Modular tool assembly having a vacuum mounting arrangement

• US 20060037203A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited, One World Technologies (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited
• Inventors: Long, Charles Keith, Taylor, Skye V., Moore, Kevin A., Wacker, Charles M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0057 Devices for securing hand tools to the work
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 7/00 Marking-out or setting-out work measuring, gauging G01; optical apparatus G02B; by photographic means G03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors

Abstract

A modular tool assembly including a tool base configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface. The tool base includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion having a mounting seal extending therefrom. The mounting seal cooperates with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween. A vacuum generating mechanism is configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion. A modular tool attachment releasably engages a portion of the tool base to secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base.

Claims

1. A modular tool assembly comprising:

a. a tool base including a vacuum mounting arrangement for securing the tool base to a mounting surface, the base comprising

b. a housing having upper and lower housing portions,

c. a mounting seal extending from the lower housing portion cooperating with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween,

d. a vacuum generating mechanism disposed within the upper portion of the housing, the vacuum generating mechanism including a pump configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket to secure the housing to the mounting surface; and

e. a modular tool attachment releasably secured to a portion of the housing of the tool base in a fixed relationship relative to the mounting surface.

2. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular tool attachment further comprises one or more connecting arms extending from a tool attachment housing that releasably engage one or more receiving portions formed in a guide member in the upper housing portion of the tool base to releasably secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base.

3. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising a motor to drive the pump and a power source electrically connected to the motor.

4. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 further comprising a sensor that monitors the vacuum pocket and activates the pump if the sensor detects a loss of pressure in the vacuum pocket.

5. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising a switch disposed on the upper housing portion of the tool base operatively connected to the vacuum generating mechanism allowing a user to activate the vacuum generating mechanism.

6. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the vacuum generating mechanism comprises a lever operatively cooperating with a portion of the mounting seal wherein the lever in a first position creates a cavity between the attachment surface and the portion of the mounting seal.

7. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 wherein at least one electrical connector is provided in a top surface of the upper housing portion of the tool base to electrically connect the power source to the modular tool attachment.

8. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein a cavity is formed in a bottom surface of the lower housing portion of the tool base which cooperates with the mounting seal and mounting surface to create the vacuum pocket.

9. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 wherein the power source comprises a removably mounted battery.

10. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source mounted within the housing.

11. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular tool attachment comprises a laser leveling device.

12. The modular tool assembly of claim 10 wherein the laser leveling device further comprises a housing, a laser light source disposed within the housing operatively connected to a power source, the laser light source including at least one diode projecting an alignment beam through an aperture in the housing to denote a reference plane along the mounting surface.

13. The modular tool assembly of claim 11 wherein the laser leveling device further comprises one or more bubble levels provided on the laser level housing.

14. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular tool attachment comprises a flashlight.

15. The modular tool assembly of claim 12 wherein the flashlight is electrically connected to the power source in the tool base.

16. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular tool attachment comprises a clamp.

17. A tool base having a vacuum mounting arrangement configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface, the modular tool base comprising:

a. a tool base housing having upper and lower housing portions,

b. a mounting seal extending from the lower housing portion cooperating with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween,

c. a power source disposed within the upper housing portion;

d. a vacuum generating mechanism electrically connected to the power source and disposed within the upper housing portion, the vacuum generating mechanism including a motor, a pump operatively driven by the motor configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion to secure the tool base to the mounting surface and a sensor mounted proximate the aperture in the lower housing portion which monitors the vacuum pocket and activates the pump if the sensor detects a loss of pressure in the vacuum pocket.

18. The tool base of claim 17 wherein the upper housing portion includes a guide member having one or more receiving portions configured to receive one or more connecting arms extending from the modular tool attachment.

19. The tool base of claim 17 further comprising a switch operatively connected to the vacuum generating mechanism disposed on the upper housing portion of the tool base allowing a user to activate the vacuum generating mechanism.

20. The tool base of claim 17 wherein at least one electrical connector is provided in a top surface of the upper housing of the tool base to electrically connect the power source to the modular tool attachment.

21. A modular tool assembly comprising:

a. a tool base having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion including a guide member having one or more receiving portions;

b. a mounting seal extending from the lower housing portion cooperating with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween;

c. a power source disposed within the upper housing portion;

d. a vacuum generating mechanism electrically connected to the power source and disposed within the upper housing portion, the vacuum generating mechanism including a motor, a pump operatively driven by the motor configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion to secure the housing to the mounting surface and a sensor mounted proximate the aperture in the lower housing portion which monitors the vacuum pocket and activates the pump if the sensor detects a loss of pressure in the vacuum pocket;

e. a switch operatively connected to the vacuum generating mechanism disposed on the upper housing portion of the tool base allowing a user to activate the vacuum generating mechanism; and

f. a modular tool attachment having one or more projections extending from a tool attachment housing which releasably engage the one or more receiving portions formed in the upper housing portion of the tool base to releasably secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base.