Belt clip for hand-held power tools

• US 6,688,407 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Porter-Cable/Delta
• Inventors: Wall, Daniel Paxton, Etter, Mark Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEEKS, GLORIA R
• Application Number:
  US09/972,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 24/31.2, 24/11.HC, 247/16, 244/56, 244/57, 245/70, 173/171, 173/169, 173/170, 224/930
• US Class Current: 173/170
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/006 Storage means specially adapted for one specific hand apparatus, e.g. an electric drill
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44009 Gripping member adapted for tool actuation or release
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

A belt clip can be side-mounted to a drill/driver to facilitate holstering of the drill/driver and to reduce the profile of the drill/driver. The side-mounted belt clip can be positioned to enable the drill/driver to be grasped in the ergonomically desirable thumb-rest and power-grip holds. The side-mounted belt clip can be adapted to facilitate the wielding of the tool by providing additional surfaces for the fingers and thumb to contact when grasping the tool. The belt clip can also be detachably mounted to a tool and can be designed to provide curved surfaces which match the profile of the user'"'"'s thumb and fingers for comfort.

Claims

1. The combination of a side-mounted belt clip and a drill/driver comprising:

a housing with a barrel portion and a pistol grip portion, the barrel portion at least partially enclosing a rotary motor, the pistol grip portion having a switch which controls the rotary motor, the barrel portion having a first side portion, a top side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, a bottom side portion, and a back side portion, the pistol grip portion attached to the bottom side portion; and

a belt clip selectively detachably mountable by a user directly and independently to the first side portion of the housing to remain mounted to the first side portion while the drill/driver is used, all of the contact between the belt clip and the housing that occurs when the belt clip is mounted to the housing defining a tool mating surface on the belt clip whereby any point on the belt clip that is in contact with the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the housing lies on the tool mating surface, and

wherein the tool mating surface is in contact with only the first side portion of the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the housing.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the belt clip is selectively detachably mountable to the first side portion and the second side portion.

3. The combination of claim 2 further comprising attaching means on the first side portion and attaching means on the second side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip, wherein the attaching means on the first side portion is substantially symmetrically positioned with respect to the attaching means on the second side portion.

4. The combination of claim 2 further comprising:

attaching means on the first side portion and attaching means on the second side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip;

wherein

at least one of the attaching means is associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least partially around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing.

5. The combination of claim 1 further comprising:

attaching means on the first side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip;

wherein

the attaching means is associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least partially around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the belt clip further comprises:

a tool mating surface;

a first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface at a first end;

a second projection extending from a second end of the first projection creating a receiving space between the second projection and the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the first side portion; and

wherein the first projection has first and second concavely curved surfaces which are curved to generally match the profile of a user'"'"'s thumb and finger and which cradle the user'"'"'s thumb or finger between the belt clip and the first side portion.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

when the belt clip is mounted to the drill/driver, the user may hold the drill/driver with one hand in a thumb-rest hold wherein the thumb is positioned in contact with the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers are positioned in contact with one of the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein when the user holds the drill/driver in one hand in the thumb-rest hold, at least one finger of the hand contacts the switch to permit actuation of the switch.

9. The combination of claim 7 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the thumb of the hand grasping the drill/driver in the thumb-rest hold lies in the finger groove.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the finger groove further extends to the back side portion of the barrel portion, and when the user holds the drill/driver in one hand in the thumb-rest hold, the first web of the user'"'"'s hand is positioned in the finger groove.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

when the belt clip is mounted to the drill/driver, the user may hold the drill/driver with one hand in a power-grip hold wherein the thumb is positioned in contact with the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the first finger is positioned in contact with a top of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the second finger is positioned in contact with a bottom of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers are positioned in contact with one of the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein when the drill/driver is grasped in the power-grip hold, the second web of the user'"'"'s hand grasping the drill/driver contacts the belt clip.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein when the user holds the drill/driver in one hand in the power-grip hold, at least one finger of the hand contacts the switch to permit actuation of the switch.

14. The combination of claim 11 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the first finger of the hand grasping the drill/driver in the power-grip hold lies in the finger groove.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the finger groove further extends to the back side portion of the barrel portion, and when the user holds the drill/driver in one hand in the power-grip hold, the first web of the user'"'"'s hand is positioned in the finger groove.

16. The combination of claim 1 wherein when the belt clip is mounted to the drill/driver:

the user may hold the drill/driver with a first hand in a thumb-rest hold wherein the thumb of the first hand is positioned in contact with the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers of the first hand are positioned in contact with one of the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion; and

the user may hold the drill/driver with a second hand in a power-grip hold wherein the thumb of the second hand is positioned in contact with the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the first finger of the second hand is positioned in contact with a top of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the second finger of the second hand is positioned in contact with a bottom of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers of the second hand are positioned in contact with one of the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

17. The combination of claim 16 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the thumb of a first hand grasping the drill/driver in the thumb-rest hold lies in the finger groove, and the finger groove also being positioned so that the first finger of a second hand grasping the drill/driver in the power-grip hold lies in the finger groove.

18. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

when the belt clip is detachably mounted to the drill/driver, the belt clip has an angular orientation with respect to the drill/driver defined by the interior angle formed by the intersection of an axis of symmetry of the drill/driver and an axis of symmetry of the belt clip; and

the angular orientation of the belt clip is approximately 60°

to 90°

.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein the angular orientation is approximately 70°

to 80°

.

20. The combination of claim 18 wherein the angular orientation is approximately 75°

.

21. The combination of a side-mounted belt clip and a power tool comprising:

a housing with a barrel portion and a pistol grip portion, the barrel portion at least partially enclosing a rotary motor, the pistol grip portion having a switch which controls the rotary motor, the barrel portion having a first side portion, a top side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, a bottom side portion, and a back side portion, the pistol grip portion attached to the bottom side portion; and

a belt clip selectively detachably mountable by a user directly and independently to the first side portion of the housing to remain mounted to the first side portion while the drill/driver is used, all of the contact between the belt clip and the housing that occurs when the belt clip is mounted to the housing defining a tool mating surface on the belt clip whereby any point on the belt clip that is in contact with the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the housing lies on the tool mating surface, and

wherein the tool mating surface is in contact with only the first side portion of the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the housing.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein:

the belt clip is selectively detachably mountable to the first side portion and the second side portion.

23. The combination of claim 22 further comprising attaching means on the first side portion and attaching means on the second side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip, wherein the attaching means on the first side portion is substantially symmetrically positioned with respect to the attaching means on the second side portion.

24. The combination of claim 22 further comprising:

attaching means on the first side portion and attaching means on the second side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip;

wherein

at least one of the attaching means is associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least partially around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing.

25. The combination of claim 21 further comprising:

attaching means on the first side portion for detachably receiving the belt clip;

wherein

the attaching means is associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least partially around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing.

26. The combination of claim 21 wherein the belt clip further comprises:

a tool mating surface;

a first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface at a first end;

a second projection extending from a second end of the first projection creating a receiving space between the second projection and the housing when the belt clip is mounted to the first side portion; and

wherein the first projection has first and second concavely curved surfaces which are curved to generally match the profile of a user'"'"'s thumb and finger and which cradle the user'"'"'s thumb or finger between the belt clip and the first side portion.

27. The combination of claim 21 wherein:

when the belt clip is mounted to the power tool, the user may hold the power tool with one hand in a thumb-rest hold wherein the thumb is positioned in contact with the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers are positioned in contact with one of the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

28. The combination of claim 27 wherein when the user holds the power tool in one hand in the thumb-rest hold, at least one finger of the hand contacts the switch to permit actuation of the switch.

29. The combination of claim 27 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the thumb of the hand grasping the power tool in the thumb-rest hold lies in the finger groove.

30. The combination of claim 29 wherein the finger groove further extends to the back side portion of the barrel portion, and when the user holds the power tool in one hand in the thumb-rest hold, the first web of the user'"'"'s hand is positioned in the finger groove.

31. The combination of claim 21 wherein:

when the belt clip is mounted to the power tool, the user may hold the power tool with one hand in a power-grip hold wherein the thumb is positioned in contact with the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the first finger is positioned in contact with a top of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the second finger is positioned in contact with a bottom of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers are positioned in contact with one of the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

32. The combination of claim 31 wherein when the power tool is grasped in the power-grip hold, the second web of the user'"'"'s hand grasping the power tool contacts the belt clip.

33. The combination of claim 31 wherein when the user holds the power tool in one hand in the power-grip hold, at least one finger of the hand contacts the switch to permit actuation of the switch.

