Abstract: The present invention offers a commutation assembly for an electrical motor, whereby a constant optimal pressure is maintained upon the commutator of the motor.

Abstract: A biscuit cutter is provided for cutting an arcuate slot in the edge surface of a workpiece. The biscuit cutter is made of a base, a drive motor, a rotary cutter blade and an adjustable fence. The base is provided by the first planar surface having an elongated slot through which the rotary cutting blade is positionable when a plurality of extended positions corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of predetermined sized biscuits. The adjustable fence has a second fence surface for engaging the workpiece and has a centerline indicia and a plurality of slot length indicia spaced about the centerline indicia for providing a visual indication to the user of the length of the slot to be formed in the workpiece for each of the plurality of biscuit sizes.

Abstract: A chuck assembly for use with a rotary tool includes a chuck mechanism having a plurality of spaced apart jaws. The jaw spacing is adjusted by rotation of an adjustment ring. A sleeve encircles and is affixed to the adjustment ring. A plurality of spaced apart ribs radially extend from the sleeve. An elastomeric grip extends generally circumferentially about the sleeve. The ribs radially protrude from the grip at a plurality of openings defined by the grip. The ribs lie in outboard shielding relationship to the grip to protect the grip from excessive wear and damage due to contact with other objects during operation of the rotary tool.

Abstract: A pair of semicylindrical magnet segments are secured against the inner surface of a motor shell of a permanent magnet motor by wedging an elastic locking element into each space between the magnets. Each locking element has an enlarged head portion that extends beyond opposite ends of the magnet segments, the lock elements maintaining the magnet segments in position, circumferentially, radially and axially, within the motor shell to form a shell-magnet subassembly. An assembly fixture is used to support and align the elements during their assembly. A motor armature, including a commutator, is inserted within the subassembly, and end caps having bearings and brushes are bolted to respective ends of the motor shell to form a complete motor.

Abstract: An oscillating spindle sander having a spindle rotatably mounted in a cabinet. An external end of the spindle is adapted to receive a sanding drum. An upper cam pulley is fixedly attached to the spindle and a lower cam pulley is rotatably attached to the spindle within the cabinet. The upper and lower cam pulleys have face-to-face annular cam surfaces having complementary sinusoidal contours with diametrically opposite lobes and diametrically opposite valleys. The upper and lower cam pulleys have a toothed rim connected by individual drive belts to a common drive pulley rotated by an electric motor. The number of teeth on the toothed rims of the upper and lower cam pulleys are different, causing the upper and lower cam pulleys to rotate relative to each other. The annular cam surfaces cause the upper cam pulley and the spindle to be oscillated in a vertical direction in response to the relative rotation between upper and lower cam pulleys.

Abstract: A generally T-shaped clip is fit into notches formed in the field shell of a permanent magnet D.C. motor. The clip has a passageway formed through its top surface for receiving a screw or the like to secure the field shell to a surrounding tool housing. The notches have a top portion with an elongated portion that has a concave inner side to abut the outer surface of the field shell and retain the clip in the notches. The clip has a bottom portion that is bent so that it contacts the screw to prevent it from turning and loosening.

Abstract: A router table assembly includes a removable throat plate having a frame with a generally-planar upper surface, and an opening formed in the frame's upper surface. A disc, supported within the opening for rotation about a first axis, includes a through-hole which is sized to permit extension therethrough of a routing bit along a second axis parallel to the first axis. A graduated scale on the frame adjacent to the disc cooperates with a reference mark on the disk to provide an indication of the displacement of the bit's second axis relative to a reference edge on the working surface. A clamp secures the disc against rotation after the disc has been rotated within the frame to position the bit's second axis a desired distance from the reference edge. A fence is secured in one of a plurality of parallel-spaced positions relative to the reference edge.

