Tool lighting source

Abstract

An illumination source is disposed in a housing of a tool without the need for fasteners or snaps. The illumination source includes a plurality of illumination elements, such as LEDs, disposed on a circuit board. During use of the tool, a lens and the housing cooperate to direct light emitted by the illumination elements away from the user's eyes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to illumination sources for hand tools. Background Art

[0002] Hand tools, such as motorized ratchets and drivers, are commonly used to tighten and loosen workpieces such as threaded fasteners, and to apply torque and / or angular displacement to workpieces in automotive, industrial, and household applications. These hand tools are often used in dimly lit areas with limited space (e.g., engine compartments), making it difficult to see or perform some tasks.

[0003] Typically, hand tools include a single LED disposed adjacent to the drive lug of the tool. However, the single LED only illuminates a small area adjacent to the drive lug and therefore cannot provide adequate illumination to dim areas surrounding a workpiece. Other tools that include multiple LEDs surrounding a housing of the tool require additional structures and / or fasteners attached to the tool to mount the LEDs. These additional structures and fasteners cause the tool to become bulky and more difficult to use in areas with limited space. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention broadly relates to an illumination source for a hand tool having a tool housing. The illumination source includes an illumination element, such as an LED, disposed on a circuit board, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The circuit board is shaped to substantially correspond to the internal geometry of the tool housing. The illumination source is retained in the tool housing without the use of fasteners and / or snaps. The tool housing also includes a peripheral edge adapted to retain a lens. The lens and the peripheral edge are cooperatively adapted to direct light emitted from the illumination element away from the user's eyes and toward a working area of ​​the tool to illuminate an area surrounding a workpiece. Thus, a tool containing an illumination source is more compact and has improved illumination compared to the prior art.

[0005] In one embodiment, the invention broadly includes a tool comprising: a housing portion having a perimeter; a driver portion coupled to the housing portion and having a base; an illumination source disposed in the housing portion between the perimeter and the base, the illumination source having an illumination element disposed on a circuit board and adapted to emit light; and a lens adapted to diffuse light emitted by the illumination element. The lens is disposed between the illumination source and the perimeter.

[0006] In another embodiment, the present invention broadly includes an illumination source for a tool having a housing portion, a driver portion, and a lens. The illumination source includes: a circuit board having a shape substantially corresponding to the internal geometry of the housing portion and adapted to be disposed in the housing portion; and an illumination element disposed on the circuit board and adapted to emit light toward the lens. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] For the purpose of making the subject matter for which protection is sought readily understood, embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings, and by examining the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, the subject matter for which protection is sought, its construction and operation, and its many advantages should be readily understood and obtained.

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example tool (eg, a motorized ratchet tool) including an illumination light source according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 For along Figure 1 The line 2-2 is intercepted Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the tool.

[0010] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illumination light source according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 For along Figure 4 The line 5-5 is intercepted Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Although the present invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, it should be understood that the disclosure should be viewed as an example of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the present invention to the embodiments described. The term "present invention" as used herein is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only.

[0014] The present invention broadly includes an illumination source disposed in a motorized hand tool (such as, for example, a motorized ratchet tool) having a housing. The illumination source includes one or more illumination elements, such as LEDs, disposed on a circuit board, such as, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The circuit board can be shaped to substantially correspond to the internal geometry of the housing. In one embodiment, the illumination source is held in place by the periphery of the housing, the lens, and the driver portion so that no fasteners and / or snaps are required for installation. During use of the tool, the edge of the housing and the lens cooperatively direct light emitted from the illumination element away from the user's eyes to limit glare from entering the user's eyes and illuminate the area around the drive lug of the tool.

[0015] Reference Figure 1-5 , a hand tool 100 (such as, for example, a motorized ratchet tool) includes a housing portion 102 adapted to be held by a user and a driver portion 104 coupled to the housing portion 102. The driver portion 104 is adapted to apply torque to a workpiece and includes a drive lug 106 adapted to engage a tool component (such as a slot or a bit) in a known manner, for example, to subsequently engage and drive the workpiece. The drive lug 106 is operably coupled to and driven by a motor through a ratchet mechanism of the driver portion 104 in a known manner. The driver portion 104 also includes a selector knob 108 adapted to select a rotational drive direction of the drive lug 106. The driver portion 104 may be a ratchet head of a ratchet tool.

