Wireless electrical control system

• US 7,022,924 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patton, James
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/409,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20030188441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 200/52.R, 200/61.01, 200/61.58 R, 303/81, 340/551, 340/556, 340/557, 340/569, 340/689, 340/539, 400/88, 400/489
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• 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: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a wireless electrical control system for power tool and specifically to a wireless control device for a router. The electrical control system may include a handle suitable for manipulating a router. A switch and a wireless transmitter are disposed in the handle. Communicatively coupled to the transmitter is a wireless receiver capable of receiving the transmissions from the transmitter in the handle. In alternative embodiments the wireless receiver is disposed in the router itself or the receiver is disposed in an outlet unit, which is capable of electrically coupling to the router'"'"'s electrical cord and an electrical outlet. The wireless receiver of the present invention is capable of controlling the flow of electricity to the electrical system of the router so that the router is capable of being altered from the switch mounted on the handle, thus allowing users to change the power setting while retaining secure control of the router.

Claims

1. A wireless electrical control system for a router, comprising:

a handle connected to the router, suitable for manipulating the router;

a wireless transmitter disposed at least partially in said handle;

a switch coupled to said wireless transmitter, said switch is mounted to said handle; and

a wireless receiver capable of receiving transmission from said wireless transmitter, said receiver is disposed in the router;

wherein said wireless receiver is capable of controlling the router'"'"'s electrical system.

2. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 1, further comprising an indicator capable of providing indicating the status of the router'"'"'s electrical system, said indicator being mounted to the router.

3. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are capable of implementing coded communication.

4. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 3, wherein coded communication is one of spread spectrum, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse modulation, frequency hopping, time hopping and direct signaling.

5. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 1, wherein the switch is mounted generally inwardly towards the router.

6. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 5, wherein the switch is shaped substantially to the contour of the handle surrounding the switch.

7. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 1, wherein the switch requires constant user actuation for the router'"'"'s electrical system to activate.

8. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 1, wherein the handle is capable of protecting the switch.

9. A wireless electrical control system for a router, comprising:

a removable handle connected to the router, said removable handle is suitable for manipulating the router during utilization;

a wireless transmitter disposed in said removable handle;

an auxiliary switch coupled to said wireless transmitter, said auxiliary switch is mounted to said handle inwardly towards the router; and

a wireless receiver capable of wirelessly receiving transmission from said wireless transmitter, said wireless receiver is disposed in the router;

a main switch capable of actuating the electrical system of the router;

wherein said wireless receiver is capable of controlling the router'"'"'s motor when the main switch is actuated.

10. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, further comprising an indicator capable of providing an indication of the status of the router'"'"'s motor, said indicator being mounted to the router.

11. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are capable of implementing coded communication.

12. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 11, wherein coded communication is one of spread spectrum, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse modulation, frequency hopping, time hopping and direct signaling.

13. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary switch is mounted generally inwardly towards the router.

14. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary switch is shaped substantially to the contour of the portion of the removable handle surrounding the auxiliary switch.

15. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary switch requires constant actuation for the router motor to activate.

16. The wireless electrical control system for a router, of claim 9, wherein the removable handle is capable of protecting the auxiliary switch.

17. A wireless electrical control system for a router, comprising:

a handle suitable for manipulating a router, said handle is capable of connecting to the router;

a wireless transmitter disposed at least partially in said handle;

a switch coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein said switch is mounted to said handle;

an outlet unit capable of electrically coupling to an electrical outlet and the router'"'"'s electrical cord; and

a wireless receiver communicatively coupled to said wireless transmitter disposed in the outlet unit;

wherein said wireless receiver is capable of controlling electricity entering the router'"'"'s electrical system.

18. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, further comprising an indicator capable of providing an indication of the status of the router'"'"'s electrical system, said indicator being mounted to the outlet unit.

19. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are capable of implementing coded communication.

20. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 19, wherein coded communication is one of spread spectrum, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse modulation, frequency hopping, time hopping and direct signaling.

21. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, wherein the switch is mounted inwardly towards the router.

22. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 21, wherein the switch is shaped substantially to the contour of the portion of the handle surrounding the switch.

23. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, wherein the switch requires constant actuation for the router'"'"'s electrical system to activate.

24. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, wherein the handle is capable of protecting the switch.

25. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 17, wherein both a main switch on the router and the switch included in the wireless electrical control system are necessary to turn on the router.

26. A wireless electrical control system for a router, comprising:

a handle suitable for manipulating a router, suitable for removably connecting to the router;

a wireless transmitter disposed at least partially in said handle;

a switch coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein said switch is mounted to said handle;

an outlet unit capable of electrically coupling to an electrical outlet and the router'"'"'s electrical cord; and

a wireless receiver communicatively coupled to said wireless transmitter, said wireless receiver is disposed in the outlet unit;

wherein said wireless receiver is capable of controlling electricity entering the router'"'"'s electrical system.

27. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 26, further comprising an indicator capable of providing an indication of the status of the electrical system, said indicator being mounted to the outlet unit.

28. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 26, wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are capable of implementing coded communication.

29. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 28, wherein coded communication is one of spread spectrum, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse modulation, frequency hopping, time hopping and direct signaling.

30. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 26, wherein the switch is mounted generally inwardly towards the router.

31. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 30, the switch is shaped substantially to the contour of the portion of the handle surrounding the switch.

32. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 26, wherein the switch requires constant actuation for the router'"'"'s electrical system to activate.

33. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 26, wherein the handle is capable of protecting the switch.

34. A wireless electrical control system for a router, comprising:

a means for manipulating the router, said manipulating means is suitable for connecting to the router;

a means for wirelessly transmitting signals at least partially disposed in said manipulating means;

a means for switching the electrical system of the router coupled to said transmitting means, said switching means is mounted to said manipulating means; and

a means for receiving wireless transmissions from said transmitting means, said wireless receiving means disposed in the router;

wherein said wireless receiving means is capable of controlling the router'"'"'s electrical system.

35. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 34, further comprising a means for indicating the status of the electrical system, said indicating means being mounted to the router.

36. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 34, wherein the wireless transmitting means and the wireless receiving means are capable of implementing coded communication.

37. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 36, wherein coded communication is one of spread spectrum, frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse modulation, frequency hopping, time hopping and direct signaling.

38. The wireless electrical control system for a router of claim 34, wherein the switching means requires constant actuation for the router'"'"'s electrical system to activate.