Motor housing and assembly process for power tool

• US 7,134,510 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuehne, Brent A., Bodine, Thomas J., Plato, Barry E., Justis, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/439,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 175 Days
• Field of Search: 173/217, 173/170, 173/171, 173/169, 173/216, 173/93.5, 310/47, 310/50, 294/28
• US Class Current: 173/217
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/121 Housing details
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49799 Providing transitory integral holding or handling portion

Abstract

A handle for a power tool is provided including a field case and front handle portion formed as a single piece. The front handle portion has an opening in a rear side thereof for receiving the wiring for the power tool. The wiring is connected to a motor that is mounted in the field case. A rear handle portion is attached to the front handle portion for covering the opening in the rear of the front handle portion. An end cap is connected to a rear of the field case for covering the remaining exposed wires connected to the motor. With the front handle design, the wire-up of the power tool can be completed from one side of the tool without having to turn the tool over during the wire-up process.

Claims

1. A power tool comprising:

a housing including a field case and first handle portion formed as a single piece, said first handle portion having an opening in one side thereof, a second handle portion attached to said first handle portion for covering said opening, and an end cap connected to a first end of said field case;

a motor disposed in said field case;

a switch disposed in said first handle portion;

an electrical wire system including a plurality of wires connected to said motor through said first end of said field case, said wires extending along an outer side surface of said field case and along said opening in said first handle portion, said wires being covered by said end cap and said second handle potion.

2. The power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a gear case mounted to a second end of said field case.

3. The power tool according to claim 1, further comprising an impact mechanism mounted to a second end of said field case.

4. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein said field case includes a first slide rail on said outer side surface of said field case for engaging a corresponding second slide rail on said second handle portion, said plurality of wires extending through a recess in said first slide rail.

5. The power tool according to claim 4, wherein said end cap is disposed against said second handle portion for maintaining said second slide rail of said second handle portion in engagement with said first slide rail of said field case.

6. The power tool according to claim 5, wherein an end portion of said first handle portion includes at least one screw boss for receiving a screw for securing said second handle portion to said first handle portion.

7. The power tool according to claim 1, wherein said field case includes a plurality of screw bosses at said first end for mounting said end cap to said field case.

8. A method of assembling a power tool, comprising:

mounting a motor to a field case, said field case defining a generally cylindrical motor chamber for receiving said motor and including a first handle portion extending therefrom, said first handle portion including an opening on one side thereof;

mounting a trigger switch to said first handle portion;

attaching electrical wires to said trigger switch and said motor, said electrical wires extending along said opening in said first handle portion and an exterior side portion of said field case;

mounting a second handle portion to said first handle portion and said field case for covering said opening in said first handle portion; and

mounting an end cap to said field case, wherein said second handle portion and said end cap covering said electrical wires attached to said trigger switch and said motor.