Abstract:
A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a tool chuck (10) for a power hand tool (14) of the type which has a generally cylindrical elongated housing with a motor contained within the housing or case and the motor having an output shaft (12) that extends from the nose end of the hand tool (14), and which has one or more light producing devices (24) located at its nose end for illuminating the work area during operation. The preferred embodiment of the tool chuck (10) has an annular cylindrical light transmitting portion (44) on the outside of the chuck body portion (30) for transmitting light toward a tool bit (20) held by the tool chuck (10). The preferred embodiment may have an inwardly oriented front end surface (46) to direct the transmitted light toward the axis of the tool bit and may have an outer layer of resilient material (48) to facilitate easy gripping of the tool chuck (10) to tighten or loosen a tool bit.
Abstract:
A preferred embodiment comprises a power hand tool (10) of the type which has a generally cylindrical elongated plastic housing (14) with a motor contained within the housing (14) and having an output shaft (30) that extends from the front end portion (22) of the hand tool (10), and which has a metal front end portion (22) that cooperates with the plastic housing (14) to strengthen a shaft locking mechanism (32) located at the front end of the hand tool (10). The metal front end portion (22) not only strengthens the outer , surface of the housing (14) in the front end portion (22) of the tool, but also has a pair of internal structural ribs (72) positioned to absorb stress that may be present in the housing (14) as a result of force applied to the shaft locking mechanism. The preferred embodiment is also designed to enable the shaft locking pin mechanism (32) to be easily assembled and retained without the need for an E-clip or C-clip as is commonly the practice in commercially available spiral saw hand tools (10).
Abstract:
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a detachable flexible handle (30) for a power hand tool (20) and an attachment system associated with the handle and the tool for releasably attaching either a rigid or the flexible handle (30) to the power hand tool (20). The system has housing (22) attachment recesses (38, 42) on the tool that receive attachment clips (52, 54) located at opposite end portions of the flexible handle (30) or structure of a rigid handle (32).