Power hand tool having a proximity detector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hand tool having a motor powered by a power source and an operating switch for the motor controllable by an operator, comprising:
- a housing;
a proximity detector disposed in said housing for detecting the presence of the operator independently of the operation of the hand tool motor;
a light located in said housing; and
,a trigger circuit located within said housing connected to said detector, said light and the power source, said circuit energizing said light when said detector detects the presence of the operator.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a power tool with a hand proximity detector to detect the hand of an operator and a trigger circuit operable with the detector to control the operation of a light in the housing or to provide a safety lockout function.
57 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A hand tool having a motor powered by a power source and an operating switch for the motor controllable by an operator, comprising:
-
a housing; a proximity detector disposed in said housing for detecting the presence of the operator independently of the operation of the hand tool motor; a light located in said housing; and
,a trigger circuit located within said housing connected to said detector, said light and the power source, said circuit energizing said light when said detector detects the presence of the operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A hand tool having a motor powered by a power source and an operating switch for the motor controllable by an operator, comprising:
-
a housing; a proximity detector disposed in said housing for detecting the presence of the operator during operation of the tool; a light located in said housing; and
,a trigger circuit located within said housing connected to said detector, said light and the power source, said circuit energizing said light when said detector detects the presence of the operator; said trigger circuit comprising a converter for converting AC power and providing DC power at its output, said light is a light emitting diode having an anode connected to said converter and a cathode connected to said switch; said switch comprises a first transistor that has its control electrode operatively connected to said detector; a switch connected to said light and to ground; said detector being connected in said circuit and being operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed in response to said detector detecting the presence of the operator; said tool further comprising a Zener diode connected between the converter and ground, a second transistor connected in circuit between said control electrode of said first transistor and said detector, with the control electrode of said second transistor being connected to said detector and to a resistor, with said resistor being connected to said converter output and said detector also being connected to ground, said detector and resistor comprising a voltage divider that operates to provide a switching voltage to said second transistor when the internal resistance of said detector varies in response to detecting the presence and/or absence of an operator.
-
-
18. A portable handheld drill having a motor powered by a power source and an operating switch controllable by an operator for controlling the motor, the drill having a housing with a main portion and an integral handle extending downwardly from the main portion, the drill having a chuck at the front of the main portion of the housing, the operating switch being in the upper front portion of said handle, the drill comprising:
-
a proximity detector that is separate from the operating switch, said detector being located in said housing and being configured to detect the presence of an operator that is in close proximity to the tool; and a trigger circuit located within said housing connected to said proximity detector, a light and the power source, said circuit energizing said light when said detector detects the presence of the operator; and said light being located in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A portable handheld drill having a motor powered by a power source and an operating switch controllable by an operator for controlling the motor, the drill having a housing with a main portion and an integral handle extending downwardly from the main portion, the drill having a chuck at the front of the main portion of the housing, the operating switch being in the upper front portion of said handle, the drill comprising:
-
a proximity detector separate from the operating switch disposed in the housing for detecting the presence of the operator'"'"'s hand in close proximity to the tool; a light located in said housing; and
,a trigger circuit located within said housing connected to said detector, said light and the power source, said circuit energizing said light when said detector detects the presence of the operator'"'"'s hand.
-
Specification