Insert for a plastic power tool housing

Abstract

A rigid preformed insert is molded into a plastic housing for a power tool. The power tool further comprises a motor having a shaft, the motor being at least partly supported by the insert, and an impact clutch attached to the insert and operatively coupled to the motor shaft. The motor and clutch have a common axis, with the preformed insert located between the motor and the clutch. The insert fixedly secures the axis of the output shaft of the motor. The insert also forms a seal between the motor and clutch. The insert will not warp, distort or otherwise lose tolerance as a result of the molding process for the plastic housing. Further, because the insert is preformed of metal, is precisely orientated within the housing mold, and is permanently molded into the housing, it accurately defines the motor-clutch axis minimizing misalignment of the motor shaft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.