EP2998074A1

EP2998074A1 - Power tool

Info

Publication number: EP2998074A1
Application number: EP15156835.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Atsushi Takeyama; Masari MURAMATSU; Naotake Tanaka
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-29
Filing date: 2015-02-27
Publication date: 2016-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-27
Also published as: CN105983952A; EP2998074B1; JP2016049599A

Abstract

A power tool (10) includes a main body (11), chuck (18a), and a bit holder (21). The main body includes a motor (17a), a transmission (17) that directly or indirectly transmits rotation generated by the motor to an output shaft (18), a grip (15), and a battery pack mount (16) located at the bottom end of the grip and elongated in a front-to-rear direction. The chuck is arranged on a distal end of the output shaft and projects toward the front from the main body. The bit holder is integrated with the battery pack mount. The bit holder is configured to hold a spare or non-used bit (19) so that a distal end or a basal end of the spare or non-used bit is directed toward the front.

Description

The present invention relates to a power tool.
A hand-held power tool may include a bit holder that holds a spare bit, such as a drill bit or a driver bit. Japanese Patent No. 5126596 describes a power tool that includes a bit holder arranged on a battery pack mount, which is located at the bottom end of the power tool.
The bit holder of Japanese Patent No. 5126596 is arranged on a rear surface of the battery pack mount. The longitudinal axis of a bit held in the bit holder extends in a sideward direction that is orthogonal to the front-to-rear direction of the power tool.
When the bit held by the bit holder is longer than the sideward width of the power tool, the distal end or basal end projects beyond the bit holder. As a result, the bit may come into contact with the user or a work piece making it difficult to handle the power tool. The bit holder on the rear surface of the battery pack mount limits the length of a bit that can be held without adversely affecting handling of the power tool.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a power tool that obviates or reduces projection of the bit beyond the power tool without adversely affecting handling of the power tool.
One aspect of the present invention is a power tool including a main body, a chuck, and a bit holder. The main body includes a motor, a transmission that directly or indirectly transmits rotation generated by the motor to an output shaft, a grip, and a battery pack mount located at the bottom end of the grip and elongated in a front-to-rear direction. The chuck is arranged on a distal end of the output shaft and projects toward the front from the main body. The bit holder is integrated with the battery pack mount. The bit holder is configured to hold a spare or non-used bit so that a distal end or a basal end of the spare or non-used bit is directed toward the front.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of a power tool;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a bit holder holding a bit; and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a bit holder when a bit is removed from the bit holder.
One embodiment of a power tool will now be described.

Fig. 1 shows a power tool 10 of the present embodiment used as, for example, a drill driver. The power tool 10 includes a main body 11 and a battery pack 12, which is connected in a removable manner to the main body 11. The battery pack 12 incorporates a rechargeable battery.
The main body 11 has a housing 13 including a barrel 14, a grip 15 located below the barrel 14, and a battery pack mount 16 located at the bottom end of the grip 15. The housing 13 accommodates a motor 17a driven by, for example, the rechargeable battery of the battery pack 12. A transmission 17 couples the motor 17a to an output shaft 18. The transmission 17 directly or indirectly transmits the rotation generated by the motor 17a to the output shaft 18. A chuck 18a is arranged on a distal end of the output shaft 18 and exposed to the outside of the barrel 14. A bit, such as a driver bit, is attached in a removable manner to the chuck 18a. The bit 19 rotates together with the chuck 18a. In the present embodiment, the chuck 18a may be referred to as the front end of the power tool 10. The axis L1 of the output shaft 18 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the power tool 10.
A trigger switch 20 is arranged on the upper end of the grip 15.
The battery pack mount 16 has the form of a rectangular box elongated in the front-to-rear direction. A bit holder 21 is integrated with a left surface 16a of the battery pack mount 16. The bit holder 21 is formed to hold a spare or non-used bit 19 (may be referred to as a spare bit). The distal end or basal end of the spare bit 19 held by the bit holder 21 is directed toward the front of the power tool 10. The left surface 16a of the battery pack mount 16 is one example of an outer panel that is oblong in the front-to-rear direction.
The bit holder 21 may be formed by resilient holding pieces (bit holding pieces). In the illustrated example, the resilient holding pieces form a front (first) clip 22, two rear (second) clips 23, and a third clip 24 located between the two second clips 23. The first clip 22 is longer than the second and third clips 23 and 24. The second and third clips 23 and 24 may have the substantially the same length.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bit 19 of the present embodiment is of, for example, a single-headed Phillips head driver type. The bit 19 includes a distal end 19a, a shank 19b, and a neck 19c. Preferably, the shank 19b has a non-circular cross-section like a hexagonal bar. The neck 19c has a smaller diameter than the shank 19b.
The first clip 22 and the second clips 23 are substantially identical in shape when viewed from the front of the power tool 10.
The two resilient holding pieces forming the first clip 22 each include a resilient plate 22a, an arch 22b (engagement portion), and a distal end 22c. The resilient plate 22a projects horizontally from the left surface 16a. The arches 22b of the first clip 22 are curved toward each other. The resilient plates 22a of the first clip 22 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. This forms a bit accommodation gap between the two resilient plates 22a. The size of the bit accommodation gap is substantially the same or slightly smaller than the diameter (distance between two opposed surfaces) of the shank 19b of the bit 19. A gap formed between the two arches 22b is smaller than the bit accommodation gap. The distal ends 22c of the first clip 22 extend away from each other in the vertical direction.
The two resilient holding pieces forming each second clip 23 each include a resilient plate 23a, an arch 23b (engagement portion), and a distal end 23c respectively corresponding to the resilient plate 22a, the arch 22b, and the distal end 22c of the first clip 22.
The two resilient holding pieces forming the third clip 24 each includes a resilient plate 24a and a distal end 24b. The resilient plate 24a projects horizontally from the left surface 16a. Further, the resilient plate 24a includes a basal portion and a middle portion. The basal portions of the two resilient plates 24a are inclined toward each other from the left surface 16a, and the middle portions extend horizontally. A neck accommodation gap, which is smaller than the bit accommodation gap, is formed between the middle portions of the two resilient plates 24a. The size of the neck accommodation gap is substantially the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck 19c. The distal ends 24b extend away from each other in the vertical direction.
The attachment of the bit 19 to the bit holder 21 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the bit 19 is guided into the gaps between the distal ends 22c, 23c, and 24b of the first to third grips 22 to 24. The application of force to the bit 19 expands the gaps of the first to third clips 22 to 24. The bit 19 is moved beyond the arches 22b and 23b and into the bit accommodation gaps between the resilient plates 22a to 24a. As a result, the shank 19b near the distal end 19a of the bit 19 is held by the first clip 22, the shank 19b at opposite sides of the neck 19c is held by the two second clips 23, and the neck 19c is held by the third clip 24.
In this manner, the bit holder 21 holds the bit 19 so that the distal end 19a or basal end of the bit 19 is directed toward the front of the power tool 10. The bit 19 is held in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack mount 16, which is usually elongated in the front-to-rear direction. In several examples, the axis of the bit 19 may be parallel to the axis L1 of the output shaft 18. The distal end 19a and the basal end of the bit 19 attached to the bit holder 21 are located outside the first and second clips 22 and 23. This allows the bit holder 21 to hold the bit 19 that is relatively long.
Accordingly, the bit holder 21 may hold the bit 19 without the bit 19 projecting beyond the power tool 10 even when the bit 19 has the same length as the battery pack mount 16. The battery pack mount 16 is usually elongated in the front-to-rear direction. This reduces the projected length of the bit 19, which is held by the bit holder 21, from the battery pack mount 16 toward the front or rear. Thus, the limit to the length of the bit 19 may be increased without adversely affecting the handling of the power tool 10.
The first and second clips 22 and 23 hold the shank 19b of the bit 19, and the third clip 24 holds the neck 19c of the bit 19. This obviates or reduces movement of the bit 19 in the front-to-rear direction and tightly holds the bit 19. The distal ends 22c and 23c of the first and second clips 22 and 23 project toward the outer side from the bit 19 held by the bit holder 21. Thus, the distal ends 22c and 23c each functions as a buffer that protects the bit 19.
The present embodiment has the advantages described below.

