US 4,393,599 A · Leveling mechanisms for hand-held power drill

Abstract

A leveling mechanism having bubble levels is removably attachable to a hand-held power drill. In one form, the leveling mechanism includes a drive shaft coupled between the drill and a chuck for rotation therewith. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted to a support, and the support is held stationary relative to the drill housing. The support may include first and second surfaces parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft for supporting first and second bubble levels. Alternatively, the support may include a support plate and a level plate hinged thereto for supporting one or more bubble levels; a grooved alignment plate engages the edges of the support plate and level plate for maintaining a predetermined angular relationship therebetween. In another form, the leveling mechanism is removably attached to the front face of the drill housing. A circular projection extends from the front face of the drill housing, and the leveling mechanism extends around the outer periphery of the projection; a collar threadedly engages the inner periphery of the projection for securing the leveling mechanism to the drill.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A leveling mechanism for use in conjunction with a drill, the drill including a rotatable drive member for rotating a chuck, the rotatable drive member having a threaded central bore formed therein, said leveling mechanism comprising in combination:

(a) a support;
(b) a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support and having an axis of rotation, said drive shaft having first and second ends, the first end of said drive shaft being coupled to said chuck, and the second end of said drive shaft being externally threaded and of a diameter commensurate with that of the threaded central bore within the rotatable drive member, said externally threaded second end of said drive shaft being received directly by the threaded central bore within the rotatable drive member for rotating the chuck;
(c) said support being maintained at a substantially fixed point along the rotational axis of said drive shaft and at a substantially fixed distance from said drill and relatively proximate thereto for minimizing the distance between the drill and the chuck rotated thereby;
and
(d) a first bubble level attached to said support to aid a user in holding the drill in a predetermined position.

2 more elements

A leveling mechanism for use in conjunction with a drill, the drill including a rotatable drive means for rotating a chuck, the rotatable drive means including an externally threaded shaft adapted to be threadedly coupled with the chuck, said leveling mechanism comprising in combination:

(a) a support;
(b) a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support and having an axis of rotation, said drive shaft having first and second ends, the first end of said drive shaft being coupled to said chuck, and the second end of said drive shaft having a threaded central bore formed therein of a diameter commensurate with that of the externally threaded shaft of the rotatable drive means, the externally threaded shaft of said rotatable drive means being received directly by the threaded central bore within the second end of said drive shaft for rotating the chuck;
(c) said support being maintained at a substantially fixed point along the rotational axis of said drive shaft and at a substantially fixed distance from said drill and relatively proximate thereto for minimizing the distance between the drill and the chuck rotated thereby;
and
(d) a first bubble level attached to said support to aid a user in holding the drill in a predetermined position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Leveling mechanisms for hand-held power drill

Life of this patent

Leveling mechanisms for hand-held power drill

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22