Abstract: An impact mechanism for an impact tool that includes a housing, a piston slidably disposed in the housing and adapted to transfer impact force to a tool bit, and electromagnetic coils disposed between the piston and the housing. The electromagnetic coils are alternately activated to generate respective magnetic fields to cause the piston to move within the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motorized hand tool having a motor with a motor front casing adapted to resist rotation of the motor with respect to a housing of the tool, without use of extra fasteners or machining operations. The motor front casing includes first and second flanges and first and second tabs that protrude radially outwardly and that are disposed proximal to respective ends of the flanges. When the motor is installed, the tabs abut a ratchet head housing and are sandwiched between the ratchet head housing and a rib if a tool housing to resist motor rotation and ensure all forces are distributed across a whole face of the rib to minimize deformation of the rib and/or tool housing.

Abstract: A reversing mechanism for a motorized hand-held ratcheting tool. A toggle trigger is coupled to a reversing mechanism of the tool, and a rotational drive direction of the tool is controlled via the trigger instead of a separate knob or dial. For example, when the trigger is rotated or pivoted in a forward direction (depression of a bottom or back of the trigger), the reversing mechanism is rotated into a right hand threaded fastener's tightening direction, and when the trigger is rotated or pivoted in a reverse direction (depression of a top or front of the trigger), the reversing mechanism is rotated into a right hand threaded fastener's loosening direction. The motor's rotational direction is not changed by the toggle trigger, but the trigger does control the rotational drive direction of the tool and activates the motor and variable speed circuitry.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for an impact tool having a housing with a housing longitudinal axis, wherein the impact mechanism includes an impact mechanism longitudinal axis that is offset and substantially perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis. The impact mechanism includes a gear carrier adapted to be driven by a motor of the impact tool to rotate about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, a hammer slidably coupled to the gear carrier and rotatable about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, the hammer includes a radial surface with a hammer lug extending therefrom, and an intermediate bit adapted to receive impact force from the hammer lug and transfer impact force to a tool bit.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for an impact tool having a housing with a housing longitudinal axis, wherein the impact mechanism includes an impact mechanism longitudinal axis that is offset and substantially perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis. The impact mechanism includes a gear carrier adapted to be driven by a motor of the impact tool to rotate about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, a hammer slidably coupled to the gear carrier and rotatable about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, the hammer includes a radial surface with a hammer lug extending therefrom, and an intermediate bit adapted to receive impact force from the hammer lug and transfer impact force to a tool bit.

Abstract: An illumination source disposed in a housing of a tool without the need for fasteners or snaps. The illumination source includes a number illumination elements, such as LEDs, disposed on a circuit board. A lens and the housing cooperatively direct light emitted by the illumination elements away from a user's eyes during use of the tool.

Abstract: A flexible head joint for a tool, such as a motorized ratcheting-type tool. The flexible joint also allows an output mechanism of the tool, such as a ratchet head, to be disposed at an angle with respect to a housing to the tool, which houses a motor. For example, the first shaft is pivotably coupled to a first connector, which may have a tongue shaped portion. The second shaft is pivotably coupled to a second connector, which may have a slotted portion adapted to receive the tongue portion. This provides two pivot points that have parallel axes.

Abstract: An illumination source disposed in a housing of a tool without the need for fasteners or snaps. The illumination source includes a number illumination elements, such as LEDs, disposed on a circuit board. A lens and the housing cooperatively direct light emitted by the illumination elements away from a user's eyes during use of the tool.

Abstract: A flexible head joint for a tool, such as a motorized ratcheting-type tool. The flexible joint also allows an output mechanism of the tool, such as a ratchet head, to be disposed at an angle with respect to a housing to the tool, which houses a motor. For example, the first shaft is pivotably coupled to a first connector, which may have a tongue shaped portion. The second shaft is pivotably coupled to a second connector, which may have a slotted portion adapted to receive the tongue portion. This provides two pivot points that have parallel axes.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for an impact tool that includes a housing, a piston slidably disposed in the housing and adapted to transfer impact force to a tool bit, and electromagnetic coils disposed between the piston and the housing. The electromagnetic coils are alternately activated to generate respective magnetic fields to cause the piston to move within the housing.

