Powered fastener driver and extension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12472618-B2
Application number	US-202318390589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2023
Priority date	Aug 17, 2018
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A powered fastener driver includes a driver unit, a handle unit, and a handle extension. The handle unit is selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit. The handle extension has a first end and a second end, the handle extension being selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit at the first end, and being selectively and removably attachable to the handle unit at the second end. The powered fastener driver is adjustable between a first configuration in which the handle unit is directly attached to the driver unit, and a second configuration in which the driver unit is attached to the handle extension at the first end, and the handle unit is attached to the handle extension at the second end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A powered fastener driver for driving fasteners into a workpiece, the powered fastener driver comprising:
a driver unit having a drive axis; a handle unit selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit; and a handle extension having a first end and a second end, the handle extension being selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit at the first end such that a handle extension axis is generally parallel to the drive axis, and being selectively and removably attachable to the handle unit at the second end; wherein the powered fastener driver is adjustable between a first configuration in which the handle unit is directly attached to the driver unit and extends from the driver unit along a first axis that is generally orthogonal to the drive axis, and a second configuration in which the driver unit is attached to the handle extension at the first end, and the handle unit is attached to the handle extension at the second end such that the handle unit extends relative to the driver unit along a second axis that is generally parallel to the drive axis and the handle extension axis and that is non-coaxial with the first axis, wherein to achieve the first configuration, the handle unit is mountable directly to the driver unit along a first mounting direction that is generally parallel to the drive axis, and to achieve the second configuration, the handle unit is mountable to the second end of the handle extension along a second mounting direction that is different from the first mounting direction and generally orthogonal to the drive axis and the handle extension axis.

2 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , wherein the handle extension includes an elongated shaft segment extending between the first end and the second end.

3 . The powered fastener driver of claim 2 , wherein the handle extension includes a saddle affixed to the elongated shaft segment at the first end, the saddle defining a receptacle for receiving the driver unit.

4 . The powered fastener driver of claim 3 , wherein the saddle includes a coupler.

5 . The powered fastener driver of claim 2 , further comprising a battery pack and wherein:
the driver unit further includes a first center of gravity; the handle unit further includes a battery pack receptacle and a second center of gravity; wherein the battery pack is couplable to the battery pack receptacle for powering the drive unit, the battery pack having a third center of gravity and the handle extension a fourth center of gravity, the elongated shaft segment includes a shaft axis, wherein, in the second configuration, the battery pack is intersected by the shaft axis and the first center of gravity, the second center of gravity, the third center of gravity, and the fourth center of gravity are located generally in-line with the shaft axis.

6 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , wherein the handle extension includes a first coupler located at the first end, and a second coupler located at the second end.

7 . The powered fastener driver of claim 6 , wherein the first coupler selectively engages a third coupler on the driver unit to mechanically and electrically connect the driver unit to the handle extension, and wherein the second coupler selectively engages a fourth coupler on the handle unit to mechanically and electrically connect the handle unit to the handle extension.

8 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment device configured to indicate to a user when the powered fastener driver is positioned in an orientation to drive fasteners perpendicularly into the workpiece.

9 . The powered fastener driver of claim 8 , wherein the alignment device comprises a positioning sensor.

10 . The powered fastener driver of claim 8 , wherein the alignment device comprises a positioning sensor and a digital readout configured to indicate to a user a direction toward which the powered fastener driver should be tilted to achieve perpendicularity with respect to the workpiece.

11 . The powered fastener driver of claim 10 , wherein the driver unit includes a housing, and the digital readout is coupled to the housing.

12 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , wherein the driver unit includes a housing and a nosepiece located at a front end of the housing, the nosepiece including a means for inserting fasteners into the powered fastener driver.

13 . The powered fastener driver of claim 12 , wherein the means for inserting fasteners is selected from a group consisting of a top slot provided in a barrel of the nosepiece, a side slot provided in a barrel of the nosepiece, a barrel having a side hinge barrel segment that opens to receive a fastener, a torsion sleeve that rotates to reveal an opening for receiving a fastener, a break-barrel that rotates about a bottom hinge to reveal an opening for receiving a fastener, a door that rotates about a top hinge to reveal an opening for receiving a fastener, a side arm for receiving a fastener, and a harmonica revolver that rotates to reveal an opening for receiving a fastener.

14 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , wherein the powered fastener driver comprises a gas-spring powered nailer.

15 . The powered fastener driver of claim 1 , wherein the driver unit further comprises:
a motor; a cylinder; a drive piston positioned within the cylinder; a drive blade attached to the drive piston and movable therewith along the drive axis; and a lifter mechanism operable to return the drive piston and the drive blade to a top-dead-center position.

16 . The powered fastener driver of claim 15 , wherein the driver unit further comprises a transmission that couples the motor to the lifter mechanism.

17 . A powered fastener driver for driving fasteners into a workpiece, the powered fastener driver comprising:
a driver unit having a motor, a drive axis, and a first center of gravity; a handle unit selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit and including a battery pack receptacle and a second center of gravity; and a battery pack that is couplable to the battery pack receptacle for powering the motor, the battery pack having a third center of gravity; a handle extension having a first end, a second end, a shaft extending between the first end and the second end along a shaft axis, and a fourth center of gravity, the handle extension being selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit at the first end such that the shaft axis is generally parallel to the drive axis, and being selectively and removably attachable to the handle unit at the second end; wherein the powered fastener driver is adjustable between a first configuration in which the handle unit is directly attached to the driver unit and a second configuration in which the driver unit is attached to the handle extension at the first end and the handle unit is attached to the handle extension at the second end, wherein to achieve the first configuration, the handle unit is mountable to the driver unit along a first mounting direction that is generally parallel to the drive axis, and to achieve the second configuration, the handle unit is mountable to the second end of the handle extension along a second mounting direction that is different than the first mounting direction and generally orthogonal to the drive axis and the shaft axis, wherein, in the second configuration, the battery pack is intersected by the shaft axis and the first center of gravity, the second center of gravity, the third center of gravity, and the fourth center

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Scott John S
• Mueckl Gareth
• Fox Caroline
• Lloyd Isabel M
• Post Matthew
• Carter Adam N
• Lambert Jonathan L
• Hietpas Logan M
• Thurin Matthew N
• Fry Paul
• Savich Julia L

Classifications

• B25C1/06 Primary

  operated by electric power · CPC title

• B25C1/047

  Mechanical details · CPC title

• B25F5/02

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B25G1/04 Primary

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title