Snap-On Inc.

William Berry Dance

Johnathan Tyler Bennett

Matthew D Patterson

The present invention relates to a housing clamp for a power tool housing, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other powered tool. The housing clamp includes a circumferential flange and recess that extends at an angle. When the housing clamp is installed, the housing clamp couples two portions of a power tool housing together. As the housing clamp is tightened onto the housing portions, the flange loads the housing with even pressure around its circumference providing a clamping load. The housing clamp provides even pressure around a large area at a working end of the tool, allowing the tool to be thinner in a dimensionally critical area.

Housing clamp for a power tool

A direction selector mechanism for a hand-held power tool that includes internal linkages that move an actuation point of a direction selection from above the trigger (as in previous tools) to a top of the tool. For example, the control for the direction selector mechanism includes a direction toggle positioned on a top of the tool, and that is movable by a user to select either of first and second rotational directions (e.g. clockwise and counter-clockwise). This position/location allows the user to select or change between the first and second rotational directions with a user's thumb for both direction changes, in either hand ambidextrously, and places the trigger actuation higher up in the tool, closer to the axis of output of the tool.

Growing community of inventors

Murphy, NC, United States of America

William Berry Dance