Hand drill attachment

• US 20010053313A1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas M Luebke
• Original Assignee: Thomas M Luebke
• Inventors: Luebke, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,926,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 408/16
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/65 Means to drive tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/96 Miscellaneous

Abstract

A power hand drill has a subsurface object locator for detecting the presence of an object beneath a surface being probed with the locator. The drill has a housing with a flat accessory mounting surface having a pair of attachment tabs. The locator has a locator housing with a flat base and a pair of key hole slots engaged with the tabs for detachably mounting the locator housing to the accessory mounting surface of the drill housing. The locator includes sensing circuitry contained within the locator housing for detecting subsurface objects and has an object indicator mounted to the locator housing and connected to the sensing circuitry for indicating the presence of a subsurface object. A contoured surface on the locator housing provides a handrest for gripping when operating the drill.

Claims

1. A subsurface object locating accessory for a hand drill having a drill housing, comprising:

an accessory housing having a substantially flat surface for probing across a wall surface and an attachment member for detachably mounting the accessory housing to the drill housing;

sensing circuitry contained within the accessory housing for detecting subsurface objects probed by said accessory; and

an object indicator connected to the sensing circuitry for indicating the presence of a subsurface object.

2. The drill accessory of

claim 1

, wherein the locator housing is shaped to provide a handrest for operating the drill.

3. The drill accessory of

claim 2

, wherein the substantially flat surface interfaces with the hand drill.

4. The drill accessory of

claim 1

, wherein the attachment member is located adjacent to the substantially flat surface.

5. The drill accessory of

claim 4

, wherein the attachment member is part of a connection joining the accessory housing to the drill housing.

6. The drill accessory of

claim 5

, wherein the attachment member includes a key hole slot having an enlarged area and a narrowed area.

7. The drill accessory of

claim 6

, wherein the drill housing has a projecting attachment tab with an enlarged head smaller than the enlarged area of the key hole slot and larger than the narrowed area of the key hole slot.

8. The drill accessory of

claim 7

, wherein the drill housing has two laterally spaced tabs and the accessory housing has two laterally spaced key hole slots in registration with the tabs.

9. The drill accessory of

claim 8

, further including a base plate defining the flat surface of the accessory housing and defining the key hole slots.

10. The drill accessory of

claim 9

, furthering including a mounting plate removably attached to the drill housing and defining the attachment tabs.

11. A hand drill including a detachable subsurface object locator accessory for detecting the presence of an object beneath a surface being probed with the locator, comprising:

a drill housing defining an accessory mount having a first attachment member;

a locator housing having a second attachment member engaged with the first attachment member for detachably mounting the locator housing to the accessory mounting surface of the drill housing;

sensing circuitry contained within the locator housing for detecting subsurface objects; and

an object indicator connected to the sensing circuitry for indicating the presence of a subsurface object.