INSULATING TOOL COVER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present specification relates to an electrically insulating tool cover assembly adapted to cover at least a front portion of a power tool, comprising a first and a second cover portion adapted to, in use, together cover the front portion of the power tool, and a releasable retaining element adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating structure at the first and second cover portions, in order to hold the first and second cover portions together. The first and second cover portions and the retaining element are made of an electrically insulating material, such that in use, an electrical insulation may be provided for at least a part of the front portion of the power tool, and the first end is a front end of the tool cover assembly adapted to, in use, be arranged at the front end of the power tool.

Claims

1. Electrically insulating tool cover assembly adapted to at least partly cover at least a front portion of a handheld power tool, said cover assembly comprising: a first cover portion and a second cover portion adapted to, in use, together cover at least said front portion of said power tool; and a releasable retaining element adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating structure arranged at a respective first end of said first and second cover portions, in order to hold said first and second cover portions together, wherein said first and second cover portions and said retaining element are made of an electrically insulating material, such that in use, an electrical insulation may be provided for at least a part of said front portion of said power tool, and wherein said first end of said first and second cover portions is a front end of said tool cover assembly adapted to, in use, be arranged at said front end of said power tool, wherein said retaining element comprises a cylindrical surface portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by a first surface portion comprised by said first cover portion and a second surface portion comprised by said second cover portion together forming a first substantially circular end opening of the assembled cover, thereby holding said first and second cover portion together and wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a thread adapted to cooperate with a corresponding thread comprised by said corresponding surface portion.

2. Tool cover according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface portion is an outer surface portion and said corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by said first surface portion of said first cover portion and said second surface portion of said second cover portion is an inner surface portion.

3. Tool cover according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface portion is an inner surface portion and said corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by said first surface portion of said first cover portion and said second surface portion of said second cover portion is an outer surface portion.

4. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retaining element further comprises a second axially extending portion adapted to, in use, at least partly cover a tool accessory attached to a front end of said tool.

5. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second retaining structure arranged at a second, rear end of said first- and second portion of said cover and adapted to hold said first and second cover portion together.

6. Tool cover assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second retaining structure is a resilient ring shaped element adapted to encircle a portion of said rear end of said first- and second cover portion.

7. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tool cover is adapted to cover at least 30% of the surface area of said power tool, preferably 50%.

8. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second cover portion comprises means for, in use, providing an air gap between said tool and said cover such that air may circulate between said tool and said cover.

9. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cover portion and/or said retaining element have/has a color different from that of the power tool.

10. Hand held power tool comprising an electrically insulated tool cover assembly comprising: a first cover portion and a second cover portion adapted to, in use, together cover at least said front portion of said power tool, and a releasable retaining element adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating structure arranged at a respective first end of said first and second cover portions, in order to hold said first and second cover portions together, wherein said first and second cover portions and said retaining element are made of an electrically insulating material, such that in use, an electrical insulation may be provided for at least a part of said front portion of said power tool, and wherein said first end of said first and second cover portions is a front end of said tool cover assembly adapted to, in use, be arranged at said front end of said power tool, wherein said retaining element comprises a cylindrical surface portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by a first surface portion comprised by said first cover portion and a second surface portion comprised by said second cover portion together forming a first substantially circular end opening of the assembled cover, thereby holding said first and second cover portion together and wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a thread adapted to cooperate with a corresponding thread comprised by said corresponding surface portion.

11. Power tool according to claim 10, wherein said power tool is an electrically powered tool.

12. Kit comprising a first cover portion, a second cover portion and at least a first and a second retaining element adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating structure arranged at a first end of said first and second cover portions of said cover, thereby holding said first and second cover portions together, wherein said retaining element comprises a cylindrical surface portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by a first surface portion comprised by said first cover portion and a second surface portion comprised by said second cover portion together forming a first substantially circular end opening of the assembled cover, thereby holding said first and second cover portions together and wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a thread adapted to cooperate with a corresponding thread comprised by said corresponding surface portion and wherein said first and second retaining element differ from each other.

