Patent Grant
12145251
This application is a national phase filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/120202, filed Dec. 11, 2018, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to power tools and particularly, although not exclusively, to power screw guns with a connector for coupling an attachment or a magazine to the body of the screw gun.
Conventional manual screw guns that work with one single screw at a time are quickly being replaced with automatic power screw guns that drive a series of fasteners from a collated strip. Such automatic power screw guns typically have a screw gun body, with an attachment to provide a collated strip of fasteners. The attachment is usually mated with the screw gun body through a connector fixedly attached to one end of the screw gun body, and where the connecting interfaces of the screw gun body and the attachment have corresponding structures for connection.
One problem with the existing connectors is that one needs to use some tools in order to dismount or mount the attachment from or to the screw gun body manually. This is very inefficient and time consuming. In some cases where the tools are lacked, the user may not be able to carry out his work, since he cannot mount or dismount the attachment to the screw gun body.
Another problem is that such mounting and dismounting require the user to move his or her hands from their normal operating positions to a carry out such operations. Even in cases where a latch is used for the mounting and dismounting of attachment, the user would still need to move one hand to the connector, and the other hand to pull the attachment out from the screw gun body.
It is therefore desirable to solve the abovementioned problems to enable a more efficient and convenient way to mount and dismount attachments to and from the screw gun body.
In the light of the foregoing background, it is an object to address the above needs, to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or, more generally, to provide a power tool with a connector for connecting an attachment to a screw gun body.
The above object is met by the combination of features of the main claims; the dependent claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.
One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention, in one aspect is a power tool comprises a first power tool portion having a rotatable collar and a first locking member arranged to be actuated by the rotatable collar, a second power tool portion having a second locking member, wherein the rotatable collar is rotatable about an axis for actuating the first locking member to removably engage the first locking member with the second locking member, thereby releasably locking the first power tool portion with the second power tool portion along the axis, wherein the first power tool portion further comprises a groove on an inner surface of the rotatable collar, a stop member movable parallel to the axis between an extended position and a retracted position and a biasing member biasing the stop member to the extended position; wherein at the extended position, the stop member is engaged with the groove of the rotatable collar such that rotation of the first locking member is obstructed and wherein at the retracted position, the stop member is not engaged with the groove of the rotatable collar such that rotation of the first locking member is unobstructed.
Preferably, the second locking member comprises an axial projection for moving the stop member from the extended position to the retracted position as the first power tool portion is moved along the axis to couple with the second power tool portion.
Additionally, the first power tool portion further comprises a torsion spring connected with the rotatable collar such that upon the stop member is being moved from the extended position to the retracted position, the rotatable collar is being rotated under a force of the torsion spring.
Preferably, the stop member extends at least partly into the first locking member at the extended position.
Preferably, the first locking member is arranged around the second locking member when the first power tool portion locks with the second power tool portion.
More preferably, the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to form a bayonet coupling.
Preferably, the rotatable collar has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the first locking member is in contact with the inner surface.
Preferably, the first locking member is rotatable, and the rotatable collar is rotatable about the axis for rotating the first locking member.
More preferably, the first locking member and the rotatable collar are connected for synchronous rotation.
Preferably, the first locking member and the second locking member are generally annular.
In a second embodiment, the present invention is a power tool, comprising: a first power tool portion having a rotatable collar and a first locking member arranged to be actuated by the rotatable collar; a second power tool portion having a second locking member; wherein the rotatable collar is rotatable about an axis for actuating the first locking member to removably engage the first locking member with the second locking member, thereby releasably locking the first power tool portion with the second power tool portion along the axis; wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to form an interference fit when the first power tool portion is locked with the second power tool portion along the axis.
Preferably, the first locking member comprises a reversibly, radially-movable portion movable between a first radial position further away from the axis and a second radial position closer to the axis for engagement with the second locking member.
More preferably, the reversibly, radially-movable portion is arranged inside of the rotatable collar.
Preferably, the rotatable collar has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is threaded.
Preferably, the reversibly, radially-movable portion includes a ramp surface along the axial direction such that one side is closer to the inner surface of the rotatable collar and the other side is further away from the inner surface of the rotatable collar.
Additionally, the first power tool portion further includes an intermediate member having a threaded outer surface, wherein the threaded outer surface is arranged to threadedly engage with the inner surface of the rotatable collar.
Most preferably, the intermediate member is movable along the axis on the ramp surface between an unlocked position in which the radially-movable portion is at the first radial position and a locked position in which the radially-movable portion is radially-compressed at the second radial positon.
Preferably, the rotatable collar is rotatable about the axis for moving the intermediate member between the unlocked position and the locked position.
In a third embodiment, the present invention is a power tool, comprising: a first coupling part and a second coupling part rotatably coupled with each other, for rotating relative to each other about a rotation axis; and one or more biasing members, biased radially outwardly with respect to the rotation axis and arranged between the first and second coupling parts, for limiting relative rotation of the first and second coupling parts.
Preferably, each of the biasing members comprises circumferentially-extending leg portions and, in between, a projection-ramp portion that projects radially outwardly.
