Power tool having interchangeable tool heads with an independent accessory switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776315-B2
Application number	US-201213671002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2012
Priority date	Nov 11, 2011
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A power tool is provided which accommodates interchangeable tool heads. The power tool includes: a tool body having a housing and an electric motor mounted within the housing, as well as a tool head that releasably attaches via a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the tool body. The tool releasably connects to the output shaft of the electric motor when the tool head is attached to the tool body. A tool switch interposed between a power source for the electric motor and the electric motor is operable to supply power from the power source to the electric motor. A tool accessory switch interposed between the tool accessory and the power source for the electric motor is operable to supply power from the power source via the electrical connection to the tool accessory, thereby providing the tool operator independent control of the tool accessory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power tool, comprising:
a tool body having a housing and an electric motor mounted within the housing, the electric motor having a rotatable output shaft;
a tool head releasably attachable via a mechanical connection and an electrical connection to the tool body, the tool head including a tool and a tool accessory, the tool operably connects to the output shaft of the electric motor when the tool head is attached to the tool body; wherein the electrical connection is formed by an electrical connector integrated with the tool head and mated with the electrical connector integrated with the tool body;
a tool switch mounted on the housing of the tool body, the tool switch interposed between a power source for the electric motor and the electric motor and operable to supply power from the power source to the electric motor; and
a tool accessory switch interposed between the tool accessory and the power source for the electric motor, and operable to supply power from the power source via the electrical connection to the tool accessory;
wherein the tool switch and the tool accessory switch are separate switches independently operable by a user of the power tool.

2. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection includes a first terminal electrically coupled to the tool accessory switch.

3. The power tool of claim 2 wherein the electrical connection includes a second terminal electrically coupled to the tool switch.

4. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the tool accessory switch is integrated into at least one of the tool head or the tool body.

5. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the tool is further defined as a chuck for a drill bit and the tool accessory is further defined as a light.

6. The power tool of claim 1 wherein the tool is further defined as a saw and the tool accessory is further defined as a fan.

7. The power tool of claim 1 further comprises a controller disposed in the housing of the tool body and configured to receive an identifier for the tool head via the electrical connection from the tool head, the controller operable to adjust power output by the motor based on the identifier received from the tool head.

8. The power tool of claim 7 further comprises a secondary tool switch interposed between the tool switch and the electric motor, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the secondary tool switch and controls the secondary tool switch based on the identifier received from the tool head.

9. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool accessory switch is part of the tool head.

10. A power tool comprising:
a tool body having a housing and an electric motor mounted within the housing, the electric motor having a rotatable output shaft;
a tool head releasably attachable to the tool body, the tool head including a tool operably coupled via an attachment mechanism to the output shaft of the electric motor when the tool head is attached to the tool body; and further comprises an electrical connection formed between the tool body and the tool head when the tool head is attached to the tool body;
wherein the electrical connection is formed by an electrical connector integrated with the tool head and mated with an electrical connector integrated with the tool body;
the tool head further including a tool accessory and a tool accessory switch, the tool accessory switch interposed between the tool accessory and a power source for the electric motor and operable to supply power from the power source to the tool accessory;
wherein the power tool further comprises a tool switch mounted on the housing of the tool body, the tool switch interposed between the power source for the electric motor and the electric motor and operable to supply power from the power source to the electric motor; and
wherein the tool switch and the tool accessory switch are separate switches independently operable by a user of the power tool.

11. The power tool of claim 10 wherein the tool accessory switch is further defined as a latching switch.

12. The power tool of claim 10 wherein the electrical connection includes a first terminal electrically coupled to the tool accessory switch.

13. The power tool of claim 12 wherein the electrical connection includes a second terminal electrically coupled to the tool switch.

14. The power tool of claim 10 wherein the tool accessory switch is integrated into at least one of the tool head or the tool body.

15. The power tool of claim 10 wherein the tool is further defined as a chuck for a drill bit and the tool accessory is further defined as a light.

16. The power tool of claim 10 further comprises a controller disposed in the housing of the tool body and configured to receive an identifier for the tool head via the electrical connection from the tool head, the controller operable to adjust power output by the motor based on the identifier received from the tool head.

17. The power tool of claim 16 further comprises a secondary tool switch interposed between the tool switch and the electric motor, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the secondary tool switch and controls the secondary tool switch based on the identifier received from the tool head.

18. The power tool of claim 10 , wherein the tool accessory switch is part of the tool head.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Cannaliato Michael F
• Mcquaid Keith E
• Miller David A
• Phillips Steven J
• Sergyeyenko Oleksiy P

Classifications

• B25F3/00 Primary

  Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor · CPC title

• B25F5/021

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