Laser guided tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10630036-B2
Application number	US-201615248672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

Tools for crimping or cutting of an object such as a wire, cable, or connector. The tool includes a first member and a second member configured to come together through a gap to crimp or cut a wire, cable or connector and a laser positioned to visually indicate a region where at least one member traverses as the first and second member come together through the gap. This visual indication aids in alignment of the object for the crimping or cutting operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool head for operating on an object, the tool head comprising:
a first member and a second member, the second member being stationary and the first member being movable along a track in a first direction toward the second member and in a second direction away from the second member; and
a light source positioned in the track in proximity to the second member, the light source generating a narrow beam of light in a direction away from the track that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of movement of the first member along the track and that visually indicates where a feature of the first member is to interact with object.

2. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second members are configured to crimp the object as the first member converges on the second member.

3. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second members are configured to cut the object as the first member converges on the second member.

4. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a first feature and the second member comprises a second feature, and wherein the narrow beam of light or the angular spread of light visually indicates a region where at least one of the first feature and the second feature are configured to operate on the object as the first member converges on the second member.

5. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the light source generates an angular spread of light to visually indicate a plane between the first and second members.

6. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser.

7. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a first die and the second member comprises a second die.

8. The tool head of claim 7 , wherein the first die comprises a first crimping feature and the second die comprises a second crimping feature, and wherein the light source generates a narrow beam of light to visually indicate where at least one of the crimping features of the first and second dies when the first die converges on the second die.

9. The tool head of claim 7 , wherein the first die comprises a first crimping feature and the second die comprises a second crimping feature, and wherein the light source generates an angular spread of light to visually indicate a plane between the first and second members, the first crimping feature and the second crimping feature being configured to operate on an object where the object crosses the plane as the first member converges on the second member.

10. The tool head of claim 9 , wherein the first crimping feature comprises a protrusion.

11. The tool head of claim 9 , wherein the first crimping feature comprises a groove.

12. The tool head of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a first blade and the second member comprises a second blade.

13. The tool head of claim 12 , wherein the light source generates a narrow beam of light to visually indicate where the first member converges on the second member.

14. A tool for operating on an object, the tool comprising:
a body for supporting a tool head; and
a tool head comprising:
a first member and a second member, the second member being stationary and the first member being movable along a track in a first direction toward the second member and in a second direction away from the second member; and
a light source positioned in the track in proximity to the second member, the light source generating a narrow beam of light in a direction away from the track that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of movement of the first member along the track and that visually indicates where a feature of the first member is to interact with object.

15. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first and second members are configured to crimp the object as the first member converges on the second member.

16. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first and second members are configured to cut the object as the first member converges on the second member.

17. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a first feature and the second member comprises a second feature, and wherein the narrow beam of light or the angular spread of light visually indicates a region where at least one of the first feature and the second feature are configured to operate on the object as the first member converges on the second member.

18. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the light source generates an angular spread of light to visually indicate a plane between the first and second members.

19. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the light source is a laser.

20. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a first die and the second member comprises a second die.

21. The tool of claim 20 , wherein the first die comprises a first crimping feature and the second die comprises a second crimping feature, and wherein the light source generates a narrow beam of light to visually indicate where at least one of the crimping features of the first and second dies when the first die converges on the second die.

22. The tool of claim 20 , wherein the first die comprises a first crimping feature and the second die comprises a second crimping feature, and wherein the light source generates an angular spread of light to visually indicate a plane between the first and second members, the first crimping feature and the second crimping feature being configured to operate on an object where the object crosses the plane as the first member converges on the second member.

23. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a first blade and the second member comprises a second blade.

24. The tool of claim 23 , wherein the light source is positioned to visually indicate where at least one of the first and second blades traverse as the first member converges on the second member.

25. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the body has a battery that is electrically coupled to the light source.

26. The tool of claim 25 , wherein the body includes a button operatively coupled to the battery for activating the tool head.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Rzasa Michael Paul
• Peterson Jennifer

Classifications

• B23D29/002

  for cutting wire or the like · CPC title

• B25F5/021

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

• B25B27/146

  Clip clamping hand tools · CPC title

• B23D33/12

  Equipment for indicating where to cut · CPC title

• B26D5/06

  by electrical means · CPC title