Handheld rotary tool

Abstract

A rotary tool is provided with a head section that is selectively pivotable at a plurality of positions between an orientation where the head section is in-line with a body section to an orientation where the head section is perpendicular to the body section. The rotary tool can also swivel about an arc of 360 degrees.

1 . A rotary tool operable in at least two positions comprising: 
 (a) a transmission with an input end and an output end;    (b) a body section housing the input end of the transmission and a motor that is connected to the input end of the transmission, the body section including a longitudinal axis;    (c) a head section housing the output end of the transmission and a spindle that is connected to the output end of the transmission; and    (d) a lock to selectively retain the head section in a selected orientation with respect to the body section along a pivot axis, wherein the head section is capable of being retained substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the body section.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the lock comprises a lock housing that is positioned within the body section, and a pivot housing within the head section and pivotable with respect to the lock housing about the pivot axis.  
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 2  wherein each of the lock housing and the pivot housing include apertures, and the lock further comprises a block retained in the lock housing aperture and selectively positioned in the pivot housing aperture to retain the head section in the selected orientation with respect to the body section.  
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein the block may be disengaged from the pivot housing aperture to pivot the head section with respect to the body section.  
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein the head section may be perpendicular to the body section when the block is in the pivot housing aperture.  
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein the block includes a plurality of radially extending arms.  
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of radially extending arms are each perpendicular to adjacent arms.  
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 7  wherein the pivot housing aperture is provided with a number of slots that is greater than the number of arms on the block.  
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the pivot housing aperture is provided with twice the number of slots than the number of arms on the block.  
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 8  wherein the head section can be selectively retained is at an approximate forty-five degree angle with respect to the body section when the block is in the pivot housing aperture.  
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 3  further comprising a spring positioned between the lock housing and the block to bias the block into the pivot housing aperture.  
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 3  wherein the body section further comprises a second housing that surrounds a majority of the lock housing and the transmission, with a majority of the second housing being surrounded by the pivot housing.  
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 12  further comprising a cover plate movably positioned between the second housing and the pivot housing.  
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 13  wherein the pivot housing forms an arcuate slot with a first stop and a second stop establishing the limits of the slot, and the outer surface of the second housing includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the range of motion of the cover plate is defined by the arcuate slot and the upper and lower edges.  
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein the second housing and the cover section enclose the lock housing and the transmission in each orientation of the head section.  
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 13  wherein the second housing is generally spherical, the cover plate is generally arcuate, and a portion of the pivot housing that surrounds the cover plate and second housing is generally spherical.  
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the transmission comprises a universal joint.  
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 17  wherein the universal joint is formed of a first section, a second section pivotably connected to the first section, and a third section pivotably connected to the section, wherein the first section cooperates with the input end and the third section cooperates with the output end.  
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 2  further comprising a gearbox housing within the body section supporting the motor and the input end of the transmission, wherein the head section is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the body section, the lock housing being selectively engageable with the gearbox housing to prevent the head section from rotating with respect the body section.  
   
   
       20 . The tool of  claim 19  further comprising a rotatable cap formed on the body section to control engagement between the lock housing and the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       21 . The tool of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of flanges that project from the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       22 . The tool of  claim 21  wherein the lock housing includes a plurality of recesses that accept the plurality of flanges.  
   
   
       23 . The tool of  claim 20  further comprising a cam surface at a bottom end of the lock housing and a corresponding cam surface on the rotatable cap.  
   
   
       24 . A tool with a rotatable head section comprising: 
 (a) a transmission with an input end connected to a rotating member and an output end connected to an output tool;    (b) a body section that retains an input end of the transmission and includes a gearbox housing and a longitudinal axis;    (c) a sleeve that surrounds a top portion of the gearbox housing and is movable along the gearbox housing;    (d) a rotatable cap surrounding the sleeve to selectively cause engagement of the sleeve and the gearbox housing;    (e) a head section that houses an output of the transmission, and that is rotatable about the body section along the longitudinal axis of the body section, wherein the head section is prevented from rotating with respect to the body section when the sleeve engages the gearbox housing.    
   
   
       25 . The tool of  claim 24  further comprising a plurality of flanges that project from the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       26 . The tool of  claim 25  wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of recesses that accept the plurality of flanges to cause engagement of the sleeve and the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       27 . The tool of  claim 26  wherein the number of the plurality of recesses is the same as the number of flanges.  
   
   
       28 . The tool of  claim 25  wherein the number of the plurality of recesses is a positive multiple of the number of flanges.  
   
   
       29 . The tool of  claim 24  further comprising a cam surface at a bottom end of the sleeve and a corresponding cam surface on the rotatable cap.  
   
   
       30 . The tool of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of flanges that project from the gearbox housing;    (b) a plurality of recesses provided on a bottom surface of the sleeve to accept the plurality flanges;    (c) a cam surface at the bottom end of the sleeve; and    (d) a cam surface on the rotatable cap, wherein the cap can be rotated to cause engagement between the cam surfaces to cause the recesses in the sleeve to engage the flanges in the gearbox housing.    
   
   
       31 . The tool of  claim 30  wherein the sleeve is biased away from engagement with the gearbox housing.  
   
   
       32 . A tool operable in at least two positions comprising: 
 (a) a transmission with an input end and an output end;    (b) a body section with a longitudinal axis including: 
 (i) a gearbox housing,  
 (ii) a lock housing that surrounds a top portion of the gearbox housing and that can move along the gearbox housing,  
 (iii) a motor,  
 (iv) a rotatable cap surrounding a bottom portion of the lock housing to selectively cause engagement between the lock housing and the gearbox housing;  
   (c) a head section rotatably connected to the body section to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the body section, with the head section being prevented from rotating with respect to the body section when the lock housing engages the gearbox housing;    (d) a pivot housing disposed between the head section and the body section and being pivotably connected to the lock housing about a pivot axis, wherein each of the pivot housing and the lock housing include an aperture; and    (e) a block positioned in the lock housing aperture and selectively inserted in the pivot housing aperture to retain the head section in a selected orientation with respect to the body section.