OSCILLATING POWER TOOL AND BLADE WITH SNAP FIT ENGAGEMENT

Abstract

An oscillating blade includes a body having a cutting edge, the cutting edge defining a first end of the oscillating blade, and an anchor coupled to the body and defining a second end of the oscillating blade. The anchor includes a base disposed at least partially in a first plane, a tool arbor engagement portion including a side wall extending away from the first plane and a cap wall coupled to the side wall and disposed at least partially in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane, and a plurality of lock points spaced between the first end and the second end of the oscillating blade in a first direction. The cap wall defines a central arbor hole configured to receive a power tool arbor. The plurality of lock points is laterally aligned in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims

1. An oscillating blade comprising: a body having a cutting edge, the cutting edge defining a first end of the oscillating blade; and an anchor coupled to the body and defining a second end of the oscillating blade, the anchor having: a base disposed at least partially in a first plane, a tool arbor engagement portion including a side wall extending away from the first plane and a cap wall coupled to the side wall and disposed at least partially in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane, the cap wall defining a central arbor hole configured to receive a power tool arbor, and a plurality of lock points spaced between the first end and the second end of the oscillating blade in a first direction, the plurality of lock points being laterally aligned in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The oscillating blade of claim 1, wherein the central arbor hole is concentric with a drive axis of the oscillating blade.

3. The oscillating blade of claim 2, wherein the plurality of lock points includes two lock points disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis extending through the drive axis, the first end, and the second end.

4. The oscillating blade of claim 1, wherein the cap wall also defines a plurality apertures configured to mate with connecting projection on an oscillating power tool.

5. The oscillating blade of claim 4, wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are connected to and extend radially from the central arbor hole.

6. The oscillating blade of claim 4, wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are spaced apart from the central arbor hole.

7. The oscillating blade of claim 1, wherein the side wall and the cap wall define an arbor opening extending through the second end of the oscillating blade and connected to the central arbor hole.

8. The oscillating blade of claim 1, wherein the body is disposed at least partially in a third plane spaced apart from the first plane.

9. An oscillating blade comprising: a body having a cutting edge, the cutting edge defining a first end of the oscillating blade; and an anchor coupled to the body and defining a second end of the oscillating blade, the anchor having: a base disposed at least partially in a first plane, a tool arbor engagement portion including a side wall extending away from the first plane and a cap wall coupled to the side wall and disposed at least partially in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane, the cap wall defining a plurality of apertures configured to mate with connecting projections on an oscillating power tool, and a lock point formed at least partially in the base and located between the first end of the oscillating blade and the plurality of apertures.

10. The oscillating blade of claim 9, wherein the lock point extends away from the first plane.

11. The oscillating blade of claim 10, wherein the lock point extends toward the second plane.

12. The oscillating blade of claim 9, wherein the cap wall also defines a central arbor hole positioned between the plurality of apertures.

13. The oscillating blade of claim 12, wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are connected to and extend radially from the central arbor hole.

14. The oscillating blade of claim 12, wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are spaced apart from the central arbor hole.

15. The oscillating blade of claim 12, wherein the side wall and the cap wall define an arbor opening extending through the second end of the oscillating blade and connected to the central arbor hole.

16. The oscillating blade of claim 9, wherein the body is disposed at least partially in a third plane that is spaced apart from the first plane.

17. An oscillating blade comprising: a body having a cutting edge, the cutting edge defining a first end of the oscillating blade; and an anchor defining a second end of the oscillating blade, the anchor having: a base disposed at least partially in a first plane, a tool arbor engagement portion including a side wall extending away from the first plane and a cap wall coupled to the side wall and disposed at least partially in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane, the cap wall defining a central arbor hole and a plurality of apertures surrounding the central arbor hole, the central arbor hole and the plurality of apertures configured to receive a power tool arbor; and a lock point formed at least partially in the base and extending away from the first plane, the lock point positioned between the first end and the second end of the oscillating blade.

