RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/375,409, filed September 13, 2022, titled “Power Tool Shoe,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to construction tools such as small cut-off tool.

BACKGROUND

[0003] There are various existing cutting tools. It is desired to provide a cutting device with an efficient shoe structure.

SUMMARY

[0004] According to one aspect, the present disclosure describes an exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool. The rotary cutting tool includes a battery pack receptacle; a handle; a motor; a blade driven by the motor; a blade guard surrounding the blade; and a shoe.

[0005] The shoe may include a base and an attachment portion.

[0006] The base may be configured to abut a workpiece and provide a depth of cut.

[0007] The attachment portion may perpendicular to the base.

[0008] The attachment portion may be welded to the base.

[0009] The base may include a flat portion for contacting the workpiece.

[0010] The base may include a ridge or lip surrounding the flat portion. [0011] The flat portion may surround an opening configured to allow a blade to project through to cut or grind the workpiece.

[0012] The attachment portion may include a first projection.

[0013] The base may include a first hole.

[0014] The first projection may be engaged with the first hole.

[0015] The attachment portion may be welded to the base at the engagement of the first hole and the first projection.

[0016] The attachment portion may include a second projection.

[0017] The base may include a second hole.

[0018] The second projection may be engaged with the second hole.

[0019] The attachment portion may be welded to the base at the engagement of the second hole and the second projection.

[0020] The base may have a front width and a rear width.

[0021] The rear width may be smaller than the front width.

[0022] The front width may be less than 8 cm.

[0023] The front width may be less than 6 cm.

[0024] According to another aspect, the present disclosure describes an exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool. The rotary cutting tool includes a battery pack receptacle, a handle, a motor, a blade driven by the motor, a blade guard surrounding the blade and a shoe.

[0025] The shoe may include a base and an attachment portion.

[0026] The base may include a flat portion configured to abut a workpiece and provide a depth of cut.

[0027] The attachment portion may be perpendicular to the base. [0028] The base may have a front width and a rear width.

[0029] The rear width may be smaller than the front width.

[0030] The front width may be 8 cm or less.

[0031] The base portion and the attachment portion may be integrally formed.

[0032] The base portion and the attachment portion may include two parts welded together.

[0033] The attachment portion may include a first projection.

[0034] The base may include a first hole.

[0035] The first projection may be engaged with the first hole.

[0036] The attachment portion may be welded to the base at the engagement of the first hole and the first projection.

[0037] The attachment portion comprises a second projection;

[0038] The base may include a second hole.

[0039] The second projection may be engaged with the second hole.

[0040] The attachment portion may be welded to the base at the engagement of the second hole and the second projection.

[0041] The front width is less than 6 cm.

[0042] The rear width is less than 4 cm.

[0043] The attachment portion may include a central portion and two side portions.

[0044] The two side portions may be generally parallel to one another.

[0045] The central portion may be generally perpendicular to the two side portions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool;

[0047] Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool;

[0048] Fig. 3 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool;

[0049] Fig 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a shoe for the rotary cutting tool;

[0050] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary embodiment of a shoe for the rotary cutting tool;

[0051] Fig 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary embodiment of a shoe for the rotary cutting tool;

[0052] Fig. 7 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool;

[0053] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a shoe for the rotary cutting tool;

[0054] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a shoe for the rotary cutting tool;

[0055] Fig 10 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of a rotary cutting tool with another exemplary embodiment of a shoe; and

[0056] Fig 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a power tool battery pack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0057] Fig 1 illustrates a perspective view of a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of a hand-held cutting tool 10 that may be referred to as a cut-off tool. Fig. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the cutting tool 10 and Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the cutting tool 10. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the hand-held cutting device 10 includes a handle 15, a motor housing 30 and a battery receptacle portion 20.

[0058] A motor is housed in the motor housing 30. The motor drives an output spindle 35. A cutting blade or grinding wheel may be attached to the spindle 35 and driven to cut or grind a workpiece.

[0059] A removable battery pack 200 (Fig. 11) may be engaged with the battery receptacle portion 20. The battery pack 200 shown in Fig. 11 is a slide-pack style power tool battery pack. Other battery packs may also be used for providing power such tower-style packs. In other embodiments the battery may be an integral battery rather than a removable battery pack. The battery pack 200 provides power to a motor housed in the motor housing 30. The battery pack 200 provides power to the motor housed in the motor housing 30.

[0060] The handle 15 is configured to be held by a user. A trigger 16 is located at a forward end of the handle 15. The trigger operates the motor to drive the spindle 35 and so the cutting blade or grinding wheel. The cutting tool 10 may include a gearcase 37 adjacent to the motor housing 30 and between the motor and where the cutting blade or grinding wheel is held.

