DEVICE FOR DRIVING INSTRUMENTS AND TOOLS AND THE USE THEREOF

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for driving instruments and tools comprising a housing (12) for mounting a motor (18), a power supply device (20) associated with the motor (18), and a conical drive element (22) partially protruding out of the housing (12) and associated with the motor (18) and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device (16) disposed on the outside (14) of the housing (12) for switching on and off the motor (18), the switching device (16) comprising an actuating element (26) extending at least partially around the circumference of the housing (12) and being designed to be rotatable relative to the housing (12), and the use thereof.

Description

The invention relates to a device for driving instrument and tools, and the use thereof.

Such devices are generally known. Accordingly, such devices serve, for example, in the medical field of gynecology, for driving cutting devices to be put into rotation for removing tissue from a uterus, a uterus overall, or for the treatment of myomas, etc. Such devices are further utilized in medicine in numerous, partially broad specialty fields, such as with surgical procedures in the abdomen, stomach, and for the removal of the gall bladder or the removal of the appendix. Such devices usually have a housing for accommodating a motor, a power supply device associated with the motor, and a conical drive element associated with the motor, partially projecting from the housing, and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device disposed on the exterior side of the housing for switching the motor on or off. However, such devices have proven relatively disadvantageous in practice. Such devices all have a switching device comprising an actuating element, which is invariably embodied as a pushbutton switch that can be radially moved in and out of the housing, or as a sliding switch that can be displaced back and forth in longitudinal direction of the housing. Such an actuating element is consequently positioned at a certain location of the housing. In order to actuate the same the device must therefore in general be initially aligned opposite of the thumb or a finger of the user's hand in an exact manner. Subsequent to that only, the actuating element can then be radially pushed or displaced in longitudinal direction. Such necessary handling is extensive and prevents a prompt engagement, which is cumbersome particularly in case of surgeries in the medical field.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for driving instruments and tools, by means of which the above disadvantages can be avoided, which is consequently constructed in a particularly simple, compact, and stable manner, and simultaneously enables simple and quick handling, and which provides an advantageous use of said device.

Said problem is solved in a surprisingly simple manner with regard to the device mechanism by means of the characteristics of claim 1.

Accordingly, a simple, compact, and stable construction of the entire device can be achieved by means of configuring the device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools, comprising a housing for accommodating a motor, a power supply device associated with the motor, and a conical drive element associated with the motor, partially projecting from the housing and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device disposed on the exterior side of the housing for switching the motor on and off, wherein the switching device comprises an actuating element extending at least partially, particularly completely, about the circumference of the housing and is configured in a relatively pivotable manner opposite of the housing. Furthermore, by configuring the device according to the invention with an actuating element of the switching device extending at least partially about the circumference of the housing and embodied in a relatively pivoting manner opposite of the housing an overall markedly simple and quick handling of the device overall is achieved. In this manner the device does not need to first be brought into position with the use thereof in order to align the actuating element opposite the thumb or a finger of the user's hand. Due to the fact that the actuating element extends at least partially about the circumference of the housing and can be relatively pivoted opposite of the housing, a separate, extensive positioning of the device is no longer required. At best merely a slight twisting of the device is to be carried out in one movement, which becomes less extensive the more the actuating element extends about the circumference of the housing. In this manner the handling of the device according to the invention is significantly simplified both for users that are right-handed as well as left-handed.

Further advantageous details of the device according to the invention are described in claims 2 to 29.

The characteristics of claim 2 are of particular meaning, according to which the actuating element of the switching device is embodied in annularly or in disk shape. The actuating element of the switching device therefore extends about the entire circumference of the housing of the device according to the invention. The actuating element of the switching device is consequently accessible in an unimpeded manner independent of the device itself. Any positioning or aligning of the device in the hand of the user can be completely omitted. Handling is also significantly simplified for both a right-handed and a left-handed user.

In a particularly advantageous manner the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 3 is embodied as a ring that is supported particularly on a part of the housing. In this manner the actuating element obtains additional stability, which benefits the entire device according to the invention in the handling thereof.

According to measures of claim 3 the actuating element of the switching device extends beyond the exterior side of the housing, thus improving the ability to handle the device according to the invention by means of easily reaching the actuating element of the switching device without even having to look at it, e.g. by means of merely touching the same.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention that the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 5 has profiling on the outer circumference thereof. Due to such profiling the handling of the device according to the invention can be further improved by means of increasing the grip of the actuating element. Any unintentional slipping off of the thumb or the respective finger of the user from the actuating element is therefore impossible.