Preferably, the first coupling part comprises inner and outer circumferential walls that define a circumferential space therebetween and the second coupling part comprises a circumferential projection at least partly received in the circumferential space such that the first coupling part at least partly surrounds the second coupling part.
More preferably, the biasing member is arranged radially between the inner circumferential wall of the first coupling part and the circumferential projection of the second coupling part.
More preferably, the circumferential projection of the second coupling part includes a radially-inner-circumferential face directly facing the inner circumferential wall; the radially-inner-circumferential face includes a plurality of angularly-spaced radial-grooves for receiving the projection-ramp portion.
Most preferably, the projection-ramp portion of the biasing member is arranged to slide-and-move-along the angularly-spaced radial-grooves when the first and second coupling parts are rotated relative to each other.
Preferably, the power tool further comprises an axial-locking mechanism for axially locking the first and second coupling parts.
More preferably, the circumferential projection of the second coupling part comprises a radially-outer-circumferential face, and wherein the axial-locking mechanism comprises a groove formed on the radially-outer-circumferential face, a radial opening formed on the outer circumferential wall and a locking member arranged to be received in the groove and the radial opening.
Most preferably, the groove extends around the entire radially-outer-circumferential face.
Preferably, the locking member comprises a roller.
Additionally, the power tool further comprises a collar sleeve non-rotatably coupled with and arranged around the radially-outer-circumferential face of the first coupling part, for radially retaining the locking member in the groove and radial opening.
Preferably, the one or more biasing members comprise two diametrically opposed biasing members.
More preferably, the one or more biasing members are rotationally fixed to the first coupling part.
Most preferably, the one or more biasing members are a leaf spring.
In another aspect, the present invention is a power tool portion, which comprises a rotatable collar and a locking member arranged to be actuated by the rotatable collar, wherein the rotatable collar is rotatable about an axis for actuating the locking member to removably engage the locking member with a second locking member of a second power tool portion, thereby releasably locking the power tool portion with the second power tool portion along the axis, wherein the power tool portion further comprises: a groove on an inner surface of the rotatable collar, a stop member movable parallel to the axis between an extended position and a retracted position and a biasing member biasing the stop member to the extended position wherein at the extended position, the stop member is engaged with the groove of the rotatable collar such that rotation of the locking member is obstructed and wherein at the retracted position, the stop member is not engaged with the groove of the rotatable collar such that rotation of the first locking member is unobstructed.
Preferably, the stop member is arranged to move from the extended position to the retracted position by an axial projection of the second locking member as the power tool portion is moved along the axis to couple with the second power tool portion.
Additionally, the power tool portion further comprises a torsion spring connected with the rotatable collar such that upon the stop member is being moved from the extended position to the retracted position, the rotatable collar is being rotated under a force of the torsion spring.
Preferably, the stop member extends at least partly into the locking member at the extended position.
Preferably, the locking member is arranged around the second locking member when the power tool portion locks with the second power tool portion.
More preferably, the locking member and the second locking member are arranged to form a bayonet coupling.
Preferably, the rotatable collar has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the locking member is in contact with the inner surface
Preferably, the locking member is rotatable and the rotatable collar is rotatable about the axis for rotating the locking member.
More preferably, the locking member and the rotatable collar are connected for synchronous rotation
Preferably, the locking member and the second locking member are generally annular.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a power tool portion, which comprises a rotatable collar and a locking member arranged to be actuated by the rotatable collar, a second power tool portion having a second locking member, wherein the rotatable collar is rotatable about an axis for actuating the locking member to removably engage the locking member with a second locking member of a second power tool portion, thereby releasably locking the power tool portion with the second power tool portion along the axis, wherein the locking member and the second locking member are arranged to form an interference fit when the power tool portion is locked with the second power tool portion along the axis.
Preferably, the locking member comprises a reversibly, radially-movable portion movable between a first radial position further away from the axis and a second radial position closer to the axis for engagement with the second locking member.
More preferably, the reversibly, radially-movable portion is arrange inside of the rotatable collar.
Preferably, the rotatable collar has an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is threaded.
Preferably, the reversibly, radially-movable portion includes a ramp surface along the axial direction such that one side is closer to the inner surface of the rotatable collar and the other side is further away from the inner surface of the rotatable collar.
Additionally, the power tool portion further includes an intermediate member having a threaded outer surface, wherein the threaded surface is arranged to threadedly engage with the inner surface of the rotatable collar.
Most preferably, the intermediate member is movable along the axis on the ramp surface between an unlocked position in which the radially-movable portion is at the first radial position and a locked position in which the radially-movable portion is radially-compressed at the second radial positon.
Preferably, the rotatable collar is rotatable about the axis for moving the intermediate member between the unlocked position and the locked position.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The present invention therefore provides various configurations of an attachment connector for a screw gun. By utilising a rotatable connector, the present invention provides a more efficient and convenient way to mount and dismount attachments to and from the screw gun body.
