Hand Tool Having an Electronic Identification Device

• US 20160140432A1
• Filed: 06/12/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works (Europe) GMBH (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works (Europe) GMBH (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lehovetzki, Axel
• Application Number:
  US14/897,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140432A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/04 of ring jaw type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/08 of open jaw type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/00 Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers bolt tensioners B25B29/02
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0772 Physical layout of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07747 at least one of the integrated circuit chips being mounted as a module

Abstract

Disclosed is a tool (300) having a body comprising two outer strips (305,306) and a recessed middle strip (307), wherein a top cap (309) and bottom cap (312) disposed either side of the middle strip, and attached to one another by dowels (311,314), pins and rings, form a cavity for encapsulating an electronic identification device such as an RFID tag (109). The electronic identification device may be protected by internal webbing or a flexible cellular or elastomeric component and may by in contact with the metal body (302) of the tool. The caps may comprise a fluorescent pigment.

Claims

1. A hand tool (300) comprising:

an elongate body (302);

a nut turning means (303) at a first end of the body (302);

a top cap (309) and a bottom cap (312) disposed on opposite sides of the body (302); and

an electronic identification device (109),

wherein the electronic identification device (109) is encapsulated in a cavity (310) defined by the body (302) and at least the top cap (309),

wherein at least the top cap (309) comprises a material which is at least partially-transparent to radio frequency energy in order to facilitate transmission of signals to and from the electronic identification device (109),

characterized in that the top cap (309) and the bottom cap (312) are secured to the body (302) by an interconnection (311a,314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d) between the top cap (309) and the bottom cap (312) which traverses at least one hole (315a,315b,315c,315d) formed through the body and wherein the top cap (309), the bottom cap (312) and the body (302) combine to form a gripping portion suitable for use as a handle.

2. A hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (302) comprises a first elongate outer strip (305), a second elongate outer strip (306) and a middle strip (307), wherein the first outer strip (305) and the second outer strip (306) extend along the outer edges of the body (302) between the first end and the second end of the tool (302), wherein the middle strip (307) is disposed between the first and second outer strips (305,306), wherein the middle strip (307) is recessed in relation to the first and second outer strips (305,306) such that a height (H′

) of the middle strip (7) is less than a height (H) of the first and second outer strips (305,306) and wherein a top cap (309) and a bottom cap (312) disposed on opposite sides of the middle strip (307).

3. A hand tool (300) as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the interconnection comprises at least one pair of dowels (311a,314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d), wherein one of each pair of dowels (311a,311b,311c,311d) protrudes from the top cap (309) to engage the other of each pair of dowels (314a,314b,314c,314d) which protrudes from the bottom cap (312), and wherein the or each pair of dowels traverses a respective hole (315a,315b,315c,315d) through the body.

4. A hand tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein engagement between the or each pair of dowels (311a,314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d) is provided by a snap fit or an interference fit.

5. A hand tool (300) as claimed in either of claim 3 or 4, wherein engagement between the or each pair of dowels (311a, 314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d) is provided by a male joint (317a, 317b, 317c, 317d) disposed on one of each dowel pair and a female joint (316a, 316b, 316c, 316d) disposed on the other of each dowel pair.

6. A hand tool as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the or each pair of dowels (311a,314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d) are glued together.

7. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the interconnection comprises a multitude of pairs of dowels (311a,314a;

311b,314b;

311c,314c;

311d,314d) and wherein different widths (W2, W3) between adjacent pairs of dowels preclude rotational symmetry of the top cap (309) and the bottom cap (312) about their midpoint (CL).

8. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exterior of each of the top cap (309) and the bottom cap (312) is rounded.

9. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the electronic identification device (109) is secured to the body.

10. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic identification device (109) is held securely within the cavity (310) by an internal damping web (317) or a layer of flexible cellular or elastomeric material (317) abutting against the electronic identification tag (109).

11. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom cap (312) comprises the same material as the top cap (309).

12. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the top cap (9) and/or the bottom cap (12) comprise a fluorescent pigment.

13. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nut turning means (303) comprises a ring socket, an open socket, an adjustable socket, a ratcheted ring socket or a wrench drive spindle.

14. A hand tool (300) as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the hand tool comprises a second nut turning means (304) at a second end of the body (302) opposite to the first end of the body.

15. A hand tool as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second nut turning means (304) comprises a ring socket, an open socket, an adjustable socket or a ratcheted ring socket.