Power tool with tool bit holder operator

• US 20060018727A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Choon Nang Electrical Appliance MFY., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Choon Nang Electrical Appliance MFY., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lui, Tat Nin
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 409/182
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2231/2081 Keys, spanners or wrenches to operate the collet chuck
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/078 Hand tools used to operate chucks or to assemble, adjust or disassemble tools or equipment used for turning, boring or drilling
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/06 Features relating to the removal of tools; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/2012 Threaded cam actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17299 Threaded cam sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3431 Chuck key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/3451 Nonseparable or built-in
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309408 with cutter holder

Abstract

A power tool having a body, a tool bit holder protruding from the tool body for holding and rotating a tool bit about an axis of rotation, and an operator for operating the bit holder. The operator includes an annular member rotationally engageable with the bit holder for manual turning to tighten and/or release the bit holder, and a mount mounting the annular member to the tool body for movement between a non-operative position, rotationally disengaged from the bit holder, and an operative position, rotationally engaged with the bit holder.

Claims

1. A power tool having:

a tool body;

a tool bit holder protruding from the tool body for holding and rotating a tool bit about an axis of rotation; and

an operator for operating the bit holder, the operator comprising;

an annular member rotationally engageable with the bit holder for manual turning to tighten and/or release the bit holder, and

a mount mounting the annular member to the tool body for movement between a non-operative position rotationally disengaged from the bit holder and an operative position rotationally engaged with the bit holder.

2. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator includes resilient means acting upon the annular member to resiliently bias the annular member towards the non-operative position.

3. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mount mounts the annular member to the tool body at a position surrounding the bit holder for movement in opposite directions along the axis of rotation between the non-operative position and the operative position.

4. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular member has an aperture of a non-circular cross-section complementary to that of the bit holder for rotational engagement therewith.

5. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular member includes a rigid component for rotational engagement with the bit holder.

6. The power tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rigid component is an insert of the annular member, with the annular member moulded on the insert by an insert moulding process.

7. The power tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rigid component has at least one arm fixed with the annular member.

8. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mount extends through the annular member and connected to the tool body, so the annular member is slidable along the mount between the non-operative position and the operative position.

9. The power tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tool body has a circular element, and the mount has a plurality of legs that extend through the annular member and are rotatably engageable with the tool body element through a snap action.

10. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool body has a circular element, and the mount is rotatably engaged with the tool body element to permit manual turning of the annular member.

11. The power tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resilient means is held within the mount and acts between the mount and the annular member to resiliently bias the annular member towards the non-operative position.

12. The power tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool bit holder comprises a collet.