Patent ID: 7549484

Claim:
A power tool comprising a mode switching device that switches a driving mode of a tool bit among a plurality of different driving modes, wherein the mode switching device includes: a mode switching member that is structured to be turned by manual operation, a driven-side member that is structured to linearly move in a direction crossing a rotation axis of the mode switching member, a mode switching mechanism that is actuated by linear motion of the driven-side member, an actuating member that is disposed on the mode switching member such that an initial position of the actuating member is located in a position displaced in a radial direction from the rotation axis of the mode switching member, wherein, when the mode switching member is turned, the actuating member is caused to revolve in a circular arc movement in contact with the driven-side member, thereby causing the driven-side member to linearly move via components of the circular arc movement in the direction of the linear movement of the driven-side member, wherein the actuating member is structured to move radially inward of the mode switching member from the initial position toward the rotation axis of the mode switching member with respect to the mode switching member; and an elastic element that is elastically deformed by the actuating member when the actuating member moves radially inward from the initial position, whereby the elastic element builds up a spring force to return the actuating member to the initial position, wherein, when the driven-side member is prevented from moving linearly by interruption of the movement of the mode switching mechanism during turning operation of the mode switching member for mode change, the actuating member moves radially inward of the mode switching member while elastically deforming the elastic element, thereby allowing the mode switching member to be turned, and when the interruption of the movement of the mode switching mechanism is resolved and the linear movement of the driven-side member is allowed in the state in which the mode switching member is turned, the actuating member moves back to the initial position by the accumulated spring force of the elastic element, which causes the driven-side member to linearly move, and wherein the radially inward movement of the actuating member with respect to the mode switching member is a swinging movement on a fixed point other than the rotation axis of the mode switching member.