AU2015287069A1

AU2015287069A1 - Electric power tool having a slide switch

Info

Publication number: AU2015287069A1
Application number: AU2015287069A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Manfred Lutz; Thomas Schomisch
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2014-07-10
Filing date: 2015-05-05
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: KR20170032286A; CN106488831B; CN106488831A; WO2016005072A1; DE102014213394A1

Abstract

In an electric power tool (10) having a tool receiver (20) and a tool housing (24) in which a drive motor (12) for driving the tool receiver (20) is arranged, wherein a slide switch axially preloaded by means of a restoring spring and intended for manually switching the drive motor (12) on and off is arranged on the tool housing (24) so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the direction of a longitudinal axis (32) of the tool housing (24) and/or pivotable with respect to the longitudinal axis (32), at least one holding geometry is provided which is designed to hold the slide switch in a holding state when a user manually applies a predetermined holding force (F) to the slide switch and to transfer the slide switch automatically into an inoperative state when the user releases the slide switch, wherein the drive motor (12) is switched on in the holding state and switched off in the inoperative state.

Description

1

Electric Power Tool Having a Sliding Switch

Prior Art

The present invention relates to an electric power tool with: - a mount for an attachable tool; 5 - a power tool housing in which there is a motor to drive the attachable- tool mount; and, - a sliding switch, mounted on the power tool’s housing and serving to manually switch the driving motor on or off, that is spring-loaded axially by means of a return spring, and 10 is movable longitudinally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis, and/or is pivotable with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Electric power tools of this kind in the form of angle grinders, with e.g. a bar-shaped power-tool housing, are already known in the art. Such angle is grinders are often operated by means of a sliding switch, which, for ease of operation, can be locked in its switched-on position, e.g. by means of a combined sliding and tilting movement, so that the user does not have to keep on pushing the sliding switch and holding it down against the force of a return spring. However, in order to switch the angle grinder off, the 2o user has to cancel the locking of the sliding switch by executing an active tilting and sliding movement. A drawback with the prior art is that, with such an angle grinder, the locking of the sliding switch on the power tool’s housing is designed to be self-maintaining. This can lead to uncontrolled, automatic restarting of the 25 electric power tool after a fault has occurred during its operation, e.g. after a brief interruption to the supply of power, and can thus result in e.g. damage to an attached tool. 2957410v1 2

Disclosure of the Invention

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a novel electric power tool in which an uncontrolled restart can be prevented after interruption of an associated power supply. 5 This problem is solved with an electric power tool that has a mount lor an attachable tool, and a power tool housing in which there is a motor to drive the attachable-tool mount. Mounted on the power tool’s housing, there is a sliding switch, which is spring-loaded axially by means of a return spring, and which is movable longitudinally in the same direction as 10 the longitudinal axis and/or is pivotable with respect to the longitudinal axis, in order to manually switch the driving motor on or off. At least one holding geometry is provided, which is designed to hold the sliding switch in a holding state when a given holding force is manually applied to the sliding switch by a user, and to automatically shift the sliding switch to a is resting state when it is released by the user; the driving motor being switched on in the holding state, and switched off in the resting state.

The invention thus makes it possible to provide an electric power tool which the user can keep running, with the driving motor switched on, by applying a comparatively low holding force to the sliding switch, and which 2o features safe and reliable prevention of self-maintaining locking of the sliding switch once the latter has been released.

In one embodiment, an electrical on/off switch connected to the driving motor electroconductively is coupled to the sliding switch mechanically by means of a sliding member. 25 Thus, the on/off switching function for the driving motor can be easily implemented by means of the sliding switch. In addition, spatial separation is provided between the sliding switch and the electrical on/off switch.

The sliding member preferably has a connection geometry for coupling 30 the sliding switch pivotally at an associated pivot point. 2957410v1 3

This results in spatially defined movement of the sliding switch.

The sliding switch preferably has: an operating side, which faces away from the power tool’s housing; and a working side, which faces towards the power tool’s housing, and which has at least one sliding geometry, 5 and a driver for the sliding member, provided on it.

The preferably ergonomically shaped operating side of the sliding switch makes for comfortable operation by the user. The operating side of the sliding switch enables a defined movement sequence and actuation of the on/off switch when the sliding switch is operated by the user. w In one embodiment, the sliding geometry is constituted by a bulge, formed on the working side, that is guided on the power tool’s housing and is situated in the sliding switch’s first axial end region, which faces towards the attachable-tool mount; and the holding geometry, for locking the sliding switch in the holding is state, is constituted by an edge — directed towards the power tool’s housing — on the sliding switch’s second axial end, which faces away from the attachable-tool mount, and a holding-surface — inclined relative to the power tool housing’s 2o longitudinal axis — on a recess in the power tool’s housing.

In this way, it is possible to implement a particularly simple and uncomplicated sliding-switch holding function on the power tool’s housing.

