Clip installation tool
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsJeremy D. Beals, Jeremy L. Fraley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tools for installing a clip having a depressible engagement member are disclosed. In one embodiment, the tool includes a pin and a head both configured to engage the depressible engagement member. A trigger assembly is mechanically coupled to both the pin and the head. The pin is configured to actuate the trigger assembly so as to release the hear, wherein the head may actuate a counting unit so as to register a count when the pin engages the depressible engagement member, informing the installer when a clip is properly installed.
Claims20
A tool for installing a clip having a depressible engagement member, the tool comprising:
- a handle including a housing;
- a head defining a bore, the head mounted to a distal end of the housing;
- a pin configured to engage the depressible engagement member, the pin slidably mounted within the bore;
- a trigger assembly disposed within the housing, the trigger assembly mechanically coupled to the pin and to the head, the pin actuating the trigger assembly when engaged with the depressible engagement member;
- and
- a counting unit that provides a count when the pin engages the trigger assembly releasing the head so as to allow the head to actuate the counting unit, the counting unit counting a number of clips installed.
A tool for installing a clip having a depressible engagement member, the tool comprising:
- a handle;
- a head defining a bore, the head mounted to a distal end of the handle;
- a pin configured to engage the depressible engagement member, the pin slidably mounted within the bore;
- a first biasing member configured to urge the head away from the handle;
- a trigger assembly mechanically coupled to the pin and the head, the trigger assembly including a lever and a second biasing member, the trigger assembly pivotably mounted to a first pivot point to pivot between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in the disengaged position, the lever urges the pin away from the handle and prevents the head from retreating towards the handle and in the engaged position, the pin actuates the lever to disengage the lever from the head;
- a counting unit that detects a movement of the head and provides a count when the head moves a predetermined distance, the counting unit counting a number of clips installed;
- and
- a processing unit that receives the count from the counting unit and processes the count to detect a predetermined number of counts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.