The present disclosure relates to power tools, and more particularly to a depth adjusting device for a power tool.
Fastening tools, such as nailers and staplers, are relatively commonplace in the construction trades. Many features of typical fastening tools, while adequate for their intended purpose, do not provide the user with a desired degree of flexibility and function. For example, it would be beneficial in some instances to adjust a penetration depth of a fastener. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an improved fastening tool.
A fastening tool can include a housing and a motor assembly in the housing. The motor assembly can include an output member and a motor for translating the output member. A knob can be rotatably mounted in the housing around a first axis and define a plurality of locating formations arranged thereon. An adjustment rod can be operatively coupled for movement with the knob. A lower contact trip can be coupled to the adjustment rod. An indexing member can be movable along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The indexing member can be selectively biased into engagement with one of the locating formations upon rotation of the knob to resist rotation of the knob relative to the housing. Rotation of the knob can cause the contact trip to translate toward and away from the housing to define a desired penetration depth for the fastener.
According to additional features, the fastening tool 10 comprise an adjustment element coupled for rotation with the rod. The adjustment element can comprise a pinion that defines an outer diameter meshed for rotation with the knob and an inner diameter threaded for rotation with the adjustment rod. The pinion can transfer rotational movement of the knob into linear translation of the adjustment rod. The indexing member can impart a retaining force onto the knob, thereby inhibiting rotation of the knob when the indexing member is engaged with one of the locating formations. The indexing member can define a dome-like engagement surface adapted to nest within one of the plurality of locating formations.
According to additional features, the pinion can define pinion teeth formed along a length thereof. Depression of the lower contact trip can cause the pinion to move along a pinion axis and the pinion teeth to slide along, and remain meshed for rotation with, complementary knob teeth formed along the knob without imparting rotation onto the knob.
According to other features, the fastening tool can include a series of indicia arranged around a radial surface of the knob. Each of the series of indicia can correspond to a selected penetration depth. The selected penetration depth can coincide with the indexing member being engaged with one of the locating formations. The knob can define a rib formed thereon. The rib can be adapted to engage structure fixed to the housing and inhibit further rotation of the knob, thereby defining a rotational limit of the knob. In one example, the knob can be at least partially extending through an aperture formed on the housing.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
With initial reference to
The fasteners 30 could be nails, staples, brads, clips or any suitable fastener that could be driven into a work-piece. It is appreciated that the magazine assembly 12 is merely exemplary and other configurations may be employed. Unless described otherwise herein, the fastening tool 10 may be constructed as described in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/095,723 entitled “Method for Controlling a Power Driver” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/095,727 entitled “Structural Backbone/Motor Mount for a Power Tool”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed in detail herein.
With additional reference to
The lower contact trip 50 can be slidably disposed along a nosepiece body 56. As will be described in greater detail, the position of the lower contact trip 50 may be adjustable so as to permit the tool operator to vary the depth at which the tool 10 sets the fasteners 30. The lower contact trip 50 can be integrally formed with or connect to a link member 60 (
The lower contact trip 50 is biased into an extended position by a spring 152, but can also be pushed against the work-piece 32 into a retracted position. In the retracted position, the upper contact trip 52 may rotate a linkage 64 (
With reference now to
With additional reference to
The pinion gear 76 may generally define a series of pinion teeth 86 formed around an outer diameter and meshed for rotation with a complementary series of knob teeth 88 formed around an outer diameter of the knob 74. The pinion 76 may also define pinion threads 90 (
The indexing assembly 78 may generally include a detent or indexing member 100 fixed for translation along an axis A2. The indexing member 100 may be at least partially retained by a barrel 104 (
The knob 74 will now be described in greater detail. The knob 74 may generally define a central body 116, a distal section 120 and an end face 122. As best illustrated in
The knob 74 may further define indicia 142 located around an outer surface of the distal section 120. The indicia 142 may comprise characters such as numbers that correspond to a selected depth setting. A window 144 (
The backbone 82 may define a track 148 (
With reference to
With particular reference now to FIGS. 3 and 12-14, advancement of the lower contact trip 50 resulting from engagement with a workpiece will be described. Once the desired depth of penetration has been set with the knob 74, the user may push the lower contact trip 50 against a workpiece to move the lower contact trip 50 into the retracted position. This motion is shown sequentially in
Turning now to
A blind bore 204 (
With specific reference now to
While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/586,107, filed on Oct. 25, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,427,008. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11586107 | Oct 2006 | US |
Child | 12061431 | US |