Preferably, the sliding geometry is constituted by a bulge, formed on the working side, that is guided on the power tool’s housing and is situated in 25 the sliding switch’s first axial end region, which faces towards the attachable-tool mount; and, at an axial distance from the bulge, in the direction of the sliding switch’s second axial end, which points away from the attachable-tool mount, there is a projection, formed on the sliding switch, and pointing 30 towards the power tool’s housing, 2957410v1 4 with the holding geometry for locking the sliding switch in the holding state being constituted by a contact surface, on the projection, serving to abut the power tool’s housing, and a holding-surface — on a recess in the power tool’s housing — that corresponds to the contact surface and is 5 inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing.

This provides a holding function — for holding the sliding switch on the power tool’s housing — that is independent of the sliding switch’s corresponding rear edge.

Preferably there is a distance between the bulge and the contact surface w of the projection on the sliding switch.

This provides a particularly efficient way of embodying the holding functionality of the sliding switch when said switch is pressed down by the user.

Preferably, there is a given lever length between the bulge and the is second axial end of the sliding switch, with the ratio between the distance and the lever length being between 0.2 and 0.8.

In this way, the holding force to be applied by the user can be such as to enable ergonomic continuous operation of the electric power tool, without fatigue. 2o Preferably, the angle between the holding-surface of the recess in the power tool’s housing and the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing is between 35° and 85°.

In this way, uncontrolled slipping of the projection from the holding-surface of the power tool’s housing can be prevented. 25 Preferably, the indent height of the recess in the power tool’s housing is less than or equal to the height of the projection on the sliding switch.

This prevents excessive weakening of the material of the power tool’s housing. 2957410v1 5

In one embodiment, an axial end edge of the working side constitutes the sliding geometry and forms a pivot point when the sliding switch is moved pivotally.

This makes for a sliding switch whose structure is particularly simple. 5 In one embodiment, a ramp for the sliding geometry of the sliding switch is formed on the power tool’s housing.

This ramp enables pronounced pivoting motion of the sliding switch relative to the longitudinal axis.

In one embodiment, the holding geometry is constituted by a contact 10 surface, on the sliding switch, that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing, and by a holding surface, on a recess in the power tool’s housing, that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing; said projection being formed on the working side of the sliding switch, in the sliding switch’s first axial end region; and a is bulge constituting the sliding geometry being provided on the sliding switch’s second axial end region.

This enables mirror-in verted positioning of the holding geometry and the sliding geometry on the sliding switch.

In one embodiment, the pivot point is situated between the first and 2o second axial ends of the sliding switch; and a holding geometry is provided on each side of the pivot point.

As a result, the user can apply the holding force in the region of the first or second axial end of the sliding switch, i.e. on either side of the pivot point, to lock the sliding switch in the holding state for continuous operation of 25 the electric power tool’s driving motor.

In one embodiment, the pivot point is arranged at a first or second axial end of the sliding switch, and at least one, but preferably three holding geometries are provided. 2957410v1 6

This enables particularly reliable locking of the sliding switch in the holding state. In addition, the coupling of the sliding switch to the sliding member at one end provides effective leverage, thus requiring a comparatively small holding force. 5 In one embodiment, the sliding switch is designed to be movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing, the holding geometries being provided in the first and second axial end regions of the sliding switch respectively.

This simplifies the structural design of the sliding switch, because no pivot 10 point is used, and a holding geometry takes on the function of the e.g. spherical sliding geometry.

In one embodiment, a radially inward directed projection is formed on a motor housing provided for the driving motor, and has a holding-surface that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing; is and the holding geometry is constituted by this inclined holding-surface in combination with a contact surface, on a radially outward directed projection on the sliding member, that is correspondingly inclined relative to the power tool’s housing.

In this way, the holding geometry can be implemented independently of 2o the sliding switch and inside the electric power tool’s housing.

In another embodiment, a holding hook, provided on the sliding switch’s first axial end facing the attachable-tool mount, can be locked on a locking hook formed on the power tool’s housing; with said holding hook and said locking hook constituting the holding geometry. 25 Having the locking hook formed on the inside of the power tool’s housing makes it possible to implement the sliding switch with a concealed holding geometry. 2957410v1 7

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail through examples of its embodiment. These are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric power tool according to the 5 present invention, in the form of an angle grinder;

Fig. 2 is a partially opened, perspective side-view of the angle grinder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a sliding switch that can be used with the electric power tool of Fig. 1, in the resting state; io Fig. 4 shows the sliding switch of Fig. 3, in the holding state;

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a sliding switch that can be used with the electric power tool of Fig. 1, in the holding state;

Fig. 6 shows the sliding switch of Fig. 5, in the resting state;

Figs. 7-13 show further embodiments of sliding switches usable with is the electric power tool of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 14-16 show a further alternative embodiment of a sliding switch that can be used with the electric power tool of Fig. 1, during the transition from the resting state to the holding state. 2o Description of the Examples of Embodiments 25

