GB2432809A

GB2432809A - Illuminated status indicator for hand held power tool

Info

Publication number: GB2432809A
Application number: GB0524612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yung-Tsung Lin
Original assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-02
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Also published as: GB0524612D0

Abstract

A power hand tool includes a housing 10 containing a motor 20, a speed changing gear set 31 coupled to the power output end of the motor 20, a transmission mechanism 32 coupled to the speed changing gear set 31 and partially extending out of the housing 10 for operation by the user to selectively shift the speed changing gear set 31 to one of a series of gearshift positions thereof, a set of index signs 324 marked on the transmission mechanism 32 corresponding to the series of gearshift positions and alternatively moved to a sighthole 12 in the housing 10 subject to the gearshift position of the speed changing gear set 31, and a light emitting device 41 mounted in the housing 10 adjacent to the sighthole 12 for illuminating one index sign 324 of the transmission mechanism 32 that is in alignment with the sighthole 12.

Description

POWER hAND TOC

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand tool and more particularly, to a power hand tool having a transmission position indicator (gearshift position indicator) that can be recognized clearly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Regular power hand tools are commonly provided with a multi-step speed changer (transmission) that is controllable to change the revolving speed of the output shaft subject to different working requirements.

The multi-step speed changer of a conventional power hand tool has an operating knob disposed at one side for operation by the user to change the gearshift position. The operating knob has marked thereon index signs, for example, H for high speed, M for standard speed and L for low speed, or a series of numerical signs such as 1, 2, 3, etc. for indicating the current gearshift position. However, one may work with a power hand tool in the night or under a dark environment. When working in the night or under a dark environment, the user may be unable to see the indication of the respective index sign well. If the user directly uses the power hand tool that is shifted to a wrong gearshift position (wrong revolving speed), a working mistake or accidental injury may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a power hand tool, which enables the user to see the adjusted gearshift position clearly when in the dark.

To achieve this object of the present invention, the power hand tool comprises a housing having a through hole and a sighthole, a motor fixedly mounted inside the housing and having a power output end, a multi-step speed changer, and an indicator. The multi-step speed changer has a speed changing gear set coupled to the power output end of the motor, and a transmission mechanism coupled to the speed changing gear set and partially extending out of the through hole of the housing for operation by the user to selectively shift the speed changing gear set to one of a series of gearshift positions thereof. The transmission mechanism has a series of index signs corresponding to the gearshifi positions, and the index signs are alternatively moved to the sighthole subject to the gearshift positions of the speed changing gear set.

The indicator has a light emitting device mounted in the housing adjacent to the sighthole for illuminating one of the index signs of the transmission mechanism that is moved to the sighthole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a power hand tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a part of the housing is removed for illustration purpose.

FIG 2 is a side view of FIG 1.

FIG 3 is top view of the power hand tool according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG 4 is similar to FIG 3 but showing the gearshift position changed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a power hand tool in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a housing 10, a motor 20, a multi-step speed changer 30, an indicator 40, and a battery pack 50.

The housing 10 has a through hole 11 and a sighthole 12 at one side, for example, the top side. Further, the housing 10 defines therein a plurality of receiving chambers.

The motor 20 is fixedly mounted inside the housing 10, having a power output end for output of a rotary driving force to the outside.

The multi-step speed changer 30 comprises a speed changing gear set 31 and a transmission mechanism 32. The speed changing gear set 31 is mounted inside the housing 10 and coupled to the power output end of the motor 20 for selectively changing the rotary driving force (constant revolving speed) to different revolving speeds (because this speed changing gear set is of the known art, no further detailed description in this regards is necessary). The transmission mechanism 32 comprises a gearshift control bar 321 and a transmission shaft 322. The gearshift control bar 321 is axially slidably mounted inside the housing 10, having an operating knob 323 disposed at one side thereof and extending through the through hole 11 to the outside of the housing 10 for operation by an external force (the user) to move the gearshift control bar 321 axially forwards or backwards. The gearshift control bar 321 has marked thereon index signs 324 (for example, H/M/L, or a series of numerical signs such as 1, 2, 3, etc.) corresponding to the gearshift positions provided by the speed changing gear set 31. Through the sighthole 12, one of the index signs 324 can be seen. The transmission shaft 322 has the two distal ends thereof respectively coupled to the speed changing gear set 31 and the gearshifi control bar 321. When operating the operating knob 323 to move the gearshift control bar 321, the transmission shaft 322 is moved to change the gearshift position and at the same time the corresponding index sign 324 is moved into alignment with the sighthole 12. Therefore, when operating the operating knob 323 to change the gearshift position (revolving speed), the user can see the corresponding index sign 324 through the sighthole 12.

The indicator 40 comprises a light emitting device 41 and a light-transmissible covering 42. The light emitting device 41 according to this embodiment is an LED (light emitting diode) mounted in the housing 10 near the sighthole 12. The light-transmissible covering 42 according to this embodiment is a convex lens mounted in the sighthole 12 and adapted to magnify the image of the index sign 324 that is visible through the sighthole 12.

The battery pack 50 is mounted inside the housing 10 and electrically coupled to the motor 20 and the light emitting device 41 of the indicator 40 to provide the motor 20 and the light emitting device 41 with the necessary working voltage, enabling the motor 20 to provide a rotary driving force and the light emitting device 41 to give off light.

The operation of the present invention is outlined hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 again. When operating the operating knob 323 to shift the gearshift control bar 321 and to further drive the transmission shaft 322 to change the gearshift position, the corresponding index sign 324 is moved into alignment with the sighthole 12, and at the same time the light emitted from the light emitting device 41 will stream on the index sign 324, and therefore the user can see the corresponding index sign 324 through the light-transmissible covering 42. By means of the illumination of the light emitting device 41 and the magnifying effect of the light-transmissible covering 42, the user can see the corresponding index sign 324 clearly when working in the dark.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only, and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: I. A power hand tool comprising: a housing having a

through hole and a sighthole; a motor fixedly mounted inside said housing, said motor having a power output end for outputting a rotary driving force at a predetermined revolving speed; a multi-step speed changer having a speed changing gear set coupled to the power output end of said motor, and a transmission mechanism coupled to said speed changing gear set and partially extending out of said through hole of said housing for operation by the user to selectively shift said speed changing gear set to one of a series of gearshift positions thereof, said transmission mechanism having a series of index signs corresponding to said gearshift positions, said index signs being alternatively moved to said sighthole subject to the gearshift positions of said speed changing gear set; and an indicator having a light emitting device mounted in said housing adjacent to said sighthole for illuminating one of said index signs of said transmission mechanism that is moved to said sighthole.

2. The power hand tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery pack mounted inside said housing and electrically coupled to said motor and said light emitting device to provide the necessary working electricity to said motor and said light emitting device.

3. The power hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator further comprises a light-transmissible covering mounted in said sighthole for magnifying the image of the index sign of said transmission mechanism that is moved to said sighthole.

4. The power hand tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein said light-transmissible covering is a convex lens.

5. The power hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises a gearshift control bar axially slidably mounted inside said housing, said gearshift control bar having an operating knob disposed at one side thereof and extending out of said housing through said through hole for operation by the user to move said gearshifi control bar axially forwards or backwards, and a transmission shaft coupled between said speed changing gear set and said gearshift control bar and movable by said gearshift control bar to change the gearshift position of said speed changing gear set; wherein said index signs are marked on said gearshift control bar and alternatively shifted with said gearshift control bar to said sighthole.

6. The power hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light emitting device is a light emitting diode.

7. A power hand tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.