TOOL WITH ROTATABLE HEAD

• US 20140190715A1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Gregorich, Brent, Wong, Tsz Kin
• Granted Patent: US 9,956,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/39
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/04 with oscillating grinding tools; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0028 Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle
• 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 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

An articulating head of a power tool is disclosed in the present invention, which includes a base member adapted to couple to a main body of the power tool, an articulating member pivotably connected to the base member, and a locking device coupled to the articulating member for locking an orientation of the articulating member with respect to the base member. The base member contains a first power transmission part which is capable of receiving mechanical driving power from the main body of the power tool. The articulating member contains a second power transmission part mechanically coupled to the first power transmission part. The locking device has an actuation lever rotatable about a pivot axis between a free position and a lock position.

Claims

1. An articulating power tool comprising:

a main body;

a base member including a first power transmission part configured to receive mechanical driving power from the main body;

an articulating member pivotably coupled to the base member, the articulating member including a second power transmission part mechanically coupled to said first power transmission part; and

a locking device coupled to the articulating member for locking an orientation of the articulating member with respect to the base member, the locking device including an actuation lever rotatable about a pivot axis between a free position and a lock position;

wherein the articulating member is configured to pivot with respect to the base member in the free position, and wherein the articulating member is configured to be locked at one of a plurality of predetermined angles with respect to the base member in the lock position.

2. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein the locking device further comprises:

a transitional locking member having a first cam surface; and

an actuation locking member having a second cam surface, the actuation locking member coupled for rotation with the actuation lever;

wherein the first and second cam surfaces cooperate to displace the transitional locking member between the lock position and the free position as the actuation locking member rotates about the pivot axis with respect to the transitional locking member.

3. The articulating power tool of claim 2, wherein the transitional locking member is movable axially along the pivot axis with respect to the articulating member and fixed rotationally about the pivot axis with respect to the articulating member.

4. The articulating power tool of claim 3, wherein the transitional locking member is movable axially along the pivot axis into locking engagement with the articulating member in the lock position.

5. The articulating power tool of claim 4, wherein the transitional locking member includes a first plurality of teeth and the articulating member includes a head locking member having a second plurality of teeth, wherein the first and second pluralities of teeth are engaged with each other in the lock position to lock the articulating member with respect to the base member.

6. The articulating power tool of claim 5, wherein the first and second pluralities of teeth are disposed coaxially about the pivot axis.

7. The articulating power tool of claim 6, wherein the first and second pluralities of teeth protrude axially with respect to the pivot axis into engagement with each other.

8. The articulating power tool of claim 2, further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the transitional locking member towards the actuation locking member.

9. The articulating power tool of claim 8, wherein the biasing member includes a coil spring arranged coaxially with the pivot axis.

10. The articulating power tool of claim 2, wherein the transitional locking member, the actuation locking member, and the actuation lever are disposed coaxially about the pivot axis.

11. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein when the locking device is in the free position, the articulating member pivots about the pivot axis with respect to the base member.

12. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein the second power transmission part is mechanically coupled to the first power transmission part via an intermediate transmission part, the intermediate transmission part capable of pivoting with respect to the first power transmission part together with the articulating member pivoting with respect to the base member;

the intermediate transmission part transforming a first mechanical movement from said first power transmission part into a second mechanical movement to said second power transmission part.

13. The articulating power tool of claim 12, wherein the intermediate transmission part is configured to pivot with respect to the first power transmission part about the pivot axis.

14. The articulating power tool of claim 1, wherein the articulating member is hingedly connected to the base member at two side portions of the base member along the pivot axis.

15. The articulating power tool of claim 14, wherein a joint of the first power transmission part and the intermediate transmission part is arranged between the two side portions and wherein the pivot axis intersects the joint.

16. The articulating power tool of claim 15, wherein the first power transmission part further comprises an eccentric shaft and an eccentric bearing coupled to the eccentric shaft;

the eccentric shaft capable of receiving a centric rotary motion from the main body of the power tool, and transforming the centric rotary motion into an eccentric rotary motion of the eccentric bearing.

17. The articulating power tool of claim 16, wherein the intermediate transmission part includes a forked member further comprising two prongs and a coupling member configured at an opposite end of the forked member to the prongs along a longitudinal direction of the forked member;

ends of the prongs contacting opposite sides of the eccentric bearing at the joint whereby the forked member transfers the eccentric rotary motion of the eccentric bearing into oscillating motion of the coupling member.

18. The articulating power tool of claim 17, wherein the second transmission part includes a tool shaft;

the tool shaft coupled with the coupling member of the forked member such that the tool shaft is driven to oscillate by the oscillating motion of the coupling member.

19. The articulating power tool of claim 17, wherein the forked member is capable of pivoting with respect to the eccentric bearing at the joint of the prongs and the opposite sides of the eccentric bearing;

the pivoting axis intersecting the opposite sides of the eccentric bearing.

20. The articulating power tool of claim 1, further comprising a dust extraction attachment rotatably mounted on the articulating member.

21. The articulating power tool of claim 20, wherein the dust extraction attachment further comprises a circular dust collecting part and an air outlet in air connection with the dust collecting part.

22. The articulating power tool of claim 21, wherein the air outlet is an adapter for an external suction device.

23. The articulating power tool of claim 20, wherein the dust extraction attachment further comprises a supporting arm;

wherein a first end of the supporting arm is coupled to the dust collecting part and a second end of the supporting arm is rotatably fixed to the base member.