Oscillating power tools and accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10792801-B2
Application number	US-201916278423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2019
Priority date	Jul 16, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool includes a working end, an opposite rear end, and a fitment portion adjacent the rear end portion. The fitment portion includes a central opening having a central portion and a rearward portion open to the rear end, and configured to receive a post of a tool clamping mechanism. The fitment portion further includes a first plurality of openings in communication with and extending radially outward from the central portion, a second plurality of openings not in communication with and positioned radially outward from the central portion. The central portion, the first plurality of openings, and the second plurality of openings are configured to couple the fitment portion to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing an oscillating accessory having a working end portion and an opposite rear end portion that includes (a) a generally U-shaped opening open to the rear end portion, the U-shaped opening having a central portion and a rearward portion in communication with the central portion and open to the rear end portion, (b) a first plurality of openings in communication with and extending radially outward from the central portion, the first plurality of openings including a first radial arm slot extending from the central portion at approximately 90 degrees to the U-shaped opening, a second radial arm slot extending from the central portion at approximately 180 degrees to the U-shaped opening, and a third radial arm slot extending from the central portion at approximately 270 degrees from the U-shaped opening, and (c) a second plurality of openings not in communication with and positioned radially outward from the central opening;
providing a first oscillating power tool having a first clamping mechanism with a first clamping face that includes a first central projection and a plurality of radial projections in communication with and extending radially outward from the first central projection, with a first radial projection at approximately 0 degrees to a first line extending through the first central projection and the first radial projection, a second radial projection at approximately 90 degrees to the first line, a third radial projection at approximately 180 degrees to the first line, and a fourth radial projection at approximately 270 degrees to the reference line;
providing a second oscillating power tool having a first clamping mechanism with a second central projection and a plurality of circumferential projections not in communication with and spaced radially outward from the second central projection and circumferentially spaced around the second central projection;
coupling the oscillating accessory to the first oscillating power tool by causing the first central projection to be received in the central portion of the U-shaped opening, the first radial projection to be received in the rearward portion of the U-shaped opening, the second radial projection to be received in the first radial arm slot, the third radial projection to be received in the second radial arm slot, and the fourth radial projection to be received in the third radial arm slot; and
coupling the oscillating accessory to the second oscillating power tool by causing the second central projection to be received in the central portion of the U-shaped opening, at least a first of the circumferential projections to be received in at least one of the radial arm slots, and at least a second of the circumferential projections to be received in at least one of the second plurality of openings.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the second central projection to be received in the central portion of the U-shaped opening comprises inserting the second central projection through the rearward portion of the U-shaped opening.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second clamping mechanism comprises a first clamping face and a second clamping face, one of which carries the circumferential projections, and coupling the oscillating accessory to the second oscillating power tool includes causing one of the first and second clamping faces to be moved along the second central projection away from the other of the first and second clamping faces without completely removing the first clamping face or the second clamping face from the second oscillating power tool.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second central projection comprises a central post that extends through the first and second clamping faces.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the circumferential projections comprise eight circumferential projections arranged clockwise about the second central projection at angles of 0, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 270, and 300 degrees relative to a second line extending through the second central projection and one of the circumferential projections.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oscillating accessory includes a pair of chamfers tapering outward from the U-shaped opening to the rear end portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the chamfers comprise rear edges of the rear end portion and taper outwardly as they extend rearwardly.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising a notch defined between each chamfer and the generally U-shaped opening.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of openings includes a first arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the first and second radial arm slots, and a second arc-shaped slot spaced radially outward from the central portion between the second and third radial arm slots.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of openings is elongated along a radius extending radially outward from the central portion.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of openings includes a first pair of radial openings spaced radially from the central portion and between the first and second radial arm slots, and a second pair of radial openings spaced radially from the central portion and between the second and third radial arm slots.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first pair of radial openings are at angles of approximately 120 degrees and approximately 150 degrees relative to the U-shaped opening, and the second pair of radial openings are at angles of approximately 210 degrees and approximately 240 degrees relative to the U-shaped opening.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of openings further includes a third radial opening spaced radially from the central portion between the first radial arm slot and the U-shaped opening, and a fourth radial opening spaced radially from the central portion between the third radial arm slot and the U-shaped opening.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the third radial opening is at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the U-shaped opening, and the fourth radial opening is at an angle of approximately 300 degrees relative to the U-shaped opening.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the second plurality of openings has rounded corners.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of openings has a substantially rectangular shape defined by a pair of substantially straight elongated sidewalls and a pair of substantially straight end walls.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
providing a third oscillating power tool having a third clamping mechanism with a third central portion free of any projections and a plurality of third projections not in communication with and spaced radially outward from the third central portion and circumferentially spaced around the third central portion; and
coupling the oscillating accessory to the third oscillating power tool by causing the third central portion to be aligned with the central portion of the U-shaped opening, and the third projections to be received in at least one of the radial arm slots and the second plurality of openings.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein coupling the oscillating accessory to the third oscillating power tool includes causing three of the third projections to be received in the radial arm slots, at least one of the third projections to be received in the rear portion of the U-shaped opening, and at least four of the third projections to be received in the second

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Kaye Jr Thomas R
• Niblett James R

Classifications

• B27B5/32

  Devices for securing circular saw blades to the saw spindle · CPC title

• B25F5/00

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B23D61/006

  Oscillating saw blades · CPC title

• Y10T279/3406

  Adapter · CPC title

• Y10T403/7062

  Clamped members · CPC title