34. The combination of claim 31 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the first finger of the hand grasping the power tool in the power-grip hold lies in the finger groove.

35. The combination of claim 34 wherein the finger groove further extends to the back side portion of the barrel portion, and when the user holds the power tool in one hand in the power-grip hold, the first web of the user'"'"'s hand is positioned in the finger groove.

36. The combination of claim 21 wherein when the belt clip is mounted to the drill/driver:

the user may hold the drill/driver with a first hand in a thumb-rest hold wherein the thumb of the first hand is positioned in contact with the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers of the first hand are positioned in contact with one of the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion; and

the user may hold the drill/driver with a second hand in a power-grip hold wherein the thumb of the second hand is positioned in contact with the second side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the first finger of the second hand is positioned in contact with a top of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the second finger of the second hand is positioned in contact with a bottom of the belt clip and the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, and the remaining fingers of the second hand are positioned in contact with one of the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing or the pistol grip portion.

37. The combination of claim 36 further comprising:

a finger groove formed in the first side portion of the barrel portion of the housing, the finger groove being positioned so that the thumb of a first hand grasping the drill/driver in the thumb-rest hold lies in the finger groove, and the finger groove also being positioned so that the first finger of a second hand grasping the drill/driver in the power-grip hold lies in the finger groove.

38. The combination of claim 21 wherein:

when the belt clip is detachably mounted to the power tool, the belt clip has an angular orientation with respect to the power tool defined by the interior angle formed by the intersection of an axis of symmetry of the power tool and an axis of symmetry of the belt clip; and

the angular orientation of the belt clip is approximately 60°

to 90°

.

39. The combination of claim 38 wherein the angular orientation is approximately 70°

to 80°

.

40. The combination of claim 38 wherein the angular orientation is approximately 75°

.

41. A drill/driver comprising:

a housing with a barrel portion and a pistol grip portion;

the barrel portion having a first side portion, a top side portion, a second side portion, a bottom side portion, and a back side portion, the barrel portion at least partially enclosing a rotary motor;

the pistol grip portion attached to the bottom side portion, the pistol grip portion having a switch which controls the rotary motor;

a belt clip mounted directly and only to the first side portion, the belt clip comprising a first and a second projection, the first projection extending away from the first side portion at a first end and attached to the second projection at a second end, the first projection spacing the second projection away from the first side portion, the second projection being spaced away from the first side portion and extending from the second end of the first projection in a direction generally adjacent to the first side portion, the second projection forming a receiving space between the belt clip and the first side portion.

42. The drill/driver of claim 41 wherein the belt clip is detachably mounted to the first side portion for selective attachment of the belt clip to the first side portion and removal of the belt clip from the first side portion by the user.

43. The drill/driver of claim 42 wherein the belt clip is detachably mountable to the first side portion and the second side portion for selective attachment of the belt clip to the first or second side portion and removal of the belt clip from the first or second side portion by the user.

44. A hand-held drill/driver comprising:

a housing with a barrel portion and a pistol grip portion, the barrel portion at least partially enclosing a rotary motor, the pistol grip portion having a switch which controls the rotary motor, the barrel portion having a first side portion, a top side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, a bottom side portion, and a back side portion, the pistol grip portion attached to the bottom side portion;

at least one attaching means for mounting a belt clip on the housing, the at least one attaching means associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least part way around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing, the raised pad being integrally formed on the first side portion of the housing; and

a belt clip mounted directly to the housing by the at least one attaching means, the belt clip having a tool mating surface defined where the belt clip contacts the housing, the tool mating surface at least partially abutting the raised pad.

45. The hand-held power tool of claim 44 wherein the belt clip is selectively detachably mounted to the at least one attaching means.

46. The hand-held power tool of claim 45 further comprising at least two attaching means for mounting a belt clip on the housing and wherein the belt clip is adapted to be selectively detachably mounted to either of the at least two attaching means.

47. The hand-held power tool of claim 45 wherein the belt clip comprises:

a first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface at a first end;

a second projection extending from a second end of the first projection creating a receiving space between the second projection and the housing; and

wherein the first projection has a curved surface which is curved to generally match the profile of a user'"'"'s thumb and finger and which cradles the thumb or finger between the belt clip and the housing.

