Power tools

• US 7,121,358 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David S. D'Ascenzo, Stephen F Gass
• Original Assignee: David S. D'Ascenzo, Stephen F Gass
• Inventors: D'Ascenzo, David S., Gass, Stephen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/021,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 173/2, 173/217, 173/216, 173/171, 173/176, 173/20, 379/62, 379/902, 379/150, 318/281, 318/282, 318/293, 83/621, 83/58, 834/771, 834/772
• US Class Current: 173/2
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/128 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/123 with locking arrangements locking arrangements for chucks with simultaneously-acting jaws moving radially actuated by one or more spiral grooves B23B31/16041
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/008 Gear boxes, clutches, bearings, feeding mechanisms or like equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/008 Attached to the nose of the drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23G 1/18 Machines with one working spindle
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0064 Means for adjusting screwing depth
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• 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: B25F 5/001 Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/003 Stops for limiting depth in rotary hand tools for drilling tools: B23B49/003
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0092 by optical means

Abstract

An electrically powered hand tool is disclosed. The tool includes a motor, a power source, a work element and a controller. Various alternative features, embodiments and operative configurations are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrically powered hand tool, comprising:

a body;

a rotatable chuck;

a motor adapted to drive the rotation of the chuck during powered operation of the tool;

a power source adapted to deliver power to the motor;

a user input; and

a controller adapted to receive a signal from the user input and adapted to regulate the delivery of power to the motor responsive at least in part to the signal, wherein the controller includes a selectively actuable security mode in which powered operation of the tool is restricted, and further wherein the security mode, once actuated, is deactivated by manipulating the chuck in a predetermined pattern that is not readily apparent from examination of the power tool.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes a predetermined sequence of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the chuck.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein a first one of a portion of the body adjacent the chuck and the chuck includes a sequence of indicia and a second one of a portion of the body adjacent the chuck and the chuck includes a pointer selectively positionable to correspond with a selected one of the sequence of the indicia.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the controller includes at least one feedback sensor adapted to communicate the rotational position of the chuck to the controller.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically actuate the security mode upon the elapsing of a predetermined sequential period.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically actuate the security mode upon at least one of disconnection and reconnection of the power source from the tool.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a drill, a screwdriver, and a router.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a memory portion adapted to store a passcode value corresponding to the predetermined pattern.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body includes a security screen adapted to display information to a user.

10. An electrically powered hand tool, comprising:

a body;

a movable work element;

a motor adapted to drive the movement of the work element during powered operation of the tool;

a power source adapted to deliver power to the motor, wherein the power source includes a battery adapted to be coupled to the body for movement with the body;

a user input; and

a controller adapted to receive a signal from the user input and adapted to regulate the delivery of power to the motor responsive at least in part to the signal, wherein the controller includes a selectively actuable security mode in which powered operation of the tool is restricted, and further wherein the security mode, once actuated, is adapted to remain actuated until a passcode is communicated to the controller.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the passcode includes a predetermined pattern of movement of at least one of the user input and the work element, and further wherein the predetermined pattern of movement is not readily apparent from examination of the power tool.

12. The tool of claim 10, wherein the tool includes a mechanism for inputting the passcode.

13. The tool of claim 10, wherein the passcode includes a sequence of indicia selected by a user.

14. The tool of claim 13, wherein a first one of the tool body and at least one of the user input and the work element includes a sequence of indicia and a second one of the body and at least one of the user input and the work element includes a pointer selectively positionable to correspond with a selected one of the sequence of the indicia.

15. The tool of claim 10, wherein the work element includes a chuck, and the passcode includes a predetermined pattern of clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the chuck relative to the body.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the controller includes at least one feedback sensor adapted to communicate the rotational position of the chuck to the controller.

17. The tool of claim 10, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically actuate the security mode upon the elapsing of a predetermined sequential period.

18. The tool of claim 10, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically actuate the security mode upon at least one of disconnection and reconnection of the power source from the tool.

19. The tool of claim 10, wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a drill, a screwdriver, a saw, a router and a sander.

20. The tool of claim 10, wherein the controller includes a memory portion adapted to store a passcode value corresponding to the passcode.