Structural backbone / motor mount for a power tool

• US 20050218184A1
• 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: Colello, Steven R., Schell, Craig A., Buck, John E., Gross, Paul, Berry, Alan, Bradenbaugh, Charles L. IV, Kenney, James J., Baskar, Ashok S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/131
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power

Abstract

A hand-held tool with a backbone, a motor assembly that is mounted to the backbone, and a plastic housing. The motor assembly can include a driver and can be selectively actuatable to translate the driver along an axis. The plastic housing can be coupled to the backbone and can shroud at least a portion of the backbone.

Claims

1. A hand-held tool comprising:

a backbone;

a motor assembly with a driver, the motor assembly being selectively actuatable to translate the driver along an axis, the motor assembly being mounted to the backbone; and

a plastic housing coupled to the backbone, the plastic housing shrouding at least a portion of the backbone.

2. The hand-held tool of claim 1, wherein the plastic housing includes a pair of housing shells.

3. The hand-held tool of claim 2, wherein the housing shells define a handle.

4. The hand-held tool of claim 3, wherein the housing shells further define a battery mount for removably receiving a rechargeable battery.

5. The hand-held tool of claim 1, further comprising a nosepiece coupled to the backbone.

6. The hand-held tool of claim 1, wherein the backbone includes a motor mount and the motor assembly includes an electric motor, the motor mount cradling a portion of a perimeter of the electric motor.

7. The hand-held tool of claim 6, wherein the electric motor includes an output shaft that is disposed generally transverse to the axis along which the driver is translated.

8. The hand-held tool of claim 6, wherein a resilient member is disposed between the motor mount and the electric motor.

9. The hand-held tool of claim 6, wherein a clip is employed to secure the electric motor to the motor mount, the clip including a first portion, which is pivotally coupled to the motor mount, a second portion which wraps about a portion of the perimeter of the electric motor opposite the motor mount, and a third portion that is releasably coupled to the backbone, the second portion being intermediate the first and third portions.

10. The hand-held tool of claim 1, further comprising a electronic controller that is mounted to the backbone, the electronic controller being configured to actuate the motor assembly in response to a plurality of predetermined inputs.

11. The hand-held tool of claim 1, wherein the motor assembly also includes a flywheel for transmitting kinetic energy to the driver when the motor assembly is actuated.

12. The hand-held tool of claim 11, wherein the motor assembly further includes a roller and a solenoid, the roller being movable between a first position, which does not initiate contact between the driver and the flywheel, and a second position which urges the driver into contact with the flywheel, the solenoid being operable for initiating movement of the roller.

13. The hand-held tool of claim 12, wherein the solenoid is coupled to the backbone.

14. The hand-held tool of claim 13, wherein the backbone defines a bore in which the solenoid is housed.

15. A hand-held tool comprising:

a backbone;

a motor assembly coupled to the backbone, the motor assembly including an electric motor, a flywheel, which is driven by the electric motor, and a driver, the motor assembly being actuatable so that the flywheel transmits kinetic energy to the driver to thereby cause the driver to translate along an axis; and

a housing that includes a pair of housing shells that cooperate to define a handle, the housing shells being coupled to the backbone.

16. The hand-held tool of claim 15, wherein the backbone includes first and second backbone members and the flywheel is disposed between the first and second backbone member.

17. The hand-held tool of claim 16, wherein the flywheel is mounted on a shaft that extends through at least one of the first and second backbone members and wherein a pulley is coupled to the flywheel shaft.

18. A tool for holding a plurality of fasteners and selectively setting a first one of the fasteners into a workpiece, the tool comprising:

a housing defining an internal cavity;

a backbone attached to the housing and disposed in the internal cavity; and

an drive motor assembly having a driver and a power source for translating the driver along an axis, the power source being mounted on the backbone.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the power source includes a motor that provides a rotary output.

20. The tool of claim 19, wherein the backbone defines a motor cavity that abuts a side of the motor and wherein a motor strap is coupled to the backbone to secure the motor to the backbone.

21. The tool of claim 19, wherein the backbone includes at least one torsional grounding feature that resists rotation of the motor relative to the backbone.

22. The tool of claim 19, wherein the power source further includes a flywheel that is driven by the motor and wherein a skid plate is coupled to the backbone, the skid plate shielding an area of the backbone rearwardly of the flywheel to thereby direct the driver outwardly away from the backbone as it is being positioned in a returned position.

23. The tool of claim 19, wherein a skid roller is coupled to the backbone, the skid roller supporting the driver as it is translated along the axis to set the first one of the fasteners.

24. The tool of claim 18, further comprising a bumper coupled to the backbone and positioned so as to inhibit the driver from contacting the backbone when the driver is positioned in a returned position, the bumper including a beatpiece, which is formed of a first material, and a damper that is formed from a material that is different than the first material.

25. The tool of claim 24, wherein at least one of the driver and the beatpiece includes a ramp that deflects the driver in a predetermined direction relative to the power source when the driver is positioned in the returned position.