The present disclosure relates to tool accessory holders, tool systems, and tool accessory storage systems. The present disclosure also relates to storage devices and, more particularly, to holders for tool bits.
Holders for tool accessories or tool bits such as drill bits, impact screwdriver bits, torque bits, and the like are known. Such holders typically include retaining means for holding the tool bits in an organized manner. Conventionally, such holders are retained in storage cases configured to hold multiple tool accessory holders. In some instances, a user may require a variety of different tool bits useable with one or more power tools.
In first aspect, the disclosure provides a tool accessory holder for use with a tool accessory case and configured to couple to a power tool. The tool accessory holder includes a body configured to hold one or more tool accessories for use with the power tool. The body is selectively received in the tool accessory case. The tool accessory holder further includes a first retainer coupled to the body and configured to couple the tool accessory holder to the tool accessory case, and a second retainer coupled to the body and configured to couple the tool accessory holder to the power tool. The tool accessory holder can be removed from the tool accessory case and coupled to the power tool. The tool accessory holder is removable from the power tool and couplable to the tool accessory case.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first retainer is a projection extending from a side of the body.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the projection is configured to be releasably coupled to an engagement feature located on a sidewall of the tool accessory case.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the projection is a first projection. The first retainer also includes a second projection extending from a side of the body opposite the first projection.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the second retainer is a bore formed in the body. The bore receives a threaded fastener to couple the tool accessory holder to the power tool.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the bore extends through a front and a back of the body.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the tool accessory holder is rotatable relative to tool accessory case while coupled to the tool accessory case.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the tool accessory holder is moveable relative the tool accessory case between a storage position and an upright position while coupled to the tool accessory case.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the body defines a plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of compartments is configured to receive one of the one or more tool accessories for use with the power tool.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the plurality of compartments is arranged in a row along a length of the body.
In some embodiments of the first aspect, the one or more tool accessories for use with the power tool include one or more selected from a group consisting of a drill bit, a driver bit, an impact bit, and a socket bit.
In a second aspect, the disclosure provides a tool system that includes a tool accessory storage case, a power tool, and a tool accessory holder configured to hold at least one tool accessory for use with the power tool. The tool accessory storage case includes one or more housing members at least partially defining a storage area, and an engagement feature located on the one or more housing members adjacent the storage area. The power tool includes a housing, a motor positioned in the housing, a drive assembly supported by the housing and coupled to the motor, and an output element coupled to the drive assembly. The tool accessory holder is alternately couplable to the tool accessory storage case and to the power tool.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the tool accessory holder includes a first retainer couplable with the engagement feature of the tool accessory storage case. The tool accessory holder includes a second retainer couplable with a retainer of the power tool.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first retainer is a projection. The second retainer is a bore that receives a threaded fastener.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the housing of the power tool includes a battery receptacle defining a foot of the power tool. The tool accessory holder couples to the foot.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the housing also includes a motor housing portion that receives the motor and a handle portion extending from the motor housing portion. The battery receptacle is coupled to an end of the handle portion opposite from the motor housing portion.
In some embodiments of the second aspect, the engagement feature is one of a plurality of engagement features located on the one or more housing members. The tool accessory holder is couplable to the plurality of engagement features in different positions.
In a third aspect, the disclosure provides a tool accessory storage system that includes a tool accessory case including one or more housing members at least partially defining a storage area, and an engagement feature located on the one or more housing members adjacent the storage area. The tool accessory storage system further includes a tool accessory holder including a body configured to hold one or more tool accessories for use with a power tool, and a retainer coupled to the body. The retainer is selectively engageable with the engagement feature to removably couple the tool accessory holder to the tool accessory case. The tool accessory holder is removable from the tool accessory case and configured to couple to the power tool.
In some embodiments of the third aspect, the retainer is a projection extending from a side of the body. The engagement feature is a receiver formed in a sidewall of the one or more housing members.
In some embodiments of the third aspect, the tool accessory holder also includes a bore formed in the body. The bore receives a threaded fastener to couple the tool accessory holder to the power tool.
In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of alternately coupling a tool accessory holder to a tool accessory case and a power tool. The method includes providing engagement features on the tool accessory case and coupling a retainer to a body of the tool accessory holder. The method further includes removably coupling the engagement features with the retainer to couple the tool accessory holder to the tool accessory case. The method even further includes removably coupling the tool accessory holder to the power tool.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. Any feature(s) described herein in relation to one aspect or embodiment may be combined with any other feature(s) described herein in relation to any other aspect or embodiment as appropriate and applicable.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
As illustrated in
The tool bit case 100 further includes a latch mechanism 126 to selectively secure the tool bit case 100 in the closed position. The illustrated latch mechanism 126 includes a latch 128 that is pivotally coupled to the rear cover 108 and engageable with a locking protrusion 130 located on the front cover 104. In other embodiments, the relative positions of the latch 128 and the protrusion 130 may be reversed. The latch 128 engages the locking protrusion 130 such that the tool bit case 100 is secured in the closed position. In contrast, the latch 128 disengages from the locking protrusion 130 such that the tool bit case 100 can be opened. The latch mechanism 126 further includes resilient portions that bias the latch 128 towards the locking protrusion 130 while in the locked position.
With specific reference to
The engagement features 140 are located within the storage space 124 on the sidewalls 120 of the front and rear covers 104, 108. The tool bit holders 136a-d are multi-positionable relative to the covers 104, 108 to obtain different organization configurations (e.g., to support and store different sizes or types of tool bits 132a-c). In addition, the illustrated tool bit holders 136a-d are snapped into place within the tool bit case 100 so that the holders 136a-d can be removed and repositioned to achieve different configurations. As will be described in greater detail below, one or more of the accessory holders 136a-d is additionally removably couplable to the power tool 200.
The tool bit holders 136a-d, while in a storage position (
As best illustrated in
Each engagement feature 140 includes a boss 212 that extends from the sidewall 120 toward the opposing sidewall 120. Each boss 212 defines an aperture 216. In the illustrated embodiment, each engagement feature 140 along one of the sidewalls 120 is identified with indicia (e.g., A-M, 1-13, etc.), which aids in aligning the tool bit holders 136a-d across the covers 104, 108. In other embodiments, the engagement features 140 may have other configurations. For example, the engagement features 140 may include projections or posts extending from the sidewalls.
As shown in
As shown in
The tool bit holder 136a further includes ribs 264a adjacent each projection 232. The ribs 264a extend radially outward from the corresponding projection 232. In addition, the ribs 264a are configured to fit within the grooves 220 of the engagement features 140. As shown in
Referring specifically to
The tool bit holder 136c includes one row of discrete compartments 224. In addition, the tool bit holder 136c includes ribs 264a, the flange 236, and the open region 240 similar to the tool bit holder 136a. In contrast to the tool bit holder 136a, the tool bit holder 136c includes an elongated rib 264b adjacent the projections 232. The elongated rib 264b extends at a greater length from the projections 232 than the ribs 264a. The illustrated elongated rib 264b is configured to span multiple engagement features 140 and engage multiple grooves 220 when the tool bit holder 136c is in the storage position. This arrangement helps hold the tool bit holder 136c in the storage position. In addition, the tool bit holder 136c is taller than the tool bit holder 136a to receive longer tool bits 132a-c.
The tool bit holder 136d includes two rows of discrete compartments 224. The first, or back, row is taller than the second, or front, row such that the first row is able to receive longer tool bits 132a-c than the second row. Similar to the tool bit holder 136c, the tool bit holder 136d includes the open region 240, the ribs 264a, and the elongated rib 264b adjacent the projections 232. In addition, the second row of discrete compartments 224, which is shorter than the first row, includes the resilient fingers (not shown) at an interface between the first and the second rows. The first row of discrete compartments 224 includes the resilient fingers 228 opposite the interface between the rows.
