Voltage sensing hand tool
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wire stripper, the wire stripper comprising:
- first and second blades, each of the first and second blades including a notched cutting edge;
first and second handles, the first and second handles being connected to the first and second blades respectively;
a fastener, the fastener rotatably connecting the first blade to the second blade, such that the notched cutting edge of one blade interacts with the notched cutting edge of the second blade to strip a wire between the notched edges;
a non-contact voltage sensing circuit housed by at least one of the first and second handles, the non-contact voltage sensing circuit being electrically coupled to one of the first and second blades; and
an alarm indicator, the alarm indicator providing a signal to the user when the hand tool is sufficiently close to but not touching a live electrical wire to activate the non-contact voltage sense circuit.
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Abstract
A hand tool which provides an alarm signal to a user as the tool approaches a live electrical wire is disclosed. The hand tool comprises a conductive tool head and a non-conductive handle. A non-contact voltage sensing circuit is provided in the handle of the tool. As the tool head approaches a live electrical wire, the non-contact voltage sensing circuit detects the voltage across the air gap between the tool head and the electrical wire, triggering an alarm circuit. The alarm circuit provides a visual or audio signal to the user.
23 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A wire stripper, the wire stripper comprising:
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first and second blades, each of the first and second blades including a notched cutting edge;
first and second handles, the first and second handles being connected to the first and second blades respectively;
a fastener, the fastener rotatably connecting the first blade to the second blade, such that the notched cutting edge of one blade interacts with the notched cutting edge of the second blade to strip a wire between the notched edges;
a non-contact voltage sensing circuit housed by at least one of the first and second handles, the non-contact voltage sensing circuit being electrically coupled to one of the first and second blades; and
an alarm indicator, the alarm indicator providing a signal to the user when the hand tool is sufficiently close to but not touching a live electrical wire to activate the non-contact voltage sense circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wire cutter, the wire cutter comprising:
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first and second blades, at least one blade including a cutting edge;
first and second handles, the first and second handles being connected to the first and second blades respectively;
a fastener, the fastener rotatably connecting the first blade to the second blade, such that the cutting edge of one blade interacts with the second blade to cut a wire between the blades;
a non-contact voltage sensing circuit housed by at least one of the first and second handles, the non-contact voltage sensing circuit being electrically coupled to one of the first and second blades; and
an alarm indicator, the alarm indicator providing a signal to the user when the hand tool is sufficiently close to but not touching a live electrical wire to activate the non-contact voltage sensing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification