WO2007088373A1

WO2007088373A1 - Power tool with removable handle portion

Info

Publication number: WO2007088373A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/000357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Park
Original assignee: Gmca Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-01
Filing date: 2007-02-01
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: AU2007203183A1; CN101309781A; GB0601992D0; CA2597007A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a power tool in which there is provided a body (2) portion which can be gripped in use, and said body portion including a first operating means (22) to allow the tool to be at least selectively switched on and off, and a further handle portion (12) which can be selectively attached to the body to form an alternative gripping location. When attached, a second operating means (20) on the handle portion can be utilised to control at least the switching on and off of the tool independently of the first operating means. A switch (42) is provided within the body, and which switch is actuable by the first or second operating means, dependent on the attachment or not of the handle portion at that time

Description

Power Tool with removable Handle Portion

The invention to which this application relates is a power tool such as a tool which is provided to perform a drilling or cutting operation on an article such as, for example, a drill, reciprocating saw, a jigsaw or the like. However, the removable handle as herein described, may be utilised on any power tool such as, for example, grinding tools, and therefore the scope of the invention should be interpreted to include any power tool to which the provision of a removable handle of the type herein described is of advantage.

With many power tools, the same are required to be used in different positions with respect to the position of the article on which the work is to be performed and/or the space in which the power tool is required to be used. In certain instances, while it may be possible in normal use to grip the power tool in a number of different orientations to suit specific uses of the tool, in certain conditions, because of space constraints it may in fact only be possible to use the tool in one orientation. In other circumstances the tool may be too large to fit into available space and therefore there is in certain conditions a desire to be able to reduce the size of the tool to allow the tool to be used in a restricted space. In other conditions, there may be a desire to use the tool with a particular gripping orientation and therefore it will be appreciated that in the use of many power tools, a particular configuration requirement which may exist for a particular operation performed by the tool may not exist the next time the tool is used and may in fact be a hindrance to the next use of the tool.

It is known to provide tools which have a removable handle and these are found, to a certain extent, to allow the tool to be more adaptable to suit particular operating requirements. In certain known embodiments, the removable handle is a moulded piece of plastic which can be attached to the tool but the handle itself does not have any tool operating means. In other known embodiments, the removable handle may be provided with a tool operating means in the form of a trigger which is connected via a mechanical lever linkage within the removable handle, to the tool body in which an electrical switch which operates the power supply for the tool motor is housed and can be mechanically actuated. A problem with this form of handle is that although the operation of the tool can be achieved via the operating means on the removable handle, the mechanical linkage which is created within the handle is relatively complex, expensive and, as a result, represents significant expense for a feature which may only be used from time to time in operation of the tool, i.e. only when the removable handle is attached to the body of the tool.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a handle portion which can be selectively attached to a power tool and which handle portion has operating means mounted on the same to allow for the controlled operation of the power tool when the handle portion is connected to the same. The aim is to provide the handle portion in a manner which allows efficiency of operation via the operating means to be achieved while reducing the complexity of the operating means.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a power tool, said power tool having a body, said body housing a motor to drive a working implement of the tool, said power tool having first operating means to allow the power tool motor to at least be selectively switched on and off, a handle portion which is selectively attachable to the body of the power tool and which, when attached, can be gripped to allow the tool movement to be controlled, said handle portion including a second operating means which can be actuated to allow the power tool motor to at least be selectively switched on and off when the handle portion is attached to the body and wherein said second operating means comprises a portion which is actuable by the user and an elongate member extending from said portion to an interface between the handle portion and the body of the tool when attached together and movement of the elongate member in response to the movement of the said portion, causes the operation of a switch to allow the switching on or off of the power tool motor to be achieved via the handle portion.

In one embodiment, the elongate member is flexible and provided in the form of a strap. In one embodiment the elongate member is a unitary, single piece item. In one embodiment, the movement of the portion in the handle portion in a first direction, causes the distal end of the elongate member to be pushed further into the body of the tool to cause the switch for the motor to be switched on. The release, or movement of the portion in the opposite direction, causes the retraction of the distal end of the elongate member to a sufficient extent to cause the switch for the motor to move to an off condition.

