Patent Abstract:
An arm member is provided for protection of a power source and for facilitating storage of a power tool. In a closed position, the arm member is configured for partially encircling a portion of the power source and re-directing an impact directed towards that portion away from the power source. In an open position, the arm member is configured for engaging a projection or structure to enable hanging and/or other storage of the power tool.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to portable, combustion powered fastener driving tools, and more specifically to such a tool having a replaceable fuel cell or cartridge. 
     Portable combustion powered tools for use in driving fasteners into workpieces are described in commonly assigned patents to Nikolich, U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 32,452; 4,403,722; 4,483,473; 4,483,474; 4,552,162; 5,197,646; 5,263,439; and 6,016,622 all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Similar combustion powered nail and staple driving tools are available from ITW-Paslode under the IMPULSE® brand. 
     Fastener driving tools using combustion are designed to be portable and to be temporarily hooked or clipped to a user&#39;s belt while not in use. These tools include a gun-shaped metal housing and a magazine portion, which is attached to the housing and/or handle. Generally, the magazine retains a supply of fasteners which are fed to a drive track in the housing adapted to receive a fastener and to guide the fastener as the fastener is driven from the drive track into a workpiece. 
     The housing also includes a piston in a main chamber of the fastener driving tool which is mounted for reciprocal movement along the chamber. The piston is driven by products of combustion supplied to the main chamber by a power source or fuel cell container removably connected to the housing. 
     The use of existing fastener driving combustion power tools has certain disadvantages. Some current power tool designs protecting the power source or fuel cell offer only partial protection from external impacts, such as when the power tool is dropped. Other power tool designs that more fully protect the fuel cell are unwieldy. As an example, one known power tool design has a fuel cell partially shielded from impact by having one side of the housing protected by a belt clip while the other extended side is left unprotected. Other known tools have a housing that is extended to enclose a power source that is inserted into the housing through a door. Such tools, however, are also larger and more unwieldy as compared to less shielded power tools. 
     Another disadvantage of some existing power tools is that they are not easily storable at a work site during extended periods of non-use wherein a user prefers to store the tool. For the purposes of this application “storing” refers to hanging or suspending the tool from a structural element. Although belt clips are known for storing tools during these periods, in some cases storing tools in such fashion results in unstable or extraneous movement of the tool while suspended. To overcome such problems, tools are sometimes stored on the ground, which is also unsatisfactory, since this type of storage exposes the tools to dirt, other hazardous ground materials, and/or unwanted impacts. Moreover, the tools are more susceptible to accidental contact and discharge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A power tool constructed to drive a driver blade in response to power from a power delivery source to impact a fastener and drive it into a workpiece is disclosed having an arm member or hook for protection of the power delivery source and for storage of the power tool. The arm member is preferably rotatable between a closed position and an open position, based on user interaction. In the closed position, the arm member partially surrounds or at least partially encircles a fuel cell of the tool to protect the fuel cell from external impacts. In the open position, the arm member is configured for engaging a portion of a projection or structure, such as a rafter, ladder, or the like to hang and store the power tool during periods of non-use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combustion fastener tool in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 showing an arm member in a closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the arm member of the combustion fastener tool in FIG. 1 in an open position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the first end of the arm member of the combustion fastener tool of FIG. 1 with a portion of the housing removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred embodiment of a combustion fastener tool suitable for practicing the present invention is generally designated  10 . The fastener tool  10  has a main housing  12  that defines a cavity  14  for receiving a self-contained internal power source or fuel cell  16 , which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fuel cell  16  supplies fuel for combustion to an internal assembly (not shown) of the housing  12  that includes a combustion chamber in communication with a bore having a gas piston, bumper guards, and a driver blade disposed within. The tool  10  also has a nosepiece assembly  18  that attaches to the housing  12 , and a magazine  20 . The magazine  20  is configured for sequentially supplying fasteners (not shown) to the nosepiece assembly  18  which are impacted by the driver blade. A combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool available from ITW-Paslode (a unit of Illinois Tool Works, Inc.) of Lincolnshire, Ill., under its IMPULSE trademark is a preferred tool, into which these components can be readily incorporated. Such combustion-powered tools are similar to the tools disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,403,722; 4,483,280; 4,483,474; 4,483,474; 4,522,162; 5,263,439; 6,016,622; and Re. 32,452, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, through depression of a trigger  22  in a handle  24  of the tool  10 , an operator induces combustion of a measured amount of the fuel or propellant from the power source  16 , such as MAPP gas, within the combustion chamber. Upon ignition of the propellant in the combustion chamber, the piston is driven towards the nosepiece assembly  18 . A bumper (not shown) is disposed within the bore and defines the end of travel of the piston as it travels toward the nosepiece assembly  18 . As the piston approaches the nosepiece assembly  18 , the driver blade will be guided into the nosepiece assembly  18  and impact a fastener which can be driven into a workpiece (not shown). Differential gas pressures return the piston back toward the combustion chamber after the piston completes its travel. 
