Power tool with interchangeable power heads

• US 9,956,677 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baskar, Ashok Samuel, Kuehne, Brent A., Harman, Jr., William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/273,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20140332243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 173 29, 173173, 173213, 173 2, 173 46, 173 50, 173 90, 173171, 2271751-1821
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

A power tool system which includes a first base unit and a second base unit. The first and second base units each include a housing, a motor housed in the housing, a coupler which is operatively connected to and selectively drivable by the motor and a trigger for activating the motor to drive the coupler. The system also includes a first attachment head which is removably couplable with both the first base unit and the second base unit so that it can be driven by the respective motor of the base unit to which it is attached and a second attachment head which is removably couplable to the first base unit, but which is not couplable with the second base unit.

Claims

1. A power tool system comprising:

an AC powered power tool base unit, the AC powered power tool base unit comprising a first housing, a first motor housed in the first housing and a first coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the first motor;

a DC powered power tool base unit, the DC powered power tool base unit comprising a second housing, a second motor housed in the second housing and a second coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the second motor;

a first tool attachment head and a second tool attachment head;

the first tool attachment head configured to be selectively connectable to the AC powered power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the first coupler; and

the first tool attachment head being configured to also be selectively connectable to the DC powered power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the second coupler;

wherein the second tool attachment head is configured to be selectively connectable to the DC powered power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the second coupler and is configured such that it is not connectable to the AC powered power tool base unit to receive motive power from the first coupler; and

wherein the second tool attachment head includes a lockout protrusion configured to have the second tool attachment head not connectable to the AC powered tool base unit to receive power from the first coupler.

2. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are both either a male coupler with male splines or a female coupler including recess for receiving splines of a male coupler and each have the same number of splines or recesses for receiving the splines.

3. The power tool system of claim 1, wherein the DC powered power tool base unit includes a lockout recess which receives the lockout protrusion when the second tool attachment head is coupled to the DC powered power tool base unit.

4. The power tool system of claim 3, wherein the AC powered power tool base unit includes an abutting member which prevents the second tool attachment head from being coupled to the AC powered power tool base unit.

5. A power tool system comprising:

an AC powered power tool base unit, the AC powered power tool base unit comprising a first housing, a first motor housed in the first housing and a first coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the first motor;

a DC powered power tool base unit, the DC powered power tool base unit comprising a second housing, a second motor housed in the second housing and a second coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the second motor;

a drill attachment head and a cutting attachment head;

wherein the drill attachment head is coupleable with both the AC powered power tool base unit and the DC powered power tool base unit such that an AC powered drill is formed when the drill attachment head is attached to the AC powered power tool base unit and a DC powered drill is formed when the drill attachment head is attached to the DC powered power tool base unit;

wherein the cutting attachment head is selectively coupleable with the DC powered power tool base unit such that a DC powered cutting tool is formed when the cutting attachment head is attached to the DC powered power tool base unit;

wherein the cutting attachment head is configured to be blocked from coupling with the AC powered power tool base unit, whereby the cutting attachment head is prevented from coupling to the AC powered power tool base unit to form an AC powered cutting tool; and

wherein the cutting attachment head includes a lockout protrusion configured to have the cutting attachment head prevented from coupling to the AC power tool base unit to form an AC powered cutting tool.

6. The power tool system of claim 5, wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are both either a male coupler with male splines or a female coupler including recess for receiving splines of a male coupler and each have the same number of splines or recesses for receiving the splines.

7. The power tool system of claim 5, wherein the DC powered power tool base unit includes a lockout recess which receives the lockout protrusion when the cutting attachment head is coupled to the DC powered power tool base unit.

8. The power tool system of claim 7, wherein the AC powered power tool base unit includes an abutting member which prevents the cutting attachment head from being coupled to the AC powered power tool base unit.

9. A power tool system comprising:

a first power tool base unit, the first power tool base unit comprising a first housing, a first motor housed in the first housing and a first coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the first motor;

a second power tool base unit, the second power tool base unit comprising a second housing, a second motor housed in the second housing and a second coupler operatively connected to and drivable by the second motor;

a first tool attachment head and a second tool attachment head;

the first tool attachment head configured to be selectively connectable to the first power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the first coupler; and

the first tool attachment head being configured to also be selectively connectable to the second power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the second coupler;

wherein the second tool attachment head is configured to be selectively connectable to the first power tool base unit so as to receive motive power from the first coupler and is configured such that it is not connectable to the second power tool base unit to receive motive power from the second coupler;

wherein the first power tool base unit receives a first type of power source and the second power tool base unit receives a second type of power source and the first type of power source is different than the second type of power source;

wherein the first type of power source is a DC power source of a first voltage and the second type of power source is a DC power course of a second voltage;

wherein the first voltage is at least 50% greater than the second voltage;

wherein the first coupler and the second coupler are both either a male coupler with male splines or a female coupler including recess for receiving splines of a male coupler and each have the same number of splines or recesses for receiving the splines; and

wherein the second tool attachment head includes a lockout protrusion configured to have the second tool attachment head not connectable to the second power tool base unit to receive motive power from the second coupler.

10. The power tool system of claim 9, wherein the first power tool base unit includes a lockout recess which receives the lockout protrusion when the second tool attachment head is coupled to the first power tool base unit.

11. The power tool system of claim 10, wherein the second power tool base unit includes an abutting member which prevents the second tool attachment head from being coupled to the second power tool base unit.