PACKAGE FOR DRILLS, A METHOD AND AN ARRANGEMENT THEREFORE

Abstract

The invention relates to a package for a drill. The package has a protecting portion arranged to house a cutting portion of said drill in a contact free manner and a locking portion arranged to hold a tool engaging portion of said drill. The locking portion and the protecting portion are movable relative each other and the drill is releasable from the locking portion by a movement of the locking portion relative the protecting portion. The protecting portion is allows the user to clamp the cutting portion of said drill by pressing the protecting portion and thereby establishing a contact between the protecting portion and the cutting portion of said drill. The invention also relates to a method and an arrangement.

Claims

1. A package (30) for a drill (10), comprising a protecting portion (34) comprising a first subportion (32a) and a second subportion (32b), the protecting portion (34) being arranged to house a cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) in a contact free manner, and a locking portion (36) arranged to hold a tool engaging portion (16) of said drill, wherein the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) are movable relative each other, wherein the drill (10) is releasable from the locking portion (36) by a movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34), characterized in that the first and the second subportions (32a, 32b) of the protecting portion (34) are made in one piece and are arranged to allow the user to clamp the cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) by pressing the first subportion (32a) towards the second subportion (32b) and thereby establishing a contact between the protecting portion (34) and the cutting portion (14) of said drill (10).

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the protecting portion (34) is made in one piece with the locking portion (36).

3. A package according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the package is an inner package adapted to be contained in an outer package, wherein the inner package is sterilizable together with the drill and wherein the outer surface of the outer package is non-sterile.

4. A package according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34) while the cutting portion (14) of the drill (10) is clamped results in the release of the tool engaging portion (16) of the drill (10) from the locking portion (36).

5. A package according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein at least one of the subportions (32a, 32b) of the protecting portion (34) is made from a flexible material.

6. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking portion (36) comprises a snap lock (37).

7. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package is adapted such that the movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34) may be achieved by bending.

8. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package is adapted such that the relative movement between the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) may be achieved by pivoting the locking portion (36) around an axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the package.

9. A package according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a gripping portion (38) located adjacent the locking portion (36).

10. A package according to claim 9, wherein the package is adapted such that the relative movement between the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) may be achieved by a movement of the gripping portion (38) away from the longitudinal axis of the package.

11. A method for releasing a drill (10) from a package (30) comprising a protecting portion (34) housing a cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) in a contact free manner and a locking portion (36) holding a tool engaging portion (16) of said drill (10), said method comprising the steps of clamping the cutting portion (14) of the drill (10) by pressing the protecting portion (34); releasing the drill (10) from the locking portion (36) by moving the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34) while maintaining the clamping of the drill (10).

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34) is achieved by bending the package.

13. A method according to any one of claim 11 or 12, wherein the relative movement between the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) is achieved by pivoting the locking portion (36) around an axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the package.

14. A method according to any one of claims 11-13, wherein the package further comprises a gripping portion (38) located adjacent to the locking portion (36) and wherein the relative movement between the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) is achieved by movement of the gripping portion (38) away from the longitudinal axis of the package.

15. A method for connecting to a tool holding fixture (80) a drill (10) held in a package (30) comprising a protecting portion (34) housing a cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) in a contact free manner and a locking portion (36) holding a tool engaging portion (16) of said drill (10), said method comprising the steps of releasing the drill (10) from the locking portion (36) by moving the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34), and clamping the cutting portion (14) of the drill (10) by pressing the protecting portion (34) wherein said clamping is performed prior, after or during said step of releasing the drill, and connecting, while maintaining the clamping of the drill (10), the tool engaging portion (16) of the drill (10) to the tool holding fixture (80).

16. An arrangement comprising a package (30) according to any one of claims 1-10 and a drill (10), wherein said protecting portion (34) of the package houses a cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) in a contact free manner, and wherein said locking portion (36) of the package holds a tool engaging portion (16) of said drill (10), and wherein the locking portion (36) and the protecting portion (34) are movable relative each other, and wherein the drill (10) is releasable from the locking portion (36) by a movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34), and wherein the protecting portion (34) comprises a first subportion (32a) and a second subportion (32b) arranged to allow the user to clamp the cutting portion (14) of said drill (10) by pressing the first subportion (32a) towards the second subportion (32b) and thereby establishing a contact between the protecting portion (34) and the cutting portion (14) of said drill (10).

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the movement of the locking portion (36) relative the protecting portion (34) while the cutting portion (14) of the drill (10) is clamped results in the release of the tool engaging portion (16) of the drill (10) from the locking portion (36).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement comprising a drill and a package according to at least one example embodiment of the invention.