In one embodiment, the first operating means in the body of the tool also includes a user actuable portion which allows the user control of switching on or off of the motor. In one embodiment, this portion may also include further operating selection means such as, for example, the speed of the motor, a particular operation mode of the tool or the like.

In one embodiment, the first operating means is disabled in that it cannot be moved to an on position when the handle portion is attached to the body such that only the second operating means on the handle portion can be operated to control the motor when the tool is in that condition. In one embodiment, there is provided a locking member which locks the portion on the body in the off condition and prevents the said portion from being movable when the handle portion is attached to the body.

In one embodiment, the said locking member is moved to the locking position by the mechanical connection of the handle portion to the body. Equally, when the handle portion is removed from the body, the locking part is then in an unlocked condition, hence allowing the operating portion of the first operating means body to be used.

In one embodiment, the second operating means of the removable handle, and the first operating means of the body, are both provided to be able to operate a common electrical switch which is connected to the motor but, at any given instant, only one of said operating means can be used to operate the electrical switch.

In one embodiment, the distal end of the elongate member of the removable handle, operates the switch via a further part mounted within the body.

In one embodiment, when the handle portion is removed from the body, a plate is interposed between the said further part and the switch so as to prevent the further part from being inadvertently moved to operate the said switch. When the handle portion is attached to the body, part of the attachment movement causes the said plate to be moved out of position and hence allows the further part to be movable and contacted by the elongate member. In one embodiment, the elongate member within the handle portion may be mounted in conjunction with one or more guides so as to guide the movement of the elongate member in a manner to ensure that the distal end of the same can be moved in the desired manner with respect to the body and the said switch therein.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable handle portion for a power tool, said handle including attachment means which allow the same to be selectively attachable to the power tool, said handle including operating means which can be actuated to cause operation of the power tool when attached to the power tool body and wherein said operating means comprises a portion which is actuable by a user and an elongate member extending from said portion to an interface between the handle portion and the power tool and wherein by user movement of the actuable portion movement of the elongate member and hence operation of a switch within the power tool can be achieved.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a handle portion with a simple operating means provided within the same. The provision of the operating means ensures that the cost of the handle portion is kept to a minimum and furthermore that the efficiency and reliability of the operation of the same is maintained and improved over conventional more complex systems .

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure I a illustrates a power tool in the form of a jigsaw with a handle portion in accordance with the invention attached thereto and Figure I b illustrates the jigsaw of Figure I a with the handle portion detached;

Figure 2 illustrates the interior of part of the jigsaw of Figures I a and b, with the handle portion in connection with the body;

Figure 3 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 2 with the second operating means of the handle portion not in use;

Figure 4 illustrates another view of the arrangement of Figure 2;

Figure 5 illustrates the tool with the handle portion detached;

Figure 6 illustrates a further view of the tool with the handle portion detached; and

Figure 7 illustrates the handle portion detached with the first operating means in the body in use.

Referring firstly to Figures I a and b, there are illustrated two embodiments of a power tool in the form of a jigsaw which are achievable in accordance with the invention.

The jigsaw, in Figure I a, includes a body 2, said body housing a motor shown schematically in broken lines 4, and a gear assembly shown schematically 6 which is driven by the motor, when switched on, to cause a saw blade 8 to be moved in a reciprocal direction indicated by the arrow 10. In Figure I a, a handle portion 12 is shown attached to the body at first and second positions 14, 16. In Figure Ib, the handle portion has been detached so that the jigsaw can be used with the body of the same being gripped at location 13 to guide the jigsaw as opposed to the handle portion 12 of Figure I a being gripped. First operating means 22 are provided on the body and second operating means 20 are provided on the handle portion. The first operating means can be selectively actuated by the user when the tool is as shown in Figure I b and the second operating means can be selectively actuated by the user when the tool is shown in Figure I a. The operating means at least allow the switching on and off of the motor by the operation of a switch which allows electrical connection to the motor when in an on position, and hence control of movement of the jigsaw blade 8.

