Attachment element for securing a depth stop on a hand-held power tool

An attachment element for securing a depth stop (2) of a hand-held power tool (4) includes a pin guide 5 with one or more noses (8a, 8b) for mounting the attachment element (1) on the power tool (4) and a flange attachment nose (9) axially offset with respect to the mounting nose or noses (8a, 8b) for formlockingly engaging in a respective opening(s) (10, 10a) provided on the power tool (4). The attachment element is secured on the tool with a fastening member (6).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an attachment element for securing an axially displaceable depth stop to a hand-held power tool such as, e.g., a hammer drill.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, pin-shaped depth stops are displaceably arranged in pin guides the axes of which extend parallel to working tool axes and which are provided in the housings of hand-held tools or in additional handles connected with respective hand-held power tools. The depth stops are manually secured in respective pin guides.

German Publication DE-31 26 245 discloses securing of a depth stop of a hand-held power tool with a jaw grip provided with a wing bolt.

German Publication DE-29 18 586 discloses securing of a depth stop of a hand-held tool with an eccentric lever. According to German Publication 100 06 042, the depth stop is secured in a pin guide of a housing projection with a spring slide.

According to German Publication DE 35 09 199, the depth stop is secured in a projection frictionally and formlockingly securable to the power tool. The radial housing or handle projection, in which a pin guide is provided, projects radially outwardly over the chuck. The depth stop extends through the pin guide parallel to the working tool axis. If the use of the depth stop is not necessary, it is removed from the pin guide. However, the housing or the handle projection which forms a part of a power tool, requires additional space for operating the power tool. Even more space is necessary if the associated securing means also remains.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide attachment means or element for securing a depth stop on a power tool without an obstructing, constantly remaining housing projection or auxiliary handle projection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing an attachment element including a pin guide, a fastening member, at least one nose for securing the attachment element to the power tool, and at least one flange attachment nose axially offset with respect to the at least one securing nose for formlockingly engaging in a respective opening provided on the power tool.

The securing and flange attachment noses provide for releasably securing the attachment element between the power tool housing and a mounting flange, with the securing and flange attachment noses formlockingly engaging in respective associated openings provided in the housing and the mounting flange.

The flange segmented surfaces and the openings, which are used for mounting the attachment element, permit to use the hand-held power tool in a more narrow space when the depth stop is not used as no radially projecting parts, which require an additional free space, remain.

Advantageously, the attachment element has a radial mounting surface which provides for a frictional attachment of the attachment element due to a surface contact between the attachment element and the power tool. The surface contact is insured by clamping the attachment element with a clamp band.

Advantageously, the radial mounting surface is formed as an inner cylindrical surface, which provides for a surface contact of the mounting surface with cylindrical segments of a cylindrical mounting flange.

Advantageously, the at least one securing hose is formed as an axial projection provided on a power tool side of the attachment element, providing a radial stop.

Advantageously, there is provided another nose for securing the attachment element to the power tool and which is spaced from the first securing nose. Two securing noses, which are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, form two respective screw head holes, which are spaced from each other by the same distance, for two deep-seated screws for internally securing a cylindrical mounting flange to the power tool. Thereby, the attachment element is fixedly secured to the power tool at two points, whereby a complete matching of the attachment element with the mounting flange of the power tool is achieved.

Advantageously, the flange attachment nose is formed as a radially inwardly extending projection provided on a working tool side of the attachment element, thus, forming a axial stop.

Advantageously, the flange attachment nose has a radial undercut which permits to radially secure the attachment element with a flange clamp band forming part of an additional handle.

Advantageously, the fastening member is formed as a wing bolt that provides for manual force and/or formlocking of the depth stop in the pin guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1–2show an attachment element1according to the present invention for securing a depth stop2on a housing3of a hand-held power tool4. The attachment element1has a pin guide5through which a depth stop2can extend, a securing element6formed as a wing bolt, a radial mounting surface7formed as an inner cylindrical surface, two projecting noses8a,8bprovided on the power tool side of the pin guide5and an axially offset with respect to the noses8a,8b, projecting radially inward flange attachment nose9provided on the working tool side of the pin guide5. The axially projecting noses8a,8b, and the flange attachment, nose9formlockingly engage in matching openings10and an axially offset opening10aformed in a cylindrical flange11, which is mountable on the hand-held power tool, for mounting the attachment element1on the power tool4. Alternatively, the openings10,10acan be formed in the power tool4itself.

The two projecting noses8a,8bform, respectively, two holes12a,12bfor receiving the heads of two deep-seated screws16for internally securing the cylindrical mountable flange11on the power tool4. The two holes are spaced from each other by a distance X. The flange attachment nose9engages in the opening10aof the mountable flange11in such a way that the attachment element1becomes axially fixed. The attachment nose9has an undercut13which is engaged from behind by a clamping band14of an auxiliary handle15.