For this purpose the profiling according to claim 6 is advantageously embodied on the outer circumference of the actuating element of the switching device as a knurling, gearwheel, or crown gear. As an alternative, the profiling may also be embodied in the form of at least two recessed grips or the like, wherein in this case however, preferably at least four recessed grips should be provided, e.g. one recessed grip each at a 90° spacing.

In a further embodiment of the invention the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 7 is embodied in a relatively pivoting manner opposite of the housing about the longitudinal axis of the housing or an axis parallel to the same.

Furthermore, the invention provides that the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 8 can be relatively pivoted from a first position, particularly an initial position, into a second position, particularly a contact position, and vice versa, opposite of the housing.

The characteristics of claims 9 to 12 serve to simplify construction of the device according to the invention and simultaneously improve the compactness and stability of the device according to the invention.

Accordingly, at least one stop element is associated with the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 9 for limiting the relative pivoting of the actuating element opposite of the housing. Such an embodiment is achieved in a simple manner in that the actuating element of the switching device can be pivoted back and forth between the two positions, more specifically between the initial position and the contact position. The pivoting movement of the actuating element of the switching device is therefore defined in an exact manner.

In this context the invention provides that the actuating element of the switching device according to the characteristics of claim 10 is equipped with at least one substantially curved elongated hole or recess in which a pin, bolt, or similar guide element is accommodated extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Preferably, the actuating element of the switching device according to claim 11 is equipped with two substantially curved elongated holes or recesses in which a pin, bolt, or similar guide element is accommodated extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

The characteristics of claim 12, in that the two curved elongated holes or recesses are disposed at an offset toward each other at the actuating element of the switching devices substantially by about 180°, additionally serve for an exact guiding and limiting of the actuating element during the pivoting thereof relative to the housing.

Of particular interest are the constructive measures of claim 13. Accordingly, the switching device comprises a magnetic switch, particularly a Reed switch, for turning the motor on and off. In this manner a free movement of the switching device is ensured, as the individual components are not in any mechanical engagement with each other. Simultaneously, this reduces any mechanical abrasion and associated susceptibility of failure of the individual components among each other. Both increases the life of the switching device, which in turn has a very advantageous effect on the device according to the invention overall, especially if the device has an encapsulated housing. Finally, the magnetic switch has the particular advantage over liquid, steam, and/or gas, which are utilized for the sterilization of the device after successful use thereof, of being non-sensitive and absolutely leak-proof.

For this purpose the switching device according to claim 14 preferably comprises a contact wire for the electric connection of the motor to the power supply device and a magnet interacting with the contact wire.

According to claim 15 the contact wire of the switching device is substantially disposed in a groove extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the magnet is disposed on the actuating element of the switching device at the interior circumference thereof in a manner facing the contact wire, and vice versa.

In order to further simplify the handling of the device according to the invention the switching device according to claim 16 comprises a resetting device which is associated with the actuating element and pressurizes the actuating element such that the actuating element can be returned automatically from the contact position into the initial position.

In this context it is particularly advantageous that the resetting device according to claim 17 has a magnetic arrangement, wherein a magnet is disposed on or in the actuating element of the switching device, and two magnets associated with the one magnet are disposed in the housing.

In an alternative embodiment the resetting device according to claim 17 may comprise a spring arrangement, wherein a spring is disposed between the actuating element of the switching device and the housing.

It is further within the scope of the invention that the switching device according to claim 19 comprises a relay that is associated with the motor. For this purpose the relay has two particularly important functions: the relay serves to build up and maintain a sufficient operating voltage for the motor or the contact wire of the switching device, and the relay is provided as a motor brake for the motor. In this regard a turning on or off of the motor occurs nearly in real time. A so-called dieseling of the motor is therefore excluded.

Furthermore, the constructive measures of claim 20 are of particularly significant meaning. Accordingly, the switching device comprises a device for displaying the current state of the power supply device associated with the motor. It is also conceivable to display the remaining, thus available charge of an accumulator or a battery available to the user, or also the current activity state during the charging of an accumulator by means of such a device.