Fig. 1 shows an example of an electric power tool 10. For illustrative purposes, it is shown in the form of a hand-held angle grinder. It is powered by a motor 12, which can be any type of motor, e.g. an electronically commutated motor or a DC motor. The motor 12 serves to drive a drive shaft 14, which is connected to a mount 20 for an attachable tool, by way of an angular gearing mechanism 16 and an output shaft 18, the attachable-tool mount 20 being designed to take an exchangeable, insertable, power-driven rotary tool piece 22 such as a sanding, grinding, or cutting disc. The driving motor 12 can at least be switched on and off 2957410v1 8 by means of a sliding switch 30 mounted on the preferably bar-shaped housing 24 of the electric power tool 10. The sliding switch 30 is preferably designed to be slid at least along a longitudinal axis 32 of the power tool’s housing 24. Power is supplied to the driving motor 12 from 5 e.g. the mains, by means of an AC power cable 34; or alternatively, from one or more battery packs that go with the electric power tool 10.

However, it will be pointed out here that the functioning and construction of a suitable driving motor and a suitable angle grinder are sufficiently well known to skilled persons, from the prior art. Therefore, for the sake of io simplicity and conciseness, no further description of them will be given here. Moreover, it will also be pointed out that the present invention is not limited to hand-held angle grinders dependent on the mains, but can be utilised quite generally on electric power tools — whether mains-dependent or mains-independent (e.g. with an associated battery pack) — is that have a sliding switch for switching the tool’s driving motor on and off, e.g. a polishing machine, a grinding machine, a milling machine, a pole saw, a jigsaw, etc. Furthermore, the present invention can also be used with non-electrically-powered hand-held tools that can be switched on and off by means of a sliding switch provided for that purpose. 2o Fig. 2 shows the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, which has, in one form of embodiment, an electrical on/off switch 40 that is mechanically coupled, by means of a sliding member 50, to the sliding switch 30 of Fig. 1. The sliding switch 30 is spring-loaded axially, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis 32, by means of a return spring 52 arranged on the sliding member 25 50, so that when the sliding switch 30 is released by the user, it is automatically retracted in the direction of the mains power cord 34. The on/off switch 40 is electrically connected to the driving motor e.g. by two lines 42, 44, and to the mains power cord 34 by two further lines 46, 48, so that the driving motor can be switched on and off by shifting the sliding 30 switch 30 counter to the restoring force exerted by the return spring 52 and/or by tilting the sliding switch 30 relative to the longitudinal axis 32.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 will be referred to together in what follows. They show a first embodiment of a sliding switch 100 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. This sliding switch 100 preferably has an 2957410v1 9 operating side 102, particularly an ergonomically-shaped operating side 102, facing away from the housing 24 of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, and a working side 104 with a sliding geometry 106, facing the power tool’s housing 24. A sliding member 108 serving to connect the sliding 5 switch 100 mechanically to the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 has a connection geometry 110 to connect the sliding switch 100 pivotally at a pivot point 112.

The sliding geometry 106 is preferably constituted by a bulge 116, formed on the working side 104, that is guided on the power tool’s housing 24, w said bulge 116 preferably having an at least approximately semicircular cross-sectional geometry and being situated in the region of the sliding switch’s first axial end 118, which faces e.g. towards the attachable-tool mount 20 shown in Fig. 1. In the region of the sliding switch’s second axial end 120, which points away from its first axial end 118, an edge 122, and is a holding-surface 124 inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 32 and provided on a recess 126 in the power tool’s housing 24, form a holding geometry 128 to lock the sliding switch 100 in the holding state with the driving motor switched on when the user, employing e.g. a finger, is manually causing a sufficiently strong holding force F to be applied to the 2o sliding switch 100, at right angles to the longitudinal axis 32 (see Fig. 4).

To switch on the motor that powers the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, the user has to move the sliding switch 100 from its resting state, illustrated in Fig. 3, by pushing it in the direction indicated by arrow 130, parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 and counter to the restoring force of the return spring 25 52 of Fig. 2, until the sliding switch 100 is brought to the holding state, shown in Fig. 4, in which its edge 122 is resting against the holding-surface 124 due to the holding force F being applied to the sliding switch 100 by the user and acting e.g. essentially at right angles to the longitudinal axis 32. Due to the lever action of the sliding switch 100, 30 which is coupled pivotably to the sliding member 108, the user need only apply a comparatively small manual holding force F to keep the sliding switch 100 in the holding state, with the driving motor switched on, so as to run the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 non-stop for long periods without user fatigue. 2957410v1 10

If the user releases the sliding switch 100 unintentionally or deliberately, the holding force F will no longer be acting on the sliding switch 100, and the return spring 52 of Fig. 2 will pull the sliding switch 100 back from its holding state (shown in Fig. 4), by means of the sliding member 108, until 5 the sliding switch 100 is returned to its resting state (shown in Fig. 3) and the motor powering the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 is switched off, with the edge 122 sliding back over the holding-surface 124, due to the lack of holding force F, together with the force of the return spring 52. During this operation, the sliding switch 100 performs a predominantly longitudinal io movement with a superimposed tilting movement, in relation to the longitudinal axis 32; the sliding switch 100 is guided by the sliding geometry 106 in the form of the bulge 116, the connecting geometry 110, and the edge 122 sliding along the inclined holding-surface 124 of the recess 126, which together form the holding geometry 128. is Figs. 5 and 6 will be considered together, below. They show a second embodiment of a sliding switch 200 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. The sliding switch 200 preferably has an operating side 202, particularly an ergonomically-shaped operating side 202, facing away from the housing 24 of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, and a 2o working side 204 with a sliding geometry 206, facing the power tool’s housing 24. A sliding member 208 serving to connect the sliding switch 200 mechanically to the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 has a connection geometry 210 to couple the sliding switch 200 pivotably at a pivot point 212. 25 The sliding geometry 206 is preferably constituted by e.g. a spherical bulge 216, formed on the working side 204, that is guided on the power tool’s housing 24, said bulge 216 preferably having an at least approximately semicircular cross-sectional geometry and being situated in the region of the sliding switch’s first axial end 218, which faces towards 30 the attachable-tool mount of the electric power tool 10 shown in Fig. 1. In the region of the sliding switch’s second axial end 220, which points away from its first axial end 218, there is a projection 222, pointing towards the power tool’s housing 24, with a contact surface 224 on it; and this, in combination with a holding-surface 226 — inclined relative to the 35 longitudinal axis 32 — on a recess 228 in the power tool’s housing 24, 2957410v1 11 likewise forms a holding geometry 230 to lock the sliding switch 200 in the holding state with the driving motor switched on when the user, employing e.g. a finger, is manually causing the holding force F to be applied to the sliding switch 200, at right angles to the longitudinal axis 32. The contact 5 surface 224 of the projection 222, and the holding-surface 226 of the recess 228, are each correspondingly inclined at an angle a to the longitudinal axis 32; and therefore, when the sliding switch 200 is in the holding state (as shown in Fig. 5), with the motor switched on, the contact surface 224 of the projection 222 is held at least partly against the io holding-surface 226 of the recess 228 in the power tool’s housing 24, with preferably only a relatively small holding force F being sufficient to maintain the holding state continuously.

When the user releases the sliding switch 200 in a controlled or even an uncontrolled manner, the contact surface 224 of the projection 222 will is slide along the holding-surface 226 of the recess 228, with the sliding switch 200 pivoting about the pivot point 212 at the same time, until the contact surface 224 of the projection 222 can move past the holding-surface 226 of the recess 228, in the axial direction, so that the sliding switch 200 can quit the holding state (shown in Fig. 5) and move back, 2o parallel to the longitudinal axis 32, to the resting state (shown in Fig. 6), under the action of the return spring 52 of Fig. 2, and the driving motor of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 is switched off. In this process, the sliding switch 200 slides along the power tool’s housing 24 by virtue of its sliding geometry 206 in the form of the semicircular bulge 216. In the 25 transition from the holding state to the resting state and vice versa, the sliding switch 200 preferably performs a pivoting or tilting movement about the pivot point 212, in combination with a linear movement of the bulge 216 on the power tool’s housing 24 along the longitudinal axis 32.

To ensure that the sliding switch 200 30 can be kept in the holding state, with the driving motor 12 of Fig. 1 switched on, through the application of only a relatively small holding force F, yet will still shift immediately — and with absolute reliability — into the resting state, to switch the motor off, in the event that the user 35 releases the sliding switch 200 deliberately or inadvertently, 2957410v1 12 there is preferably a distance A between an apex point 232 on the bulge 216, and the contact surface 224 of the projection 222, and there is preferably a given lever-length L, between an apex point 232 on the bulge 216, and the second axial end 220 of the sliding switch 5 200. The numerical relationship here between distance A and lever length L, including the interval boundaries, is preferably between 0.2 and 0.8. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the angle a between the holding-surface 226 of the recess 228 in the power tool’s housing 24 and the longitudinal axis 32 of the power tool’s housing 24, including the interval boundaries, is io preferably between 35° and 85°; and the indent height h of the recess 228 in the power tool’s housing 24 is preferably less than or equal to the height H of the projection 222 formed on what, for illustrative purposes, is the underside of the sliding switch 200.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 300 that can be is used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. This sliding switch 300 preferably has an operating side 302, particularly an ergonomically-shaped operating side 302, facing away from the housing 24 of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, and a working side 304 facing the power tool’s housing 24. On the working side 304 of the sliding switch 300, there 2o is an axial end edge 306, facing the attachable-tool mount 20 of Figure 1, that serves both as sliding geometry 308 and as pivot point 310. In the region of the axial end 312 of the sliding switch 300 that is distal to the end edge 306, there is preferably a holding geometry 314, which, in one embodiment, has a projection 316, formed on the working side 304, and a 25 recess 318, formed in the power tool’s housing 24. The projection 316 and the recess 318 are each biased. In detail, the operation of the holding geometry 314 corresponds to that of the holding geometries of the first two embodiments of the sliding switches 100 and 200 of Figs. 3 and 4, and Figs. 5 and 6. Therefore, to avoid repetition, the description of Figs. 3 30 to 6 will be referred to at this point.