[0047] FIGS. 2a-2c schematically illustrates a procedure for releasing a drill from its package and connecting the drill to a tool holding fixture according to at least one example embodiment of the invention.

[0048] FIGS. 3a-3b schematically illustrates a package according to at least one example embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement comprising a drill 10 and a package 30 according to at least one example embodiment of the invention.

[0050] The package 30 in FIG. 1 comprises a protecting portion 34, a locking portion 36 and a gripping portion 38, wherein the package 30 has a geometrical longitudinal axis L. In the illustrated example, the drill 10 is secured to the locking portion 36 of the package 30 in such manner that its geometrical longitudinal axis I coincides or is parallel with the longitudinal axis L of the package 30.

[0051] The protecting portion 34 is arranged to house a cutting portion 14 of the drill 10 in a contact free manner. This is illustrated by a gap Ga located along the longitudinal axis L, and a gap Gb located radially of the longitudinal axis L, both gaps Ga, Gb being defined by the protecting portion 34 and the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10. The protecting portion 34 is substantially U-shaped. The U-shape forms part of first and second subportions in the form of an elongated first leg 32a and an elongated second leg 32b of the package 30, which legs 32a, 32b are linked by a relatively short distal package portion 32c. In the illustrated example embodiment, the first subportion or leg 32a is longer than the second subportion or leg 32b and provides a base from which the locking portion 36 projects. Also, the end of the first leg 32a may be provided with a curve 48 to form the gripping portion 38. The first leg 32a, the second leg 32b and the linking distal portion 32c may all be flexible. Alternatively, it would be conceivable to only have one leg flexible (e.g. the first leg 32a) and the other rigid (e.g. the second leg 32b). Although, the illustrated package 30 is open laterally, in other embodiments it would be conceivable to have one or more lateral sidewalls (33a-33c shown in FIG. 3a-3b), which interconnect the first leg 32a with the second leg 32b similarly to the distal package portion 32c, thus further enclosing/concealing the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10. Furthermore, such lateral sidewalls do not necessarily have to interconnect the legs 32a, 32b, but could for instance extend from the second leg 32b downwards towards but not all the way to the first leg 32a.

[0052] The locking portion 36 is arranged to hold the tool engaging portion 16 of the drill 10. In the illustrated example, the locking portion 36 comprises a snap lock 37. Although, the locking portion 36 in FIGS. 1-2 comprises a snap lock 37, locking by other means are possible. The gripping portion 38 is located adjacent the locking portion 36 and may be constructed in various manners. The gripping portion 38 facilitates the handling of the package 30, for example when removing the package 30 from an outer package (not shown) and when installing the drill 10 into a tool holding fixture 80 (shown in FIG. 2c). In the illustrated example, the gripping portion 38 is designed as a lip. This is advantageous since the user 90 may perform the gripping (indicated with the arrows in FIG. 2a) by using a thumb and another finger (e.g. the indexing finger). In one example embodiment the gripping portion 38 may adjoin the locking portion 36.

[0053] When inserting the drill 10 into the package 30, the shaft 26 of the drill 10 is secured to the locking portion 36. In the example embodiments in FIG. 1, this is achieved by that the snap lock 37 in the locking portion 36 first deflects and after the shaft 26 has been placed correctly, elastically springs back. Hereby, a stable and secure locking of the drill 10 is achieved. As mentioned before an outer package may cover the drill 10 and its package 30.

[0054] An example of the process for releasing the drill 10 from the package 30 and connecting the drill 10 to a tool holding fixture 80 is illustrated FIGS. 2a-2c. At least the protecting portion 34 is made from a flexible material thus allowing the user 90 to clamp the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10 by pressing (FIG. 2a) the protecting portion 34 and thereby establishing a contact between the protecting portion 34 and the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10.

[0055] As can be seen in FIGS. 2b-2c, the locking portion 36 and the protecting portion 34 are movable relative each other. When the user 90 clamps the flexible protecting portion 34, and thereby establishes a contact between the protecting portion 34 and the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10, a movement (indicated with a curved arrow in FIG. 2b) of the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34 results in the release of the tool engaging portion 16 of the drill 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 2b-2c.

[0056] In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 2a-2c, the movement between the locking portion 36 and the protecting portion 34 is possible by means of a bendable portion 42 located somewhere between the locking portion 36 and the distal end 32c of the protecting portion 34. In FIGS. 2a-2c the user 90 clamps the gripping portion 38 and the movement of the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34 is achieved by a movement of the gripping portion 38 away from the longitudinal axis L. Accordingly, in FIGS. 2a-2c, the movement of the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34 is achieved by bending.

