Upper bumper configuration for a power tool

• US 20050218181A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schell, Craig A., Gross, Paul, Berry, Alan, Kenney, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/130
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power

Abstract

A tool with a structure, a driver that reciprocates along an axis between a returned position and an extended position and a bumper that is coupled to the structure so as to be disposed between the structure and the driver. The bumper includes a beat piece and a damper.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a structure;

a driver that reciprocates along an axis between a returned position and an extended position;

a bumper coupled to the structure so as to be disposed between the structure and the driver, the bumper including a beat piece and a damper.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the beat piece is formed of glass-filled nylon.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the damper is formed of chlorobutyl rubber.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the beat piece includes a cavity with a ramp that urges the driver in a predetermined direction when the driver contacts the beat piece.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the ramp conforms to an end surface of the driver.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein the cavity of the beat piece is configured to capture an end of the driver to inhibit movement of the driver in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the predetermined direction and the axis.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the damper is partially received into the beat piece.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein beat piece includes a sloped contact surface that abuts a sloped projection that is formed on the structure.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the damper has a straight contact surface that abuts a straight projection that is formed on the structure, the sloped projection and the straight projection cooperating to define a bumper cavity into which the bumper is received.

10. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a nosepiece and a magazine assembly that are coupled to the structure, the magazine assembly being configured to hold a plurality of fasteners and dispense a first one of the fasteners into the nosepiece in-line with the axis along which the driver translates.

11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a motor assembly coupled to the structure, the motor assembly being selectively operable for translating the driver from the returned position to the extended position.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the motor assembly includes an electric motor.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the motor assembly further includes a flywheel that is driven by the electric motor.

14. The tool of claim 11, wherein the structure is a backbone and the tool further comprises a housing that at least partially shrouds the backbone.

15. A tool comprising:

a driver having an end surface;

a structural backbone defining a bumper pocket;

a motor assembly coupled to the structural backbone, the motor assembly being configured to translate the driver along an axis in a first direction toward an extended position, the motor assembly also being configured to translate the driver along the axis in a second direction opposite the first direction toward a retracted position;

a bumper received in the bumper pocket, the bumper including an impact-resistant member and an impact absorbing member that are disposed in series with one another, wherein the impact resistant member is disposed against the end surface of the driver when the driver is positioned in the returned position.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the impact resistant member defines a cavity for receiving an end of the driver.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the cavity has a face that cooperates with the end surface of the driver to position the driver away from a portion of the motor assembly when the driver is in the returned position.

18. The tool of claim 17, wherein the face is arcuate in shape.

19. The tool of claim 16, wherein the cavity is sized to limit movement of the driver in a direction that is orthogonal to both the insertion axis and the axis about which the driver translates.

20. The tool of claim 16, wherein an end of the impact absorbing member that abuts the impact resistant member has a shape that is similar to a shape of the face.

21. The tool of claim 15, wherein the bumper pocket is defined by first and second sets of projections, each projection of the first set of projections being generally parallel to an insertion axis along which the bumper is inserted into the bumper pocket, each projection of the second set of projections being sloped relative to the insertion axis, the first and second sets of projections cooperating to drive the impact resistant member and the impact absorbing member against one another as the bumper is inserted to the bumper pocket.

22. The tool of claim 21, wherein the bumper includes opposite ends that respectively conform to the projections of the first and second sets of projections.

23. The tool of claim 21, wherein the impacting absorbing structure is at least partially received into the impact resistant member.

24. The tool of claim 15, wherein the impact resistant member is formed of glass-filled nylon.

25. The tool of claim 15, wherein the impact absorbing member is formed of chlorobutyl rubber.