[0061] As shown in Figs. 1-3, the cutting tool 10 includes a blade guard 50 and a shoe 100. The shoe 100 is attached to the blade guard 50 by a screw threaded fastener 150. A user may screw or unscrew the fastener 150 to tighten or loosen the shoe 100. The fastener 150 may be loosened to allow the shoe 100 to move up or down and so provide different depths of cut. The fastener 150 may be completely removed to allow the shoe 100 to be removed from the tool 10. [0062] A perspective drawing of the shoe 100 is shown in Fig. 4 and parts of the shoe 100 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown in Figs. 4-6, the shoe 100 is a simple and compact design. The shoe 100 provides a flat base which may help provide a stable cut.

[0063] The shoe 100 is a two-piece stamped metal show. Fig. 5 illustrates a base 110 of the shoe and Fig. 6 illustrates an attachment part 120 of the shoe 100. Base 110 and attachment part 120 are each made of stamped metal and are welded together to create the shoe 100 shown in Fig. 4. The metal may include steel or aluminum.

[0064] Base 110 includes an opening 111 through which the saw blade or grinding wheel may project. Base 110 also includes holes 112, 113 and 114 which accept projections 122, 123 and 124, respectively, from the attachment part 120. The base 110 includes a flat portion 115 and a ridge 116 extending around the outside of the base 110. The flat portion 115 of the base provides a stable contact against a workpiece.

[0065] The attachment part 120 includes a central portion 125 and two side portions 126 and 127. A slot 128 is formed in the central portion 125. The previously discussed fastener 150 may project through the slot and into the blade guard 50. The attachment part 120 also includes three projections 122, 123 and 124. As discussed above, the projections 122, 123 and 124 fit into the holes 112, 113 and 114. The side portions 126 and 127 are generally parallel to one another and perpendicular to the central portion 125.

[0066] The shoe 100 is formed by forming the base 110 and the attachment part 120 separately. Then, the attachment part 120 is inserted into the base 110. In particular, the projections 122, 123 and 124 are inserted into holes 112, 113 and 114. The base 110 and the attachment part 120 are then welded together. The base 110 and the attachment part 120 may be welded together at the connection of the projections 122, 123, 124 and the holes 112, 113 and 114. Welding in this manner provides a strong connection between the two parts 110 and 120. Additionally, the combination of the holes 112, 113 and 144 and projections 122, 123 and 124 provide a reliable location of the two parts. Additionally, the attachment part 120 has a bottom surface 121 which contacts a surface 118 of the base portion providing a stable surface to surface contact in addition to the connection through the holes 112, 113 and 144 and projections 122, 123 and 124.

[0067] In other embodiments, the base 110 and the attachment part 120 may be secured together by other means, such as by an adhesive or fastener.

[0068] The base 110 may have a front width W1 and a rear width W2. The front width W1 may be greater than the rear width W2. The front width W1 may be less than 10 centimeters (cm), less than 8 cm, less than 6 cm, less than 5 cm or less than 4 cm.

[0069] Figs. 7-9 illustrate the cutting tool 10 with a blade 250. As shown, the blade 250 projects through the shoe 100. In particular, the blade 250 projects through a hole 111 in the base 110 of the shoe 100. The shoe 200 determines a depth of cut. The hole 111 is positioned to provide a clear light of sight to the blade 250 where it cuts a workpiece, such as tile, plastic or another workpiece material.

[0070] Fig 10 illustrates the cutting tool 10 with another exemplary embodiment of shoe 100’. The exemplary embodiment shoe 100’ is similar to the shoe 100 unless otherwise noted. For example, the shoe 100’ has front widths W1 and rear widths W2 as described above with respect to shoe 100. Additionally, the shoe 100’ has an opening 111 and a slot 128 as described above with respect to shoe 100. Similarly, the attachment part 120’ has a similar structure as attachment part 120 and base 110’ has a similar structure as base 110, unless otherwise noted. For example, the base 110’ provides a flat base 115 for cutting and has a lip 116.

[0071] The shoe 100’ differs from the shoe 100 in that the shoe 100’ is formed as a single piece and then bent at corner 170. Accordingly, the attachment part 120’ and base 110’ do not have to be welded, adhered or otherwise fastened together. The shoe 100’ may be a single piece of stamped metal. The shoe 100’ may be formed generally flat and the attachment part 120’ may be bent relative to the base 110’ to provide the corner 170 such that the attachment part 120’ is generally perpendicular to the base 110’.

[0072] Although described by way of exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Although the description provided above provides detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the expressly disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims

[0073] It is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined or exchanged with one or more features of any other embodiment.