18. The oscillating blade of claim 17, wherein the lock point is positioned between the central arbor hole and the body.

19. The oscillating blade of claim 17, wherein the lock point is a first lock point spaced apart from the first end and the second end of the oscillating blade in a first direction, and wherein the anchor also has a second lock point spaced apart from and laterally aligned with the first lock point in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

20. The oscillating blade of claim 17, wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are connected to and extend radially from the central arbor hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oscillating blade in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the oscillating blade of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the oscillating blade of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the oscillating blade of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an oscillating blade anchor in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the second blade anchor embodiment of FIG. 5;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an oscillating blade anchor in accordance with the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the third blade anchor embodiment of FIG. 7;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a partial cross section view of an anchor portion of the present invention engaged by a power tool arbor and connection device taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6; and

[0020] FIG. 10 is a partial cross section view of an anchor portion of the present invention engaged by a power tool arbor and connection device taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In the following detailed description of the drawings, the same reference numeral will be used for the same or similar element in each of the figures.

[0022] In accordance with the present invention, as seen in FIGS. 1 through 8, there are depicted various embodiments of oscillating blades 20, each having an anchor 22 with a working portion 24 and a tool arbor engagement portion 26. The oscillating blade 20 in each embodiment is sized and shaped as a replaceable cutting or abrading implement for attachment to an oscillating tool described in more detail below.

[0023] The oscillating blade 20 anchor 22 provides a foundation to which a blade body 30 can be joined. FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate that the blade body 30 includes saw teeth 32, which can be specific for the type of material to be cut or a more generic type of saw teeth to cut a variety of materials. The blade body 30 could also be an abrasive material for abrading materials such as plaster, tile grout, or other types of materials. (FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate anchors 22, but for simplicity, no blade body is illustrated.)

[0024] The illustrated blade body 30 includes the saw teeth 32, a shank portion 34, and a connecting end 36, which is joined to the anchor 22 in any suitable manner such as the projection welding technique illustrated. The blade body 30 can be made of any suitable material for the tasks to which it will be applied. It can also have any desired shape including the illustrated shape.

[0025] The anchor 22 preferably has an attachment portion 40, a ramp 42, and a base 44. The anchor 22 can be made of any suitable material, including materials that are the same as or different from the blade body 30. The illustrated shape of the anchor 22 working portion 24 is also optional, but preferred, because it provides a generic platform to which a variety of blade bodies 30 can be attached.

[0026] As stated above, the attachment portion 40 is attached to the blade body 30. The ramp 42 is optional, but it provides clearance from the oscillating tool and improved access to a material to be cut. The ramp 42 could be omitted altogether or replaced with other shapes or extensions that provide tool clearance and access to the materials to be cut.

[0027] The base 44 is preferably an essentially flat portion of the oscillating blade 20 and it is at least partially disposed in a first plane, below which (as illustrated) are the ramp 42, and the attachment portion 40. The base 44 could be other shapes and include portions that are not in the first plane, but the base 44 has at least a portion that is in a different plane than the tool arbor engagement portion 26.

[0028] Extending upwardly from the base 44 (and the first plane) is the tool arbor engagement portion 26 of the present invention. The tool arbor engagement portion 26 includes at least a side wall 50 and a cap wall 52. The side wall 50 preferably extends away from the base 44 (and the first plane) at an angle that is preferably as close to 90? as possible while still providing a release angle from a blade forming or stamping tool. (Not illustrated). Thus, the angle of the side wall 50 is preferably essentially 90? from the base 44 to leave only enough of an angle for being released from a die, stamp or other forming device. Nonetheless, the departure angle of the side wall 50 could be other angles less than 90?, as well, so that it matches a corresponding mounting element on an oscillating power tool.

[0029] At least a portion of the cap wall 52 is disposed in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane. The size and shape of the cap wall 52 are selected to correspond to a clamping mechanism on a power tool to which the oscillating blade 20 will be attached, so portions of the cap wall 52 can be outside of the second plane.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portion 40 and the blade body 30 are preferably disposed in a third plane spaced apart from the first and second planes, but other spacing arrangements and blade configurations are possible.

