Patent Application
20230145132
None.
The present invention relates to a power tool attachment device, and more specifically, to a power tool attachment device such as a screw insert capable of securing accessories to a power tool when not in use.
Power tools, such as grinders, have several potential attachments. For example, the grinder includes grinder wheels that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In order to attach and secure a grinder wheel to the grinder, a nut is screwed over the wheel so that when the wheel spins, the wheel remains attached to the grinder. A user may have several different types of nuts to hold a grinder wheel in place, and different grinder nuts may be used for different types of grinder wheels. Thus, when a user wants to switch grinder wheels, the user may have to place a grinder nut on a table, the ground, or pocket, and may lose the nut.
Currently, there is no mechanism or means to safely keep the nut without it being lost when the grinder wheels are switched. Thus, there remains a continuing need for improved devices that retain nuts and other accessories in easy to access places without getting lost.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power tool attachment device and that avoids the drawbacks of known art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a power tool attachment device capable of securing accessories to a power tool when not in use or between switching of the accessories.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a power tool attachment device that helps to attach accessories having varied shapes and sizes to a power tool so that the accessories do not get lost.
In order to achieve one or more objects, the present invention provides a power tool attachment device for securing an accessory to a power tool. The power tool attachment device includes a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion has a shape and size different from the first threaded portion. In one example, the first threaded portion has diameter, pitch, and length, larger than the second threaded portion. In another example, the second threaded portion has diameter, pitch, and length, larger than the first threaded portion.
The first threaded portion inserts in a hole of the power tool while the second threaded portion remains outside of the hole. The second threaded portion is shaped and sized to be able to attach accessories of the power tool. The second threaded portion receives and connects an accessory to the power tool, via an accessory hole that conforms to the shape and size of the second threaded portion.
In one advantageous feature of the present invention, the power tool attachment device helps to attach an accessory such as a nut to the power tool such as a grinder, for example so that the accessory does not get lost.
In another advantageous feature of the present invention, when the power tool includes holes, each provided at either side of its housing, the power tool attachment device attaches at one side and allows the hole on another side to be used for connecting a handle. This way, the power tool attachment device helps to hold accessories without affecting the operation of the power tool.
Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature.
The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element, component, region, layer, and/or section.
It will be understood that the elements, components, regions, layers and sections depicted in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” “upper” or “top,” “left” or “right,” “above” or “below,” “front” or “rear,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. The numbers, ratios, percentages, and other values may include those that are ±5%, ±10%, ±25%, ±50%, ±75%, ±100%, ±200%, ±500%, or other ranges that do not detract from the spirit of the invention. The terms about, approximately, or substantially may include values known to those having ordinary skill in the art. If not known in the art, these terms may be considered to be in the range of up to ±5%, ±10%, or other value higher than these ranges commonly accepted by those having ordinary skill in the art for the variable disclosed. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any elements that are not specifically disclosed herein.
Turning to the Figures,
In the present invention, first threaded portion 20 has a larger diameter than second threaded portion 22. As such, threads in first threaded portion 20 have a larger pitch than threads in second threaded portion 22. For example, each thread in first threaded portion 20 has a pitch of about ⅝-11″ (nominal size and threads per inch) and each thread in second threaded portion 22 has a pitch of about 1.0-1.5″. Further, first threaded portion 20 has a diameter of 0.62 inches. Further, second threaded portion 22 has a diameter of 0.40 inches. Furthermore, connecting body 24 has a diameter of about 0.50 inches. As can be seen from at least
A person skilled in the art understands that power tool 14, say a grinder has holes at either side. The presently disclosed power tool attachment device 12 is positioned in one or both holes for connecting accessories when they are not in use.
In accordance with the present invention, power tool attachment device 12 inserts in free or unused hole 33 (i.e., hole 33 on first side 31) and helps to connect accessory 40 while hole 33 on second side 32 is used for connecting handle 36 (
As known, power tool 14 such as a power grinder includes grinding wheel or grinding disc 38 screwed to housing 30 with the help of accessory 40 such as a nut. Accessory 40 e.g., nut is screwed over grinding wheel 38 so that when grinding wheel 38 spins, grinding wheel 38 remains attached to power tool 14. Accessory 40 is removed and placed over a surface such as a table or ground in order to switch grinding wheel 38 to another grinder wheel 38 (or polish or buffing wheel) or when it is not required to secure grinding wheel 38 to housing 30. Accessory 40 includes accessory hole 42 with threaded portion 43.
In accordance with the present invention, after accessory 40 is removed, accessory 40 is connected to power tool attachment device 12 which is connected to hole 33. This way, accessory 40 is secured to power tool 14 via power tool attachment device 12 and ensures that it does not get lost during the switching of grinding wheel 38 (or when it is not needed). As specified above, power tool attachment device 12 connects to hole 33 at the free side (first side 31) of housing 30 in that second threaded portion 22 inserts into hole 33 and first threaded portion 20 remains outside of hole 33. In accordance with the present invention, accessory 40 screws onto first threaded portion 20, as shown in
When needed, the user unscrews accessory 40 from power tool attachment device 12 leaving power tool attachment device 12 connected to power tool 14, as shown in
In another embodiment, power tool attachment device 12 is used to secure grinding wheel 38 along with accessory 40 to housing 30. For example, consider grinding wheel 38 is removed from housing 30 for connecting a buffing wheel (not shown). In such a scenario, at first, grinding wheel 38 containing a hole (not shown) is inserted/screwed at first threaded portion 20 that is outside of hole 33. Subsequently, accessory 40 is connected to first threaded portion 20 to secure grinding wheel 38 at one side i.e., first side 31 of housing 30.
Although the above description is explained considering that power tool attachment device 12 connects at one side of housing 30, it is possible to use holes 33 at both sides 31, 32 to connect two power tool attachment devices 12 for attaching multiple accessories. In such an implementation, each hole 33 at first side 31 and second side 32 receives a different power tool attachment device 12. Depending on the size of hole 33, either first threaded portion 20 or second threaded portion 22 inserts in respective hole 33. Subsequently, accessories 40 are connected at the threaded portion that is outside of hole 33 at both sides.
In one embodiment, first threaded portion 20 encompasses a hex wrench broach or hole 29 at first end 31, as shown in at least
The embodiments provide for several advantages over the prior art. For example, the power tool attachment device helps to attach power tool accessories such as a nut directly to the power tool, so the accessories do not get lost. The power tool attachment device connects at the free hole and does not affect the operation of the power tool. The power tool attachment device has two threaded portions of varied sizes, as such the threaded portion that conforms to the shape of the hole is made to insert in the hole while the other threaded portion is made to remain outside the hole. The outer threaded portion is used to receive/attach accessories of the power tool. This way, different accessories having varied shapes and sizes can be connected to the power tool with the help of the power tool attachment device.
While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.