For this purpose the invention provides that the switching device according to claim 21 comprises at least one light-impermeable housing section that is equipped with optical signaling elements, particularly with light-emitting diodes.

Purposefully, the at least one light-impermeable housing section according to claim 22 is embodied in a continuous, particularly annular manner. In an alternative or cumulative embodiment the at least one light-impermeable housing section may also be embodied in a discontinuous, particularly punctiform manner.

According to claim 23 the housing is embodied in an encapsulated manner in a particularly preferred embodiment, wherein the power supply device has at least one rechargeable accumulator. Due to such an encapsulated embodiment of the housing a high life expectancy of the device according to the invention can be obtained, since the device may be sterilized multiple times using liquid, steam, and/or gas without any adverse influence on the functionality thereof, and may thus be reused for subsequent uses and operations. The encapsulation of the housing safely counteracts any ingress of moisture into the interior of the device according to the invention.

In this context the invention provides that the at least one rechargeable accumulator according to claim 24 can be electrically connected to an external charging device via contacts disposed on an exterior side of the housing.

In an alternative embodiment in this regard the housing according to claim 25 may advantageously be closed in a sealed manner via a screw, bayonet or similar closure using a cover or cap-shaped closing element, wherein the power supply device has at least one battery.

In a further alternative embodiment the housing according to claim 26 is embodied in an encapsulated manner, wherein the power supply device has a line for the electric connection to an external power source.

In a particularly advantageous manner the housing and/or the switching device and/or the actuating element and/or the light-impermeable housing section according to claim 27 may be made from plastic, particularly (hard) polyvinyl chloride, polyoximethylene (POM), polyester, polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, tetrafluoroethylene or impax, duro-plastic elastomers, with or without fiber glass reinforcement, or of a combination thereof. The device according to the invention is of particularly light weight construction and may be produced in a considerably cost-effective manner.

As an alternative it is also within the scope of the invention that the housing and/or the switching device and/or the actuating device according to claim 28 are made from metal, particularly (rust-resistant) steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, zinc, gunmetal alloys, or an alloy thereof.

The device can therefore be thermally and/or chemically sterilized overall and reused for multiple uses without any problems.

Furthermore, the characteristics of claim 29, according to which the housing can be produced by means of milling, injection molding, or laser, serves for a versatile and an individual applicability that is especially adjusted to individual conditions, and a cost-effective production of the device according to the invention.

Said problem is finally also solved with regard to the use thereof by means of the characteristics of claim 30.

Accordingly, a device may be utilized for driving instruments and tools for laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, or arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The device according to the invention is suitable for driving, for example, morcellators in order to cut out and remove tissue cylinders from tissue located within a body or joint cavity and/or in or on a wall region thereof, such as of an organic body that is at least partially accommodated in and/or surrounded by an organic hollow space of a human body, preferably of embryos, myomas, tumors, abscesses, and carcinomas.

Further characteristics, advantages, and details of the invention are obvious from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, and from the drawings. They show:

FIG. 1 a perspective front view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools,

FIG. 2 a perspective rear view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools according to FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 4 a top view and a bottom view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 a side view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 4,

FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line VI-VI in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line VII-VII in FIG. 5,

FIGS. 8A to 8E a broken, schematic, perspective front view, top view, perspective rear view and bottom view, and a side view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 7,

FIGS. 9A to 9F a perspective view and a side view of a different embodiment of a device embodied according to the invention and a top view, a further side view, and two cross-sectional views across the embodiment of the device in longitudinal direction of lines IXE-IXE and IXF-IXF in FIG. 9D,

FIGS. 10 to 16 a perspective front view, a perspective rear view, a top view, a bottom view, and a side view of yet another embodiment of a device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools, and a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line XV-XV in FIG. 14, and a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line XVI-XVI in FIG. 14, according to FIGS. 1 to 7, and

FIGS. 17 to 21 cross-sectional views across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to FIGS. 10 to 16 in longitudinal direction of lines XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII, and XIX-XIX in FIG. 14 and in longitudinal direction of lines XX-XX and XXI-XXI in FIG. 12.

The device 10 according to the invention is provided for driving instruments and tools. In the following description of some of the exemplary embodiments of the device 10 according to the invention corresponding, equal components are each denoted by identical reference numerals.