To meet safety requirements the operating means 20, 22, are not simultaneously operable. Thus, in the arrangement of Figure I a, the operating means 20 on the handle portion are used to control the motor and in the arrangement of Figure Ib, the operating means 22 are used to control operation of the motor. Operation of the motor is achieved by the operating means making contact with a movable part of a switch mounted within the body and said switch is in turn connected to the power supply for the motor to cause the same to be switched on and off. The more detailed operation of the same will now be described with reference to Figures 2 through to 7.

In Figures 2-7, there is illustrated the interface 30 which is created at the location 16 of the handle portion 12 with the body 2 and in Figures 2 to 4 the handle portion is shown attached to the body. Also, part of the body external housing and external housing of the handle portion has been removed to show the internal features within the body and handle and how the same interact in accordance with the invention.

The said operating means within the handle comprise a portion 34 which is accessible externally of the handle by a user and is positioned so as to be operated by the finger of a user when gripping the handle portion 12. The portion can be moved from a substantially protruding position as shown in Figure 3 to an inward position as shown in Figures 2 and 4 by the user applying pressure. An elongate member 36 is, at one end 35, attached to or formed with the said portion 34. The elongate member extends along the handle to a distal end 38 of the same, which protrudes into the body of the power tool. The path of the elongate member through the handle portion may be achieved by the selection of the locations of the two ends of the same and/ or via the provision of guide means within the handle (not shown) which serve to locate the member within the removable handle.

The distal end 38 contacts with a further part 40, which in turn contacts with a switch 42 for the motor within the body.

Movement of the portion 34 by the user inwardly of the handle as indicated by arrow 32 causes the distal end 38 of the elongate member to be pushed further into the body of the jigsaw and hence cause the further part 40 to move onto and operate the switch to an on position, hence turning the motor on and causing operation of the power tool.

Release of the portion 34 allows the same to be moved outwardly, typically under the influence of a spring, and this in turn causes the distal end 38 of the elongate member to be pulled back or withdrawn and hence the switch 42 is released to an off position and the motor is switched off.

While this occurs, and while the handle portion 12 is located on the body, a locking member 44 is in a position so as to prevent an arm 46 connected to the first operating means 22 from being moved. Thus operating means 22 cannot be used to actuate the switch when the handle portion 12 is attached to the body as the locking means locks the same and prevents movement.

In Figure 2 there is shown the operating means 20 in a position in which the motor in the body would be switched on and the blade driven to move in a reciprocating manner with the tool being grippable by at least the handle portion 12.

Figure 4 shows the handle portion 12 in position but from the reverse side and shows the operating means in the same position as Figure 2 with the switch 42 operated to the on position

Figure 3 shows the arrangement in which the handle portion 12 is fitted in position but the operating means 20 is not in use and the further part 40 is not pressed down on the switch 42 as the flexible strap has been retracted from the position shown in Figure 2 by the release of the portion 34 by the user.

The location of the handle portion on the body can be by any suitable mechanical connecting means and therefore is not critical to the current invention. However typically the attachment and release can be achieved by relative sliding movement in conjunction with a mechanical locking mechanism which allows the handle portion to be retained in position until released.

Figures 5 — 7 show the arrangement when the handle portion 12 is detached from the body. A plate 48 which is spring loaded is interposed between the further part 40 and the switch and this therefore prevents the further part 40 from being pressed inwardly of the body to operate the switch such that with the handle portion detached, the said further part 40 cannot be operated due to the presence of the plate 48. As is shown in Figure 6 the movement of the plate 48 also causes the release of the locking means 44 and hence in turn, the arm 46 of the operating means 22 of the body is released for movement and actuating of the switch 42 between the off and on positions. The actuation is achieved by the user moving actuating part 45 connected to the arm 46 and which part protrudes externally of the wall of the body.

Figure 7 shows the manner in which the movement of the part 45 and hence arm 46 in direction 47 to operate the switch 42 into the on position and hence cause the activation of the motor and power tool via the operating means 22.

Thus, from the instant of detachment of the handle portion from the body, the operating means 22 can then be used to control operation of the power tool by a sliding movement of the arm 46 causing actuation of the switch 42.

