Fastening tool

• US 8,434,566 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Forster, Michael, Gorti, Bhanuprasad V., Woods, Sam, Schell, Craig, Cruise, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elve, M. Alexandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/417,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 173/2, 173/176, 362/119, 362/120, 408/16
• US Class Current: 173/176
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/06 operated by electric power
• 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

Abstract

A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool having a housing and a motor disposed within the housing. A controller is connected to the motor and receives user inputs for turning on the motor and a power tool battery pack is connected to the controller and the motor. At least one light is connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece. The controller can turn on the light in a predetermined pattern to alert the user to a tool condition, such as the charge level being below a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A power tool for operating on a workpiece, the power tool comprising:

a housing;

a motor disposed within the housing;

a controller connected to the motor and receiving user inputs for turning on the motor;

a power tool battery pack connected to the controller and motor;

at least one light connected to the controller for illuminating the workpiece;

an optical reader connected to the at least one light, the optical reader receiving information transmitted by the at least one light and downloading tool data from the power tool;

wherein the controller is configured to detect an occurrence of a predetermined condition within the power tool and control operation of the at least one light in a predetermined pattern in response to the detected predetermined condition.

2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one light comprises an LED.

3. The power tool of claim 2, wherein the at least one light comprises a white LED.

4. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the tool condition is that a charge level of the power tool battery pack is below a predetermined level.

5. The power tool of claim 4, wherein the predetermined pattern comprises turning on and off the at least one light.

6. The power tool of claim 5, wherein the predetermined pattern comprises turning on and off the at least one light a predetermined number of times.

7. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the power tool comprises a fastener driving device for driving a fastener through a workpiece having a nosepiece through which fasteners are driven, and

wherein the tool condition is that the fastener has jammed in the nosepiece.