Cordless framing nailer

#The present invention generally relates to driving tools and more particularly to a driving tool with a driver that can be selectively engaged to a rotating flywheel.

#Fastening tools, such as power nailers and staplers, are relatively common place in the construction trades. Often times, however, the fastening tools that are available may not provide the user with a desired degree of flexibility and freedom due to the presence of hoses and such that couple the fastening tool to a source of pneumatic power.

#Recently, several types of cordless nailers have been introduced to the market in an effort to satisfy the demands of modern consumers. Some of these nailers, however, are relatively large in size and/or weight, which render them relatively cumbersome to work with. Others require relatively expensive fuel cartridges that are not re-fillable by the user so that when the supply of fuel cartridges has been exhausted, the user must leave the work site to purchase additional fuel cartridges. Yet other cordless nailers are relatively complex in their design and operation so that they are relatively expensive to manufacture and do not operate in a robust manner that reliably sets fasteners into a workpiece in a consistent manner. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an improved fastening tool.

#The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

#FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of an exemplary driving tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 1B is a bottom plan view of a portion of the driving tool of FIG. 1 illustrating the backbone and drive motor assembly in more detail;

#Overview

#With reference to FIGS. 1A through 2 of the drawings, a driving tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The driving tool 10 may include a housing and magazine assembly 12, a backbone 14, a backbone cover 16, a drive motor assembly 18, a control unit 20, a nosepiece assembly 22 and a battery pack 26. While the driving tool 10 is illustrated as being electrically powered by a suitable power source, such as the battery pack 26, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broader aspects, may be constructed somewhat differently and that aspects of the present invention may have applicability to pneumatically powered driving tools. Furthermore, while aspects of the present invention are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the context of a nailer, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broadest aspects, has further applicability. For example, the drive motor assembly 18 may also be employed in various other mechanisms that utilize reciprocating motion, including rotary hammers, hole forming tools, such as punches, and riveting tools, such as those that install deformation rivets.

#Aspects of the control unit 20 and the nosepiece assembly 22 of the particular driving tool illustrated are described in further detail in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/095,723 filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled “Method For Controlling A Power Driver” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/068,344 filed Feb. 28, 2005, entitled “Contact Trip Mechanism For Nailer”, all of which being incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth in detail herein. The battery pack 26 may be of any desired type and may be rechargeable, removable and/or disposable. In the particular example provided, the battery pack 26 is rechargeable and removable and may be a battery pack that is commercially available and marketed by the DeWalt Industrial Tool Company of Baltimore, Md.