing portion, a battery support portion, and a handle portion, an upward direction defined by a longitudinal axis of the handle portion toward the motor housing portion;

a motor positioned within the motor housing portion;

a drive mechanism coupled to the motor and positioned within the motor housing portion;

an output element on the housing and coupled to the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism transferring torque from the motor to the output element in a forward direction;

a battery pack supported by the battery support portion and electrically coupled to the motor, the battery pack including a forward-most edge in the forward direction, the forward-most edge defining a plane, the plane spaced from the motor housing portion; and

an actuator operable to selectively power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element, the actuator supported by the handle portion forward of the plane in the forward direction and above the battery pack in the upward direction.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle portion is a first longitudinal axis, wherein the motor housing portion of the housing has a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first longitudinal axis.

3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the actuator is supported by the handle portion beneath the motor in a downward direction opposite the upward direction.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the motor and the drive mechanism are positioned forward of the battery pack in the forward direction and above the battery pack in the upward direction.

5. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is connectable to the battery support portion of the housing along an insertion axis, and wherein the actuator is located above the insertion axis in the upward direction.

6. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool has a center of gravity, and wherein the center of gravity is located at the actuator.

7. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the battery support portion includes a surface interfacing with the battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery support portion, and wherein the surface is oriented transverse to the plane.