13. Method for providing electrical insulation for at least a front part of a power tool comprising the steps of: providing a first cover portion for covering a front part of said tool; providing a second cover portion for covering a front part of said tool; providing at least a first and a second retaining element adapted to cooperate with a corresponding mating structure arranged a at a first end of said first and second cover portions in order to hold said first and second cover portions together, wherein said first and second retaining element comprises a cylindrical surface portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding cylindrical surface portion formed by a first surface portion comprised by said first cover portion and a second surface portion comprised by said second cover portion together forming a first substantially circular end opening of the assembled cover, thereby holding said first and second cover portion together and wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a thread adapted to cooperate with a corresponding thread comprised by said corresponding surface portion, and wherein the dimensions of said first and second retaining element differ from each other.

14. Tool cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tool cover is adapted to cover at least 50% of the surface area of said power tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention will be described in the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawing, on which

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cover assembly according to one embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary cover assembly according to one embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary retaining element according to one embodiment.

[0034] All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] An exemplary insulating tool cover assembly (1) is shown in FIG. 1, arranged on a power tool PT (in the illustrated case a handheld angled tightening tool) to thereby provide electrical insulation by covering a front portion PT1 of the tool PT.

[0036] The cover assembly comprises a first cover portion 10 and a second cover portion 20 which as may be seen form FIG. 1 each from approximately one half of an assembled cover structure and together cover the front portion PT1 of the power tool, and a releasable retaining element 30 arranged at the front end 10a,20a of the cover assembly in order to hold the first and second cover portion 10, 20 together. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second cover portion 10, 20 extend over approximately ⅔ of the axial length of the power tool and thus cover approximately ⅔ of the surface area of the tool PT. The remaining part of the power tool PT not covered is mainly the handle of the tool, which is in itself covered in rubber, i.e. it is non-conductive as such.

[0037] The first and second cover portion 10, 20 as well as the retaining element 30 are in order to provide the insulation needed made of a plastic material. Moreover, not visible in the black and white FIG. 1, the first and second cover portion 10, 20 have a bright color different from that of the power tool in order to visually convey to a user that the tool is provided with insulation.

[0038] The retaining element 30 is in the illustrated embodiment ring shaped, i.e. substantially cylindrical, and arranged at a first substantially circular end opening 40 of the assembled cover. A first portion 31 of the retaining element, in this case a cylindrical first portion comprising a thread is arranged in the opening 40. The retaining element 30 further comprises a second axially extending portion 32 adapted to, in use, partly cover a socket (not shown) attached at the front end PT1 of to the tool.

[0039] A second retaining structure 50 in the form of a resilient ring 50 is arranged at a suitable distance from a rear end of the cover 10b, 20b to hold the first and second cover portion together at this rear end.

[0040] A second exemplary embodiment of the insulating tool cover assembly (1) is shown in FIG. 2. As for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cover assembly comprises a first cover portion 10 and a second cover portion made from an insulating plastic material 20 which together cover the front portion PT1 of the power tool, and a releasable retaining element 30 arranged at the front end 10a, 20a of the cover assembly. However, the embodiment of FIG. 2 is shorter compared to the first embodiment and the first and second cover portion 10, 20 extend over approximately ⅓ of the axial length of the power tool.

[0041] A first retaining element 30 according to one embodiment is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The illustrated retaining element 30 comprises a cylindrical surface portion 31 comprising a thread 32 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding thread on a cylindrical surface portion 40 formed by a first surface portion 40a comprised by the first cover portion 10 and a second surface portion 40b comprised by the second cover portion 20 together forming a first substantially circular end opening 40 of the assembled cover. The retaining element 30 further comprises a second axially extending portion 33 adapted to, in use, as mentioned above partly cover a socket.

[0042] In order to provide the electrical insulation, the user arranges the first and second cover portions to cover the front part of the tool followed by applying the first retaining element at the front end of the tool and the second rear retaining clamp 60 at the rear end of the cover in order to hold the cover portions firmly together. Preferably, the user is provided with not only one first retaining element 30 but a kit comprising a number of such elements 30 differing in size and design, such that, based on in the illustrated embodiment the choice of socket to be attached at the tool, a suitable retaining element 30 ensuring sufficient insulation may be chosen and applied by the user.

[0043] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. The skilled person understands that many modifications, variations, and alterations are conceivable within the scope as defined in the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, form a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.