Search

US-12623332-B2 - Ergonomic housing for a power tool

US12623332B2US 12623332 B2US12623332 B2US 12623332B2US-12623332-B2

Abstract

A tool having a housing with a motor housing portion having a motor disposed therein. A groove is formed in the motor housing portion and is disposed proximate an output axis of the tool. The groove is adapted to receive an index finger of a user, and a trigger adapted to operate the motor is adapted to be operated by a middle finger of the user.

Inventors

  • Matthew D. Patterson
  • William Berry Dance

Assignees

  • SNAP-ON INCORPORATED

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210615

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A tool having an output longitudinal axis and adapted to be used by a user having an index finger, the tool comprising: a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle housing portion; a motor disposed in the motor housing portion, wherein the motor is adapted to rotate a motor shaft of the motor; and a groove formed in the motor housing portion and adapted to receive the index finger of the user, wherein the groove has a centerline that is substantially parallel to the output longitudinal axis and offset from the output longitudinal axis in a direction towards the handle housing portion.
  2. 2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the groove is disposed proximate to the output longitudinal axis.
  3. 3 . The tool of claim 1 further comprising a trigger adapted to operate the motor, and the trigger is adapted to be operated by a middle finger of the user.
  4. 4 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a clamshell-type housing with first and second housing portions that are coupled together.
  5. 5 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the first and second housing portions are coupled together via a housing clamp.
  6. 6 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the groove includes first and second grooves respectively formed on the first and second housing portions.
  7. 7 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the centerline of the groove is offset from the output longitudinal axis by a distance in a range of about 0.125 to 0.5 inches.
  8. 8 . The tool of claim 7 , wherein the distance is about 0.25 inches.
  9. 9 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes first and second portions, the first portion is adapted to receive the index finger, and the second portion is proximal to a rear of the tool and has a curvature in a range of about 1.5 to 1.625 inches.
  10. 10 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the curvature is about 1.52 inches.
  11. 11 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes first and second portions, the first portion is adapted to receive the index finger, and the second portion is proximal to a rear of the tool and has a radius in a range of about 0.625 to 0.75 inches.
  12. 12 . The tool of claim 11 , wherein the radius is about 0.657 inches.
  13. 13 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the second portion is adapted to receive a web between a thumb and the index finger of the user.
  14. 14 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the groove follows a groove path having a curved portion and substantially straight portions, and the curved portion is proximal to a rear of the tool.
  15. 15 . The tool of claim 14 , wherein the substantially straight portions respectively extend from the curved portion at an angle of about 3° for a distance of about 3 inches.
  16. 16 . The tool of claim 14 , wherein the curved portion has a radius between a range of about 0.8125 to 0.875 inches.
  17. 17 . The tool of claim 16 , wherein the radius of the curved portion is about 0.825 inches.
  18. 18 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the motor shaft is substantially axially aligned with the output longitudinal axis.
  19. 19 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a direction selector mechanism operably coupled to the motor housing portion substantially opposite the handle housing portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/049,800, filed Jul. 9, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a housing of a power tool. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many tools are powered by electric power, via an external power source (such as a wall outlet) or a battery. Drills and impact wrenches, for example, impart torque to a work piece to loosen or tighten the work piece. However, existing tools can be bulky due to the motor and other internal components of the tool. This size can cause problems when trying to access work pieces that are located in tight or hard to reach places. For example, current tools are designed such that a trigger used to operate an output of the tool is actuated by an index finger of a user. This causes the user to hold the tool away from the axis of the output and the weight of the motor. Accordingly, the user often must use two hands to maintain adequate control of the tool for precision operation. This can cause problems when trying to access work pieces that are located in tight or hard to reach places that will not permit two handed operation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to a housing for a power tool, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other powered tool, that is powered by electricity via an external power source (such as a wall outlet and/or generator outlet) or a rechargeable power source, such as a battery. The housing allows the tool to be held closer to the axis of the output and center of weight of the motor. For example, the housing allows a user to comfortably operate the trigger of the tool with a middle finger and position an index finger of the user in a groove that is proximate the axis of the output and the weight of the motor for better control and/or stability. This position/location of the hand of the user provides ergonomic advantage during precision operation. The present invention broadly includes a tool. The tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle housing portion, a motor disposed in the motor housing portion and adapted to selectively rotate a motor shaft in either of first and second rotational directions, and a groove formed in the motor housing portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated. FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the tool of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the tool of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows the tool of FIG. 1 being operated by a user. FIG. 5 shows a groove path of a groove formed in the tool of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a section view of the tool of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a plan, detail view of the groove formed in the tool of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment 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 embodiments illustrated. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention and is instead a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only. The present invention relates broadly to a housing for a power tool, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other powered tool, that is powered by electricity via an external power source (such as a wall outlet and/or generator outlet) or a rechargeable battery source, such as a battery, and includes a motor and motor shaft. The housing includes a groove adapted to receive an index finger of a user that moves the position/location of a hand of the user closer to the axis of the output and the weight of the motor (compared to previous tools). For example, the trigger of the tool is adapted to be operated by a middle finger of a user to cause rotation of the output of the tool in either of first and second directions (e.g. clockwise and counter-clockwise) and the index finger of the user is proximate the axis of the output and the weight of the motor for better control and/or stability of the tool during use. This position/lo