Cordless drill with metal housing

• US 6,729,414 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Raymond, Cooper, Vincent P., Ng, Gavin, Huxley, Edd
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/196,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 173/117, 173/93.6, 173/104, 173/216, 173/217, 310/47, 310/50, 475/298, 475/299
• US Class Current: 173/217
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

A power tool with a metal housing (12) has motor (20) positioned within the housing (12). An output (22), positioned within the housing (12), is coupled with the motor (20) and is adapted to drive a tool. An activation member (26) is coupled with the motor (20). A battery pack (30) is electrically coupled with the activation member (26). The activation member (26) energizes and deenergizes the motor (20), which in turn, drives the output (22).

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a metal housing;

a motor positioned inside said housing;

an output coupled with said motor, said output adapted to drive a tool;

an activation member coupled with said motor;

a member for electrically insulating or shielding said metal housing;

a battery powered source, said activation member electrically coupled with said battery power source for energizing and deenergizing said motor.

2. The power tool according to claim 1 wherein said activation member includes a switch electrically coupled with said battery power source and said motor.

3. The power tool according to claim 2 wherein said member for electrically insulating or shielding further comprising:

a polymeric housing surrounding said switch and positioned in said metal housing.

4. The power tool according to claim 1 said member for electrically insulating or shielding further comprising:

a polymeric subhousing in said metal housing, said polymeric subhousing shielding said activation member and motor from said metal housing.

5. The power tool according to claim 4 wherein said polymeric subhousing includes a first subhousing shielding said activation member and a second subhousing shielding said motor.

6. The power tool according to claim 1 wherein a barrier plate being positioned between said battery and an inner cavity of said metal housing.

7. The power tool according to claim 6 wherein said barrier plate being a polymeric material.

8. The power tool according to claim 1 wherein said output includes a transmission for transmitting power from the motor.

9. The power tool according to claim 8 wherein said transmission includes a polymeric housing, a first pinion gear, a first set of planetary gears, a first gear carrier and an insulating member between said first gear carrier and said first pinion gear for providing insulation against a possible failure route.

10. The power tool according to claim 1 wherein said battery power source includes a polymeric housing coupled with said metal housing.

11. The power tool according to claim 1 wherein said power tool is a drill.

12. A battery operated power tool comprising:

a housing defining a cavity, said housing including a pair of mating members each formed from a metallic material;

a motor received in said housing cavity;

an activation member extending from said housing, said activation member coupled with said motor;

an output member coupled with said motor, said output member adapted to drive a tool;

a member for electrically insulating or shielding said metal housing;

a battery coupled with said housing, said battery electrically coupled with said activation member for energizing and deenergizing said tool.

13. The battery operated power tool according to claim 12 further comprising a battery level indicator electrically coupled with said battery and mounted with said housing.

14. The power tool according to claim 12 further comprising a level indicator coupled with said housing.

15. The power tool according to claim 12 further comprising a gripping member coupled with said housing.

16. The power tool according to claim 12 wherein said housing pair include a handle portion.

17. The power tool according to claim 12 wherein said activation member includes a switch electrically coupled with said battery power source and said motor.

18. The power tool according to claim 17, said member for electrically insulating or shielding further comprising:

a polymeric housing surrounding said switch and positioned in said metal housing.

19. The power tool according to claim 18 wherein said polymeric housing being transparent.

20. The power tool according to claim 12 wherein a barrier plate being positioned between said battery and an inner cavity of said metal housing.

21. The power tool according to claim 12 wherein said output includes a transmission for transmitting power from the motor.

22. The power tool according to claim 21 wherein said transmission includes a polymeric housing, a first pinion gear, a first set of planetary gears, a first gear carrier and an insulating member between said first gear carrier and said first pinion gear for providing insulation against a possible failure route.

23. A cordless power drill comprising:

a metal housing;

a motor positioned inside said housing;

an output coupled with said motor;

a chuck coupled with said output for receiving a tool;

an activation member coupled with said motor;

a member for electrically insulating or shielding said metal housing; and

a battery coupled with said activation member.

24. The cordless drill according to claim 23 wherein said activation member includes a switch electrically coupled with said battery power source and said motor.

25. The power tool according to claim 24, said member for electrically insulating or shielding further comprising:

a polymeric housing surrounding said switch and positioned in said metal housing.

26. The power tool according to claim 23 further comprising:

a polymeric subbousing in said metal housing, said polymeric subhousing shielding said activation member and motor from said metal housing.

27. The power tool according to claim 26 wherein said polymeric subhousing includes a first subhousing shielding said activation member and a second subhousing shielding said motor.

28. The power tool according to claim 23 wherein a barrier plate being positioned between said battery and an inner cavity of said metal housing.

29. The power tool according to claim 28 wherein said barrier plate being a polymeric material.

30. The power tool according to claim 23 wherein said output includes a transmission for transmitting power from the motor.

31. The power tool according to claim 30 wherein said transmission includes a polymeric housing, a first pinion gear, a first set of planetary gears, a first gear carrier and an insulating member between said first gear carrier and said first pinion gear for providing insulation against a possible failure route.

32. The power tool according to claim 23 wherein said battery power source includes a polymeric housing coupled with said metal housing.

33. A power tool comprising:

a metal housing;

a motor positioned inside said housing;

an output coupled with said motor, said output adapted to drive a tool;

an activation member coupled with said motor;

a battery powered source, said activation member electrically coupled with said battery power source for energizing and deenergizing said motor; and

a barrier plate positioned between said battery and said metal housing.