Smart accessories for power tools

• US 7,740,425 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zeiler, Jeffrey M., James, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GATES, ERIC ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/195,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 483 7- 12, 83/72, 83/761, 833/562, 30392-394, 408 8- 11, 409/147, 409/245
• US Class Current: 408/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1626 Control means; Display units
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2260/128 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/36 Identification of tooling or other equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 45/00 Hand-held or like portable drilling machines, e.g. drill guns; Equipment therefor details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 49/006 Attached to drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/00 Tools for drilling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/02 Twist drills
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/04 Drills for trepanning
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 61/025 Details of saw blade body
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 61/123 Details of saw blade body
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/0985 by measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/00 Portable grinding machines, e.g. hand-guided; Accessories therefor B24B7/18 takes precedence; for grinding seat surfaces B24B15/00; having a flexible shaft B24B27/027; grinders for cutting-off B24B27/08; dust extraction equipment B24B55/10; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 17/00 Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive tools details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 17/02 Percussive tool bits drill bits for earth drilling E21B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25D 2250/221 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/165 to control Tool rotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/907 including detailed shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/95 with tool-retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/134 Identifying information on tool or tool holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 : With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]

Abstract

Accessories for power tools and combinations are provided. An accessory for a power tool may include a body including a connecting portion for connecting the accessory to the power tool and a communication member positioned on the body for communicating with the power tool. The accessory may be capable of communicating with a power tool and an inventory system via the communication member. A combination may include a power tool including a housing and a motor supported by the housing, and a power tool accessory connectable to the power tool and driveable by the motor, the power tool accessory may communicate with the power tool for affecting operation of the power tool. A combination may include an indication device operable to indicate operation characteristics of the power tool to a user. The communication member may be operable to communicate with the indication device.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a power tool including a housing and a motor supported by the housing;

a power tool accessory connectable to the power tool and drivable by the motor;

a communication member carried by the power tool accessory and indicative of at least one of a design characteristic and an operational characteristic of the accessory; and

an indication device operable to monitor an operational characteristic of the power tool, wherein the operational characteristic of the power tool is one of a rotational speed and a feed rate of the accessory relative to a workpiece;

wherein the communication member is operable to communicate the characteristic of the accessory with the indication device, and wherein the indication device is operable to instruct a user of the power tool to adjust the operational characteristic of the power tool based upon the characteristic of the accessory.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the communication member is an electronic component and communicates with the indication device electronically.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the communication member is one of an RFID component and a WI-FI component.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the indication device includes an LED.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the indication device includes an arrow capable of illumination.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the indication device includes a plurality of indicators.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the indication device is powered by a power source separate from the power tool.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the indication device includes an AC power cord to connect the indication device to an AC power source.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the power source is a battery.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the indication device is powered by a power tool battery.