GB2341336A

GB2341336A - LED illuminated screwdriver

Info

Publication number: GB2341336A
Application number: GB9819671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming Lin Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-09
Filing date: 1998-09-09
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Also published as: GB9819671D0

Abstract

A screwdriver has mounted within its hollow handle 40 a lamp circuit assembly 5, comprising a plurality of LEDs 53 mounted on a LED mount 52 having two opposite contacts, two battery cells 51 connected to the contacts, and a push button switch 50 connected to the battery cells 51 for controlling the LEDs 53. The push button switch 50 comprises a slotted location plate 503, a push button 501 partially projecting from an end cap 45 of the screwdriver handle 40 and having two metal rods 502 inserted through the slotted location plate 503, and two metal springs 504 mounted on the metal rods 502 on the push button 501, and contacting the battery cells 51.

Description

2341336 LAMP CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY OF A SCREWDRIVER The present invention

relates to a screwdriver having a lamp circuit assembly, and more specifically to the lamp circuit 5 assembly which easy to install, and can be positively operated.

Various screwdrivers with illuminator means have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. Figure IA shows a screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the prior art. This structure of screwdriver comprises a hollow handle 10 defining a receiving chamber 101, two bulbs 12 bllgterally mounted in the receiving chamber 101 of the handle 10 at the front side, two metal springs 13 respectively mounted on the bul,.s 12, two battery cells 14 respectively mounted on the metal sprip.gs 13 within the receiving chamber 10t, a metal contact plate 16 mounted within the receiving chamber 101 and having a raised portion 160, two metal strips 15 respectively connected between the metal springs 13 and the metal contact plate 16, and a cap. 11 threaded into the receiving chamber 101 and stopped at the raised portion 160 of the metal contact plate 16 against the battery cells 14. The lamp circuit assembly of this structure of screwdriver is not satisfactory in function. One drawback of this lamp circuit assembly is its complicated installation procedure. Another 1 drawback of' this lamp circuit assembly is that the metal contact plate Lends to oscillate, thereby causing an oii/()1'1' c()lltro1 err()j-. Still another drawback of this lamp circuit assembly is its complicated operating procedure of' turning on/off tile circuit by turning the cap forwards or backwards. Furthermore, the bulbs consume much power and produce much heat when they are turned on.

Figure IB shows another structure of screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the prior art. This structure of screwdriver comprises a handle 20 defining a receiving chamber 2 1, a bulb 22 mounted in the receivina chamber 21 at the front side, two battery cells 23 connected in series to the bulb 22, a button 25, a spring 26 connected between the button 25 and the negative terminal of the rear battery cell 23, and a metal plate 24 connected between the bulb 22 and the button 25. By means of controlling the button 25, the bulb 22 is turned onloff. The lamp circuit assembly of this structure of screwdriver is still not satisfactory in function. According to this design, it is difficult to positively position the metal plate and the button. If the lamp circuit assembly does not function well, it is difficult to detach the lamp circuit assembly for a maintenance work. Furthermore, the service life of the bulb is short because it consumes much power 2 and produces much heat during its operation.

Figure I C shows still another structure of screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly. This structure ofserewdriver comprises a hollow handle 30, a coupling block 31 fastened to the handle 30 at the front side, a bulb 32 mounted. in the coupling block 31, a battery cell 34 mounted in the handle 30 and disposed in contact with the positive terminal of the bulb 32, a button 36 mounted in a hole on the coupling block 31 al [lie front side, and two conductors 35 respectively connected between the negative terminal of the bulb 32 and the negative terminal of the battery cell 34 through the button 36. This stru cture of screwdriver is still not satisfactory in function. Because the battery cell and the conductors are scaled inside the handle and the coupling block, the assembly process of the screwdriver is complicated. Furthermore, the service life of the bulb is short because it consumes much power and produces much heat during its operation.

