Display assemblies having integrated display covers and light pipes and handheld power tools and methods including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10058989-B2
Application number	US-201114004104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2011
Priority date	Mar 31, 2011
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A handheld power tool includes a housing, a display device mounted on the housing, at least one light source mounted in the housing, and an integral, light transmissive lens member. The lens member includes a cover portion covering the display device to protect the display device from the environment, and a light pipe portion positioned and configured to transmit light emitted from the at least one light source to a location on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A handheld power tool comprising:
a housing;
a display device mounted on the housing;
a display housing mounted on the housing;
at least one light source mounted in the housing; and
an integral, light transmissive lens member including:
a cover portion covering the display device to protect the display device from the environment; and
a first and second light pipe portion each positioned and configured to transmit light emitted from a first and second light source, respectively, to a location on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the display housing covers at least a portion of the lens member between the cover portion and the first light pipe portion thereby visually separating the cover portion and the first light pipe portion, wherein second light pipe portion includes a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the second light pipe portion is coupled to the cover portion at the first end, and wherein the second light pipe portion extends inwardly from the cover portion toward the second end of the second light pipe portion.

2. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein the lens member is a monolithic member.

3. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein the lens member includes a lens mounting feature to mechanically couple the lens member to the housing.

4. The handheld power tool of claim 3 wherein the housing includes a housing mounting feature that interlocks with the lens mounting feature to mechanically couple the lens member in the housing.

5. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source includes a light emitting diode (LED).

6. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein the display device includes at least one of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a display screen, and the display screen is viewable through the cover portion.

7. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein:
the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources mounted in the housing; and
the lens member includes a plurality of light pipe portions each positioned and configured to transmit light emitted from a respective one of the plurality of light sources to a respective one of a plurality of locations on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing.

8. The handheld power tool of claim 7 wherein:
the plurality of light pipe portions collectively define a light pipe array having a first width;
the cover portion has a second width;
the lens member includes a connector portion extending between and connecting the cover portion and the light pipe array; and
the connector portion has a third width that is less than each of the first and second widths.

9. The handheld power tool of claim 1 wherein:
the housing defines a display opening having a housing beveled edge portion; and
the cover portion has a lens beveled edge portion complementary to and seated against the housing beveled edge portion.

10. An integral, light transmissive lens member for use in a handheld power tool, the integral lens member including:
a cover portion configured to cover the display device to protect a display of the handheld power tool device from the environment, wherein the cover portion has a first end and an opposing second end; and
a first and second light pipe portion each configured to transmit light emitted from a light source of the handheld power tool to a location on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the handheld power tool, wherein the first light pipe portion is positioned adjacent to the first end of the cover portion and wherein the second light pipe portion is positioned adjacent to the second end of the cover portion, wherein the second light pipe portion is coupled to the cover portion at a first end of the second light pipe portion, wherein the first end of the second light pipe portion is contiguous and coplanar with at least a portion of the cover portion.

11. The lens member of claim 10 wherein the lens member is a monolithic member and includes:
a lens mounting feature to mechanically couple the lens member to a housing of the handheld power tool; and
a plurality of light pipe portions each configured to transmit light from a respective one of a plurality of light sources of the handheld power tool to a respective one of a plurality of locations on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the handheld power tool.

12. The lens member of claim 11 in combination with a display device and a light source, wherein:
the cover portion covers the display device to protect the display device from the environment; and
the light pipe portion is positioned adjacent the light source to transmit light emitted from the light source.

13. A method for forming a handheld power tool, the method comprising:
providing a housing;
mounting a display device on the housing;
mounting at least one light source in the housing;
mounting an integral, light transmissive lens member including a cover portion and a light pipe portion on the housing such that:
the cover portion covers the display device to protect the display device from the environment; and
the light pipe portion is positioned to transmit light emitted from the at least one light source to a location on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing, wherein the light pipe portion is coupled to the cover portion at a first end of the light pipe portion, wherein the first end of the light pipe portion is contiguous and coplanar with at least a portion of the cover portion; and

mounting a display housing on the housing, wherein.

14. The method of claim 13 including unitarily molding the lens member.

15. The method of claim 14 including unitarily injection molding the lens member.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the lens member includes a lens mounting feature;
the housing includes a housing mounting feature; and
mounting the integral lens member on the housing includes interlocking the housing mounting feature with the lens mounting feature to mechanically couple the lens member in the housing.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the at least one light source includes a light emitting diode (LED); and
the display device includes at least one of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a display screen, and the display screen is viewable through the cover portion.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the lens member includes a plurality of light pipe portions; and
mounting the integral lens member on the housing includes positioning each of the plurality of light pipe portions to transmit light emitted from a respective one of the plurality of light sources to a respective one of a plurality of locations on the handheld power tool visible exteriorly of the housing.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:
the plurality of light pipe portions collectively define a light pipe array having a first width;
the cover portion has a second width;
the lens member includes a connector portion extending between and connecting the cover portion and the light pipe array; and
the connector portion has a third width that is less than each of the first and second widths.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein:
the housing defines a display opening having a housing beveled edge portion;
the cover portion has a lens beveled edge portion complementary to the housing beveled edge portion; an

Assignees

• Chellew Justin Terrance
• Ingersoll Rand Co

Inventors

• Chellew Justin Terrance

Classifications

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title

• F21V17/00

  Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages (of light sources or light holders F21V19/00) · CPC title

• B25F5/021 Primary

  with guiding devices (guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078) · CPC title

• B25F5/00 Primary

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title