[0016] The housing portion 102 encloses one or more of a motor adapted to drive the drive lug 106, a trigger (not shown) adapted to activate the motor, a power source (such as, for example, a battery) adapted to provide power to the motor, an illumination source 110, a lens 112, and a display assembly 114. The housing portion 102 is assembled from two or more mateable clamshell housing portions 116, 118 that are coupled together to cooperatively form the housing portion 102. The housing portion 102 includes a handle portion 120 that a user may grasp or hold during operation of the tool 100. The housing portion 102 may be constructed of a plastic material.

[0017] The first clamshell housing portion 116 and the second clamshell housing portion 118 are configured to be coupled together and subsequently house the driver assembly 104, thereby enclosing one or more of the motor, power source, illumination source 110, lens 112, and display assembly 114. When assembled, as shown in FIG. Figure 1As shown, for example, clamshell housing portions 116, 118 retain the illumination source 110 and the lens 112 therein without the need for additional fasteners and / or snaps. Each of the clamshell housing portions 116, 118 includes a peripheral edge 112 adapted to limit axial movement of the illumination source 110 and the lens 112 relative to the clamshell housing portions 116, 118. The peripheral edge 112 also directs light emitted from the illumination source 110 away from the user's eyes during normal operation of the tool 100.

[0018] In one embodiment, the driver portion 104 includes a head 124 and a base 126 that at least partially circumferentially surrounds the head 124 and corresponds to the internal geometry of the coupled housing portion 102. The head 124 accommodates one or more of the drive lug 106, the selector knob 108, and the ratchet mechanism.

[0019] The illumination source 110 and the lens 112 are disposed in the housing portion 102 between the rim 112 and the base 126, thereby limiting the movement of the illumination source 110 and the lens 112 in the axial direction relative to the housing portion 102. For example, as shown, the illumination source 110 abuts the base 126, and the lens 112 abuts the rim 122, such that the illumination source 110 and the lens 112 are "sandwiched" between the rim 112 and the base 126. In an embodiment, the lens 112 can rotate relative to the housing portion 102 and the illumination source 110.

[0020] The illumination source 110 includes one or more illumination elements 128 disposed on a circuit board 130, such as, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The illumination element 128 may be a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a fluorescent lamp, or a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp, etc., which is operably connected to a power source via the circuit board 130 and an operating switch (not shown). The switch may be adapted to selectively turn the illumination element 128 on or off.

[0021] Although in Figure 3128, the illumination light source 110 may have any suitable number of illumination elements and may be spaced in any suitable manner. The switch may be a manually operated switch or may be activated in response to a user operating a trigger. The switch may include an activation mechanism that uses a button-type actuator or other type of actuator to activate or manipulate the switch, such as, for example, a toggle actuator, a touch-sensitive actuator, a rocker-type actuator, a sliding actuator, a magnetic, or other suitable actuator or device. The switch may be coupled to any position on the tool 100, such as on or adjacent to the handle portion 120, to allow the user to easily activate the switch while operating the tool 100. The switch may also be disposed in the housing portion 102 and adapted to be activated by a trigger when the user operates the tool 100, so that the illumination element 128 is in an on state.

[0022] The circuit board 130 can have a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the internal geometry of the housing portion 102. For example, the circuit board 130 has a substantially circular shape and includes one or more protrusions 132 adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the housing portion 102 to limit rotational movement of the circuit board 130 relative to the tool 100. The circuit board 130 also includes a wire connector 134 adapted to connect the circuit board 130 to a switch and a power source via electrical wiring.