The—particularly portable—device 10 according to the invention is suitable for driving instruments and tools in general. For this purpose the same may be instruments and tools usually utilized in the handicraft industry, with material processing, etc. in a multi-functional manner. Furthermore, the device 10 according to the invention is suitable for driving medical instruments and tools in particular, such as for driving cutting devices for surgery to be placed in rotation, particularly for removing organic tissue, preferably myomas, tumors, abscesses, carcinomas, etc., or an inorganic body, such as gall and bladder stones or similar agglomerations, which are accommodated and/or surrounded by a body or joint cavity, such as an organic hollow space of a human or animal body, and/or are at least partially accommodated and/or surrounded in or at a wall section thereof.

A preferred embodiment of such a device 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8E.

The device 10 has a housing 12 and a switching device 16 disposed on the exterior side 14 of the housing 12.

As can be seen, particularly from FIGS. 1 to 8E, the housing 12 is embodied substantially in the form of a cylinder. Without providing a particular illustration, the housing 12 may, alternatively or cumulatively, have an anatomical shape that is adjusted to the hand of a user.

According to FIGS. 8A to 8E the housing 12 accommodates a motor 18, a power supply device 20 which is associated with the motor 18, and a conical drive element 22. The conical drive element 22 is also associated with the motor 18, partially projects from the housing 12, more specifically from the upper front side 24 of the exterior 14 of the housing 12, and interacts with the instruments or tools (not illustrated) to be driven.

The switching device 16 serves for turning the motor 18 on and off. For this purpose the switching device 16 comprises an actuating element 26.

The actuating element 26 extends at least partially, and particularly completely, about the circumference of the cylindrically embodied housing 12, and is configured in a relative pivoting manner opposite of the housing 12 according to double arrow 28.

In the embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8E the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 is embodied in a ring or disk shape. Preferably, the actuating element 26 of the switching element 16 is configured as a ring according to FIG. 6, which is supported on a part 12′ of the housing 12 in an advantageous manner. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the part 12′ of the housing 12 is also embodied in a cylindrical shape.

In the embodiment of the device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8E the actuating element 26 projects at the exterior circumference 30 thereof beyond the exterior side 14 of the housing 12. In this regard the actuating element 26 has a larger outside diameter than the housing 12 itself. In this manner the actuating element 26 may be gripped simply and quickly, without exerting any great effort, and operated for the further handling of the device 10.

Furthermore, the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 is equipped with a profiling 32 on the exterior circumference 30 thereof. The profiling 32 on the exterior circumference 30 is configured as knurling, gearwheel, crown gear, or the like.

The actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 is embodied in a manner pivoting relative about the longitudinal axis 34 of the housing opposite of the housing 12, or about an axis positioned parallel thereto, in an advantageous manner.

Furthermore, the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 may be pivoted relative opposite of the housing 12 from a first position, particularly an initial position, illustrated schematically in FIG. 6 into a second position, particularly a contact position (not illustrated), and vice versa.

In order to limit the relative pivoting of the actuating element 26 opposite of the housing 12 at least one stop element 36 is associated with the actuating element 26 according to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the embodiment of the device 10 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the stop element comprises at least one substantially curved longitudinal hole 38, or a respectively formed recess, in which a pin 40, bolt, or similar guide or connecting link element is accommodated. The pin 40, bolt or similar guide element extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 34 of the housing 12.

In the exemplary embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 6 and 7 the at least one stop element 36 is configured in the form of two substantially curved longitudinal holes 38 or recesses, in which one pin 40, bolt or similar guide element is accommodated and guided, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 34 of the housing 12. The pin 40, bolt or similar guide element is inserted and accommodated in a bore 42 at each end in an accurately fitting manner.

The length of the substantially curved longitudinal hole 38 or similar recess determines the location of the first position or initial position, and of the second position or contact position of the actuating element 26.

Preferably, the two curved longitudinal holes 38 or recesses are disposed on the actuating element 26 substantially at an offset of 180° to each other, e.g. across the circumference of the actuating element 26 embodied as a ring in a uniformly disposed manner. In this manner an exact guiding and simultaneous limiting of the pivoting movement of the actuating element 26 can be achieved.

Furthermore, the switching device 16 comprises a magnetic switch 33, which is preferably configured as a Reed switch in order to turn the motor 18 on and/or off, and vice versa.

