Patent ID: 7063201

Claim:
A spindle lock for a power tool, the power tool including a housing, a motor supported by the housing and including a motor shaft, and a spindle supported by the housing for rotation about an axis, a driving connection being provided between the spindle and the motor shaft such that the spindle is drivingly connectable to the motor shaft, the spindle being selectively driven by the motor in a first direction about the axis and in a second direction about the axis, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, said spindle lock comprising: a first locking member defining a first locking surface; a second locking member defining a second locking surface; a wedge positioned between the first locking member and the second locking member and positionable in a locked position, in which the wedge is wedged between the first locking surface and the second locking surface to prevent rotation of the spindle, and in an unlocked position; a spring operable to delay movement of the wedge from the unlocked position to the locked position and being flexible in a direction generally parallel to the axis when a force is applied to the spindle to cause the spindle to rotate relative to the driving connection; and a detent arrangement including a first recess and a second recess, and a projection engaged by the spring, the projection being selectively positioned in the first recess and in the second recess; wherein, when the spindle is rotated in the first direction relative to the driving connection, the projection is movable between a first position, which corresponds to the unlocked position of the wedge and in which the projection is positioned in the first recess, and a second position, in which the projection is positioned in the second recess, movement of the projection from the first recess delaying movement of the wedge from the unlocked position to the locked position when the spindle is rotated in the first direction relative to the driving connection; and wherein, when the spindle is rotated in the second direction relative to the driving connection, the projection is movable between the second position, which corresponds to the unlocked position of the wedge and in which the projection is positioned in the second recess, and the first position, in which the projection is positioned in the first recess, movement of the projection from the second recess delaying movement of the wedge from the unlocked position to the locked position when the spindle is rotated in the second direction relative to the driving connection.