Safety switch for portable power-operated device

• US 4,244,406 A
• Filed: 11/07/1978
• Issued: 01/13/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black Pearl Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Black Pearl Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Stielper, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US05/958,370
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 200/42 R, 200/42 T, 200/157, 200/321-326, 200/334, 200/61.85, 200/850, 200/61.58 R, 144/134 D, 144/136 C, 90/12 D, 90/DIG. 3, 83/DIG. 1, 310/50, 310/68 A, 310/68 B, 407/710, 409/182
• US Class Current: 144/136.95
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/71 Safety device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices

Abstract

A portable electric router including a housing enclosing an electric motor, and having a router bit extending from one end of the housing and driven by the motor. A router base assembly includes handles and a flat base plate and is adjustably fixed to the housing. The flat plate supports the router for movement along a work surface and is provided with a central opening through which the router bit extends to engage and penetrate the work surface. The other end of the housing has a support surface upon which the router can rest when the router is temporarily put down during use and when it is stored, or while the bit is changed, or while the base assembly is adjusted relative to the housing for depth adjustment of the bit. A switch is provided on the housing for turning the router motor "on" and "off", and is controlled by a switch operator having a portion which extends through an opening in the router housing support surface. The switch operator has one portion which extends beyond the support surface when the electric motor is "on", and is positioned flush with that surface when the motor is "off" so that the motor is "off" and cannot be turned "on" when the router is supported on its support surface. The switch operator has another portion rigidly connected to the one portion and which is at the side of the router housing and close to one of the handles for turning the motor "on" and "off".

Claims

1. In a portable electric router of the type having housing means enclosing an electric motor, electric switch means operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing means and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing means and including means adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, said housing means having support means to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means accessible from outside said housing means for operating said switch means and for turning said motor "off" and for preventing said motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said support means engaging a horizontal surface, said switch operator means being movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", at least a portion of said switch operator means extending outwardly of said support means when in said first position, said switch operator means portion when in said second position being located toward said support means from its location when in said first position.

2. In a portable electric router of the type having housing means enclosing an electric motor, electric switch means operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing means and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing means and adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, said housing means having support means provided to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means accessible from outside said housing means for operating said switch means, said switch operator means including means for turning said router motor "off" and preventing said motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said support means engaging a horizontal surface, said switch operator means being movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said switch operator means having a first portion extending outwardly of said support means when in said first position, said switch operator means first portion being substantially coplanar with said suport means when in said second position, said switch operator means having a second portion connected to said first portion for conjoint movement therewith and spaced therefrom and from said support means for turning said motor "on" and "off".

3. In a portable electric router of the type having housing means enclosing an electric motor, electric switch means operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing means and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing means and adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, said housing means having a relatively flat end opposite said tool bit and provided to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means accessible from outside said housing means for operating said switch means, said switch operator means including means for turning said router motor "off" and preventing it from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said flat end engaging a horizontal surface, said switch operator means being meovable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second positon where said motor is "off", said switch operator means having at least a portion entending outwardly of said housing means flat end when in said first position, said switch operator means portion being substantially coplanar with said housing means flat end when in said second position.

4. A portable electric router comprising a housing enclosing an electric motor, a router bit extending from one end of said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly adjustably connected to said housing and including a flat plate adapted to engage a work surface and movably support said router thereon, said base having an opening through which said router bit extends, said base and said housing being relatively adjustable to enable variation of the penetration depth of said router bit into said work surface, said housing having a second end opposite and first end and adapted to support said router when changing said router bit or when adjusting said housing relative to said base, switch means for turning said electric motor "on" and "off", switch operator means associated with said switch means and including manually operable means movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said manually operable means having a portion which extends outwardly of said housing second end when in said first position and which is substantially coplanar with the outermost portion of said housing second end when in said second position.

5. A portable power operated device including a housing having power means therein, implement means extending outwardly of said housing and operated by said power means, control means on said housing for said power means, said control means including manual means movable from a first or "on" position in which said implement means is operative, to a second or "off" position where said implement means is inoperative, said device having support means rigid with said housing for supporting said device upon a rigid support means when said device is not in use, said manual means including means for turning said power means "off" in response to supporting the support means of said device upon said rigid support means and preventing it from being turned "on" when said device is supported upon said rigid support means, said manual means extending outwardly of said support means on said device when in said first or "on" position, said manual means being substantially coplanar with said support means on said device when in said second or "off" position.

