Return cord assembly for a power tool

• US 7,975,893 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gross, Paul, Berry, Alan, Bradenbaugh, Charles L. IV, Kenney, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US11/095,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 227/133, 227/120, 227/131, 227/146, 227/134, 173/12, 173/15, 173/124, 173/216, 173/217
• US Class Current: 227/134
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power

Abstract

A tool with a driver, a motor, a structure to which the motor is coupled and a return cord assembly. The driver that is translatable along an axis between an extended position and a retracted position. The motor is configured to translate the driver from the returned position to the extended position. The return cord assembly is coupled to the driver and the structure and includes a spring and an elastomeric return cord that are employed to return the driver from the extended position to the retracted position.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a driver that is translatable along an axis between an extended position and a retracted position;

a motor for translating the driver from the returned position to the extended position;

a structure to which the motor is coupled; and

a return cord assembly coupled to the driver and the structure, the return cord assembly including a spring and an elastomeric return cord, the spring and the return cord being arranged in parallel with one another.

2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a nosepiece and a magazine assembly, the magazine assembly being configured to hold a plurality of fasteners and dispense a first one of the fasteners into the nosepiece in-line with the axis along which the driver translates.

3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a structural backbone on which the motor is mounted and wherein the structure is a housing that at least partially houses the return cord assembly, the structure being coupled to the structural backbone.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the structure is snap-fit to the structural backbone.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the driver includes an ear to which an end of the return cord is coupled.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the return cord includes a retaining member with a body and a pair of tab members that extend from opposite sides of the body.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the ear defines an anchor cavity and the retaining member is removably received in the anchor cavity.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the tab members extend through apertures in the ear.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the spring is housed by the structure.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the spring is disposed about the return cord.

11. The tool of claim 10, further comprising a keeper that is disposed between the spring and an end of the return cord.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the end of the return cord is at least partially defined by a spherical radius.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the end of the return cord abuts the structure.

14. The tool of claim 9, wherein an end of the return cord proximate the structure abuts the structure.

15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the motor includes an electric motor.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the motor further comprises a flywheel that is driven by the electric motor.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein a belt is employed to transmit power between the motor and the flywheel.

18. A tool comprising:

a driver that is translatable along an axis between an extended position and a retracted position;

a structural backbone;

a motor mounted to the structural backbone, the motor being operable in an actuated condition wherein a rotating flywheel transfers energy to the driver to cause the driver to translate from the returned position to the extended position;

a housing coupled to the structural backbone; and

a return cord assembly having a spring and an elastomeric return cord, the spring being received in the housing and disposed about the return cord, a first end of the return cord being disposed between the spring and the housing, a second end of the return cord being coupled to the driver, the return cord assembly being operable for translating the driver from the extended position to the returned position.

19. The tool of claim 18, further comprising a nosepiece and a magazine assembly, the magazine assembly being configured to hold a plurality of fasteners and dispense a first one of the fasteners into the nosepiece in-line with the axis along which the driver translates.

20. The tool of claim 18, wherein the housing is snap-fit to the structural backbone.

21. The tool of claim 18, wherein the return cord includes a retaining member with a body and a pair of tab members that extend from opposite sides of the body.

22. The tool of claim 21, wherein the driver includes an anchor cavity and the retaining member is removably received in the anchor cavity.

23. The tool of claim 22, wherein the tab members extend through apertures in the driver.

24. The tool of claim 18, further comprising a keeper that is disposed between the spring and the first end of the return cord.

25. The tool of claim 24, wherein the first end of the return cord is at least partially defined by a spherical radius.