     As a fuel cell protection feature, and for facilitating storage of the tool  10 , an arm member or hook  26  is rotatably attached to the housing  12 , preferably at a first end  28  of the arm member to partially enclose the fuel cell  16 . The arm member  26  can rotate or pivot between a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 2) and an open position (FIG. 3) according to whether the tool  10  is being used or stored. The rotational feature of the arm member  26  is advantageous since it enables the arm member to have a dual purpose. First, in the closed position, the arm member  26  partially shields the fuel cell  16  from any impacts. Second, in the open position, the arm member  26  is configured for enabling the tool  10  to be easily stored or hung from a structure. Moreover, the arm member  26  is quickly rotatable to the closed position, permitting rapid use of the tool  10  once it is removed from its stored position. Preferably, the arm member  26  is formed of a metal material that can withstand deformation when the arm member is under stress, such as when the arm member supports the tool  10  in the open position or transfers an external impact to the housing  12  while in the closed position. However, other materials, including, but not limited to high-strength plastics, may be implemented to manufacture the arm member  26 . A retaining clip  30 , which is preferably integrally molded or otherwise attached or associated with a sidewall  32  of the housing  12 , is configured for securing the arm member  26  to the housing  12 . The use of the arm member  26  for storage of the tool  10  occurs upon the unclipping and rotation of the arm member, which is discussed more fully below with reference to FIG.  3 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, the arm member  26  is shown attached to the clip  30  in a closed or protective position. The fuel cell  16  is positioned within the cavity  14 , and is generally enclosed by the housing  12 . In this position, the fuel cell  16  is protected from external side impacts, such as when the tool  10  is dropped on the tool side having the arm member  26  and designated generally by an arrow  34 . In particular, the arm member  26  has a curved portion  36  that is preferably circular and is configured to at least partially encircle or surround the fuel cell  16  and transfer any impacts received by the curved portion to the housing  12  via elbows  38 . 
     A handle  40  overlays a portion of a second end  41  of the arm member  26  to assist with rotation or the arm member. The handle  40  can be made of materials such as rubber, plastic, and the like. Preferably, the handle  40  is formed of a material which has a non-slip surface to reduce the likelihood of slippage of the tool  10  during placement or storage on a structure, such as a ladder, a rafter, a joist, etc. Furthermore, the non-slip surface facilitates user grasping of the handle  40  during unclipping of the arm member  26  from the clip  30 . 
     The tool  10  also has a sleeve  42  with a bore, or a frictional member encircling a portion of the arm member  26  that is partially inserted into a chamber or cavity  44  formed by the housing  12 . Preferably, the sleeve  42  is formed with the bore sized to ensure a snug fit with the inserted arm member. Furthermore, the sleeve should be thick enough to contact the housing  12  once inserted into the chamber  44 . The sleeve  42  opposes or dampens a rotation of the arm member  26  to maintain the arm member in a particular rotational position, such as the closed position, unless overcome by user intervention. The chamber  44  is configured for receiving the first end  28  of the arm member  26 , and preferably has a slit  46  extending into the chamber for receiving a clip, as is discussed more fully with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the tool  10  is shown with the arm member  26  unclipped from the retaining clip  30  and rotated to an open position. The handle  40  is generally parallel to a lower portion  48  of the housing  12  and forms a gap  50  that is configured to engage a rafter, joist or other projection from which the tool can be suspended or hung, either on or off site. 
     FIG. 4 shows the first end  28  of the arm member  26  with a portion of the housing  12  removed. The sleeve  42  is partially enclosed by the housing  12  to oppose rotation of the arm member  26  as previously discussed. Preferably, the sleeve  42  has a snug fit to the housing  12  and is formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, plastic, etc., that can impart a frictional resistance between the arm member  26  an interior surface  52  of the chamber  44 . Such resilient materials are preferable since they oppose rotation of the arm member  26  and retain the arm member in a fixed position unless rotated by a user. 
     The first end  28  of the arm member  26  has an annular groove  54  that is configured for receiving a clip  56 . Preferably a metal material, the clip  56  can be formed of various materials, and is preferably configured as a C-clip. However, other types of clips known in the art for restricting axial movement may be incorporated herein, depending on the application. The C-clip  56  is preferably snap fit into the annular groove  54  by initially placing the second end  28  of the arm member  26  into the chamber  44  until the annular groove  54  is aligned with the slit  46 . The C-clip  56  can then pass into the slit  46  to engage the annular groove  54  of the arm member  26 . Interior chamber surfaces, such as a surface  58 , prevent axial movement of the arm member  26  and C-clip  56  from the chamber  44 . The retentive power of the clip  56  is strong enough to secure the arm member  26  to the housing  12  even when the arm member is in the open position (FIG. 3) and the tool  10  is suspended therefrom. 
     While a particular embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-4 for the present arm member  26 , numerous alternative embodiments are contemplated, wherein the arm member is attached to a different side of the tool  10 , translated along the magazine  20  to a new location, etc. Moreover, it is contemplated that the arm member  26  can be configured for feeding into the chamber  44  in a reverse manner, wherein the arm member enters the chamber near the slit  46  and has an oppositely orientated curved portion configured to protect the fuel cell  16 . Moreover, it is further contemplated that the present arm member  26  may include two separate components, wherein one component includes a curved section to protect the fuel cell  16  and the second component is capable of supporting the tool. The second component may or may not be rotatable in this alternative embodiment. Further, it is contemplated that the first and second ends of the arm member  26  may not be connected to one another in a single unit. 
     As described above with reference to the drawings, features of the present invention provide for protection of the fuel cell  16  when the arm member  26  has both ends attached to the housing  12  in the closed position. Additional features provide for storage of the tool  10  when the arm member is in an open position with one end attached to the housing. While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1