[0057] In FIGS. 2a-2c the force needed to overcome the holding force of the drill 10 is dependent on the distance between the position where the user 90 clamps the drill 10 and the locking portion 36, and the distance between the locking portion 36 and the position where the user 90 clamps the gripping portion 38.

[0058] Although, the movement in FIG. 2b is achievable by means of a bendable portion 42, other alternatives such as a hinge, a mechanical joint or other similar pivoting means are possible.

[0059] As seen in FIG. 2b, the movement is achieved by pivoting the locking portion 36 around an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the package 30. In the drawing, this is illustrated as a downward movement, i.e. opposite to the opening of the snap lock 37, which is facing upwards.

[0060] The procedure of releasing the drill 10 can in other words be explained with reference to the fixation of the drill 10 by the three following states:

[0061] State 1: The drill 10 is fixed in a first fixing position by the locking portion 36, (the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10 is housed inside the protecting portion 34) as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0062] State 2: The drill 10 is fixed in a first fixing position by the locking portion 36, (the cutting portion 14 of the drill 10 is housed inside the protecting portion 34), and the drill 10 is fixed in a second fixing position by the protecting portion 34 (the user 90 clamps the protecting portion 34) as illustrated in FIGS. 2a-2b.

[0063] State 3: The drill 10 is released from the first fixing position by a movement of the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34 while the second fixing position remains unchanged, thus the drill 10 is (only) fixed in the second fixing position by the protecting portion 34 (and is ready to be installed into a tool holding fixture 80) as illustrated in FIG. 2c.

[0064] FIG. 3a-3b illustrates a package 30 according to at least one example embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3a shows the package 30 in its unfolded state, i.e. prior to the fixation of the drill to the package 30. FIG. 3b illustrates a state where the package 30 has been folded to enclose the drill (the drill is not shown in FIGS. 3a-3b). Two grooves 31a, 31b are present on both sides of the short distal package portion 32c allowing for the package to be folded.

[0065] The example embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a-3b has many similarities to the example embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-2 but with some additional features such as lateral sidewall 33a-33c present between the first leg 32a and the second leg 32b of the package 30. Furthermore, the gripping portion 39 and the locking portion 36 are designed a bit differently compared to the example embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-2.

[0066] In FIG. 3a the lateral sidewalls 33a, 33b extends from the first leg 32a and are linked to each other by a distal sidewall 33c, also extending from the first leg 32, such that a U-shaped sidewall is formed. The U-shaped sidewall is designed to enclose the drill. Furthermore, in FIGS. 3a-3b a U-shaped connection part 33d extends from the second leg 32b. The connection part 33d is designed to interconnect with the lateral sidewalls, 33a-33c, thus allowing the second leg 32b to be held to the first leg 32a, as shown in FIG. 3a. In the illustrated example, the interconnection between the connection part 33d and the sidewalls 33a-33c is achieved by means of a snapping function. Of course the lateral sidewalls 33a-33c and the connection part 33d may be interconnected by other means than a snapping function. Furthermore, the lateral sidewalls 33a-33c and the connection part 33d may adopt other designs than the U-shape form exemplified here.

[0067] Release of the drill 10 due to a movement of the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34 is in the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a-2c possible by that the user 90 fixates the drill 10 by clamping the protecting portion 34. In an alternative embodiment, the release of the drill 10 may be performed prior to clamping the drill 10. This may be achieved by moving the locking portion 36 relative the protecting portion 34, so that the package 30 itself withholds the drill 10 by for example the first 32a or the second leg 32b of the U-shaped protecting portion 34. Preferably, one or more lateral sidewalls (33a-33c shown in FIGS. 3a-3b), which interconnect the first leg 32a with the second leg 32b are provided in the protecting portion 34. Hereby, after the drill 10 is released from the locking portion 36, the drill 10 may be contained inside the package 30 without being fixated. Connection of the drill 10 to a tool holding fixture 80 is then possible by the before mentioned clamping of the drill 10 by pressing a flexible part of the protecting portion 34.

[0068] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the embodiments described above. For instance, although the drawings have only illustrated packages containing a single drill, according to other example embodiments, a package may contain two or more drills. For instance, the drills may be arranged in parallel with each other, each one having a tool engaging portion held by a respective individual locking portion. For such a multi-drill package, the subportions of the protecting portion may be wider compared to the elongated legs illustrated in the drawings.