(1) The bit holder 21 is integrated with the left surface 16a of the battery pack mount 16. The bit 19 held by the bit holder 21 is held so that the axis of the bit 19 extends in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack mount 16. Thus, even when the length of the bit 19 is the same as the battery pack mount 16, the bit holder 21 holds the bit 19 without the bit 19 projecting beyond the power tool 10. The battery pack mount 16 is usually elongated in the front-to-rear direction. This reduces the projected length of the bit 19, which is held by the bit holder 21, from the battery pack mount 16 toward the front or rear. Thus, the spare bit 19 does not adversely affect the handling of the power tool 10. Further, the limit may be increased for the length of the bit 19 held by the bit holder 21.
(2) The bit holder 21 includes the first to third clips 22 to 24 that project from the left surface 16a of the battery pack mount 16. The distal end 19a and the basal end of the bit 19 are located outside the bit holder 21 when the bit 19 is held by the first to third clips 22 to 24. This allows a long bit 19 to be held by the bit holder 21. The bit holder 21 may hold a bit that is longer than, for example, the battery pack mount 16.
(3) The distal ends 22c and 23c of the first and second clips 22 and 23 project toward the outer side from the outermost surface of the bit 19 held by the bit holder 21. The distal ends 22c and 23c each functions as a buffer that protects the bit 19. Accordingly, when the power tool 10 is in use, the bit 19 held by the bit holder 21 does not contact the user or the work piece.
(4) The first clip 22 is spaced apart from the second clips 23 in the front-to-rear direction. A middle portion of the bit 19 is exposed from between the first clip 22 and the second clips 23. This allows for easy removal of the bit 19 from the bit holder 21.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the following forms.
In the above embodiment, the bit holder 21 is formed to hold the single-headed Phillips head driver type bit 19. Instead, the bit holder 21 may hold a double-headed Phillips head driver type bit or a bit that is less the neck 19c. The structure of the bit holder 21 may be changed in accordance with the type of the bit.
In the above embodiment, the bit holder 21 is arranged on only the left surface 16a of the battery pack mount 16. Instead, the bit holder 21 may be held on the right surface of the battery pack mount 16 or on both of the left and right sides.
The power tool 10 may be a hand-held power tool other than a drill driver.
Preferably, the bit holder 21 includes the first to third clips 22 to 24. Instead, the bit holder 21 may include only one or two of the first to third clips 22 to 24.
The present disclosure includes the embodiments described below.

Embodiment 1

A power tool (10) including a main body (11), a chuck (18a), and a bit holder (21). The main body (11) includes a motor (17a), a transmission (17) that directly or indirectly transmits rotation generated by the motor (17a) to an output shaft (18), a grip (15), and a battery pack mount (16) located at the bottom end of the grip (15) and elongated in a front-to-rear direction. The chuck (18a) is arranged on a distal end of the output shaft (18) and projects toward the front from the main body (11). The bit holder (21) is integrated with the battery pack mount (16). The bit holder is configured to hold a spare or non-used bit (19) so that a distal end or a basal end of the spare or non-used bit (19) is directed toward the front.

Embodiment 2

The bit holder (21) includes at least two bit holding pieces (22 to 24) projecting from an outer surface (16a) of the battery pack mount (16), and the two bit holding pieces (22 to 24) are configured to hold the bit (19) with the distal end or basal end located outside the bit holding pieces.

Embodiment 3

Each of the bit holding pieces (22) includes a portion outwardly projecting from an outermost surface of the spare or non-used bit (19) when the bit holder (21) holds the bit (19) to function as a buffer.

Embodiment 4

The battery pack mount (21) includes an outer panel (16a) that is oblong in the front-to-rear direction, and the bit holder (21) is configured to hold the bit (19) along the outer panel (16a) of the battery pack mount.

Embodiment 5

The bit holder (21) includes a first clip (22) and a second clip (23) spaced apart from the first clip (22) in the front-to-rear direction. The bit holder (21) is configured to resiliently hold the bit (19) with a middle portion of the bit (19) located in a gap between the first clip (22) and the second clip (23).
The invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and various changes and modifications of its components may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, the components disclosed in the embodiments may be assembled in any combination for embodying the present invention. For example, some of the components may be omitted from all components disclosed in the embodiments. Further, components in different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

Claims

A power tool (10) comprising:
a main body (11) including a motor (17a), a transmission (17) that directly or indirectly transmits rotation generated by the motor (17a) to an output shaft (18), a grip (15), and a battery pack mount (16) located at the bottom end of the grip (15) and elongated in a front-to-rear direction;

a chuck (18a) arranged on a distal end of the output shaft (18) and projecting toward the front from the main body (11); and

a bit holder (21) integrated with the battery pack mount (16), wherein the bit holder is configured to hold a spare or non-used bit (19) so that a distal end or a basal end of the spare or non-used bit (19) is directed toward the front.
The power tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the bit holder (21) includes at least two bit holding pieces (22 to 24) projecting from an outer surface (16a) of the battery pack mount (16), and the two bit holding pieces (22 to 24) are configured to hold the bit (19) with the distal end or basal end located outside the bit holding pieces.
The power tool according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the bit holding pieces (22) includes a portion outwardly projecting from an outermost surface of the spare or non-used bit (19) when the bit holder (21) holds the bit (19) to function as a buffer.
The power tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the battery pack mount (21) includes an outer panel (16a) that is oblong in the front-to-rear direction, and the bit holder (21) is configured to hold the bit (19) along the outer panel (16a) of the battery pack mount.
The power tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:
the bit holder (21) includes a first clip (22) and a second clip (23) spaced apart from the first clip (22) in the front-to-rear direction; and

the bit holder (21) is configured to resiliently hold the bit (19) with a middle portion of the bit (19) located in a gap between the first clip (22) and the second clip (23).