Vacuum electronic power tool sense

• US 8,584,310 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beers, David R., DiPasquale, Kathy E., Maid, Spencer G.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/899,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 439/372, 439/373, 439/374, 153/39, 153/272, 220/241, 174/66, 174/67
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A vacuum electronic power tool sense system senses the operation of a power tool that is plugged into an onboard power outlet and the vacuum source is automatically operated to facilitate user clean-up of debris generated by use of the power tool. A delay period can be utilized to maintain the vacuum source is an on state for a predetermined period of time after the power tool is turned off.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power outlet disposed on said housing;

an outlet cover disposed on said housing and movable to a first position for covering said power outlet and a second position for allowing a plug to be inserted in said power outlet, said outlet cover having a notch adapted to receive a cord connected to the plug, said outlet cover being operable for preventing the plug from being inadvertently pulled out of the power outlet; and

wherein said outlet cover is slidably mounted to said housing.

2. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power outlet disposed on said housing; and

an outlet cover disposed on said housing and pivotable to a first position for covering said power outlet and a second position for allowing a plug to be inserted in said power outlet, said outlet cover having a notch adapted to receive a cord connected to the plug, said outlet cover being operable for preventing the plug from being inadvertently pulled out of the power outlet, wherein an entirety of said outlet cover pivots together about a common axis in a plane parallel with a surface of said housing that surrounds said power outlet.

3. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a power outlet disposed on said housing; and

an outlet cover disposed on said housing and pivotable to a first position for covering said power outlet and a second position for allowing a plug to be inserted in said power outlet, said outlet cover having a notch adapted to receive a cord connected to the plug when in the second position, said outlet cover being operable for preventing the plug from being inadvertently pulled out of the power outlet, wherein said outlet cover pivots about an axis that is parallel to a surface of said housing that surrounds said power outlet, wherein said notch of said outlet cover is disposed on a face of said outlet cover that faces said power outlet when said outlet cover is in said first position.