The present invention therefore provides an efficient and economical way of allowing operation of a power tool via operating means on a handle portion and/or the body of the power tool dependant on the particular configuration of the power tool at any given time and the same can be achieved by use of only one switch mounted within the body as the same can be selectively changed between positions by each of the operating means, depending on the condition of the power tool at that time.

Claims

1. A power tool, said power tool having a body, said body housing a motor to drive a working implement of the tool, said power tool having first operating means to allow the power tool motor to at least be selectively switched on and off, a handle portion which is selectively attachable to the body of the power tool and which, when attached, can be gripped to allow the tool movement to be controlled, said handle portion including a second operating means which can be actuated to allow the power tool motor to at least be selectively switched on and off when the handle portion is attached to the body and wherein said second operating means comprises a portion which is actuable by the user and an elongate member extending from said portion to an interface between the handle portion and the body of the tool when attached together and movement of the elongate member in response to the movement of the said portion, causes the operation of a switch to allow the switching on or off of the power tool motor to be achieved via the handle portion.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member is flexible.

3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein the elongate member is in the form of a strap.

4 A tool according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member connecting the actuable portion and the switch is a unitary item.

5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the movement of the actuable portion in the handle portion in a first direction causes the distal end of the elongate member to be pushed into the body of the tool to cause the switch to be moved to an on position.

6. A tool according to claim 5 wherein the release or movement of the actuable portion in the opposite direction, causes the retraction of the distal end of the elongate member to a sufficient extent to allow the switch to move to an off position.

7 A tool according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of the elongate member of the handle portion operates a switch via a further part mounted within the body.

8 A tool according to claim 7 wherein when the handle portion is removed from the body, a plate is caused to move between the said further parts of the switch so as to prevent the further part from being inadvertently moved to operate the said switch and when the handle portion is attached to the body part, the said plate is moved out of position to allow the further part to be movable or contacted by the elongate member.

9. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the first operating means in the body of the tool includes a user actuable portion which allows the user's control of the switching on or off of the motor.

10. A tool according to claim 9 wherein the actuable portion includes a further operating selection means.

11 A tool according to claim 1 wherein the first operating means is disabled when the handle portion is attached to the body such that only the second operating means on the handle portion can be actuated to control the switching on and off of the motor.

12. A tool according to claim 11 wherein there is provided a locking member which locks the actuable portion on the body and prevents said portion from being movable when the handle portion is attached to the body.

13. A tool according to claim 12 wherein the said locking member is moved to the locking position by the mechanical connection of the handle portion to the body.

14. A tool according to claim 12 wherein when the handle portion is removed from the body, the locking member is in an unlocked condition hence allowing the actuable portion of the first operating means to be used.

15. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the first and second operating means when in an operable condition, operate a common switch for operation of the motor.

16 A tool according to claim 15 wherein at any given instant, only one of said first or second operating means can be used to operate the switch.

17 A tool according to claim 1 wherein the switch is an electrical switch which when moved to an on condition completes an electrical circuit allowing power to be supplied to the motor and the same to be activated.

18. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member is mounted within the handle portion in conjunction with one or more guides so as to guide the movement of the elongate member in a manner to ensure that the distal end of the same can be moved in a desired manner with respect to the body and the said switch therein. 19 A tool according to claim 1 wherein the tool has a working component in the form of a saw blade which is mounted to be driven in a reciprocating manner when the motor is switched on.

20 A removable handle portion for a power tool, said handle including attachment means which allow the same to be selectively attachable to the power tool, said handle including operating means which can be actuated to cause operation of the power tool when attached to the power tool body and wherein said operating means comprises a portion which is actuable by a user and an elongate member extending from said portion to an interface between the handle portionand the power tool and wherein by user movement of the actuable portion, movement of the elongate member and hence operation of a switch within the power tool can be achieved.

21 A handle according to claim 20 wherein the switch is provided within the body of the tool.

22 A handle according to claim 20 wherein, when attached to the power tool the same can be gripped with the users hand to control movement of the power tool.