In particular, the switching device comprises a contact wire 46 for the electric connection of the motor 18 by means of the power supply device 20 and a magnet 48 interacting with the contact wire 46. The contact wire 46 of the switching device 16 is disposed in a groove 49 extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 12. The magnet 48 on the other hand, is disposed on the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16, more specifically on the interior circumference 50, and facing the contact wire 46. Without illustrating the same in detail, a kinematic reverse of the same is also conceivable, although such a construction would involve an increased construction effort.

In the embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention the switching device 16, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 6 and 7, further has a resetting device 52 that is associated with the actuating element 26. The resetting device 52 pressurizes the actuating element 26 such that the actuating element 26 can be automatically returned from the contact position (not illustrated) into the initial position according to FIG. 6. In this manner it is ensured that the actuating element 26 returns to the initial position automatically without any active handling, thus promptly turning the motor off, whereby the device 10 according to the invention is put out of operation overall.

In the present exemplary embodiment of the device 10 the resetting device 52 has a magnetic arrangement 54. The magnetic arrangement 54 comprises a magnet 56 of a certain polarity, which is disposed on or in the actuating element 26. The magnetic arrangement 54 is further equipped with two magnets 58, 60, which face the magnet 56 and are disposed in the housing 12. For this purpose the magnet 58 has a polarity corresponding to the polarity of the magnet 56. The magnet 60, however, has a polarity that is opposite the polarity of each of the magnets 56, 58. In this manner the actuating element 26 makes an attempt to permanently return to the first position, e.g. the initial position, from the second position against the retaining force of the user.

Without illustrating the same in detail, the resetting device 52 may, of course, also be formed by means of a spring arrangement, wherein a spring (not shown) is disposed between the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 and the housing 12. Due to the spring generating a spring force that is acting opposite of the retaining force of the user, the actuating element 26 also makes an attempt to return into the initial position.

The switching device 16 is further equipped with a device 62 for displaying the current state of the power supply device 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, which is associated with the motor 18. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 the device 62 comprises a housing section 64, which is light-permeable, and is equipped with optical signaling elements 66, particularly light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the interior (compare to particularly FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8D, and 8E). The light-permeable housing section 64 is embodied in an annular manner, e.g. as a ring, in the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8E.

It would be conceivable, for example, that white signaling elements 66 are activated as long as the power supply device 20 has a charge state between 50% and 100%. The annular housing section 64 therefore glows in white. If the charge state of the power supply device 20 achieves a charge state of between 30% and 50%, blue signaling elements 66 are activated, for example, whereby the housing section 64 then glows in blue. If, however, the charge state of the power supply device 20 is less than 30%, red signaling elements 66 are automatically activated, which will now illuminate the housing section 64 in red. The user will therefore be notified of the current charge state of the power supply device 20 in a timely manner.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8E, the housing 12 is embodied in an encapsulated manner. For this purpose the power supply device 20 has at least one rechargeable accumulator 68. The accumulator 68 can be electrically connected to an external charger (not illustrated) via approximately punctiform contacts 70, 72. The contacts 70, 72 are disposed on the exterior side 14 of the housing 12, more specifically on the bottom front side 74. In order to achieve a recharging of the power supply device 20 in the external charger, additional constructive measures may optionally be required, such as centering devices or the like, in order to be able to achieve a respective automatic contacting between the device 10 and the external charger.

As the schematic illustrations of FIGS. 8A to 8E show, the device 10 according to the invention further comprises a relay 76, which is associated with the motor 18 in the region of the bottom front side 74 of the housing 12. The relay 76 is disposed between a control board 78 and the magnetic switch 44, which in turn is electrically connected to the control board 78. The relay 76 serves for the construction and the maintaining of a sufficient operating voltage of the motor 18 as soon as the magnetic switch 44 is activated due to a pivoting of the actuating element 26. The relay 76 also serves as a brake for the motor 18 in a particularly advantageous manner. In this regard a dieseling of the motor 18 after the return of the actuating element 26 into the initial position thereof, and thus after deactivating the magnetic switch 44, is safely excluded. The result is a very exact handling possibility of the device 10 according to the invention by means of the user.

An insulating layer 80 is provided between the power supply device 20 and the control board 78, which serves for the mechanical and thermal separation of the power supply device 20 and the control board 78.

