Router switching system
First Claim
1. A router having a locking system used to engage and lockout the operation of a router motor, the router comprising:
- the router motor;
a motor housing surrounding the router motor;
a first router handle having an outer periphery;
a trigger located on the first handle and being configured to activate the router motor, the trigger having an on position and an off position; and
a locking lever located within the first handle, the locking lever having an arm member protruding out of the first handle about a portion of an outer circumference of the first handle to permit the locking lever to be operated by an index finger of an operator, the locking lever also having a locked position, an unlocked position, and a locked-on position;
wherein;
the trigger is configured to move into and out of the first handle when operated by a user;
the locking lever is configured to move along a portion of the outer periphery of the first handle; and
the trigger and the locking lever are configured to operate together such that the trigger will not operate until the locking lever is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improvements made to a router include a switching system which is part of a router handle and which operates the router motor by connecting it to an external electrical power source. In a preferred embodiment, the present switching system comprises the use of a locking lever and trigger in combination to activate the motor, to hold the trigger in a locked-on position to maintain the connection of electrical power to the motor, and to lock the movement of the trigger from occurring before an operator attempts to engage the motor. The switching system may also be combined with a preferred router handle shape in order to make the long term operation of the router and its switching comfortable with extended use.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A router having a locking system used to engage and lockout the operation of a router motor, the router comprising:
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the router motor; a motor housing surrounding the router motor; a first router handle having an outer periphery; a trigger located on the first handle and being configured to activate the router motor, the trigger having an on position and an off position; and a locking lever located within the first handle, the locking lever having an arm member protruding out of the first handle about a portion of an outer circumference of the first handle to permit the locking lever to be operated by an index finger of an operator, the locking lever also having a locked position, an unlocked position, and a locked-on position; wherein; the trigger is configured to move into and out of the first handle when operated by a user; the locking lever is configured to move along a portion of the outer periphery of the first handle; and the trigger and the locking lever are configured to operate together such that the trigger will not operate until the locking lever is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A router having a locking system for use with a plunge router having a router motor housing surrounding a router motor, the router comprising:
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a first router handle having an outer periphery; a thumb-activated trigger located on the first handle, the trigger being configured to be depressed to an on position to activate the router motor and the trigger being further configured to be released to an off position to deactivate the router motor; and a locking lever located within the first handle, the locking lever having an arm member protruding out of the first handle about a portion of the outer handle periphery of the first handle to permit the locking lever to be operated by an index finger of a user, the locking lever also having a locked position, unlocked position and a locked-on position; a spring extension; a locking lug; and a lug axle member; wherein; the locking lever defines approximately at its center a slot through which the locking lug can move; the locking lug is configured to slide along the slot when the trigger switch is depressed; the locking lug rotates about the lug axle; the locking lever is located within a path of motion of the locking lug when in the locked position to prevent the switch from being depressed; the locking lever is located outside the path of motion of the locking lug when in the unlocked position as the locking lug is aligned with the slot in the locking lever in order to allow the locking lug to move on the lug axle member when the switch is depressed; the locking lever and locking lug engage each other when the trigger is depressed in order to hold the trigger in the on position; and the spring extension rotates the locking lug about the lug axle to release the trigger from the on position when the trigger is depressed once the locking lever is engaged by the locking lug and held in the locked-on position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification