GB2400058A

GB2400058A - System for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool

Info

Publication number: GB2400058A
Application number: GB0415695A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sion Netzler
Original assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Current assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2004-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-07
Also published as: GB0415695D0; GB0302768D0; GB2398258A; GB2400058B; GB2398258B

Abstract

A system is disclosed for securing a detector 16 to a power tool body to via an intermediate clip 8. The clip 8 may be detachably secured to the tool to and, independently thereof, the detector 16 may be detachably secured to the clip 8. A power tool including such a system is also disclosed.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DETACHABLY SECURING A DETECTOR ELEMENT

TO A POWER TOOL

The present invention relates to a system for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool, and power tools including such a system. The invention has particular, although not exclusive, relevance to use of a detector element when needing to discover obstacles hidden behind a work surface such as pipes, wires or studs. The user of a power tool who needs to uncover such hidden obstacles appreciates the benefit of having such a detector element available to him, although is often hampered by having to put down the power tool and then conduct a separate operation with the detector element in order to be able to find and mark the position of the obstacle within or behind a workplace before again picking up the power tool to continue with the job.

Detector elements, per se, are well-known. Indeed, their incorporation into power tools is also well known. For example, EP-A 1,036,635 discloses a power drill/driver which includes a side handle into which is releasably mounted a pipe and wire detector element. In use of the drill/driver the user detaches the pipe and wire detector from the side handle of the drill/driver and uncovers the position of the pipe or wire within the workplace into which the drill/driver will perform a drilling or driving operation. Once this has been achieved, the user re-inserts the pipe and wire detector into the side handle and then continues with the drill/driving operation.

Whilst the above provides a perfectly acceptable method of discovering hidden obstacles such as pipes and wires, there is no means for semipermanently removing the pipe and wire detector from the drill/driver so that it may be used in another application. The pipe and wire detector is designed to be an integral part of the side handle of the drill/driver and is designed only to be removed temporarily when needed. Equally, the side handle of the drill/driver will not fit any other power tool.

There clearly exists the danger for a user, therefore, that if they remove the pipe and wire detector from the side handle and employ it in an operation other than one which uses the drill/driver, then the pipe and wire detector could become lost. It P-UK-CS 11 43A is designed to reside in the side handle of the drill/driver and the side handle of the drill/driver is only for use with the drill/driver and no other power tool.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to at least alleviate the above mentioned shortcomings. In particular it has been found that the ability to couple the detector to a power tool via an intermediate member provides the advantage that the combination of the detector and the intermediate member may be removed from that particular power tool and used in another application. Also, the combination of the intermediate member and the detector may then be coupled to another power tool, for example, such that the link between the individual detector and a selected power tool is no longer required (as in the prior art), but a far more flexible system of utilizing a detector via an intermediate member which may be coupled to other power tools, or carried with the user for other applications, becomes a possibility.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a system for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool body via an intermediate clip, wherein the system includes: a power tool including first support means depending therefrom; a clip detachably connectable to the first support means, the clip including second support means; such that the detector element, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured thereto by co-operation with said second support means, and that the system thus provides for detachably securing the clip to the power tool and also for detachably securing the detector element to the clip, wherein the first support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the power tool body.

Use of such an unobtrusive first support means as a pair of arms depending from the power tool body enables easy use of the power tool when the clip is not attached thereto.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool body via an intermediate clip, wherein the system includes: a power tool including first support means depending therefrom; P-UK-CS1 143A a clip detachably connectable to the first support means, the clip including second support means; such that the detector element, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured thereto by co-operation with said second support means, and that the system thus provides for detachably securing the clip to the power tool and also for detachably securing the detector element to the clip, wherein the second support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the clip and each arm of the pair of arms includes a locking element for releasably securing with a detector element presented thereto.

In having a locking element associated with each arm of the pair of arms, a quick and easy detachable connection may be made between the clip and the detector element.

The provision of an intermediate clip between the detector element and the tool enables not only the detector element to be removed from the clip when the clip is connected to the tool (in which situation the clip may be considered, effectively, an integral part of that power tool), but also the clip may be detached from the power tool (in particular when the detector element is secured to the clip) such that the combination of the clip and the detector element may be put to use in applications other than that which is associated with that particular power tool. Thus the present invention provides for a far more flexible and adaptive system than has been

available in the prior art.

Preferably the clip may comprise a projection for co-operating with the first support means in order to detachably secure the clip to the first support means. Use of such a projection on the clip enables the clip, per se, to the extremely versatile in that it will then be able to be attached to other support means and not just the support means of that particular power tool.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second support means may comprise a pair of arms depending from the clip.

P-UK-CS] 143A Preferably the second support means may depend orthogonally from the clip projection. This arrangement allows for the detector, when coupled to the clip, which itself is coupled to the power tool, to be adjacent the power tool in the most a space- saving manner possible. This makes for ease of use of the tool and a more ergonomically acceptable design.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool including a clip detachably connected to a first support means on the tool, the clip including a second support means; wherein the first support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the power tool body, the tool further including a detector element which, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured to the clip by co-operation with the second support means such that the clip may be detachably secured to the tool and, independently thereof, the detector element may be detachably secured to the clip.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool including a clip detachably connected to a first support means on the tool, the clip including a second support means; the tool further including a detector element which, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured to the clip by co-operation with the second support means such that the clip may be detachably secured to the tool and, independently thereof, the detector element may be detachably secured to the clip, wherein the second support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the clip and each arm of the pair of arms includes a locking element for releasably securing with a detector element presented thereto.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1 show various views of a portion of a power tool including first support means in accordance with the present invention; with Fig 1a showing a perspective view from above and to the side, Fig 1 b showing a sectional view from above, Fig 1 c showing an end-on view and Fig 1d showing a side view: P-UK-CS1 1 43A Figures 2 shows a similar views to those of figure 1, but with a clip supported by the first support means of figure 1 with Fig 2a showing a perspective view from above and to the side, Fig 2b showing a sectional view from above, Fig 2c showing a view from one end, Fig 2d showing a view from one side and Fig 2e showing a sectional view along the line A-A of figure 2d: Figure 3 different views of the arrangement shown in figure 2, but with a detector element carried by the clip thereof with Fig 3a showing a view from one end, Fig 3b showing a view from one side and Fig 3c showing a sectional view along the line B-B of figure 3b: Figures 4 show alternative views to those of figure 3 with figure 4a showing a perspective view from above and to one side and figure 4b showing a view in section from above: Figures 5 show views of a detector element supported by a clip in accordance with the present invention: Figures 6 show views from the rear to that of figures 5: Figures 7 show various views of the coupling between the clip and a detector element in accordance with the present invention, with figure 7a showing a side view of a clip and the connector, Fig 7b showing a view from above, Fig 7c showing a front view and Fig 7d showing a front view, like Fig 7c, but only of the detector element, and: Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a power tool for use with a system in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now firstly to figure 1 it can be seen that a cut-off portion of a power tool (only Fig 8 shows the complete power tool) includes, at the lower portion 2 thereof, a battery pack 4. The battery pack 4 couples to the lower portion 2 of the tool by any suitable restraining means, all of which are common in the art. The purpose of the battery pack 4 is to provide an energy source to power the tool in use thereof. The battery pack 4, per se, forms no part of the invention, but is disclosed for completeness.

The lower portion 2 of the tool includes first support means depending therefrom, in this example a plurality of support arms 6a, fib. The manner in which the support arms 6a, 6b depend from the lower portion 2 of the tool can be chosen P-UK-CS] 143A from a variety of alternatives. For example, each of the arms 6 a, 6b could be moulded from the same material is that of the tool itself. Alternatively the arms could be welded onto the body, depending upon the nature of the material is used.

Furthermore, the arms could be detachably secured to the body of the power tool by, for example, a snap fit connection, or the like.

It can be seen particularly from figures 1 to 3 that each arm 6a, 6b projects away from the lower portion 2 of tool such that arm 6a is parallel with arm 6b in the direction away from the power tool. Each arm, 6a, fib, then has a further portion extending from the portion of the arm which is parallel with the other arm, this further portion being formed through 90 relative to the first portion. Each of the further portions of the respective arms 6a or 6b is turned inward toward the other arm. This arrangement, therefore, provides that the structure of the arms 6a, 6b presents an open framework or cradle into which a clip 8 (see particularly figures 2, 3 and 4) may be presented to and held in place thereby.

The clip 8, in this example, is a plastics structure formed to have a projection, the main support structure 10, which is able to co-operate with and be retained by the arms 6a 6b of the lower portion 2 of the power tool. The clip also includes second support means, in this example a pair of arms 1 2a, 12b which depend from the main support structure 10. It can be seen that the arms 12a, 12b depend from the support structure 10 orthogonally therefrom. The reason for this will be explained more fully below.

Each of the arms 12 a, 12b has a distal end (compared to the proximal end the adjacent the support structure 10) 14 a, 14b, which is arranged to cooperate with a detector element presented thereto, as will be described in more detail here below.

Referring now particularly to figure 6 it can be seen that the clip 8 has its support structure 10 formed in a narrowing "waistline "manner in the region labelled 13 in order that the clip 8 may be releasably secured to the lower portion 2 of the power tool by co-operation with the arms 6a, 6b thereof. It will be appreciated that, in order to mount the clip 8 to the lower portion 2 of the power tool (as shown in figure 2), the user drops or lowers the clip 8 (more particularly the support structure 10 P-UK-CS1 1 43A thereof) into the area between the arms 6a, fib. Because the distal portion of the arms 6a, 6b terminate in inward- facing portions thereof and also given that the waistline structure 13 of the support structure 10 of the clip 8 exists, then the clip 8 will be retained by the arms 6a, 6b to the lower portion 2 of the power tool.

It will be appreciated that the structure shown in figure 2 is that of the clip 8 mounted releasably to the lower portion 2 of the power tool. In order to detach the clip 8 from the lower portion 2 of the power tool, the user simply reverses the above operation. That is, the clip 8 is pulled up or lifted from its coupling with the arms 6 a, 6 be of the lower portion 2 of the power tool. In this manner, therefore, the clip 8 may be detachably secured to the lower portion 2 of the power tool.

Independently of the above operation, that is whether or not the clip 8 is mounted to the lower portion 2 of the power tool, a detector element, in this example a pipe and wire detector 16 (see, for example, figures 5 and 6) may be detachably secured to the clip 8. The clip 8, therefore, becomes an intermediate member situated between the detector 16 and the lower portion 2 of the power tool.

Referring now particularly to figures 5 6 and 7, the nature of the pipe and wire detector 16 will be explained in more detail. The detector 16 has, on its front face, two identical areas, only one of which is described herein. The area shown generally as 18 includes a generally part-circular recessed channel 20 formed in the material of the detector 16. The purpose of the channel 20 is to co-operate with the correspondingly shaped region of the portions 14a, 14b of the arms 12 of the clip 8.

In order to allow the detector 16 to be securely attached to the clip 8, a further restraint means, keyhole shaped latch 22, is provided. As can be seen particularly from figures 5 and 7, the keyhole latch 22 formed in the front face of the detector 16 mates with a correspondingly shaped recess formed in the arms 14a, 14b of the clip 8. It will be apparent therefore, that the portions 14 a, 14 b of the clip 8 effectively form a locking element for releasably securing with the detector 16 when presented thereto.

The detector 16 is engaged with the clip 8 by pushing upwards and/or pivoting into position such that the upper portion 24 of the detector 16 is grabbed or held by P-UK-CS1 143A the arms 12a 12b and 14a 14b of the clip 8. Effectively the detector 16 is mechanically latched to the clip 8 by virtue of engagement between arms 12 and 14 and the latching areas 20 and 22. Removal of the detector from the clip 8 is simply the reverse of this process.

The above structure, therefore, provides for a mechanism by which a detector element 16 may be releasably secured to an intermediate clip 8 which clip 8 itself may selectively be removed the attached to a power tool body.

Referring now to figures 7 and in particular figures 7 a and 7 b, it can be seen that a lower portion 26 of the clip 8 is formed as a small projection or bump depending from the rear portion 10 of the clip 8 such that it may provide a frictional engagement or interference fit with the detector element 16 when the detector element 16 is retained within the clip 8. This simply helps maintain engagement between the clip 8 and the detector element 16 to prevent the latter from accidentally falling out of the clip.

P-UK-CS1 1 43A

Claims

1. A system for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool body via an intermediate clip, wherein the system includes: a power tool including first support means depending therefrom; a clip detachably connectable to the first support means, the clip including second support means; such that the detector element, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured thereto by co-operation with said second support means, and that the system thus provides for detachably securing the clip to the power tool and also for detachably securing the detector element to the clip, wherein the first support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the power tool body.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the clip.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein each arm of the pair of arms includes a locking element for releasably securing with a detector element presented thereto.

4 A system for detachably securing a detector element to a power tool body via an intermediate clip, wherein the system includes: a power tool including first support means depending therefrom; a clip detachably connectable to the first support means, the clip including second support means; such that the detector element, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured thereto by co-operation with said second support means, and that the system thus provides for detachably securing the clip to the power tool and also for detachably securing the detector element to the clip, wherein the second support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the clip and each arm of the pair of arms includes a locking element for releasably securing with a detector element presented thereto.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the first support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the power tool body.

P-UK-CS] 1 43A

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip comprises a projection for co-operating with the first support means in order to detachably secure the clip to the first support means.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second support means depends orthogonally from the clip projection.

8. A system substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A tool including a clip detachably connected to a first support means on the tool, the clip including a second support means; wherein the first support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the power tool body, the tool further including a detector element which, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured to the clip by co-operation with the second support means such that the clip may be detachably secured to the tool and, independently thereof, the detector element may be detachably secured to the clip.

10. A tool including a clip detachably connected to a first support means on the tool, the clip including a second support means; the tool further including a detector element which, when presented to the clip, may be detachably secured to the clip by co-operation with the second support means such that the clip may be detachably secured to the tool and, independently thereof, the detector element may be detachably secured to the clip, wherein the second support means comprises a pair of arms depending from the clip and each arm of the pair of arms includes a locking element for releasably securing with a detector element presented thereto

11. A tool substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P-UK-CS1 143A