Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An impact tool comprising: (a) an impact member; (b) a rotatable flywheel and means to drive the same, and support means spaced apart by less than the thickness of the impact member; (c) means for introducing the impact member between said flywheel and said support means; and (d) means permitting at least one of said flywheel and support means to yield with respect to the other to permit the impact member to pass therebetween, while maintaining force against the impact member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An impact tool comprising: (a) an impact member; (b) a rotatable flywheel and means to drive the same, and support means spaced apart by less than the thickness of the impact member; (c) means for introducing the impact member between said flywheel and said support means; and (d) means permitting at least one of said flywheel and support means to yield with respect to the other to permit the impact member to pass therebetween, while maintaining force against the impact member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to move selectively at least one of said flywheel and support means from inoperative position in which spacing therebetween is greater than the thickness of the impact member, to an operative position in which said spacing is less than the thickness of said impact member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An impact tool according to claim 2, wherein said support means is a low inertia roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An impact tool according to claim 3, wherein a line connecting the axes of rotation of said flywheel and said roller in the operative position of the movable one of said flywheel and roller is at right angles to the path of said impact member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An impact tool according to claim 4, wherein the movable one of said flywheel and roller, in moving between its operative and inoperative positions, moves substantially along a line connecting the said axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An impact tool according to claim 2, including a work responsive device, said work responsive device when actuated by contact with the work, operating to move the movable one of said flywheel and support means to its operative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An impact tool according to claim 6, wherein a manually actuated control means comprises a trigger for bringing said impact member into contact between said flywheel and support means, and said work responsive device prevents movement of said impact member by said trigger unless said work responsive device is pressed against the work.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An impact tool according to claim 2, including means for introducing said impact member between said flywheel and support means only after the movable one of said flywheel and support means is in operative position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An impact tool according to claim 8, including means, operative upon the movement of the movable one of said flywheel and support means to its inoperative position, to withdraw the impact member between said flywheel and support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An impact device according to claim 8, including a trigger for bringing said impact member into contact between said flywheel and support means, and including a work responsive device preventing movement of said impact member by said trigger unless said work responsive device is pressed against the work piece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, wherein said impact member, flywheel and support means are contained within a housing, said housing defining a drive path for said impact member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said impact member is tapered to facilitate its entry between said flywheel and support means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, having a motor for driving said flywheel and including a "dead man" switch, said switch being open when said tool is not being grasped by an operator but being closed when the device is grasped by an operator for use, said motor being energized only when said switch is closed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, having a magazine section for fastening elements, and means for feeding said elements into position to be driven into a work piece by said impact member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
An impact tool according to claim 1, wherein one of said flywheel and support means is mounted on a movable bearing clevis, the means permitting the movable one of said flywheel and support means to yield with respect to the other to permit the impact member to pass therebetween comprises means permitting said bearing clevis to move with respect to the other of said flywheel and support means, while maintaining force against the impact member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
An impact tool according to claim 15, wherein the means permitting said bearng clevis to move with respect to the other of said flywheel and support means to permit the impact member to pass therebetween includes cam means and a spring plate arranged to bear against said cam means, such that when said cam means have moved said bearing clevis to operative position, wherein the spacing between said flywheel and support means is less than the thickness of said impact member, and the entry of said impact member therebetween causes said bearing clevis to move slightly, this movement is permitted by said spring plate, and said spring plate maintains pressure against said bearing clevis during the passage of the impact member therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
208 words
An impact tool comprising a main housing, a flywheel housing in which a flywheel and support means are mounted, a motor having a shaft and mounted on said main housing, said flywheel being keyed on said motor shaft, a bearing clevis in said main housing movable between an operative and inoperative position, said support means being mounted on said bearing clevis, spring means biasing said bearing clevis to the inoperative position, cam means to move said bearing clevis to operative position, an impact member elastically supported in said main housing out of engagement with said flywheel and support means, the spacing between said flywheel and support means in the inoperative position being greater than the thickness of said impact member, and the spacing in the operative position being less than the thickness of said impact member, means to bring the impact member into contact between said flywheel and support means when the bearing clevis is in the operative position, means permitting said bearing clevis to yield to permit the impact member to enter therebetween while maintaining pressure against said impact member, the elastic support of said impact member serving to withdraw it from between said flywheel and support means when said bearing clevis is returned to inoperative position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
208 words
An impact tool comprising a main housing, a flywheel housing in which a flywheel and support means are mounted, a motor having a shaft and mounted on said main housing, said flywheel being keyed on said motor shaft, a bearing clevis in said main housing movable between an operative and inoperative position, said support means being mounted on said bearing clevis, spring means biasing said bearing clevis to the inoperative position, cam means to move said bearing clevis to operative position, an impact member elastically supported in said main housing out of engagement with said flywheel and support means, the spacing between said flywheel and support means in the inoperative position being greater than the thickness of said impact member, and the spacing in the operative position being less than the thickness of said impact member, means to bring the impact member into contact between said flywheel and support means when the bearing clevis is in the operative position, means permitting said bearing clevis to yield to permit the impact member to enter therebetween while maintaining pressure against said impact member, the elastic support of said impact member serving to withdraw it from between said flywheel and support means when said bearing clevis is returned to inoperative position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An impact tool according to claim 17, wherein said support means is a low inertia roller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An impact tool according to claim 18, wherein a line connecting the axes of rotation of said flywheel and said roller in the operative position of said roller is at right angles to the path of said impact member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An impact tool according to claim 19, wherein the roller, in moving between its operative and inoperative positions, moves substantially along a line connecting the said axes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The impact tool of claim 17, wherein a work responsive device is provided, said work responsive device when actuated by contact with the work, operating said cam means to move said support means to its operative position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The impact tool of claim 21, wherein a trigger is provided to bring said impact member into contact between said flywheel and support means, and means associated with said work responsive device preventing movement of said impact member by said trigger unless said work responsive device is pressed against the work.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The impact tool of claim 17, wherein a portion of said impact member is tapered to facilitate its entry between said flywheel and support means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The impact tool of claim 17, wherein a "dead man" switch is provided, said switch being open when said impact tool is not being grasped by an operator but being closed when said impact tool is grasped by an operator for use, said motor being energized only when said switch is closed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The impact tool of claim 17, having a magazine section for fastening elements, and means for feeding said elements into position to be driven into a work piece by said impact member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
100 words
The impact tool of claim 17, wherein the means permitting said bearing clevis to yield comprises a spring plate arranged to bear against said cam means, such that when said cam means has moved said bearing clevis to operative position wherein the spacing between said flywheel and the support means is less than the thickness of said impact member and the entry of the impact member therebetween causes said bearing clevis to move slightly, this movement is permitted by said spring plate, and said spring plate maintains pressure against said bearing clevis during the passage of the impact member therebetween.