This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119 to Chinese Application No. 200520069605.2, filed on Jan. 4, 2005.
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The invention relates to a power tool, and more particularly to a cutting tool with a tool storage, for storing types of tools and tool accessories which might be needed by the user during the use and operation of the power tool.
Power tools, especially portable cutting tools, such as jig saws, circular saws and electric drills, are widely used in different locations and for different applications because of their portability. During operation, power tool accessories (e.g., saw blades, drill bits, etc.) are needed to be replaced to accommodate workpieces that have different material or shapes. In addition, tools and tool accessories might need to be replaced when a saw blade or drill bit becomes too dull. If a separate tool storage case is provided for storing tools, the tool storage case must be carried with the power tool at every working opportunity. This is extremely inconvenient. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a chamber in the power tool housing or attach a tool storage compartment to the housing for receiving and storing additional tools and/or power tool accessories.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,573 discloses a jig saw with a chamber applied in a housing for storing saw blades. U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,217 discloses a saber saw with spare saw blades detachably stored in the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,743 discloses an electric drill that comprises accommodation spaces in the handle and the rear side of the housing for receiving spare drill bits therein. For receiving those tools, a relatively large space must be provided in the housing of the power tool, and the space capability is relatively limited.
Meanwhile, during operation of the power tool, tools and tool accessories are subjected to high levels of vibrations, which make securing the tools and/or accessories difficult. Furthermore, the tools are inconvenient in accessing because the tool storage has a relative small volume.
The terms tool and tool accessory shall mean any power tool component which operates directly on a workpiece, such as a saw blade, a drill bit and so on. The terms shall also include a tool or other apparatus having no direct relationship to the power tool (e.g., a laser level, a tape measure, fasteners, sand paper, etc.).
The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior tools of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An object of the present invention is to provide a power tool with a tool and/or tool accessory storage compartment that is detachably mounted on the tool housing.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a power tool of the present invention comprises a tool accessory storage compartment, which includes a fixing device, and two sliding slots that are positioned on a bottom surface which is to be joined to a housing of the power tool. A locking device is contained on the housing to be engageable with the fixing device of the tool storage. At least one pair of guide bars project outwardly and are engageable with the sliding slots. An action surface is formed between each pair of sliding slot and guide bar.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a power tool with a tool storage compartment. The tool storage compartment contains a fastening means for fixing the tools within the compartment, and consequently to prevent the tools from being vibrated when the power tool is being operated. A still further object of the present invention is to conveniently allow access to the tools from the tool storage compartment.
Provided with such mechanisms, the power tool is equipped with a detachable tool storage compartment, which facilitates the user to replace the tools at any moment. Moreover, it is very convenient to access the tools and assemble or disassemble the tool storage compartment from the tool housing. Furthermore, because the tool storage compartment is equipped with means for securing it to the housing, it is less likely that vibrations caused during use of the power tool will move the tool storage compartment around or even slide out of the engagement with the housing.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, which will be described in great detail hereinafter and take the jig saw as an example.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
Further referring to
It is also desireable to have a fixing means to ensure steady connection between the blade storage compartment 2 and the housing 1. Referring to
The fixing means as mentioned above may be accomplished in other ways. For example, magnets may be disposed in the housing 1 and/or the blade storage compartment 2, so that they cooperate with each other to detachably secure the blade storage compartment 2 to the housing 1. In another embodiment, latches may be respectively mounted to the front end 9 of the blade storage compartment 2 and the housing 1 to secure the two to one another. The latches may be any types as that have been widely used for detachably connecting two components, and which is commonly known by those skilled in the mechanical field.
Referring to
Another embodiment of the device for fixing the saw blades 4 is that, magnets are arranged in or about the chamber members 16, and the saw blades 4 are accordingly fixed in the chamber members 16 by magnetic force.
In a preferred embodiment, the chamber members 16 of the blade storage 2 has an open end 7, which comprises a resilient pad 5 at a position near the bottom surface 101. The resilient pad 5 extends beyond the open end 7 and has a folded stopping flange 51. Accordingly, the saw blade 4 can be conveniently accessed when pushing the resilient pad 5 in a direction as shown by arrow A in
While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to a jig saw and saw blades as preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that such tool storage may also be applied to other power tools, especially handheld cutting tools such as saber saw, drill, hammer and so on, and other tools or tool accessories. Based on understanding from the specification described above and the accompanying drawings, the tool storage may be applied to other power tools by those skilled in the art through the same way or by taking an equivalent change. That is, the constitution of the above-mentioned blade storage and the connection between the blade storage and the jig saw may be also applied to other power tools.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200520069605.2 | Jan 2005 | CN | national |