US 5,601,387 A · Depth adjusting system for a power tool

Abstract

A depth adjusting system particularly for power-driven screwdrivers comprising an adjustment collar that is releasably fitted to the housing of the tool and a depth locator which screws onto the collar for non-rotational axial movement relative to the housing. The adjustment collar has a rearward cylindrical portion that includes an inner circumferential surface having a circumferential groove and a plurality of axially extending recesses. The depth adjusting system further comprises a pair of arcuate spring members attached to the nose portion of the housing and formed to include an arcuate rib portion for engaging the circumferential groove. The arcuate spring members also include a plurality of cantilevered spring fingers for biasing the arcuate rib portions into engagement with the circumferential groove. Further, the arcuate spring members are each formed to include detent projections adapted to engage one of the plurality of axially extending recesses for positively locating the subassembly with respect to the nose portion of the housing. The adjustment collar and depth locator subassembly may be removed from the housing as a unit without disturbing the depth setting through the application of axial force which causes the pair of arcuate spring members to flex inwardly against the bias of their cantilevered spring fingers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A depth adjusting system for a power tool having a housing, the depth adjusting system comprising:

a nose portion connected to the housing;
a depth adjusting subassembly releasably connected to the nose portion, the subassembly including an adjustment member mounted for rotatable non-axial movement relative to the nose portion during depth adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
and
a joining member for establishing releasable interconnection between the subassembly and the nose portion, the joining member including a substantially rigid portion engaging the subassembly and a resilient portion for biasing the substantially rigid portion into engagement with the subassembly.

1 more element

A power screwdriver having a motor mounted within a housing for rotatably driving a screwdriver bit, the housing having a circular opening formed in a forward portion thereof for releasably receiving a depth adjusting system for adjustably controlling the depth to which a threaded fastener is installed into a workpiece, the depth adjusting system comprising an adjustment collar rotatably coupled to the opening in the housing and including a cylindrical portion having an inner circumferential surface, a substantially cylindrical depth locator surrounding the bit and threadably connected to the adjustment collar and constrained from rotating relative to the housing so that rotation of the adjustment collar causes axial displacement of the depth locator relative to the bit, and an interface for releasably interconnecting the housing and the depth adjusting system;

the improvement wherein the interface includes:
a circumferential groove formed in the inner circumferential surface;
and
a first arcuate spring member attached to the housing and disposed adjacent the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, the first arcuate spring member including an outwardly extending rib portion adapted for engaging the circumferential groove.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Depth adjusting system for a power tool

Life of this patent

Depth adjusting system for a power tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20