48. The hand-held power tool of claim 47 wherein the second projection comprises a lead-in on the distal end thereof.

49. A hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing;

at least a first attaching means provided on the housing for selectively detachably mounting a belt clip to the housing and a second attaching means provided on the housing for selectively detachably mounting a belt clip to the housing; and

a belt clip selectively detachably mountable by a user to the housing,

the belt clip being selectively detachably mountable to the housing at a first position through the use of the first attaching means and without the use of the second attaching means, and

the belt clip being selectively detachably mountable to the housing at a second position different from the first position through the use of the second attaching means and without the use of the first attaching means.

50. The hand-held power tool of claim 49 wherein the first attaching means comprises:

a bore formed in the belt clip;

a fastener passing through the bore in the belt clip and received in a bore formed in the housing;

an indexing projection extending from one of the housing or the belt clip; and

an indexing projection receiving recess formed in the other of the housing or the belt clip which receives the indexing projection and laterally holds the indexing projection further restricting the movement of the belt clip when the belt clip is mounted to the housing.

51. The hand-held power tool of claim 49 wherein the first attaching means is provided on a portion of the housing opposite from the second attaching means.

52. The hand-held power tool of claim 49 wherein the first attaching means is provided on a portion of the housing symmetrically opposite from the second attaching means.

53. The hand-held power tool of claim 49 wherein the belt clip comprises:

a tool mating surface;

a first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface at a first end;

a second projection extending from a second end of the first projection creating a receiving space between the second projection and the housing; and

wherein the first projection has a concavely curved surface which is curved to generally fit the profile of a user'"'"'s thumb and finger and which cradles the thumb or finger between the belt clip and the housing.

54. A hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing;

at least a first attaching means and a second attaching means provided on the housing for selectively detachably mounting a belt clip to the housing; and

a belt clip selectively detachably mountable by a user to the housing,

the belt clip being selectively detachably mountable to the housing at a first position through the use of the first attaching means;

the belt clip being selectively detachably mountable to the housing at a second position different from the first position through the use of the second attaching means;

wherein in each of the first position and the second position the belt clip defines a receiving space between the belt clip and the housing which receives an accommodating surface between the belt clip and the housing when the hand-held power tool is suspended from the accommodating surface.

55. The hand-held power tool of claim 54 wherein the first attaching means is provided on a portion of the housing opposite from the second attaching means.

56. The hand-held power tool of claim 54 wherein the first attaching means is provided on a portion of the housing symmetrically opposite from the second attaching means.

57. A hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing having a fastener receiving recess;

a belt clip selectively detachably mounted to the housing through attachment of a belt clip fastener to the fastener receiving recess, the belt clip fastener being selectively detachable and reattachable by a user to the fastener receiving recess;

one of the belt clip or the housing having an indexing projection extending therefrom; and

the other of the belt clip or the housing having an indexing projection receiving recess which receives the indexing projection and laterally holds the indexing projection further restricting the movement of the belt clip when the belt clip is mounted to the housing.

58. The hand-held power tool of claim 57 wherein the belt clip fastener is a threaded fastener and the fastener receiving recess is a bore in a portion of the housing formed of a plastic.

59. A hand-held power tool comprising:

a housing;

the housing having a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing;

a belt clip mounted to the housing wherein all of the contact between the belt clip and the housing defines a tool mating surface on the belt clip whereby any point on the belt clip that is in contact with the housing lies on the tool mating surface, and the tool mating surface has a perimeter that encompasses only the tool mating surface; and

wherein the lip lies along and extends around the entire perimeter of the tool mating surface.

60. The hand-held power tool of claim 59 wherein the belt clip is selectively detachably mounted to the first attaching means.

61. The hand-held power tool of claim 60 further comprising:

a second attaching means for mounting the belt clip on the housing, the second attaching means being associated with a raised pad which is elevated from at least part of the housing immediately surrounding the raised pad to create a lip extending at least part way around the intersection of the raised pad and the housing; and

wherein the belt clip is adapted to be selectively detachably mounted to the second attaching means.

62. The hand-held power tool of claim 60 wherein the belt clip further comprises:

a first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface at a first end;

a second projection extending from a second end of the first projection, the first projection spacing the second projection away from the housing creating a receiving space between the second projection and the housing; and

wherein the first projection has a concavely curved surface which is curved to generally match the profile of a user'"'"'s thumb and finger and which cradles the thumb or finger between the belt clip and the housing.