Abstract: A power tool is provided having a housing with a handle for an operator, a rare earth permanent magnet motor oriented within the housing having a rotary output portion operatively driving an implement. The motor has a relatively high horsepower output for its size enabling the location of the motor relative to the implement and the handle to be functionally and ergonomically optimized.

Abstract: A shipping and retail display pallet pack having a base adapted to receive one end of the articles to be shipped and displayed mounted on a pallet. The base has a formed seat for each article to be shipped and displayed and retainer walls dividing the interior of the base into a compartment for each article. A top retainer, vertically separated from the base, has a plurality of cavities which enclose the ends of the articles opposite the base. For shipping side panels enclose the pallet pack between the base and the top retainer and a cover is disposed of the top retainer. Horizontal strapping secures the side panels to the base and the top retainer and vertical strapping secures the cover on top of the top retainer and the remainder of the pallet pack to a shipping pallet.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch is provided having a drive member having a rotor and at least one shoe which is radially displaceable as a result of centrifugal force. A clutch drum is oriented coaxially with the drive member having a circular or cylindrical portion for engaging the shoe. The clutch drum is provided with a central hub and an end wall extending between the central hub and the circular or cylindrical portion. The end wall is integrally formed of a sheet metal stamping provided with a plurality of fan blades circumferentially spaced about the central axis and integrally formed in the end wall by showing a radially extending slit into the end wall and bending the adjacent sheet metal axially outward to define a fan blade and an adjacent vent opening.

Abstract: A shipping and display container, a generally C-shaped or L-shaped configuration enabling vertical orientation of an elongated motor driven tool is disclosed. The container allows access to the tool without destruction or manipulation of the shipping and display container. In addition, the tool may be utilized as a handle for carrying both the tool and container. The container has display surfaces adapted to receive point of sale display graphics while greatly increasing the viewing angle of consumers approaching the container.

Abstract: A battery powered tool includes a housing adapted to carry a battery. A shaft having first and second ends is connected to the housing at the first end thereof. A first mechanical joint is adapted for rotatably receiving and supporting an attachment. The first mechanical joint is mounted at the second end of the shaft. The first electrical connector contained within the first mechanical joint is adapted to cooperate with a second electrical connector in the attachment to provide electric thereto. A first electrical conductor extends within the shaft from the housing to the first electrical connector for carrying electric current from the battery to operate the attachment. A second electrical connector engages with the first electrical connector, and is connected to a boom. A second electrical conductor extends within the boom, and the other end of the boom carries a hedge trimmer, a line trimmer, a pruner, a blower or an extension.

Abstract: A blower is provided having a plurality of tubular nozzles removably attachable to the blower enabling an operator to easily vary the velocity and air discharge pattern. The blower forms part of an operator carried power tool having a drive motor spaced from the blower assembly by a tubular boom containing a drive shaft. The blower comprises a blower housing having an axial air inlet and an air outlet defined by a tubular section. An impeller is pivotally mounted within the blower housing and driven by the drive shaft. As the impeller is rotated, air is drawn through the air inlet and discharged through one of a plurality of tubular nozzles mounted on the blower housing tubular section. Tubular nozzles have varying geometries to conveniently vary the discharge air pattern.

Abstract: A motorized implement having a housing containing a motor mounted therein the motor having a rotary shaft with an output end. The motorized implement further has a drive shaft with an input end pivotably supported relative to the housing and co-axially aligned with the rotary shaft. Moreover, the implement has a connector interposed between the motor and the drive shaft, which includes a pair of co-axial apertures, one to cooperate with the input end of the drive shaft to form a first connection. The other of the pair of apertures to cooperate with the output end of the rotary shaft to form a second connection. One of the first and second connections is securely fixed to its associated shaft end, and the other forms a pivotal universal joint. The aperture and associated shaft end which form the universal joint have corresponding non-circular cross-sections for enabling a slip-fit connection. The universal joint facilitates slight misalignment between the rotary shaft and the drive shaft.

