Power Tool Housing Reinforcement with Metal Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pistol style power tool housings made from plastic in a clam shell manner are prone to cracking or splitting, especially when dropped, due to lack of sufficient structural reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a metal reinforcing member that spans along the inside surface from the head portion to the handle portion and a continuous reinforcing ring around the tool housing body to prevent splitting, with the reinforcing member and ring being positioned strategically to manage tensile and radial forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the tool body is manufactured from plastic in a clam shell manner to reduce weight, then the weight of the tool is reduced, but the housing becomes prone to cracking and splitting along the seam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic housing material with metal reinforcing members to create a composite structure. The metal reinforcing members are embedded within the plastic housing at critical stress points, providing enhanced strength and crack resistance while maintaining the overall lightweight plastic construction. This composite approach allows the housing to benefit from both the weight advantages of plastic and the structural strength of metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies reinforcing members at specific locations within the housing where stress concentration occurs, such as along the clam shell seam and at junction points. Rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire housing, the metal members are strategically positioned to provide local strengthening exactly where needed to prevent cracking and splitting, maintaining lightweight construction in non-critical areas.
2Weight of moving object
If the tool body is manufactured from plastic in a clam shell manner to reduce weight, then the weight of the tool is reduced, but the structural strength of the housing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic housing material with metal reinforcing members to create a composite structure. The metal reinforcing members are embedded within the plastic housing at critical stress points, providing enhanced strength and crack resistance while maintaining the overall lightweight plastic construction. This composite approach allows the housing to benefit from both the weight advantages of plastic and the structural strength of metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies reinforcing members at specific locations within the housing where stress concentration occurs, such as along the clam shell seam and at junction points. Rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire housing, the metal members are strategically positioned to provide local strengthening exactly where needed to prevent cracking and splitting, maintaining lightweight construction in non-critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A pistol and/or clam shell style power tool housing. With respect to the pistol style housing, the tool housing includes a body defining a head portion with a handle portion depending therefrom to define a forward and/or a rear junction. A metal reinforcing member is configured to span along an inside surface of the body from the head portion to the handle portion such that the reinforcing member bridges either the forward or rear junction. In at least one embodiment, the reinforcing member is provided along each lateral side of the tool body. With respect to the clam shell style housing, with two opposed body halves interconnected to define the tool housing body, at least one continuous reinforcing ring is positioned about both halves of the tool housing body to prevent splitting between the two halves.