Abstract: A gearing and crankshaft assembly for a powered hand tool including an integrated gear carrier and crankshaft including first and second opposing ends, where the first end includes an offset pin, gears rotatably coupled to the integrated gear carrier and crankshaft by gear pins, bearings adapted to receive the integrated gear carrier and crank shaft to allow the integrated gear carrier and crank shaft to rotate relative to the driver portion, and a gear cover coupled to the driver portion and adapted to restrict axial movement of the gears.

Abstract: A tool with two sequential gear trains and gear carrier assemblies adapted to be recessed into internal gears. The internal gear assembly also prevents rotation of the internal gear assembly relative to a housing of the tool. For example, the internal gear assembly can include a first gear train and second gear train sequentially coupled to the first gear train, wherein a first ring gear and first planet gears of the first gear train are substantially similar to a second ring gear and second planet gears of the second gear train.

Abstract: A pawl mechanism for an indexable tool and adapted to selectively transmit rotational motion of a yoke of the tool to a drive lug of the tool in one of first and second rotational directions. The pawl mechanism including a pawl carrier, first and second pawls pivotably coupled to the pawl carrier, and a selector switch rotatably coupled to the pawl carrier and adapted to selectively position the first and second pawls to transmit rotational motion of the yoke to the drive lug in one of the first and second rotational directions.

Abstract: A reversing mechanism for a motorized hand-held ratcheting tool. A toggle trigger is coupled to a reversing mechanism of the tool, and a rotational drive direction of the tool is controlled via the trigger instead of a separate knob or dial. For example, when the trigger is rotated or pivoted in a forward direction (depression of a bottom or back of the trigger), the reversing mechanism is rotated into a right hand threaded fastener's tightening direction, and when the trigger is rotated or pivoted in a reverse direction (depression of a top or front of the trigger), the reversing mechanism is rotated into a right hand threaded fastener's loosening direction. The motor's rotational direction is not changed by the toggle trigger, but the trigger does control the rotational drive direction of the tool and activates the motor and variable speed circuitry.

Abstract: An impact mechanism for an impact tool having a housing with a housing longitudinal axis, wherein the impact mechanism includes an impact mechanism longitudinal axis that is offset and substantially perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis. The impact mechanism includes a gear carrier adapted to be driven by a motor of the impact tool to rotate about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, a hammer slidably coupled to the gear carrier and rotatable about the impact mechanism longitudinal axis, the hammer includes a radial surface with a hammer lug extending therefrom, and an intermediate bit adapted to receive impact force from the hammer lug and transfer impact force to a tool bit.

Abstract: A flexible head joint for a tool, such as a motorized ratcheting-type tool. The flexible joint also allows an output mechanism of the tool, such as a ratchet head, to be disposed at an angle with respect to a housing to the tool, which houses a motor. For example, the first shaft is pivotably coupled to a first connector, which may have a tongue shaped portion. The second shaft is pivotably coupled to a second connector, which may have a slotted portion adapted to receive the tongue portion. This provides two pivot points that have parallel axes.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for a power tool having a link member including an opening, a ratchet gear having a toothed portion and adapted to be selectively driven in either of first and second drive directions, first and second pawls pivotably coupled to the link member and adapted to selectively engage with the toothed portion for selecting one of the first and second drive directions, and a crank shaft including first and second opposing ends, wherein the first end includes an offset pin received in the opening of the link member and the second end is adapted to be operably coupled to a motor.

Abstract: A tool housing and method for making the same are disclosed. The tool housing can include upper and middle portions that are fully machined and coupled to one another. The tool housing can also include a lower housing that is partially machined, coupled to the remaining housing portions, and then fully machined. In doing so, the machining operation is eased and the portions of the housing are better aligned with one another.