Twist-handled power tool with locking system
First Claim
1. A power tool comprising:
- a first housing portion;
a battery mounted to the first housing portion;
a second housing portion that is rotatable relative to the first housing portion between a first position, in which the first and second housings are arranged in an in-line arrangement, and a second position in which the first and second housings are arranged in a pistol-grip arrangement;
a powertrain received in the second housing portion and having an output member, the output member extending from the second housing portion and being movable about an output member axis, the powertrain comprising an electric motor and a transmission;
a trigger coupled to the first housing portion and electrically coupled to the battery and the electric motor, the trigger being configured to control operation of the electric motor;
a mounting hub fixedly coupled to one of the first and second housing portions; and
a lock bar slidably mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions for movement in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the other one of the first and second housing portions between a locked position and a first unlocked position, the lock bar cooperating with the mounting hub in the locked position to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions, and wherein placement of the lock bar in the first unlocked position permits relative rotation between the first and second housing portions;
wherein when the second housing portion is positioned in at least one of the first and second positions, the longitudinal axis of the other one of the first and second housing portions is coincident with the output member axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power tool with first and second housing portions, a powertrain, a mounting hub and a lock bar. The powertrain has an output member that extends from the second housing portion and which is movable relative to an output member axis. The mounting hub is fixedly coupled to one of the first and second housing portions. The lock bar is movably mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions between a locked position and a first unlocked position. The lock bar cooperates with the mounting hub in the locked position to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions. Placement of the lock bar in the first unlocked position permits relative rotation between the first and second housing portions.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power tool comprising:
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a first housing portion; a battery mounted to the first housing portion; a second housing portion that is rotatable relative to the first housing portion between a first position, in which the first and second housings are arranged in an in-line arrangement, and a second position in which the first and second housings are arranged in a pistol-grip arrangement; a powertrain received in the second housing portion and having an output member, the output member extending from the second housing portion and being movable about an output member axis, the powertrain comprising an electric motor and a transmission; a trigger coupled to the first housing portion and electrically coupled to the battery and the electric motor, the trigger being configured to control operation of the electric motor; a mounting hub fixedly coupled to one of the first and second housing portions; and a lock bar slidably mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions for movement in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the other one of the first and second housing portions between a locked position and a first unlocked position, the lock bar cooperating with the mounting hub in the locked position to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions, and wherein placement of the lock bar in the first unlocked position permits relative rotation between the first and second housing portions; wherein when the second housing portion is positioned in at least one of the first and second positions, the longitudinal axis of the other one of the first and second housing portions is coincident with the output member axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power tool comprising:
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a first housing portion; a battery mounted to the first housing portion; a second housing portion rotatable relative to the first housing portion such that the first housing portion can be selectively positioned relative to the second housing portion in an in-line orientation and in a pistol-grip orientation; a powertrain having an output member, the output member extending from the second housing portion and being movable about an output member axis, the powertrain having a motor and a transmission that are housed entirely within the second housing portion; a trigger mounted to the first housing portion and electrically coupled to the battery and the motor, the trigger being configured to control operation of the motor; a mounting hub fixedly coupled to one of the first and second housing portions; a bar body movably mounted to the other one of the first and second housing portions; a pair of lock tabs fixedly coupled to one of the bar body and the mounting hub; and a pair of lock tab recess defined by the other one of the bar body and the mounting hub; wherein the bar body is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein placement of the bar body in the first position locates the lock tabs in the lock tab recesses to inhibit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions, and wherein placement of the bar body in the second position locates the lock tabs out of alignment with the lock tab recesses to permit relative rotation between the first and second housing portions; wherein when the first housing portion is positioned relative to the second housing portion in the in-line orientation, the bar body is transverse to the output member axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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- 15. The power tool of 14, wherein the bar body defines a pocket into which the at least one spring is received.
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20. A power tool comprising:
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a first housing portion that defines a handle; a battery received into the first housing portion; a second housing portion; a powertrain received in the second housing portion and having a motor, a transmission and an output member, the output member extending from the second housing portion and being rotatable about an output member axis; a mounting hub fixedly coupled to the second housing portion, the mounting hub comprising a pair of annular segments that extend concentrically about a pivot axis, the annular segments cooperating to define a pair of lock recesses, the mounting hub being mounted on the first housing portion to pivotally couple the first housing portion to the second housing portion for rotation about the pivot axis; and a lock bar assembly comprising a lock bar and a spring, the lock bar having a bar body, which is slidably mounted to the first housing portion, a pair of lock tabs and a pocket into which the spring is received, the lock bar being movable between a first unlocked position, a locked position and a second unlocked position, wherein in each of the first and second unlocked positions the lock tabs are disposed radially between the annular segments to permit the annular segments to pass between the lock tabs, and wherein in the locked position the lock tabs are disposed in-line with the annular segments; wherein the first housing portion is positionable relative to the second housing portion in an in-line orientation and a pistol-grip orientation, wherein when the first housing portion is positioned relative to the second housing portion in either of the in-line orientation and the pistol grip orientation, the lock bar is disposed transverse to the output member axis.
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Specification