6. A portable power operated device including a housing having power means therein, implement means extending outwardly of said housing and operated by said power means, control means on said housing for said power means, said control means including manual means movable from a first or "on" position in which said implement means is operaive, to a second or "off" position where said implement means is inoperative, said device having support means rigid with said housing for supporting said device upon a rigid support means when said device is not in use, said manual means including means for turning said power means "off" and for preventing said power means from being turned "on" when said device is supported upon said rigid support means, said manual means having a first portion extending outwardly of said support means on said device when in said first or "on" position, said manual means first portion being substantially coplanar with said support means on said device when in said second or "off" position, said manual means having a second portion connected to said first portion for conjoint movement therewith and spaced therefrom, and accessible from outside said housing for "on" and "off" operation of said device.

7. In a portable electric router of the type having a housing enclosing an electric motor, a cap fixed to said housing, electric switch means in said cap and operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing and including means adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said rounter with said tool bit engaging a work surface, said cap having an end portion formed to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means movably disposed within said cap and accessible from outside said cap for operating said switch means and for turning said router motor "off" and for preventing said motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said cap end portion engaging a horizontal surface, said switch operator means being movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", at least a portion of said switch operator means extending outwardly of said cap end portion when in said first position, said switch operator means portion being substantially coplanar with said cap end portion when in said second position.

8. In a portable electric router of the type having a housing enclosing an electric motor, a cap fixed to said housing, electric switch means in said cap and having a slider button operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing and including means adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, handle means for manipulating said router, said cap having an end portion formed to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means movably disposed within said cap and accessible from outside said cap for operating said switch means, said switch operator means including means for turning said router motor "off" and for preventing said router motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said cap end portion engaging a surface, said switch operator means including a rigid elongated slider extension interconnected with said slider button and movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said slider extension having a first portion extending outwardly of said cap end portion when in said first position, said slider extension first portion being substantially coplanar with said cap end portion when in said second position, said slider extension having a second portion positioned in an opening in said cap and convenient to said handle means for turning said router motor "on" and "off" while a user has at least one hand on said handle means.

9. A portable electric router comprising a housing enclosing an electric motor, a router bit extending from the bottom of said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly connected to said housing and including a flat plate adapted to engage a work surface and movably support said router thereon, said base having an opening through which said router bit extends, said housing having a top adapted to support the weight of said router on a horizontal surface when changing said router bit, switch means for turning said electric motor "on" and "off", switch operator means associated with said switch means and including manually operable means movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said manually operable means having a portion which extends outwardly of said housing top when in said first position and which moves toward said housing top under the weight of said router when it is placed with its top against a horizontal surface, said manually operable means portion being substantially coplanar with the outermost portion of said housing top when in said second position.

10. In a portable electric router of the type having a housing enclosing an electric motor, electric switch means in said housing and operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing and including means adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, said housing having an end portion formed to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvment which comprises switch operator means movably disposed within said housing and accessible from outside said housing for operating said switch means and for turning said router motor "off" and for preventing said motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said end portion engaging a horizontal surface, said switch operator means being movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said switch operator means includihg a portion extending through an opening in said housing end portion and outwardly thereof when in said first position, said switch operator means portion being substantially coplanar with said housing end portion when in said second position.

11. In a portable electric router of the type having a housing enclosing an electric motor, a cap fixed to said housing, electric switch means in said cap and having a slider button operable to turn said motor "on" and "off", a rotatable tool bit extending from said housing and driven by said motor, a base assembly attached to said housing and including means adjacent said tool bit for supporting and guiding said router with said tool bit engaging a work surface, handle means for manipulating said router, said cap having an end portion formed to support said router on a generally horizontal surface with said tool bit out of engagement with said horizontal surface;

the improvement which comprises switch operator means movably disposed within said cap and accessible from outside said cap for operating said switch means, said switch operator means including means for turning said router motor "off" and for preventing said router motor from being turned "on" when said router is positioned with said cap end portion engaging a surface, said switch operator means including a rigid elongated slider entension formed with an aperture receiving said slider button and movable from a first position where said motor is "on", to a second position where said motor is "off", said slider extension having a first portion extending through an aperture in and outwardly of said cap end portion when in said first position, said slider extension first portion being substantially coplanar with said cap end portion when in said second position, said slider extension having a second portion positioned in an opening in the side of said cap and adjacent to said handle means for turning said router motor "on" and "off" while a user has at least one hand on said handle means.