As is obvious particularly from FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8E, the motor 18 is equipped with a shield plate 82 or the like at the exterior circumference thereof in order to achieve an electromagnetic shield between the motor 18 and the magnetic switch 44.

Furthermore, a gear 84 that is interconnected between the motor 18 and the conical drive element 22 is in turn associated with the motor 18 in a directly adjacent manner. The gear 84 that may be provided purely optionally ensures precisely predefined rotational speeds and/or force or torque transmissions, which are initiated onto the conical element 22 by the motor 18, and are in turn to be transferred onto the instruments or tools by the same. The drive element 22 may be equipped, for example, with a profile having a rectangular, elliptical, trapezoid, parallelogram, or semicircular cross-section.

The device 10 and the instruments or tools can be detachably connected to each other in reciprocal engagement via bores 85 or recesses or projections (not illustrated) that are radially disposed on the housing 12, and projections or bores or recesses on stationary components of the instruments or tools (not illustrated) that are embodied corresponding to the same, which are provided as a coupling.

The conical drive element 22 itself is supported on a ball bearing 86 and is carried by the same. The ball bearing 86 is held at a distance by a seal 90 via a spacer ring 88. The seal 90 closes an annular gap 92 on the upper front side 24 of the housing 12, and ensures a complete encapsulation or enclosement of the housing 12 overall in this regard.

A further embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9F. The embodiment according to FIGS. 9A to 9F corresponds substantially with the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8E with regard to the function thereof.

However, the dimensions and shape of the device 10 according to FIGS. 9A to 9F differ with regard to the construction thereof.

For example, the dimensions of the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 9A to 9F are selected proportionally significantly larger. This primarily results from the fact that the device 10 according to FIGS. 9A to 9F is equipped with a power supply device 20 that comprises a total of three rechargeable accumulators 68 (not illustrated). In this regard the housing 12 mandatorily must be embodied at a larger size.

Furthermore, the device 10 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A to 9F additionally has a base element 94 in the region of the bottom front side 74 of the housing 12. For this purpose the base element 94 serves for an automatic setup or erection of the device 10 during the use thereof. Furthermore, the base element 94 counteracts a possible self-actuated movement of the device 10 in case of a lateral lengthwise storage.

A further constructive difference between the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 9A to 9F as opposed to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 8E, or 8A to 8F is the embodiment of the light-permeable housing section 64′. The housing section 64′ is in fact embodied discontinuously, particularly in a punctiform manner. A total of three light-permeable, punctiform embodied housing sections 64′ are provided in the base element 94, to which one signaling element 66 of different color is associated with. The color scheme for displaying the current charge state of the power supply device 20 may be selected equal to that of the previous embodiments. It is, however, also conceivable to prefer a different color scheme, such as that of a traffic light. In this manner, the colors green could indicate a charge state of the power supply device of between 50% and 100%, yellow between 30% and 50%, and red less than 30% to up to no charge present.

Finally, FIGS. 10 to 21 illustrate yet a further embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention. The embodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 21 corresponds substantially to the embodiments of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8E or 9A to 9F with regard to the function thereof.

Furthermore, the embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIGS. 10 to 21 substantially equals that according to FIGS. 1 to 8E with few exceptions with regard to the construction thereof.

Accordingly, the actuating element 26 of the switching device 16 is equipped with a different profiling 32 on the exterior circumference 30 thereof. The profiling 32 on the exterior circumference 30 is embodied in the form of at least two recessed grips 96 or the like, which are disposed on the exterior circumference 30 of the actuating element 26 at the same distance to each other. In such an embodiment, however, more than two recessed grips 96 are of advantage. As shown, particularly in FIGS. 12 and 13, a total of 8 such recessed grips 96 are purposefully provided in the illustrated embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 12 to 21.

Furthermore, a recharging of the at least one accumulator 68 may be carried out automatically in the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 10 to 21 as soon as the device 10 is plugged into a respective recess of the external charger. In this manner the contact 70, which is embodied, for example, as a positive terminal, is disposed in the center at the bottom front side 74 of the housing 12. Instead of a punctiform contact 72, however, a substantially circular contact 72′ is provided, which in turn is embodied as a negative terminal. Due to the arrangement and embodiment of the contacts 70, 72′ a certain positioning or insertion of the device 10 into the recess of the external charger is not required.