The present invention has been accomplished to provide a lamp circuit for a screwdriver with the aim of eliminating the aforesaid drawbracks. it is one aim of the present invention to provide a lamp circuit assembly for a screwdriver which is simple in structure. It is another aim of the present invention to 3 provide a larnp circuit assernbly for a screwdriver which is easy to install. It is still another aim of the present invention to provide a lamp circuit assembly ["or a screwdriver which-can be positively operated. It is still another aim ol' the present invention to provide a lamp circuit assembly for a screwdriver which consumes less power supply, and produces little heat during its operation. It is still another airi. of the present invention to provide a lamp circuit ' assembly which is durable in use. According to one aspect of the pr esent invention, the lamp circuit assembly is mounted in a hollow handle of a screwdriver and partially projecting out of a hole of an end cap at one end of the handle and controlled to give light, comprising a LED mount having two opposite contacts, a plurality of light emitting -d-.iodes connected to the contacts of the LED mount, two battery cells reversely connected to the contacts of the LED mount, and a.push button switch connected to the battery cells at one end opposite to the LED mount and pressed to turn on/off the LEDs. According to another aspect of the present invention, the push button switch comprises a slotted locating plate, a push button partially projecting out the end cap and having two downward metal rods inserted through the slotted locating plate, and two metal springs respectively mounted on the metal rods of the push button and 4 respectively stopped at the battery cells against the LED mount.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the 5 accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1A is a sectional view of a screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the prior art;

Fig. 1B is a sectional view of another structure of screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the prior art;

Fig. 1C is a sectional view of still another structure of screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the prior art;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a screwdriver with a lamp circuit assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 2A is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line A-A of Figure 2; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the screwdriver shown in Figure 2; Fig. 4A is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the LEDs turned on; and Fig. 4B is similar to Figure 4A but showing the LEDs turned off.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a screwdriver is shown comprised of a handle 40, a blade 43, a lamp circuit assembly 5, and a screw cap 45. The blade 43 is fastened to one end, namely the front end of the handle 40. The handle 40 comprises a longitudinal receiving chamber 41, two longitudinal larnp holes 42 extended from the receiving chamber 41 to the front end, and an outer thread 44 at the rear end. The lamp circuit assembly 5 is mounted in the receiving chamber 41 of the handle 40. The screw cap 45 is threaded onto the outer thread 44 of the handle 40. The lamp circuit assembly 5 comprises a LED mount 52, two LEDs (light emitting diodes) 53 connected to the LED mount 52, two battery cells 51 reversely connected to respective contacts at the LED mount 52, and a push button switch 50. The push button switch 50 comprises a slotted locating plate 503, a push button 501 partially projecting out of the center through hole 450 of the screw cap 45 and having two downward metal rods 502 inserted through the slotted locating plate 503, and two metal springs 504 respectively mounted on the metal rods 502 of the push button 501 and respectively stopped at the battery cells 51 against the LED mount 52. The LED mount 52, the battery cells 51 and the press button switch 50 form a loop. By means of pressing the push button switch 50, the LEDs 53 are turned on/off.

The installation procedure of the lamp circuit assembly 5 is outlined hereinafter with reference to Figures 2 and 4A. The LED mount 52 is mounted inside the receiving chamber 41, permitting 6 the LEDs 53 to be respectively inserted into the lamp holes 42, then the. battery cells 51 are reversely mounted in the receiving chamber 41 and connected to the LED mount 52, then the push button switch 50 is mounted in the receiving chamber 41, permitting the metal springs 504 to be respectively stopped at the positive and negative terminals of the battery cells 51, and then the screw cap 45 is threaded onto the outer thread 44 of the handle 40, permitting the push button 501 to project out of the center through hole 450 of the screw cap 45.

When the screwdriver is used to turn a bolt or nut in a dark place, the press button switch 50 is pressed on to turn on the LEDs 53 (see Figure 4A). After use, the press button switch 50 is depressed again to turn off the LEDs 53 (see Figure 4B).- It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for 15 purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

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Claims

_CLAIMS

I. A lamp circuit assembly mountcd in a liollow handic or a screwdriver and partially projecting out of a hole of an end cap at one end of said handle and controlled to give light, comprising a LED mount having two opposite contacts, a plurality of light emitting diodes co nnected to the contacts of said LED mount, two battery cells reversely connected to the contacts of said LED mount, and a push button switch connec.ted to said battery cells at one end opposite to said LED mount and pressed to turn.on/off said light emitting diodes, said push button switch comprising a slotted locating plate, a push button partially projecting out said end cap and having two downward m etal rods inserted through said slott ed locatin-g plate, and two metal springs respectively mounted on the metal rods of said push button and respectively stopped at said battery cells against said LED mount.
2. A lamp circuit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2A to 4B of the accompany drawings.

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