Chuck Key Holder Sheath for Secure Power Tool Key Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power tool chuck keys are often misplaced due to lack of effective retention mechanisms in existing designs, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency in operation.
Innovation Solution
A chuck key holder with a sheath and spring clip mechanism that securely retains the chuck key, allowing for easy insertion and removal, and optionally includes a sliding lock for enhanced retention, preventing misplacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple pocket or body storage is used for the chuck key, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of key retention deteriorates leading to misplacement
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck key is nested within a holder that is integrated into the power tool body. The holder contains recesses that receive specific portions of the chuck key (first shaft and second shaft), creating a nested structure where the key is stored within the tool assembly. This nesting approach improves retention reliability while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder provides localized retention features at specific locations along the chuck key. Rather than requiring a complex overall structure, the solution uses localized recesses in the holder body that engage with specific portions of the chuck key (the first shaft and second shaft). This local quality approach addresses the retention problem without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the chuck key is retained securely in the holder, then the reliability of key retention is improved, but the ease of operation for key removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck key is segmented into distinct portions (first shaft and second shaft) that can be retained separately by the holder. The holder has separate recesses for each shaft portion, allowing independent engagement and removal. This segmentation enables the key to be securely retained when needed while allowing easy removal by simply lifting or pulling the key out of the holder recesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism uses movable or flexible elements within the holder (such as spring-loaded clips or movable walls in the recesses) that can dynamically adjust between a retaining state and a release state. This dynamic characteristic allows the holder to securely retain the key during normal operation while enabling easy removal when the user needs to access the key.
3Reliability
If a sheath is added to retain the longer end of the chuck key, then the reliability of key retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sheath structure is nested within or as part of the holder assembly to specifically retain the longer end (fourth end) of the chuck key's second shaft. This nested sheath provides additional retention for the protruding portion of the key without requiring a completely separate or complex external structure. The sheath integrates with the existing holder framework, improving retention reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power tool (10) comprising: a housing (12); a motor (20) disposed in the housing (12); an output spindle (22) extending outward from the housing (12) and configured to be rotationally driven by the motor (20); a keyed chuck (26) coupled to the output spindle (22) for rotation with the output spindle (22); a chuck key holder (76) configured to releasably retain a chuck key (40) having a first shaft (42) with a key disposed thereon for operating the chuck, and a second shaft (54) coupled to first shaft (42) generally perpendicular to the first shaft (42), the second shaft (54) including a lever portion, wherein the chuck key holder (76) includes a first recess (88) configured to receive the first shaft (42) and a second recess (90) with a sheath (99) configured to receive the second shaft (54) with the lever portion exposed from the sheath (99).