US 11,667,051 B2
Punch assemblies and toolless systems thereof for tip retention and release
John H. Morehead, White Bear Lake, MN (US); Anthony David Schwartz, Forest Lake, MN (US); and Kevin Andrew Johnston, Deer Park, WI (US)
Assigned to Wilson Tool International Inc., White Bear Lake, MN (US)
Filed by Wilson Tool International Inc., White Bear Lake, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/30,326.
Prior Publication US 2022/0088818 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B26F 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC B26F 1/14 (2013.01) 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A punch body comprising:
a sidewall that defines a central cavity, the central cavity extending along a longitudinal extent of the punch body; and
a retain/release system comprising a triggering mechanism, a coupling mechanism, and a resilient member, the triggering mechanism being accessible on the punch body sidewall and hand adjustable relative to the sidewall, the triggering mechanism coupling the punch body and the coupling mechanism, the resilient member within the punch body central cavity and positioned to resiliently oppose adjustment of the triggering mechanism;
wherein with force being applied to the triggering mechanism, the coupling mechanism is correspondingly configured to shift from a first position within the punch body central cavity to a second position corresponding to an unlocked configuration of the punch body with respect to a punch tip;
wherein the resilient member is configured to shift the coupling mechanism to the first position with removal of the force and the triggering mechanism back to a resiliently biased setting, said first position of the coupling mechanism corresponding to a locked configuration of the punch body with respect to the punch tip; and
wherein the triggering mechanism is shaped as a lever and operably coupled to the sidewall via a pin, the triggering mechanism rotatable about the pin, wherein rotation of the triggering mechanism via the force corresponds with a pivoting of a protruding portion of the triggering mechanism relative to the coupling mechanism.