Grease gun including a trigger lock assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9316352-B2
Application number	US-201414307688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 10, 2011
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An electrical tool includes a trigger lock assembly having a trigger lock member, a detent assembly, and a return spring. The trigger lock member is movable relative to a trigger between a neutral position, in which the trigger is movable between an off position and an on position, a lock-off position, in which the trigger is prevented from moving from the off position, and a lock-on position, in which the trigger is maintained in the on position. The detent assembly is operable to releaseably retain the trigger lock member in each position and includes a recess associated with each position. The detent assembly also includes a projection selectively engageable in one of the recesses to releasably retain the trigger lock member in the associated position, and a biasing member biasing the projection into engagement. The return spring is operable to bias the trigger lock member toward the neutral position.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electrical tool comprising:
a housing;
a motor supported by the housing;
a trigger movable between an on position, in which the motor is in electrical communication with a power source, and an off position, in which the motor is not in electrical communication with the power source; and
a trigger lock assembly including
a trigger lock member movable relative to the trigger between a neutral position, in which the trigger is movable between the off position and the on position, a lock-off position, in which the trigger is prevented from moving from the off position, and a lock-on position, in which the trigger is maintained in the on position,
a detent assembly operable to releasably retain the trigger lock member in each position, the detent assembly including
a first recess associated with the neutral position, a second recess associated with the lock-off position, and a third recess associated with the lock-on position,
a projection selectively engageable in one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess to releasably retain the trigger lock member in the associated position, and
a biasing member biasing the projection and the one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess into engagement, and a return spring operable to bias the trigger lock member toward the neutral position.

2. The electrical tool of claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant dispenser including a reservoir for containing lubricant and a pump assembly driven by the motor and operable to pump lubricant.

3. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the first recess is positioned between the second recess and the third recess.

4. The electrical tool of claim 3 , wherein the return spring biases the trigger lock member from the lock-on position toward the neutral position.

5. The electrical tool of claim 4 , wherein the detent assembly is configured so that the return spring cannot bias the trigger lock member from the neutral position to the lock-off position.

6. The electrical tool of claim 5 , wherein the detent assembly further includes a first ridge between the first recess and the second recess, and a second ridge between the first recess and the third recess, the first ridge having a height greater than a height of the second ridge such that the return spring cannot bias the trigger lock member from the neutral position to the lock-off position.

7. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the trigger pivots relative to the housing between the on position and the off position.

8. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the trigger lock member is movable in a first direction from the neutral position to the lock-off position and in a second direction opposite the first direction from the neutral position to the lock-on position.

9. The electrical tool of claim 8 , wherein the trigger lock member slides linearly relative to the housing between the neutral position, the lock-off position, and the lock-on position.

10. The electrical tool of claim 8 , wherein the return spring biases the trigger lock member in the first direction.

11. The electrical tool of claim 10 , wherein the detent assembly is configured to allow the return spring to bias the trigger lock member from the lock-on position to the neutral position and inhibit the return spring from biasing the trigger lock member from the neutral position to the lock-off position.

12. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a cantilevered spring, and wherein the projection is positioned adjacent a free end of the cantilevered spring.

13. The electrical tool of claim 12 , wherein the projection is formed as a single piece with the biasing member.

14. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the trigger lock member includes a hook contacting an edge of the trigger to restrict movement of the trigger when in the lock-off position.

15. The electrical tool of claim 14 , wherein the hook is received at least partially within an aperture in the trigger to restrict movement of the trigger when in the lock-on position.

16. The electrical tool of claim 1 , wherein the return spring automatically moves the trigger lock member from the lock-on position toward the neutral position when pressure is applied to the trigger.

17. A lubricant dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a reservoir for containing lubricant;
a motor supported by the housing;
a pump assembly driven by the motor and operable to pump lubricant;
a trigger movable between an on position, in which the motor is in electrical communication with a power source, and an off position, in which the motor is not in electrical communication with the power source; and
a trigger lock assembly including
a trigger lock member movable relative to the trigger between a neutral position, in which the trigger is movable between the off position and the on position, a lock-off position, in which the trigger is prevented from moving from the off position, and a lock-on position, in which the trigger is maintained in the on position,
a detent assembly operable to releasably retain the trigger lock member in each position, the detent assembly including
a first recess associated with the neutral position, a second recess associated with the lock-off position, and a third recess associated with the lock-on position,
a projection selectively engageable in one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess to releasably retain the trigger lock member in the associated position, and
a biasing member biasing the projection and the one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess into engagement, and

a return spring operable to bias the trigger lock member toward the neutral position.

18. An electrical tool comprising:
a housing;
a motor supported by the housing;
a trigger movable between an on position, in which the motor is in electrical communication with a power source, and an off position, in which the motor is not in electrical communication with the power source; and
a trigger lock assembly including
a trigger lock member movable relative to the trigger between a neutral position, in which the trigger is movable between the off position and the on position, a lock-off position, in which the trigger is prevented from moving from the off position, and a lock-on position, in which the trigger is maintained in the on position, the trigger lock member including a hook engaging the trigger to restrict movement of the trigger when in the lock-off position and when in the lock-on position,
a detent assembly operable to releasably retain the trigger lock member in each position, the detent assembly including
a first recess associated with the neutral position, a second recess associated with the lock-off position, and a third recess associated with the lock-on position,
a projection selectively engageable in one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess to releasably retain the trigger lock member in the associated position, and
a biasing member biasing the projection and the one of the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess into engagement, and

a return spring operable to bias the trigger lock member toward the neutral position.

19. The electrical tool of claim 18 , wherein the hook contacts an edge of the trigger to restrict movement of the trigger when in the lock-off position.

20. The electrical tool of claim 18 , wherein the hook is received at least partially within an aperture in the trigger to r

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Thorson Troy C
• Eisenhardt Scott D
• Timmons Terry L

Classifications

• H01H9/06

  Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner · CPC title

• F16N3/12 Primary

  Grease guns · CPC title

• F16N11/04

  Spring-loaded devices · CPC title

• F16N29/04

  enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped · CPC title

• H01H3/20

  wherein an auxiliary movement thereof, or of an attachment thereto, is necessary before the main movement is possible or effective, e.g. for unlatching, for coupling · CPC title