In Fig. 7, the sliding switch 300 is shown in the resting state, and therefore the driving motor 12 of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 is switched off and not energised. In the holding state, with the driving motor switched on, the projection 316 is preferably engaged form-fittingly in the recess 35 318, at least in some areas, and so, here again, this state can be 2957410v1 13 maintained by means of a holding force F applied manually by the user, preferably with a comparatively little effort. Mechanical activation of the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 is performed by means of the driver 320, which is formed integrally on the working side 304 of the sliding 5 switch 300, and which, here again, engages a sliding member 324 by means of suitable connection geometry 322, to operate the electrical on/off switch.

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 400 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. In contrast to the w embodiment in Fig. 7, the sliding switch 400 here has a sliding geometry 410 with a preferably semi-circular, ball-shaped bulge 408 formed on the sliding switch’s working side 404 (i.e. the side opposite the preferably ergonomically-shaped operating side 402), in the region of the sliding switch’s first axial end 406 facing the attachable-tool mount 20 of Fig. 1. is The bulge 408 is guided on an e.g. concavely curved ramp 412 preferably formed integrally with the power tool’s housing 24. During switching between the sliding switch’s resting state, indicated by a solid line, and its holding state, symbolised by a dotted line, with the holding force F being applied, the bulge 408 slides on the ramp 412. On the second axial end 2o 414, a holding geometry 416 is again formed, whose structure and mode of operation here again correspond to the holding geometries described above.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 500 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. The electric power tool 10 25 preferably has an operating side 502 facing away from the power tool’s housing 24 of Fig. 1, and a working side 504 facing the power tool’s housing 24.

In contrast to the embodiments of sliding switches illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8, a projection 508, with a contact surface 510 that is inclined relative to 30 the longitudinal axis 32, is provided in the region of the first axial end 506 facing the attachable-tool mount 24. Flere again, this contact surface 510, and the holding-surface 512 of a recess 514 in the power tool’s housing 24, together form a holding geometry 516. In the region of the second 2957410v1 14 axial end 518, however, a preferably semicircular bulge 520 is provided as a sliding geometry 522.

In the holding state shown in Fig. 9, with the driving motor of the electric power tool of Fig. 1 switched on, the holding force F causes the contact 5 surface 510 of the projection 508 to bear against the holding-surface 512 of the recess 514, at least in some areas; and thus this state can be maintained by the user with minimal effort against the force of the return spring 52 of Fig. 2. When the user releases the sliding switch 500, the inclined contact surface 510 of the projection 508 slides over the holding-70 surface 512 of the recess 514, due to the force of the return spring 52 of Fig. 2, until the projection 508 and the recess 514 become disengaged and the sliding switch 500 attains the resting state, indicated by the dotted line, and the driving motor of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 is switched off. The actuation of the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 is 15 again effected by means of a sliding member 524, which is coupled by means of its connection geometry 526 to a driver 528 formed on the working side 504.

Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 600 which can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, and which has first and 20 second axial ends 602, 604. A sliding member 606 for the mechanical actuation of the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 has a connecting geometry 608 for connecting the sliding switch 600 pivotably at a pivot point 610. This pivot point 610 is preferably positioned midway between the axial ends 602, 604, on the switch’s working side 612 facing the 25 power tool’s housing 24 (see Fig. 1). On either side of the pivot point 610, a first and a second holding geometry 614, 616 is provided on the working side 612 of the sliding switch 600. Starting out from the resting state shown here, the holding geometry maintains the holding state, once achieved, with the action of the holding force F, which only acts on the 30 sliding switch 600 in the region of the first or second holding geometry 612, 614 and the first or second axial end 602, 604 respectively. As regards their structure and their mode of operation, the holding geometries 614, 616 correspond to those described above, and therefore reference is made to the description of Figs. 5 to 9 for further details of 35 their design. 2957410v1 15

In order to further facilitate the operation of the sliding switch 600, which is mounted so as to be pivotable, like a rocker switch, about the pivot point 610, and displaceable axially in the direction indicated by arrow 618, it is preferable to provide haptically-detectable, ergonomic-shaped, ramp-like 5 elevations 622, 624 on the operating side 620, in the region of the first axial end 602 and in the region of the pivot point 610 respectively. Starting from the sliding switch’s resting state (shown here), the sliding switch 600 can be shifted by the user to the holding state, by displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 in the direction indicated by arrow 618, thus io bringing the holding geometries 614, 616 to their engaged state in which they are held continuously by the application of the holding force F on one side.

Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 700 which can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 and which preferably has a is first and a second axial end 702, 704. A sliding member 706 for mechanically actuating the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 has a connection geometry 708 for pivotable coupling of the sliding switch 700 at a pivot point 710. This pivot point 710 is situated on a working side 712 facing the power tool’s housing 24 (Fig 1) and is preferably positioned in 2o the region of the first axial end 702. In contrast to all of the sliding-switch embodiments described with reference to Figs. 3 to 10, the sliding switch 700 here preferably has e.g. three holding geometries 714, 716, 718 in its working-side region 712. The operation and structure of the holding geometries 714, 716, 718 correspond, for the rest, to the holding 25 geometries of the sliding switch 100 of Figs. 3 and 4 and the sliding switch 200 of Figs. 5 and 6; and so, in order to avoid repetition, the description of Figs. 3 to Fig. 6 is referred to.

Starting out from the resting state illustrated in Fig. 11, in which the driving motor of the electric power tool of Fig. 1 is switched off, the holding state 30 is achieved by means of a translational movement of the sliding switch 700 parallel to the longitudinal axis 32, in the direction indicated by arrow 720, and is maintained by the action of the holding force F on a concave operating side 722 facing away from the power tool’s housing 24. In the sliding switch’s holding state, all three holding geometries 714, 716, 718 2957410v1 16 are in the engaged state, resulting in an excellent locking effect even with a relatively small holding force F.

Fig. 12 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 800 which can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1, and which has a first axial 5 end 802 and a second axial end 804. On the sliding switch’s working side 806 facing the power tool’s housing 24, there is a driver 808, preferably formed integrally thereon. There is a sliding member 810 with a connection geometry 812 to couple the sliding switch 800 slightly pivotably, i.e. tiltably, relative to the longitudinal axis 32. The driver 808, w provided on the working side 806, is preferably positioned at least approximately midway between the axial ends 802, 804. On either side of the driver 808, in the region of the first and second axial ends 802, 804, there are first and second holding geometries 814, 816, provided on the working side 806 of the sliding switch 800. Starting out from the resting is state of the sliding switch 800 (shown here), the holding geometry maintains the holding state, once achieved, through the action of the holding force F, which only acts on the sliding switch 800 in the region of the first or second holding geometry 814, 816 and the first or second axial end 802, 804 respectively. The holding geometries 814, 816 correspond, 2o with respect to their structural design and their manner of operation, to the holding geometries described above; and therefore the description of Figs. 5 and 6 is likewise to be referred to for further structural details.

To further facilitate the operation of the sliding switch 800, which is mounted so as to be pivotable and displaceable axially in the direction 25 indicated by arrow 818, the sliding switch 800 has ramp-like elevations 822, 824 on its operating side 820 — in the region of the first axial end 802 and the driver 808 respectively — that are preferably easy to detect haptically, and are preferably ergonomic in shape. Starting from the sliding switch’s resting state (shown here), the sliding switch 800 can be shifted 30 by the user to the holding state, by displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 in the direction indicated by arrow 818, thus bringing the holding geometries 814, 816 to their engaged state in which they are held continuously by the application of the holding force F on one side. 2957410v1 17

Fig. 13 shows a further embodiment of a sliding switch 850 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. This sliding switch 850 has a cuboid driver 856 for the sliding member 858. The cuboid driver 856 is provided on a working side 854 that faces a housing 852 for the driving 5 motor 12 of the electric hand tool 10 of Fig. 1. The sliding member 858 in turn serves for the mechanical actuation of the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2 by means of the sliding switch 850; and for this purpose, the sliding member 858 has a connection geometry 860. The motor housing 852 has a projection 862, pointing radially inwards, with a holding-surface io 864 that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 32. On the end 866 of the sliding member 858 facing away from the attachable-tool mount 20 of Fig. 1, there is a radially outward pointing projection 868 with a contact surface 870 on it whose slope corresponds at least approximately to that of holding-surface 864. This projection is preferably formed integrally with is the sliding member 858. The holding-surface 864 of the projection 862 on the motor housing 852, in cooperation with the contact surface 870 of the projection 868 on the sliding member 868, forms a holding geometry 872 for locking the sliding switch 850 in its holding state (illustrated here with solid lines), in which the holding force F applied by the user 874 acts on 2o the operating side 874 of the sliding switch 850, essentially at right angles to the longitudinal axis 32.

When the user releases the sliding switch 850, it is automatically retracted in the direction indicated by arrow 876 due to the absence of holding force F, in conjunction with the action of the return spring 52 of Fig. 2, until the 25 resting state of the sliding switch 850 symbolised by a dotted line is attained and the driving motor of the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1 is switched off. In order to move the sliding switch 850 back out of the holding state into the resting state, and keep it there, the sliding switch 850 is shifted essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 and counter to 30 the direction indicated by arrow 876, until the sliding switch 850 attains the holding state (indicated by solid lines), with the driving motor switched on, and can be maintained there by the application of the holding force F. In the sliding-switch holding state, the holding geometry 872 is in the engaged state, i.e. the holding-surface 864 of the projection 862 on the 35 side of the motor housing 852 bears against the contact surface 870 of the projection 868 on the sliding member 858, at least in some areas. In 2957410v1 18 other respects, the functioning and structure of the holding geometry 872 follows that of e.g. the sliding switch described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6; and so, to avoid repetition, reference can be made to them.