Abstract: An ON-OFF switch assembly which is lockable for preventing unauthorized use is disclosed. The ON-OFF switch assembly includes an ON-OFF electrical switch mounted within a housing. The ON-OFF electrical switch has an actuator which is shiftable between an ON position and an OFF position. A cover is pivotally attached over the housing between an opened position allowing access to the actuator, a closed position denying access to the actuator, and a run position where the cover is slightly open. The cover has a tab which shifts the actuator to the OFF position when the cover is pivoted to the closed position. A hasp is hinged to the housing. The hasp can be pivoted to extend through an aperture of the cover to enable locking the cover to the housing in the closed position using a padlock, and to retract from the housing to position the padlock clear of the housing to allow the cover to be freely pivoted.

Abstract: A line trimmer head includes a line feed configuration which facilitates reloading the head with new line without requiring removal of the spool from the housing. Line is sequentially fed first into the housing through a peripheral opening in the housing, through a guide channel in the spool, and then out of the housing beyond a lower flange of the spool through an opening in the hub of spool. Finally, the line is fed into a small opening in a spool flange to secure the line with respect to the spool. Rotation of the spool inside the housing then causes line to be drawn into the housing through the peripheral opening and wrapped around the spool. The spool provides separate storage compartments for different lines. Additional payout of line is provided when a bump knob is bumped on a ground surface.

Abstract: A line trimmer head is provided including a rotatable drive shaft and a housing mounted to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. The housing has an open end and at least one peripheral aperture formed through the housing. A spool subassembly is positioned at least partially within the housing adjacent the open end of the housing. The subassembly includes a spool having at least one flange extending radially outwardly from the periphery thereof, a cog ring secured to the spool, and a ratchet and pawl assembly formed between the cog ring and spool. The ratchet and pawl assembly allows rotation of the spool in a first direction with respect to the cog ring for winding line around the spool while preventing spool rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to facilitate line feed bumping and line trimming operations.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism for a portable electric power tool which can be selectively oriented in one of three states being a Locked-off, an On, and a Locked-on state. The trigger mechanism includes a trigger having a first latch portion and an actuator for actuating a switch for energizing a motor, a lock button having a second latch portion, a latch return spring, and a lock button return spring. The trigger is shiftable longitudinally between a Trigger-off and a Trigger-on position, while the lock button is shiftable transversely between a Button-off and a Button-on position. When the trigger mechanism is in the Locked-off state, the lock button is in the Button-off position preventing the trigger from moving from the Trigger-off position. When the trigger mechanism is in the On state, the lock button has been shifted to the Button-on position so that the trigger is shiftable to the Trigger-on position thereby actuating the switch.

Abstract: An oscillating tool for sanding a surface has a body (12) defining an internal cavity (14) and a motor (20) located therein The motor has a motor shaft (22) oriented in parallel with the body. A crank (24) is affixed to the motor which has a crank pin (26) projecting therefrom. A lever arm (34) is pivotably affixed to the body for rotation about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to the motor shaft. The lever arm cooperates with the crank pin to cause the lever arm to cyclically pivot back and forth. A pad support (18) is adapted to receive a work member (19). The planar pad support is affixed to the lever arm at a location spaced apart from the pivot axis and oscillated therewith. The pad support has a substantially 90 degree forward corner (110) formed by a pair or facet edges and a pair of outwardly inclined straight side edges (116, 118).

Abstract: The height adjustment ring assembly is provided for adjusting height of a router motor housing relative to a router body, the router being movable between upright and inverted positions. The housing includes external threads formed thereon. The height adjustment ring assembly comprises a support member secured to the router base, the support having a radially extending flange portion. An annular adjustment ring includes an internal thread for cooperation with the external threads. Means for entrapping the flange portion with respect to the adjustment ring is provided, thereby limiting relative axial movement while allowing free relative rotation of the adjustment ring with respect to the support member for adjustment of the router motor housing regardless of router position.