[0031] The cap wall 52 preferably defines a number of apertures 58 that are sized, shaped, and disposed to mate with connecting projections on an oscillating power tool connection device. A central arbor hole 60 is also provided, so that a power tool arbor can be inserted (downward, as illustrated) through the central arbor hole 60 for assembly. The hole 60 is positioned to be substantially concentric with a drive axis A (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the arbor.

[0032] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, both the side wall 50 and the cap wall 52 define an arbor opening 64 through which an arbor can be inserted as the oscillating blade 20 is moved laterally into the oscillating tool for attachment. The combination of the central arbor hole 60 with the arbor opening 64 allows the oscillating blade 20 to be used with a variety of different oscillating tool arbor and connection device arrangements.

[0033] The arbor opening 64 of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 through 4) is shaped differently from the arbor opening 64 of the second embodiment (FIGS. 5 and 6), as best seen in a comparison of plan view FIGS. 2 and FIG. 6. For example, the base 44 of the second embodiment extends rearwardly to include a portion 45, for additional stability. Similarly, (as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6) the side wall 50 of the second embodiment extends rearwardly to the arbor opening 64, whereas the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 through 4) has a side wall 50 that terminates at approximately the same location as the corresponding base 44.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is central arbor hole 60, but no rear arbor opening 64. This design is slightly less adaptable to some oscillating machines, but this configuration mates with specific tools for efficient torque transfer from an arbor to the tool arbor engagement portion 26. In this embodiment, the base 44, the side wall 50, and the cap wall 52 are closed in the back of the tool arbor engagement portion 26.

[0035] The oscillating blade 20 further includes at least one lock point 70 to engage a corresponding recess in some oscillating power tools connection devices. In such devices, a clamp portion is secured to the top of the tool arbor engagement portion 26, and described below. As illustrated, the oscillating blade 20 includes three lock points 70 joined to or formed in the side wall 50, but other quantities can be used to mate with any desired oscillating power tool connection device. Due to the efficiency of power transfer from the power tool arbor to the oscillating blade 20 through the lock point(s) 70, there can be fewer lock points 70 than the power tool has mating recesses, so it is unnecessary for the blade 20 to include an exact match between lock points 70 and the mating lugs of the oscillating power tool. Nonetheless, the third embodiment (FIG. 8) illustrates an additional lock point 70 in the rear.

[0036] Preferably, the lock points 70 are formed in the side wall 50, but other means for forming the lock points 70 can be used, such as joining separate parts to the side wall 50. As illustrated, the lock points 70 are formed of the same material as the rest of the side wall 50, but the lock points 70 can be made of any material and/or be coated with materials that enhance the interface between the lock points 70 and the oscillating power tool connection device. Also, preferably, the lock point 70 is sized and shaped to mate with a snap fit with recesses in the oscillating power tool connection device. A snap fit provides an audible and tactile indication of proper engagement, as well as a snug interface for efficient and reliable power transfer. The blade 20 with such an arrangement is also easily removed from the recess because it is tapered, as seen in the figures.

[0037] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an example of an oscillating blade 20 engaged to a power tool connection device 76. The power tool 77 includes the connection device 76 having an arbor 78 with a clamp 80 disposed over the tool arbor engagement portion 26. The tool arbor engagement portion 26 is secured to the clamp 80 by a pair of spreading arms 82 that are closed when being inserted through the central arbor hole 60, but are spread, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, by a tool (not illustrated) that is either separate from or incorporated into a power tool.

[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section of the tool arbor engagement portion 26, the connection device arbor 78, clamp 80, and spreading arms 82. This portion of the tool arbor engagement portion 26 includes lock points 70 engaged with recesses in the clamp 80. FIG. 10, on the other hand, is a cross section taken at a location where there are no lock points.

[0039] The foregoing detailed description is provided for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations therefrom should be read into the following claims.