Laser guide for hand held power drill

• US 6,375,395 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael G. Heintzeman
• Original Assignee: Michael G. Heintzeman
• Inventors: Heintzeman, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wellington, A. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, MONICA SMITH
• Application Number:
  US09/365,271
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 408/13, 408/16
• US Class Current: 408/16
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0092 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/175 to control relative positioning of Tool and work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/21 with signal, indicator, illuminator or optical means

Abstract

The present invention has a laser mounted on the casing of the drill such that the laser is in line with the bit and pointing in the reverse direction. This allows the laser to be used to align the drill bit with a mark or hole such that the drill bit is directly in line with the preexisting mark. A bubble level is included to ensure that the drill is held level or plumb when it needs to be level or plumb. A retrofit mount allows the present invention to be used with pre-existing hand held power drills. The mount can be designed to allow the laser to point backward or forward. The retrofit mount locks on to the machined race of a hand held power drill using a metal collar and bolts. An arm extends either back over the body of the drill in the reverse pointing application or up from the collar in the forward pointing application. A small laser is mounted to the arm such that the laser is aligned with the drill bit. A bubble level is included to ensure the drill is held level or plumb when it needs to be held level or plumb.

Claims

1. A laser and hand held power drill case with a drill bit combination comprising:

said laser having a laser beam,

said laser having a mount for the hand held power drill case, and

wherein the laser beam is aligned co-axially with the drill bit and pointing in a direction 180°

to a working end of said drill bit.

2. The hand held power drill of claim 1 further comprising a bubble level mounted in the case.

3. A laser and hand held power drill case combination, said laser having a laser beam, said laser having a mount for a hand held power drill case, wherein said mount further comprises:

a threaded hole in the hand held power drill case;

a threaded end of the laser, opposite the laser beam; and

said threaded end threaded into said threaded hole.

4. A mount comprising:

a collar having an interior surface shaped to fit around a machined race of a hand held power drill;

an arm attached to said collar and extending backward over said hand held power drill when the mount is placed on said hand held power drill; and

at least one laser mount attached to said arm, said laser mount holding a laser such that a laser beam from said laser is aligned co-axially with a drill bit of the hand held power drill when the mount is placed on said hand held power drill.

5. The mount of claim 4, wherein the collar further comprises:

a top member, a bottom member, said members having an attachment together around the machined race.

6. The mount of claim 4, wherein the laser mount further comprises:

screws through said laser mount adapted to hold the laser in place and allow a direction of the laser beam to be adjusted.

7. The mount of claim 4, wherein the laser further comprises a bubble level.

8. A mount comprising:

a collar having an interior surface shaped to fit around a machined race of a hand held power drill;

an arm attached to said collar and extending upward from said hand held power drill when the mount is attached to said hand held power drill; and

a laser attached to said arm such that a laser beam from said laser has an alignment with a drill bit of the hand held power drill when the mount is attached to said hand held power drill.

9. The mount of claim 8, wherein the laser beam is parallel with the drill bit.

10. The mount of claim 8, wherein the collar further comprises:

a top piece, a bottom piece, said pieces having an attachment together around the machined race.

11. The mount of claim 8, wherein the laser mount further comprises:

screws through said laser mount adapted to hold the laser in place and allow a direction of the laser beam to be adjusted.

12. The mount of claim 8 further comprising a bubble level attached to the arm.

13. In a hand held power tool having a working end holding a working tool having an axis which extend along the working tool, said working tool having a preferred alignment with a workpiece, an improvement comprising:

a sighting laser mounted to said hand held power tool, wherein said sighting laser has a laser beam with an alignment co-axial with said working tool.

14. The improvement of claim 13, wherein said laser has a mounting brace attached to said hand held power tool.

15. The improvement of claim 13, wherein the laser is mounted directly to the power tool.

16. The improvement of claim 13, wherein said laser has a beam pointing in a common direction as the working tool.

17. The improvement of claim 13, wherein said power tool is a hand held power drill.

18. A laser and hand held power drill with a drill bit combination comprising:

said laser having a laser beam,

said laser having a mount integral in a case of the hand held power drill, such that the laser beam is aligned co-axially with a bit of the hand held power drill.

19. A laser having a laser beam in combination with a hand held power drill having a case, said laser having a mount for the hand held power drill case wherein said mount further comprises:

a receiving connector in the hand held power drill case;

an attachment connector on the mount, opposite the laser beam; and

said attachment connector removably attached to said receiving connector.

20. A laser and hand held power drill with a drill bit combination comprising:

said laser having a laser beam,

said drill bit having a working end, and

said laser having a mount integral in a case of the hand held power drill, such that the laser beam is aligned co-axially with a bit of the hand held power drill and pointing in a direction opposite to the working end of said drill bit.