U.S. patent application number 11/436818 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for mounting bracket for handheld tool.
This patent application is currently assigned to Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer Company. Invention is credited to Gary S. Bass.
Application Number | 20070269318 11/436818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38712158 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070269318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bass; Gary S. |
November 22, 2007 |
Mounting bracket for handheld tool
Abstract
A compressor includes a pump and a mounting bracket attached to
the pump. A handheld pneumatic tool is configured to be powered by
the compressor. It is further configured to be captured by the
bracket and to require the tool to be rotated in order to remove
the tool from the bracket.
Inventors: |
Bass; Gary S.;
(Independence, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT GROUP 2N;JONES DAY
NORTH POINT, 901 LAKESIDE AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer
Company
|
Family ID: |
38712158 |
Appl. No.: |
11/436818 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 53/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/234 |
International
Class: |
F04B 53/00 20060101
F04B053/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a compressor including a pump and a
mounting bracket attached to the pump; and a handheld pneumatic
tool configured to be powered by the compressor, to be captured by
the bracket, and to require the tool to be rotated in order to
withdraw the tool from the bracket.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compressor includes wheels
for wheeling the compressor over a floor after tilting the
compressor about the wheels.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle for lifting
and carrying the housing by the handle.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compressor is configured to
rest on a floor in first and second orientations that are rotated
90.degree. from each other.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bracket is attached to a
side wall of the compressor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the side wall is configured to
be vertical when the compressor is operated.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein withdrawal of the tool from the
bracket does not require bending, moving or squeezing the
bracket.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool has a hand grip
configured to be removably captured by the bracket and to rotated
in order to withdraw the tool from the bracket.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the rotation is about a
longitudinal axis of the grip.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation to withdraw the
tool is against gravity when the compressor is in its operational
orientation.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool is one of multiple
handheld pneumatic tools, each configured to be powered by the
compressor and having a hand grip configured to be removably
captured by the bracket and requiring the tool to be rotated to
withdraw the tool from the bracket.
12. An apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket attached to a
mounting surface; and a handheld tool having a hand grip and
configured to be mounted on the surface with the grip captured by
and in the bracket, and withdrawal of the grip from the bracket
requires rotating the grip about its longitudinal axis.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the withdrawal of the grip
does not require bending, moving or squeezing the bracket.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tool is one of multiple
handheld tools each having a hand grip and configured to be mounted
on the surface with the grip captured by and in the grip, with
withdrawal of the grip from the bracket requiring rotating the grip
about its longitudinal axis.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein with requirement for rotating
is due to the grip having long and short dimensions perpendicular
to a longitudinal axis of the grip, the long dimension being longer
than a width of an opening into the bracket and being aligned with
said width when the grip is captured, and the short dimension being
smaller than said width.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the long dimension is greater
than the depth of the cavity of the bracket in which the grip is
captured, to require the grip to be rotated about its longitudinal
axis in order to fit entirely into the cavity.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, with respect to a
longitudinal axis of the grip, diametrically opposite locations on
the grip are configured to simultaneously engage the bracket to
prevent movement of the grip along a diametrically directed
direction.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates to mounting brackets for handheld
power tools.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A compressor includes an air pump. A tank stores air
compressed by the pump. A hose conducts the air stored in the tank
to pneumatic devices, such as a nail gun.
SUMMARY
[0003] A compressor includes a pump and a mounting bracket attached
to the pump. A handheld pneumatic-tool is configured to be powered
by the compressor. It is further configured to be captured by the
bracket and to require the tool to be rotated in order to remove
the tool from the bracket.
[0004] Preferably, the compressor includes a handle for lifting and
carrying the housing by the handle. The compressor is configured to
have a first orientation when manually moved and a second
orientation, rotated 90.degree. from the first orientation, when
operated. The bracket is attached to a side wall of the compressor.
Removal of the bracket does not require bending, moving or
squeezing the bracket. The tool has a hand grip configured to be
removably captured by the bracket. 10. The rotation to withdraw the
tool is against gravity when the compressor is in its operational
orientation. The tool is one of multiple handheld pneumatic tools,
each configured to be powered by the compressor and having a hand
grip configured to be removably captured by the bracket and
requiring the tool to be rotated to withdraw the tool from the
bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIGS. 1-3 are perspective views of a handheld tool mounted
on a portable compressor that is shown in three different
positions;
[0006] FIGS. 4-6 are perspective views illustrating three steps of
a procedure for mounting the tool on the compressor; and
[0007] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the tool mounted
on two other compressors.
DESCRIPTION
[0008] The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has parts that are examples of
the elements recited in the claims. The apparatus thus includes
examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and
use the claimed invention. It is described here to meet the
requirements of enablement and best mode without imposing
limitations that are not recited in the claims.
[0009] The apparatus includes a compressor 1. It has an air pump 10
with a pump housing 12 that supports an air tank 14. The tank 14
stores air compressed by the pump 10. A hose 16 is configured to
conduct the air stored in the tank 14 to a pneumatic device, such
as a handheld pneumatic power tool 20. The tool 20 is removably
mounted on the compressor 1 by a mounting bracket 22 attached to
the housing 12.
[0010] The housing 12 has a handle 26 and first and second opposite
surfaces 31 and 32 extending from the handle 26 to an end surface
33 opposite the handle 26. The first surface 31 supports the
bracket 22. The compressor 1 is configured to be lifted and carried
by its handle 26 as shown in FIG. 1. When carried, the compressor 1
is in a vertical orientation, with the first and second surfaces 31
and 32 vertical and the end surface 33 spaced above and facing a
floor 34.
[0011] When stored or used, the compressor 1 can remain in the
vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 2, but with the end surface
33 resting on the floor 34. Alternatively, the compressor 1 can be
pivoted 90.degree. into a horizontal orientation shown in FIG. 3.
The second surface 32 rests on the floor 34 or a tabletop. The
first surface 31, adjoining the bracket 22, faces upward.
[0012] The bracket 22 is molded as a one-piece structure. With
respect to the compressor's vertical orientation shown in FIG. 4,
the bracket 22 has upper and lower fingers 41 and 42 projecting
horizontally outward from opposite ends of a vertical side bar 43.
The bracket 22 has a cavity 50 bounded by the fingers 41 and 42 and
the side bar 43. Distal ends 51 and 52 of the fingers 41 and 42
define an opening 54 to the cavity 50. A width W.sub.O of the
opening 54 is the vertical distance between the distal ends 51 and
52. A cavity depth D.sub.C is the horizontal distance from the
opening 54 to the opposite end of the cavity 50.
[0013] The tool 20 in this example is a nail gun. It has a barrel
60, a nail cartridge 62 perpendicular to the barrel 60, a pistol
grip 64 parallel with the cartridge 62, and a trigger 66. The gun
20 is configured for a hand to grasp the grip 64 while the hand's
index finger squeezes the trigger 66. The hand grip 64 has a
longitudinal axis A and a cross-sectional profile P perpendicular
to the axis A. The profile P has a longest dimension L.sub.P and a
shortest dimension W.sub.P that are perpendicular to each other and
to the axis A. The long dimension L.sub.P is larger than both the
opening width W.sub.O and the cavity depth D.sub.C. The short
dimension W.sub.p is equal to or smaller than both the opening
width W.sub.O and the cavity depth D.sub.C.
[0014] A procedure for mounting the tool 20 to the compressor 1 has
two steps. The first step is an insertion step indicated by arrow
71 in FIG. 4. This step begins with the barrel 60 directed away
from the housing 12 and the grip width W.sub.p aligned with the
opening width W.sub.O. A user manually moves the pistol grip 64,
without rotation, linearly through the bracket opening 54 into an
intermediate position shown in FIG. 5. In the intermediate
position, a portion of the grip 64 remains outside the cavity 50,
because the grip's profile length L.sub.P exceeds the cavity depth
D.sub.C.
