SLIDABLY ATTACHABLE NON-CONTACT VOLTAGE DETECTOR

• US 20090257222A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bublitz, Scott D., Jones, Mike N., Nguyen, Evans H., Crowe, Jason R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/205
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06788 Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/07 Non contact-making probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators

Abstract

The invention provides a non-contact voltage detector (“NCVD”) that includes a housing, a power switch, and an LED flashlight. The housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion which are slidably attachable to one another. A voltage sense circuit is positioned within the housing and illuminates a voltage sense indicator when it detects an AC voltage. The power switch is operable to activate the voltage sense circuit and the LED flashlight. The NCVD includes a first set of rails and a second set of rails for slidably attaching the NCVD to a test and measurement device, such as a digital multimeter (“DMM”) or an infrared (“IR”) temperature gun.

Claims

1. A non-contact voltage detector slidably attachable to a test and measurement device, the voltage detector comprising:

a housing;

a first set of rails and a second set of rails;

a voltage sense circuit located within the housing;

a voltage sense indicator and an LED flashlight located within an upper portion of the housing; and

a lower portion of the housing including a switch operable to activate the LED flashlight and the voltage sense circuit,

wherein the first set of rails and the second set of rails are each configured for slidable attachment to the test and measurement device, and

wherein the switch is positioned between the first set of rails and the second set of rails.

2. The voltage detector of claim 1, wherein the LED flashlight is located at a first end of the housing and the switch is located at a second end of the housing.

3. The voltage detector of claim 2, wherein the voltage sense indicator is located between the switch and the LED flashlight.

4. The voltage detector of claim 3, wherein the LED flashlight provides an indication of a charge state of a battery within the voltage detector.

5. The voltage detector of claim 1, further comprising a grip portion.

6. The voltage detector of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the housing is slidably attachable to the lower portion of the housing.

7. The voltage detector of claim 1, wherein the voltage detector is an active device.

8. The voltage detector of claim 1, wherein the first set of rails form a first mounting interface for attachment to the test and measurement device, and the second set of rails form a second mounting interface for attachment to the test and measurement device.

9. The voltage detector of claim 8, wherein the first mounting interface is parallel to the second mounting interface.

10. The voltage detector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes the first and second sets of rails.

11. A non-contact voltage detector slidably attachable to a test and measurement device, the voltage detector comprising:

a housing;

a first set of rails and a second set of rails,

wherein the first set of rails and the second set of rails are each configured for slidable attachment to the test and measurement device;

a voltage sense indicator and an LED flashlight located within an upper portion of the housing; and

a switch located within a lower portion of the housing and operable to activate the LED flashlight,

wherein the upper portion of the housing is slidably attachable to the lower portion of the housing, and

wherein the switch and the LED flashlight are positioned opposite one another.

12. The voltage detector of claim 11, wherein the LED flashlight is located at a first end of the housing and the switch is located at a second end of the housing.

13. The voltage detector of claim 12, wherein the voltage sense indicator is located between the switch and the LED flashlight.

14. The voltage detector of claim 13, wherein the LED flashlight provides an indication of a charge state of a battery within the voltage detector.

15. The voltage detector of claim 11, further comprising a grip portion.

16. The voltage detector of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the housing is slidably attachable to the lower portion of the housing.

17. The voltage detector of claim 11, wherein the voltage detector is a passive device.

18. The voltage detector of claim 11, wherein the first set of rails form a first mounting interface for attachment to the test and measurement device, and the second set of rails form a second mounting interface for attachment to the test and measurement device.

19. The voltage detector of claim 18, wherein the first mounting interface is parallel to the second mounting interface.

20. The voltage detector of claim 11, wherein the housing includes the first and second sets of rails.