[0023] The cross-sectional shape of the lens 112 substantially corresponds to the internal geometry of the housing portion 102 and the external geometry of the driver portion 104. For example, the lens 112 has a substantially circular shape. The lens 112 is suitable for protecting the illumination light source 110 from dust or other debris, and diffusing the light emitted from the illumination element 128. The lens 112 includes a recess 138 adapted to engage the perimeter 122. Therefore, the lens 112 and the perimeter 122 cooperate to guide the light emitted from the illumination element 128 away from the user's eyes, and guide the light emitted from the illumination element 128 in the direction of the area surrounding the drive lug 106, thereby illuminating the working area. In one embodiment, the lens 112 can be constructed of a light diffusing material so that the light emitted from the illumination element 128 is evenly distributed. In one example, the lens 112 is essentially a solid material sheet having a substantially circular cross-section. The lens 112 can be made of a colorless, translucent (i.e., transparent) plastic material, such as, for example, acrylic. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the material of the lens 112 does not need to be translucent or transparent. Instead, the material can be translucent to a certain extent. In other examples, the material is a light specific material, ie, a higher grade plastic or other material designed with specific light refraction and transmission properties.

[0024] In another example, the lens 112 includes a pattern of different predetermined surface features on the inwardly facing surface 136 facing the illumination light source 110. The surface features are configured to transmit, reflect, block, refract, or redirect light in different ways to produce a desired light diffusion effect. The surface features can be molded into the surface, or can be formed into the surface by sandblasting, cutting, mechanical etching, laser etching, engraving, etc. The light diffusion effect of the lighting element 128 can be adjusted by rotating the lens 112 relative to the illumination light source 110.

[0025] The display assembly 114 includes a display 140 adapted to indicate tool information to a user. In one embodiment, the display 140 is an LCD. The tool information may include, for example, tool status, such as, for example, the charge of the power source, the selected drive direction of the drive lug 106, the power state of the motor, the output torque of the tool 100, etc. The display assembly 114 also includes one or more keys adapted to receive user input, such as, for example, selecting content to be displayed on the display 140, selecting tool parameters, such as, for example, the drive direction of the drive lug 106, causing a switch to set the lighting element 128 to an on state, and / or for otherwise manipulating the display 140 to control the tool 100 and / or parameters of the tool 100.

[0026] As discussed above, various aspects of the present invention are described in terms of a motorized ratchet tool as shown. However, it should be understood that various aspects of the present invention can be implemented in other hand tools or implements. For example and not limitation, the hand tool can be a ratchet wrench, an open-end wrench, a screwdriver, a nut screw, or any other tool capable of applying torque to a workpiece.

[0027] As used herein, the word "coupled" may refer to any physical, electrical, magnetic or other connection, direct or indirect, between two parts. The word "coupled" is not limited to a fixed direct connection between two entities.

[0028] The matters set forth in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are provided by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors' contribution. The actual scope of protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when considered in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

Claims

1. A tool, comprising: a housing portion having a peripheral edge; a driver portion adapted to apply torque to a workpiece and coupled to the housing portion and having a base; an illumination light source disposed in the housing portion between the periphery and the base, the illumination light source having an illumination element disposed on a circuit board and adapted to emit light; as well as A lens is disposed between the illumination source and the perimeter and is held by the perimeter and the base and is adapted to diffuse light emitted by the illumination element.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The tool is a motorized ratchet tool.

3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The housing assembly includes a clamshell housing having a first clamshell housing portion coupled to a second clamshell housing portion.

4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The circuit board is a printed circuit board, and the cross section of the printed circuit board substantially corresponds to the inner geometry of the housing part.

5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The base and the periphery are adapted to limit axial movement of the lens and the illumination source relative to the tool.

6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The perimeter and the lens are adapted to direct light emitted by the lighting element in a direction towards a working area.

7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The lighting element is an LED.

8. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The lens is rotatable relative to the illumination light source.

9. The tool according to claim 8, wherein: The lens includes different surface features on an inwardly facing surface facing the illumination source, the different surface features being adapted to produce different light diffusing effects, and wherein the light diffusing effect is selected by rotating the lens.

10. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The lens includes a recess adapted to engage the peripheral edge.

11. The tool according to claim 1, wherein: The circuit board is a flexible printed circuit.

Images