In order to further improve the operation of the sliding switch 850 which is 5 pivotable or tiltable, and displaceable, with respect to the longitudinal axis 32, the operating side 874 preferably has, in the region of the first axial end 878 of the sliding switch 850 which faces the attachable-tool mount 20 of Fig. 1, an elevation 880 that is ergonomically-shaped, and preferably ramp-like and concavely curved on one side, particularly for io operation by finger or thumb. This elevation 880 is shown levelling off and running flat on the sliding switch’s second end 882, which is distal to its first axial end 878. In the region of the second axial end 882 of the sliding switch 850, the working side 854 at least partially functions as a sliding geometry resting on the motor housing 852 to guide the pivoting, tiltable is sliding switch 850; and therefore, no convex bulge need be provided on the working side 854, to serve as a sliding geometry, in this embodiment.

Figs. 14 to16, which will referred to together below, show another alternative embodiment of a sliding switch 900 that can be used with the electric power tool 10 of Fig. 1. This sliding switch 900 has, for illustrative 2o purposes, the sliding member 606 of Fig. 10 to mechanically operate the electrical on/off switch 40 of Fig. 2, and the connection geometry 608 of Fig. 10 to couple the sliding switch 900 pivotably at an associated pivot point. The pivot point is arranged, like the pivot point 610 of Fig. 10, on the sliding switch’s working side 902, which faces the power tool’s 25 housing 24 (Fig. 1) and is positioned in the transition region between the working side 902 and the connection geometry 608; but is not indicated separately, for the sake of simplicity and clarity in the drawing.

The first axial end 910 of the sliding switch 900 faces the attachable-tool mount 20 of Fig. 1 .In this end region 910, there is a holding hook 914, 30 formed on the operating side 912 of the sliding switch 900, which faces away from the working side 902. In the sliding switch’s holding state, the holding hook 914 can be brought into form-fitting engagement, at least in some areas, with a radially inward directed locking hook 916 formed in an opening 918 in the power tool’s housing 24. The holding hook 914 of the 2957410v1 19 sliding switch 900, in cooperation with the locking hook 916 of the power tool’s housing 24, forms a holding geometry in accordance with the present invention.

In the region of the first axial end 910, there is preferably a first ramp-5 shaped elevation 926, preferably ergonomic in design, formed on, and preferable integral with, the sliding switch’s operating side 912, which faces away from the sliding switch’s working side 902. A second rampshaped elevation 930, whose height is less than that of the first rampshaped elevation 926, is formed on the sliding switch’s second axial end w 928, which is distal to the first axial end 910. As a result, the sliding switch 900 has an at least approximately concave profile between the elevations 926, 930 on its operating side 912 of the sliding switch 900, thus providing a comfortable operating experience for the user.

When a user moves the sliding switch 900 out of the resting state is illustrated in Fig. 14 and pushes it parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 of the power tool’s housing 24, in the direction indicated by arrow 932, the locking hook 914 will come to be situated beneath the holding hook 916 (as can be seen in Fig. 15), and the holding geometry will have almost attained its engagement state. As can be seen in Fig. 16, the sliding 2o switch 900 is moved axially, parallel to the longitudinal axis 32, in the direction indicated by arrow 930, until the application of the holding force F by the user causes the sliding switch 900 to be pivoted in such a way that the locking hook 914 catches behind the holding hook 916, and the hooks 914, 916 are fully engaged with each other, with the motor of the 25 electric power tool 10 of Fig 1 switched on. This holding state can be maintained continuously, with relatively little effort and without user fatigue, through the action of the holding force F.

When, however, the user releases the sliding switch 900 in a controlled or uncontrolled manner, the holding force F is zero, and the sliding switch 30 900 is then pulled out of the holding state of Fig. 16, and moved essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 and counter to the direction of arrow 930, by the force of the return spring 52 of Fig. 2 acting on the sliding member 606, causing the sliding switch 900 to pass through an intermediate state shown in Fig. 15 and finally attain the resting state 2957410v1 20 shown in Fig. 14, in which the driving motor of the electric power tool machine 10 of Fig 1 is switched off. So that the sliding switch 900 will slide back smoothly after its release, the holding hook 914 on the sliding switch 900 has a holding-surface 934 with a suitable slope that will slide 5 over the locking hook 916 on the power tool’s housing 24 when the sliding switch 900 is released, i.e. when the holding force F ceases, and at the same time the sliding switch 900 will perform a pivoting movement in addition to its translational movement parallel to the longitudinal axis 32. 2957410v1