[0015] The second step is a rotation step. The user rotates the gun
(arrow 73) downward about the grip axis A into a mounted position
shown in FIG. 6. To enable the grip 64 to clear the lower edge 52
of the opening 54 during rotation and to bring the grip 64 fully
into the cavity 50, the user displaces the grip 64 toward the upper
right hand corner 74 (with respect to the orientation in FIG. 6) of
the cavity 50 as indicated by dashed lines 76 in FIG. 6.
[0016] In the mounted position shown in FIG. 6, the barrel 60
extends downward. The profile's long dimension L.sub.P is parallel
with the opening width W.sub.O. The grip 64 is captured in the
cavity 50, because its profile length L.sub.P is larger than the
opening width W.sub.O. The bracket's fingers 41 and 42
simultaneously engage the grip 64 to prevent the grip 64 from
moving vertically. Enlarged sections 80 and 82 at longitudinally
opposite ends of the grip 64 are too large to enter the cavity 50
and thus prevent the grip 64 from sliding along its longitudinal
axis A out of the cavity 50. If the compressor 1 is subsequently
pivoted into its horizontal orientation (FIG. 3), the barrel 60
will rest on the surface 31 that supports the bracket 22.
[0017] To remove the gun 20 from the compressor 1, the barrel 60 is
manually pivoted (arrow 91 in FIG. 6) upward about the grip axis A.
This returns the gun 20 back to the intermediate position (FIG. 5)
with the grip width W.sub.p parallel to the bracket's opening width
W.sub.O. The grip 64 can then be moved horizontally, without
rotation, out of the cavity 50 through the opening 54.
[0018] The following features of the mounting and removing
procedures are apparent: Both procedures do not require bending,
moving or squeezing the bracket 22, so the bracket 22 can be made
rigid and have no moving parts. Both procedures do not require the
user to forcibly push one thing against another or to apply any
force beyond lifting the gun 20. The grip 64 must be rotated,
assisted by gravity, to be brought into its captured position and
must be rotated again, against gravity, to be withdrawn from its
captured position.
[0019] For marketing to a user, the compressor 1 can be packaged
together with the nail gun 20. Additionally, other pneumatic hand
tools can be sold for use with the compressor. These tools can
include nail guns differing in size and shape, and handheld power
tools other than nail guns. Although the sizes and shapes of these
tools could differ greatly, their hand grips would be sized and
shaped so as to be interchangeably attached to the same bracket 22,
like the grip 64 described above.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a second compressor 1'. Like the first
compressor 1 (FIGS. 1-6), this compressor 1' has a pump 10', a
housing 12', a tank 14', a handle 26', and a hose 16'. The hose 16'
can be attached to the nail gun 20. A mounting bracket 22', like
the bracket 22 described above, is attached to a vertical side
surface 31' of the housing 12'. The procedure for mounting/removing
the gun 20 to/from this compressor 1' is the same as described
above for the first compressor 1.
[0021] Unlike the first compressor 1, the housing 12' of this
compressor 1' does not support the tank 14' but instead rests on
top of the tank 14'. This compressor 1' is not configured to be
manually carried. It instead has wheels 36', to be wheeled over a
floor 34 while pushed by its handle 26'. During use or when stored
between uses, the second compressor's wheels 36' and two feet 38'
rest on the floor 34 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7. To enable
wheeling the compressor 1', it is tilted (arrow 93) about its
wheels 36' to raise the feet 38' off the floor 34 as shown in
dashed lines.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a third compressor 1''. Like the first and
second compressors 1 and 1', it has a pump 10'', a housing 12'', a
tank 14'' and a hose 16''. A bracket 22'', like the brackets 22 and
22' described above, is attached to a vertical side surface 31'' of
the housing 12'' for mounting the nail gun 20. However, in contrast
to the other compressors 1 and 1', this compressor 1'' has no
handle or wheels and is not configured to be tilted.
[0023] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they
have elements that do not differ from the literal language of the
claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
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