In operation, the tool bit holders 136a-d are pivotally coupled to any pair of engagement features 140 within the covers 104, 108 either in the storage position or the upright position. The projections 232 and ribs 264a-b of the tool bit holders 136a-d are received in and engage the apertures 216 and grooves 220 of the engagement features 140 to releasably secure the holders 136a-d within the case 100 and semi-rigidly retain the tool bit holders 136a-d in the storage position or the upright position.
In some instances, the tool bit holders 136a-d can receive any combination of tool bits 132a-c. When the tool bits 132a-c are inserted into the discrete compartments 224, the resilient fingers 228 engage a portion of the tool bits 132a-c such that the tool bits 132a-c are secured in the tool bit holders 136a-d until the user removes (e.g., pulls) the tool bits 132a-c from the tool bit holders 136a-d. In other words, the resilient fingers 228 provide enough force on the tool bits 132a-c, relative to the force of gravity and typical forces during transportation of the tool bit case 100, to retain the tool bits 132a-c within the tool bit holders 136a-d.
With reference to
As illustrated in
Referring now to
Similar to how the first retainer 232 engages the tool bit case 100 to removably couple the tool bit holder 136a to the case 100, the second retainer 272 engages the power tool 200 (with the fastener 278) to removably couple the tool bit holder 136a to the power tool 200. In other words, the tool bit holder 136a includes one retainer (e.g., retainer 232) for coupling to the tool accessory case 100 and another retainer (e.g., retainer 272) for coupling to the power tool 200.
Referring now to
The battery pack 340 may be a power tool battery pack 340 generally used to power a power tool, such as an electric drill, a rotary impact tool, a rotary tool, an electric saw, and the like (e.g., an 18 volt rechargeable battery pack, or an M18/M12 REDLITHIUM battery pack sold by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation). The battery pack 340 may include lithium ion (Li-ion) cells or packs of a different chemistry (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCa or NiCad), nickel-hydride, and the like). The battery pack 340 or power tool 200 may further include an indicator 342 to display the current state of charge of the battery pack and/or other characteristics of the battery pack.
In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 278 is threadably received in the engagement feature 290 with at least a portion of the tool bit holder 136a positioned between a head of the fastener 278 and the power tool 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement feature 290 is a receiver, such as a threaded bore, that receives the fastener 278. In other embodiments, the engagement feature 290 may have other configurations. For example, the engagement feature 290 may include a projection, post, or threaded stud that is received in an aperture of the tool bit holder 136a. In some embodiments, one or more fasteners may extend from the body 266 without being received in the through hole 274. For example, a hook or tab may extend from the body 266. In other embodiments, the fastener is rigidly attached to the body 266 such that the entire tool bit holder 136a may be rotated to thread the fastener into the receiver 290 of the power tool 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver 290 is positioned adjacent the foot 336 of the power tool 200 but could be positioned elsewhere, such as forwardly on the battery receptacle 332, on the battery pack 340, or on another part of the housing 300.
In yet another embodiment, the fastener of the holder-to-power tool retainer includes a magnet, and the receiver 290 of the power tool 200 includes an oppositely polarized magnet. In still another embodiment, the receiver of the power tool 200 includes one or more recessed regions that receive the boss 286, the flange 236, and/or an entire outer periphery of the tool bit holder 136a. In an even further embodiment, the power tool 200 includes a retainer arrangement similar to the engagement features 140 of the tool bit case 100 such that the projections 232 and ribs 264a of tool bit holder 136a engage a complimentary retainer structure on the power tool 200. In such further embodiments, the holder-to-power tool retainer and the holder-to-case retainer are one in the same.
In operation of the tool bit holder 136a, the tool bit holder 136a can be selectively removed from the tool accessory case 100 and, as shown in
Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosure as described.
Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202121680283.0 | Jul 2021 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US22/37623 | 7/19/2022 | WO |