The foregoing and further features of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
The first power tool portion 104 further comprises a stop member 114 movably parallel to the axis A between an extended position and a retracted position, where at the extended position, the stop member 114 extends partly into the first locking member 108. The stop member 114 is slightly elongated. Moreover, a biasing member 116 is also provided to bias the stop member 114 to the extended position. In this embodiment, the biasing member 116 is a spring, with one end fixedly attached to one end of the stop member 114. The first power portion 104 further has a torsion spring 118, which is annular in shape. In this embodiment, the torsion spring 118 is connected with the rotatable collar 106 such that during attachment when the stop member 114 is being moved from the extended position to the retracted position, the rotatable collar 106 can be rotated under a force of the torsion spring 118. The second locking member 110 of the second power tool portion 102 comprises an axial projection 112 for moving the stop member 114 from the extended position to the retracted position during attachment as the first power tool portion 104 moves along axis A to couple with the second power tool portion 102.
Referring to
Now turning to the operation of the coupling mechanism, to remove the attachment from the screw gun body, the user simply needs to rotate the rotatable collar 106 in one direction, the stop member 114 would then be mated with the groove 126 and being urged to the extended position by the spring 116. At the extended position, the stop member 114 engages with the groove 126 of the rotatable collar 106 such that rotation of the first locking member 108 is obstructed. The limiting structures 122 and 124 of the first and second locking member 108 and 110 respectively are not engage or couple with each other, as shown in
To install the attachment to the screw gun body, the user needs to insert the axial projection 112 into the groove 126 of the rotatable collar 106 from the other side such that the stop member 114 would be urged backward in the groove 126. At the retracted position, the stop member 114 is not engaged with the groove 126 of the rotatable collar 106 and the first locking member 108 rotates under the force of the torsion spring 118 relative to the second locking member 110. The sides where the first and second locking member 108 and 110 touches each other include a slant surface as shown in
In
The first power tool portion 204 further includes an intermediate member 212. The intermediate member 212 has a threaded outer surface, and the threaded outer surface is arranged to threadedly engage with the inner surface of the rotatable collar 206. When the rotatable collar 206 is being rotated, the intermediate member 212 would be rotated relative to the collar 206 and move along the axis A between the collar 206 and the reversibly, radially-movable portion.
Referring now to
To illustrate, to install an attachment to the screw gun body, the user rotates the rotatable collar 206 in one direction. The rotational movement of the collar 206 drives the intermediate member 212 to move towards a locked position through the threaded surfaces (as shown the
To remove the attachment to the screw gun body the user rotates the rotatable collar 206 in the other direction. The opposite rotational movement of the collar 206 drives the intermediate member 212 to move towards an unlocked position through the threaded surfaces (as shown the
In
Referring now to
Specifically, each of the biasing members 316 comprises circumferentially-extending leg portions and, in between, a projection-ramp portion that projects radially outwardly. The first coupling part 310 comprises an inner circumferential wall 322 and an outer circumferential wall 320, and a circumferential space 324 is defined as the space between the inner circumferential wall 322 and outer circumferential wall 320. The second coupling part 312 has a circumferential projection 314 which is at least partly received in the circumferential space 324 such that the first coupling part 310 partly surrounds the second coupling part 312. The biasing members 316 are arranged radially between the inner circumferential wall 322 of the first coupling part 310 and the circumferential projection 314 of the second coupling part 312.
The circumferential projection 314 of the second coupling part 312 includes a radially-inner-circumferential face directly facing the inner circumferential wall 322 of the first coupling part 310. The radially-inner-circumferential face includes a plurality of angularly-spaced radial-grooves for receiving the projection-ramp portion of the biasing member 316. The projection-ramp portion of the biasing member 316 is arranged to slide-and-move-along the angularly-spaced radial-grooves when the first coupling part 310 rotates relative to the second coupling part 312.
The axial-locking mechanism described allows the user to rotate the attachment relative to the screw gun body without having to remove the attachment and install it again to the screw gun body at a different angle. The leaf spring holds the relative orientation between the first and the second coupling parts 310, 312, until the user rotates the attachment, the leaf spring is temporarily being urged downwards by the circumferential projection 314 such that the second coupling part 312 rotates relative to the first coupling part 310. The rotatable collar 306 is non-rotatably coupled with and arranged around the radially-outer-circumferential face of the first coupling part 310, such that when the user rotates the rotatable collar 306, the first power tool portion 304 can rotate relative to the second power tool portion 302.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.
Although not shown in the figures, but in other embodiments, the power tool 100, 200, 300 may be another type of tools or devices that requires an attachment to be coupled to the tool body. In some embodiments, the power tool can be a drill, hammer drill, or an impact driver. In the examples illustrated, the second power tool portion is the tool body, and the first power tool portion is an attachment arranged to attach to the tool body. However, the first power tool portion can be the tool body, and the second power tool portion can be the attachment to be attached to the tool body. Similarly, the rotatable collar can be on the second power tool portion, instead of the first power tool portion. The quantities of components in the above embodiments are merely example, and can be more or less according to design needs. For example, instead of two leaf springs in
Terms such as “forward”, “rearward”, “in front of”, “behind”, “highest”, “lowest”, “left”, “right” and similar terms as used herein are for the purpose of describing the invention in its normal in-use orientation and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular orientation.
Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2018/120202 | 12/11/2018 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/118504 | 6/18/2020 | WO | A |
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