Oscillating tool

Abstract

An oscillating tool includes a housing, a motor housed in the housing and a clamp assembly operatively driven by the motor in an oscillating motion. The clamp assembly can hold an accessory such as a blade or sanding attachment, and the clamp assembly includes a first clamp and a second clamp. The oscillating tool also includes a clamp lever and an actuating lever. The clamp lever is operatively coupled to the first clamp to move the first clamp such that clamp assembly is moved from a closed position to an open position. The actuating lever is operatively coupled to the clamp lever to effect movement of the clamp lever, movement of the clamp lever causing the clamp assembly to move from the closed position to the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oscillating tool, comprising:
 a housing;   a motor housed in the housing;   an output shaft driven by the motor;   a clamp assembly operatively driven by the motor through the output shaft in an oscillating motion, the clamp assembly comprising a first clamp and a second clamp;   a user operated actuator configured to move the clamp assembly from a closed condition to an open condition;   a connector connecting the user operated actuator to the clamp assembly;   wherein the connector is connected to the clamp assembly at a position forward of the output shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises portions disposed forward of the output shaft and rearward of the output shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly further comprises a clamp lever. 
     
     
         4 . The oscillating tool of  claim 3 , wherein the connector is connected to the clamp lever. 
     
     
         5 . The oscillating tool of  claim 4 , wherein the clamp lever is pivotable about a pivot point. 
     
     
         6 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp is movable. 
     
     
         7 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp is translatable. 
     
     
         8 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first clamp and the second clamp is movable; and
 wherein the other of the first clamp and the second clamp is fixed.   
     
     
         9 . The oscillating tool of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a connecting strip. 
     
     
         10 . An oscillating tool, comprising:
 a housing;   a motor housed in the housing, the motor having a motor longitudinal axis;   an output shaft driven by the motor in an oscillating motion, the output shaft having an output shaft longitudinal axis;   a foot that receives a power supply for powering the motor;   a clamp assembly operatively driven by the motor through the output shaft in an oscillating motion, the clamp assembly being configured to hold an accessory;   a clamp lever, wherein the clamp lever is pivotable about a pivot point; and   a user-operable actuating lever;   wherein the clamp lever is operatively coupled to the actuating lever;   wherein the user-operable actuating lever is configured to be movable by a user; and   wherein movement of the actuating lever causes the clamp lever to move such that the clamp assembly is moved from a closed position to an open position.   
     
     
         11 . The oscillating tool of  claim 10 , wherein the foot is at a rear of the oscillating tool. 
     
     
         12 . The oscillating tool of  claim 11 , wherein the clamp assembly is at a front of the oscillating tool. 
     
     
         13 . The oscillating tool of  claim 11 , wherein the user-operable actuating lever is at a front of the oscillating tool. 
     
     
         14 . The oscillating tool of  claim 11 , wherein the user-operable actuating lever and the clamp assembly are at a front of the oscillating tool. 
     
     
         15 . The oscillating tool of  claim 14 , wherein the user-operable actuating lever is at a top of the oscillating tool; and
 wherein the clamp assembly is at a bottom of the oscillating tool.   
     
     
         16 . The oscillating tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a locking lever, the locking lever configured to keep the clamp assembly in the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The oscillating tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide groove which guides movement of the clamp lever. 
     
     
         18 . The oscillating tool of  claim 10 , wherein the clamp assembly comprises a first clamp and a second clamp. 
     
     
         19 . The oscillating tool of  claim 18 , wherein the first clamp is a sliding clamp. 
     
     
         20 . An oscillating tool, comprising:
 a housing;   a motor housed in the housing;   a clamp assembly operatively driven by the motor in an oscillating motion, the clamp assembly being configured to hold an accessory;   wherein the clamp assembly comprises a clamp lever, an upper clamp and a lower clamp;   an actuator, the actuator being remote from the clamp lever and effecting movement of the clamp lever so as to open the clamp assembly and allow the accessory to be inserted or removed from the clamp assembly;   wherein the upper clamp is translatable away from the lower clamp.