Angled Recess Housing Clamp for Power Tool Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power tools are bulky due to screws and screw bosses at the forward end, making it difficult to access tight or hard-to-reach areas.
Innovation Solution
A housing clamp with a circumferential flange and angled recess that couples two housing portions together, providing even pressure and reducing the tool's thickness by removing screws and screw bosses near the forward end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple screws and screw bosses are used to couple housing portions at the forward end, then the housing portions are securely coupled together, but the tool becomes bulky and cannot access tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional screw and screw boss components from the forward end of the housing and replaces them with an integrated housing clamp. This extraction of unnecessary components eliminates the bulky protrusions while maintaining the coupling function through a different mechanism that integrates directly into the housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing clamp merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides structural coupling between housing portions, distributes clamping loads evenly across the housing surfaces, and maintains structural integrity without requiring separate screws and bosses. The clamp integrates the coupling mechanism directly into the housing wall structure.
2Strength
If screws are positioned outside the drivetrain to couple housing portions, then the housing portions are securely coupled, but the tool size increases making it bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The housing clamp is nested within the housing wall structure itself, with the clamp forming an integral part of the housing portions. The clamp engages with recesses formed in the housing walls, allowing the coupling mechanism to be contained within the existing housing volume without adding external protrusions or increasing overall tool size.
3Length of stationary object
If a housing clamp with flange and recess is used to couple housing portions, then the tool thickness is reduced, but the clamping load distribution must be even around the circumference
Solution Approach 1:
The housing clamp features a circumferential flange with a recess that extends around the entire circumference of the housing portion. This geometric design ensures that the clamping load is distributed evenly across all contact points around the circumference, providing uniform pressure distribution while maintaining the reduced thickness profile.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a housing clamp for a power tool housing, such as a drill, router, grinder, impact wrench, ratchet wrench, screwdriver, or other powered tool. The housing clamp includes a circumferential flange and recess that extends at an angle. When the housing clamp is installed, the housing clamp couples two portions of a power tool housing together. As the housing clamp is tightened onto the housing portions, the flange loads the housing with even pressure around its circumference providing a clamping load. The housing clamp provides even pressure around a large area at a working end of the tool, allowing the tool to be thinner in a dimensionally critical area.