63. The hand-held power tool of claim 62 wherein at least a portion of the lip comprises a concavely curved surface that generally continues the concavely curved surface of the first projection.

64. A drill/driver comprising:

a housing with a barrel portion and a pistol grip portion, the barrel portion at least partially enclosing a rotary motor, the pistol grip portion having a switch which controls the rotary motor;

the housing having a central axis defined by a plane that approximately divides in half the barrel portion of the housing and the pistol grip portion of the housing with a first side of the housing on one side of the central axis and a second side of the housing on the other opposite side of the central axis; and

a belt clip capable of suspending the drill/driver from a surface, the belt clip selectively detachably mountable by a user to the housing in a first position where the belt clip is on the first side of the housing and a second position where the belt clip is on the second side of the housing.

65. The drill/driver of claim 64 wherein:

the barrel portion has a first side portion, a top side portion, a second side portion opposite the first side portion, a bottom side portion, and a back side portion, the pistol grip portion being attached to the bottom side portion; and

the first position is on the first side portion, and the second position is on the second side portion.

66. The drill/driver of claim 64 wherein:

the first side of the housing has a first attaching means for attaching the belt clip to the housing in the first position; and

the second side of the housing has a second attaching means for attaching the belt clip to the housing in the second position.

67. The drill/driver of claim 64 wherein:

when the belt clip is mounted in the first position, the belt clip is capable of creating a receiving space between the belt clip and the first side of the housing for receiving a belt around a user'"'"'s waist, and

when the belt clip is mounted in the second position, the belt clip is capable of creating a receiving space between the belt clip and the second side of the housing for receiving the belt around a user'"'"'s waist.

68. The drill/driver of claim 64 wherein:

the second position is approximately symmetrical about the central axis with the first position.

69. The drill/driver of claim 68 wherein:

the belt clip has a bore for receiving a fastener which holds the belt clip on the housing; and

one of the belt clip or the housing has an indexing projection extending therefrom, and the other of the belt clip or the housing has an indexing projection receiving recess which receives the indexing projection and holds the indexing projection to further restrict movement of the belt clip when mounted to the housing.

70. The drill/driver of claim 68 wherein the belt clip is an injection-molded plastic component and comprises:

a tool mating surface;

a first projection extending at a first end from the tool mating surface and having a second end opposite the first end; and

a second projection extending from the second end of the first projection, the second projection being spaced from the housing by the first projection when the belt clip is mounted to the housing.

71. A hand-held power tool comprising a belt clip mounted to a housing of the hand-held power tool capable of suspending the power tool from a surface, the belt clip comprising:

a tool mating surface defined where the belt clip contacts the housing;

a first projection having a first end and an opposite second end, the tool mating surface being located on the first end, the first projection extending outwardly from the tool mating surface in a direction generally normal to the housing;

a second projection extending longitudinally in a first direction from the second end of the first projection, the second projection being spaced from the housing by the first projection;

the belt clip having a central axis defined by a plane that is generally parallel with the first direction, the central axis dividing approximately in half the first projection into a first portion on one side of the central axis and a second portion on the opposite side of the central axis from the first side, the tool mating surface being formed on the first portion and the second portion, the central axis also dividing approximately in half the second projection; and

the first projection having at least a first concavely curved surface formed on the first portion, the valley of the first concavely curved surface extending generally in the first direction whereby when a user'"'"'s finger is placed in contact with the first concavely curved surface and extends generally parallel to the first direction, the valley is in contact with the finger along a line that is parallel with the finger'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

72. The hand-held power tool of claim 71 wherein the first concavely curved surface is shaped to match the profile of the user'"'"'s finger.

73. The hand-held power tool of claim 72 wherein the power tool further comprises a finger groove, the finger groove being positioned such that when the user'"'"'s finger is positioned therein, the finger may also contacts the first concavely curved surface.

74. The hand-held power tool of claim 71 wherein the first projection is tapered such that the second end of the first projection is narrower than the first end.

75. The hand-held power tool of claim 71 wherein the first projection further comprises a second concavely curved surface formed on the second portion, the valley of the second concavely curved surface extending generally in the first direction whereby when a user'"'"'s finger is placed in contact with the second concavely curved surface and extends generally parallel to the first direction, the valley is in contact with the finger along a line that is parallel with the finger'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

76. The hand-held power tool of claim 75 wherein the first projection is tapered such that the second end of the first projection is narrower than the first end.