(19)Fresh off Patent
(45) Week of Oct 5, 2026 No. 5 3,852 lapsed 145 picks
Tools & Hardware · lapsed Sep 2, 2026

Corded/cordless drill with single-collar mode selector

A hand-held electric drill/driver that combines gearbox speed, clutch torque setting, and hammer mode selection into one rotatable collar. Turning the collar selects low-speed screwdriving positions with adjustable clutch torque, a drilling position that disables the clutch, and an additional position that enables hammer/impact mode. Intended for tradespeople and DIYers who use drills and screwdrivers.

Sheet 1 of the patent drawingsSheet 2 of the patent drawingsSheet 3 of the patent drawings

(57) What the patent covered

The main independent claim covers an electric hand tool with a motor, a gearbox, and a spring-loaded two-component torque-limiting clutch, plus a single adjustable member (a rotatable collar with icons visible through a transparent housing window) that moves between multiple indexed positions: a set of positions that vary the clutch spring force for screwdriving, an Nth position that disables the clutch for drilling, and a further position that enables an impact mechanism. The clutch also includes a thrust plate with tangs (for engagement) as described in dependent language.

The distinctive part: One collar both varies clutch spring pre-load for multiple torque settings and changes gearbox/impact state, with icons visible through a transparent housing window.

Making it

Injection-molded plastic housing and collar, stamped/turned steel gears and clutch plates, heat-treated springs, assembled with mechanical fasteners and press-fit components.

Materials: Stamped/turned steel for clutch components and thrust plate, Springs (steel), Engineered plastic (ABS or polycarbonate) for housing and collar, Rubber or thermoplastic elastomer for grip areas

Manufacturability 4/5. Typical small power-tool construction: several stamped/precision-machined metal parts (gears, clutch plates), molded plastics, and hand or semi-automatic assembly; standard tooling and suppliers suffice.

Is anyone buying?

This design, or something very close to it, is on sale now. Typical retail price: $74–$159. Multiple retailers list the M12 3404-20 with hammer/drill modes and clutch-based driving, indicating the mode selector collar is part of the standard design across US retailers.

This demand check was run with a web search in the week of Oct 5, 2026. Listings change often, so treat it as a starting point for your own research.

Who buys it: carpenters, electricians, DIY homeowners

Before you make it

We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.

Lapsed patent covers a specific collar-linked combination of features and visible icon window; many drills have similar elements, so market is crowded and differences may be narrow.

Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.

Claim 1, as granted

1. A manually operable electrically powered tool, comprising: an electric motor disposed in a housing; a drive train disposed between the motor and a tool spindle, comprising: a gearbox coupled to the motor; a clutch for interrupting drive from the motor to the spindle when a predetermined torque is applied to the spindle, wherein the clutch comprises two components urged together by a spring such that a first component is held in a stationary position relative to a second component when a torque force applied to the spindle is less than a threshold spring force; an adjustment member for setting different modes of operation, the adjustment member being coupled to the clutch, the adjustment member being moveable between a first and Nth position such that, when the adjustment member is in the range of positions between the first and N−1 positions the tool is operable in a screw driving mode and the spring force applied to the clutch components can be varied, and, when the adjustment member is in the Nth position the tool is operable in a drilling mode and the clutch is inoperable; wherein the adjustment member comprises a rotatable collar with icons arranged on a surface thereof; wherein the housing includes a transparent portion which overlaps at least a portion of the surface on which the icons are arranged; wherein the adjustment member comprises a first circumferential portion and a second circumferential portion, the second circumferential portion being located closer to the motor than the first circumferential portion; and wherein the icons are arranged on the second circumferential portion.