Power Tool Bracket for Lanyard Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power tools are often dropped during use, leading to potential damage and increased risk of accidents, as existing mounts for lanyards are not adequately designed to prevent the tool from hitting the ground.

Innovation Solution

A power tool design that includes a bracket and support member, allowing for attachment of a lanyard, which can prevent the tool from falling to the ground by suspending it from a user's belt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lanyard mount is added to the power tool, then the reliability is improved by preventing the tool from hitting the ground, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against ground impactVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is integrated with existing structural components of the power tool (motor housing, front housing, or gear case), merging the lanyard mounting function with the tool's existing framework. This combination approach adds the safety function while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by reusing existing structural elements rather than adding completely separate mounting components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a bracket and support member are added for lanyard attachment, then the reliability is improved by preventing the tool from hitting the ground, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to additional assembly steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against ground impactVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lanyard mounting system is divided into separate functional segments: a bracket portion that attaches to existing tool structures and a support member portion that provides the lanyard attachment point. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining the reliability benefit of ground impact prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3908429B1Power tool
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP
  • EP3908429B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3908429B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3908429B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A power tool is supportable by a lanyard. The power tool includes a motor housing, a motor arranged in the motor housing, front housing, an output member extending from the front housing, a gear case, and a gear train arranged in the gear case. The gear train is configured to transfer torque from the motor to the output member. The power tool also includes a first fastener securing the front housing to the motor housing, and a bracket fastened to one of the front housing, the motor housing, or the gear case by a second fastener that does not secure the front housing to the motor housing. The power tool also includes a support member secured to the one of the front housing, the motor housing, or the gear case by the bracket. The support member is attachable to the lanyard.