Claims

Claims

1. An electric power tool (10) with: - a mount (20) for an attachable tool·, - a power tool housing (20) in which there is a motor (12) to drive the attachable-tool mount (20); and, -a sliding switch (100, 200) — mounted on the power tool’s housing (24) and serving to manually switch the driving motor (12) on or off — that is spring-loaded axially by means of a return spring (52), and is movable longitudinally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis (32) and/or pivotable with respect to the longitudinal axis (32); characterised in that at least one holding geometry (128, 230) is provided, this being designed to hold the sliding switch (100, 200) in a holding state when a given holding force (F) is applied manually to the sliding switch (100, 200) by a user, and to shift the sliding switch (100, 200) automatically to a resting state when it is released by the user; the driving motor (12) being switched on in the holding state, and switched off in the resting state.
2. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that an electrical on/off switch (40), connected to the driving motor (12) electroconductively, is coupled to the sliding switch (100, 200) mechanically by means of a sliding member (50,108, 208).
3. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the sliding member (50,108, 208) has a connection geometry (110, 210) for coupling the sliding switch (100, 200) pivotally at an associated pivot point (112, 212).
4. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the sliding switch (100, 200) has an operating side (102, 202), which faces away from the power tool’s housing (24), and a working side (104, 204), which faces towards the power tool’s housing (24); with at least one sliding geometry (106, 206) being provided on the working side (104, 204), and a driver (114, 204) being provided for the sliding member (50, 108, 208).
5. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the sliding geometry (106) is constituted by a bulge (116), formed on the working side (104), that is guided on the power tool’s housing (24) and is situated in the sliding switch’s first axial end region (118), which faces towards the attachable-tool mount (20); andthe holding geometry {128), for locking the sliding switch (100) in the holding state, is a an edge (122) — directed towards the power tool’s housing (24) — on the sliding switch’s second axial end (120), which faces away from the attachable-tool mount (20), and a holding-surface (124) — inclined relative to the power tool housing’s longitudinal axis (32) — on a recess (126) in the power tool’s housing (24).
6. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the sliding geometry (206) is constituted by a bulge (216), formed on the working side (204), that is guided on the power tool’s housing (24) and is situated in the sliding switch’s first axial end region (218), which faces towards the attachable-tool mount (20); and, at an axial distance from the bulge (216), in the direction of the sliding switch’s second axial end (220), which points away from the attachable-tool mount (20), there is a projection (222), formed on the sliding switch (200), and pointing towards the power tool’s housing (24), with the holding geometry (128) for locking the sliding switch (100) in the holding state being constituted by a contact surface (224), on the projection (222), serving to abut the power tool’s housing (24), and by a holding-surface (226) — on a recess (228) in the power tool’s housing (24) — that corresponds to the contact surface (224) and is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (32) of the power tool’s housing (24).
7. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that there is a distance (A) between the bulge (216) and the contact surface (224) of the projection (222) on the sliding switch (200).
8. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that there is a given lever length (L) between the bulge (216) and the second axial end (220) of the sliding switch (200), with the ratio between the distance (A) and the lever length (L) being between 0.2 and 0.8.
9. An electric power tool as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the angle (a) between the holding-surface (226) of the recess (228) in the power tool’s housing (24), and the longitudinal axis (32) of the power tool’s housing (24), is between 35° and 85°.
10. An electric power tool as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the indent height (h) of the recess (228) in the power tool’s housing (24) is less than or equal to the height (H) of the projection (222) on the sliding switch (200).
11. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that an axial end edge (306) on the working side (304) constitutes the sliding geometry (308) and forms a pivot point (310) when the sliding switch (300) is moved pivotally.
12. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that a ramp (412), for the sliding geometry (410) of the sliding switch (400), is formed on the power tool’s housing (24).
13. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the holding geometry (516) is constituted by a contact surface (510), on a projection (508) on the sliding switch (500), that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (32) of the power tool’s housing (24), and by a holding surface (512), on a recess (514) in the power tool’s housing (24), that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the power tool’s housing; said projection (508) being formed on the working side (504) of the sliding switch (500), in the sliding switch’s first axial end region (506); and a bulge (520) constituting the sliding geometry (522) being provided on the sliding switch’s second axial end region (500).
14. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the pivot point (610) is situated between the first and second axial ends (602, 604) of the sliding switch (600); and, on each side of the pivot point (610), a respective holding geometry (614, 616) is provided.
15. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the pivot point (710) is arranged on a first or second axial end (702, 704) of the sliding switch (700); and at least one, but preferably three, holding geometries (714, 716, 718) are provided.
16. An electric power tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the sliding switch (800) is designed to be movable parallel to the longitudinal axis (32) of the power tool’s housing (24), with the holding geometries (814, 816) being provided on the first and second axial end regions (802, 804) of the sliding switch (800) respectively.
17. An electric power tool as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that a radially inward directed projection (862), formed on a motor housing (852) provided for the driving motor (12), has a holding-surface (864) that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (32) of the power tool’s housing (24); and the holding geometry (872) is constituted by this inclined holding-surface (864), together with a contact surface (870) — on a radially outward directed projection (868) on the sliding member (850) — that is correspondingly inclined relative to the power tool’s housing (24).
18. An electric power tool as claimed in any of the above claims, characterised in that a holding hook (914), provided on a first axial end (910) of the sliding switch (900) that faces towards the attachable-tool mount (20), can be locked on a locking hook (916) formed on the power tool’s housing (24); with said holding hook (914) and said locking hook (916) constituting the holding geometry (918).