Power Tool User Interface

• US 20160297060A1
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Rouse R., Puzio, Daniel, Busschaert, Jason F., Eshleman, Scott J., Schell, Craig A., Lopano, Daniel N., Potter, Christine H., Gehret, Robert S., Hill, Jesse P., Hays, James D., Forster, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US15/011,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20160297060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/128 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/02 driven by electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/24 using optics or electromagnetic waves
• 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 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A power tool has a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a tool holder driven by the motor, a control circuit for controlling the motor, a rotary input rotatable relative to the housing, and a rotational sensor for sensing the rotational position of the rotary input relative to the housing. The rotary input can be a thumbwheel or a handle that rotates relative to the housing. The control circuit receives input from the rotational sensor for controlling motor speed, rotational direction, etc. Other user interface mechanisms are disclosed as well.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor disposed in the housing;

a tool holder driven by the motor;

a control circuit for controlling the motor;

a first handle attached to the housing;

a trigger assembly disposed on the first handle for providing information to the control circuit, the trigger assembly comprising a trigger disposed within the handle, the trigger being rotatable relative to the handle about a first axis for selecting the rotational direction of the motor, and linearly movable.relative to the handle for selecting the rotational speed of the motor.

7. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the trigger assembly comprises a spring for biasing the trigger towards a rest position.

8. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the trigger is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

9. The power tool of claim 6, wherein the trigger assembly comprises at least one sensor for detecting the position of the trigger, the at least one sensor being connected to the control circuit.

10. The power tool of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is one of the group consisting of force-sensing resistors, quantum,tunneling composites and switches.

11. A power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor disposed in the housing;

a tool holder driven by the motor;

a control circuit for controlling the motor;

a first handle attached to the housing;

a trigger assembly disposed on the first handle for providing information to the control circuit; and

a first input pad connected to the control circuit, the first input pad being responsive to pressure provided by the user.

12. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the first input pad is disposed on at least one of the first handle and the housing.

13. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the first input pad is shaped as one of the group consisting of a strip, a curved strip and a cross.

14. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the first input pad comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of force-sensing resistors, quantum tunneling composites and switches.

15. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the first input pad is usable to provide information to the control circuit about one parameter selected from the group consisting of location of the user'"'"'s hand, desired maximum motor speed, and desired motor rotational direction.

16. The power tool of claim 11, wherein the first input pad is on a rear surface of at least one of the housing and the first handle, and further comprising a second input