Finally, the arrangement of the relay 76 is different in the region of the bottom front side 74 of the housing from the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 8E. In the embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 10 to 21 the relay 76 is disposed opposite of the motor 18 in a directly adjacent manner, thus obtaining a simplified construction overall.

The housing 12 and/or the switching device 16 and/or the actuating element 26 and/or the light-permeable housing section 64, 64′ are preferably made from plastic, particularly (hard) polyvinyl chloride, polyoximethylene (POM), polyester, polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, tetrafluoroethylene or impax, duro-plastic elastomers, with or without fiber glass reinforcement, or of a combination thereof.

As an alternative, or cumulatively, the housing 12 and/or the switching device 16 and/or the actuating device 26 may also be made from metal, particularly (rust-resistant) steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, zinc, gunmetal alloys, or an alloy thereof.

Finally, the housing 12 may be produced by means of milling, injection molding, or laser.

The invention is not limited to the previous embodiments. Rather, instead of an encapsulated housing 12 and a power supply device 20 having at least one rechargeable accumulator 64, it is also possible to embody a housing having a screw, bayonet, or similar closure comprising a cover or cap-shaped closure element in a sealed and closeable manner, wherein in this case the power supply device 20 has at least one battery. In this manner a versatile and reusable device 10 may also be obtained. As an alternative it is also conceivable to embody the housing 12 in an encapsulated manner, wherein the power supply device 20, however, has a line to an electric connection comprising an external power source (also not illustrated).

Claims

1. A device for driving instruments and tools, comprising a housing (12) for accommodating a motor (18), a power supply device (20) associated with the motor (18), and a conical drive element (22) associated with the motor (18), partially projecting from the housing (12) and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device (16) disposed on the exterior side of the housing (12) for switching the motor on and off, wherein the switching device (16) comprises an actuating element (26) extending at least partially, particularly completely, about the circumference of the housing (12) and is configured in a relatively pivotable manner opposite of the housing (12).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is embodied in an annular or disk-shaped manner.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is embodied as a ring that is supported particularly on a part (12′) of the housing (12).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) extends beyond the exterior side (14) of the housing (12).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is equipped with a profiling (32) on the exterior circumference (30) thereof.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the profiling (32) on the exterior circumference (30) of the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is embodied as a knurling, gearwheel, or crown gear, or in the form of at least two recessed grips (96) or the like.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is embodied in a manner pivoting relative about the longitudinal axis (34) of the housing (12) or an axis parallel to the same opposite of the housing (12).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) can be pivoted relative opposite of the housing (12) from a first position, particularly an initial position, into a second position, particularly a contact position, and vice versa.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one stop element (36) is associated with the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) for limiting the relative pivoting of the actuating element (26) opposite of the housing (12).

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is equipped with at least one substantially curved elongated hole (38) or recess, in which a pin (40), bolt or similar guide element is substantially extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (34) of the housing (12) is accommodated.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) is equipped with two substantially curved elongated holes (38) or recesses, in which one pin (40), bolt or similar guide element extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (34) of the housing (12) is accommodated.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the two curved elongated holes (38) or recesses are disposed on the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) at an offset of substantially about 180° to each other.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (16) comprises a magnetic switch (44), particularly a Reed switch, for turning the motor (18) on and off.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (16) comprises a contact wire (46) for the electric connection of the motor (18) to the power supply device (20) and a magnet (48) interacting with the contact device (46).

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the contact wire (46) of the switching device (16) is disposed substantially in a groove (49) extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis (34) of the housing (12), and the magnet (48) is disposed on the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) on the interior circumference (5) thereof facing the contact wire (46), and vice versa.

16. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (16) comprises a resetting device (52), which is associated with the actuating element (26) and pressurizes the actuating element (26) such that the actuating element (26) may be automatically returned from the contact position into the initial position.

17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the resetting device (52) has a magnetic arrangement (54), wherein a magnet (56) is disposed on or in the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16), and two magnets (58, 60) facing the magnet (56) are disposed in the housing (12).

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the resetting device (52) has a spring arrangement, wherein a spring is disposed between the actuating element (26) of the switching device (16) and the housing (12).

19. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (16) comprises a relay (76) that is associated with the motor (18).

20. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (16) comprises a device (62) for displaying the current state of the power supply device (20) associated with the motor (18).

21-30. (canceled)