Impact-absorbing tethering attachment
A power tool is provided with a housing and a tethering attachment assembly attached to the housing and adapted to facilitate connection of a lanyard to the power tool. The tethering attachment assembly includes a substantially U-shaped hook portion including a coil element comprising metallic material that substantially resiliently retains its state with application of force up to a limit, and is permanently plastically deformable upon application of force exceeding the limit, and two extended portions extending from ends of the coil element and attached to the housing.
1. A power tool comprising:
a housing; and
a tethering attachment assembly attached to the housing and adapted to facilitate connection of a lanyard to the power tool, the tethering attachment assembly comprising:
a U-shaped hook portion including a coil element comprising metallic material that elastically retains its state with application of force up to a limit, and is permanently plastically deformable upon application of force exceeding the limit; and
two extended portions extending from ends of the coil element and attached to the housing.
2. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising two posts attached to the extended portions, wherein the two posts are attached to the housing.
3. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the tethering attachment assembly further comprising two rivets that pivotably attach the extended portions to the posts.
4. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the extended portions wrap around portions of the rivets.
5. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the housing defines a pair of elongated slots for receiving the posts therein.
6. The power tool of claim 5 , wherein the posts are removeably received within the elongated slots of the housing and secured therein via fasteners.
7. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve tubularly disposed around the coil element to substantially cover the coil element.
8. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the tethering attachment assembly further comprises a secondary sleeve covering the extended portions.
9. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the sleeve comprises a webbing.
10. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is configured to tear when the coil element is deformed to expose the coil element.
11. The power tool of claim 7 , further comprising a motor disposed within the housing for driving an output spindle.
12. The power tool of claim 11 , wherein the housing is elongated and the tethering attachment assembly is mounted to an end of the housing opposite the output spindle.