Pneumatic rotary tool

Abstract

A pneumatic tool includes a plastic grip. The grip includes an outer layer of soft material overmolded onto the plastic grip. The outer layer is of a one-piece construction and covers substantially an entirety of the grip. In a method of assembling a pneumatic rotary tool, a plurality of bolts are inserted through an end cover and a housing of the tool. The bolts are threaded into a clutch casing, wherein the bolts draw the end cover toward the housing and the housing toward the clutch casing so that the end caps and support sleeve of the air motor are compressed within the housing to fully seat the end caps onto the support sleeve so that the motor. The housing and the end cover cooperate to hold the air motor in proper alignment within the tool.

1 . A pneumatic tool comprising: 
 a housing; and    a plastic grip extending downwardly from the housing for allowing a user to grasp and hold the tool securely,    said grip further comprising an outer layer of soft material overmolded onto the plastic grip and formed to cushion and ease pressure on the user's hand and increase friction between the grip and the user, the outer layer being of a one-piece construction and covering substantially an entirety of the grip.    
   
   
       2 . A pneumatic tool as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is formed from rubber.  
   
   
       3 . A pneumatic tool as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is fused to the grip where the two are in contact with each other.  
   
   
       4 . A pneumatic tool comprising: 
 a housing;    a plastic grip extending downwardly from the housing for allowing a user to grasp and hold the tool securely;    an outer layer of material softer than the material of the plastic grip and overmolded onto the plastic grip, the outer layer being fused to the plastic grip for securing the outer layer to the plastic grip.    
   
   
       5 . A pneumatic tool as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the outer layer and the plastic grip are free of connecting structure other than the fusion of the outer layer to the plastic grip.  
   
   
       6 . A method of assembling a pneumatic rotary tool comprising: 
 bringing a first end cap into engagement with an end of a support sleeve;    locating a rotor and a plurality of vanes within the support sleeve;    bringing a second end cap into engagement with an opposite end of the support sleeve so that the first and second end caps, rotor and vanes cooperate to form an air motor;    inserting the air motor into a housing;    bringing a clutch casing encasing a clutch mechanism into engagement with the housing for engagement of the clutch mechanism with the air motor;    seating a plastic end cover on the housing;    inserting a plurality of bolts through the end cover and housing; and    threading the bolts into the clutch casing, wherein the bolts draw the end cover toward the housing and the housing toward the clutch casing so that the end caps and support sleeve of the air motor are compressed within the housing to fully seat the end caps onto the support sleeve so that the motor, housing and end cover cooperate to hold the air motor in proper alignment within the tool.    
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  further comprising molding the housing with flowable plastic over an inlet cylinder, wherein the flowable plastic surrounds and engages an exterior of the inlet cylinder for allowing source air to enter the tool.