Illumination – With implement or hand held holder therefor – Hand tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-03-06
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With implement or hand held holder therefor
Hand tool
C362S158000, C362S206000, C362S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196696
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a driving tool, such as a screwdriver, which has an illuminating capability, more particularly to a driving tool which is provided with waterproof means to permit use of the tool in water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a first conventional screwdriver
10
is shown to include a hollow handle body
11
formed with a receiving chamber
12
, a pair of bulbs
132
mounted on an open front end of the handle body
11
, a seater
131
mounted on the front end of the handle body
11
between the bulbs
132
for mounting of a shank
17
thereon, a battery set
14
received in the receiving chamber
12
, and a switch member
15
mounted on a rear end of the handle body
10
and connected electrically to the battery set
14
and the bulbs
132
. The switch member
15
is depressible to control actuation of the bulbs
132
. However, since the screwdriver
10
is not provided with waterproofing means to prevent entry of water or moisture into the receiving chamber
12
, it cannot be used in water or under very humid circumstances.
Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, another conventional screwdriver
20
is shown to include a tubular handle body
21
, a front cap
23
mounted on a front end portion of the handle body
21
by means of a retaining sleeve
25
that engages threadedly the front end portion of the handle body
21
, a torch
22
received in the handle body
21
, and a rear cap
24
mounted threadedly on a rear end portion of the handle body
21
for retaining removably the torch
22
in the handle body
21
. The front cap
23
has a shank
231
mounted thereon. The rear cap
24
has a resilient central portion
241
which is depressible to permit actuation of the torch
22
. The screwdriver
20
is provided with an illuminating capability, and the torch
22
is removable from the screwdriver
20
for individual use. However, the screwdriver
20
still cannot be used in water or under very humid circumstances since no waterproofing means is provided to prevent entry of water or moisture into the handle body
21
.
In copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/307,325, the applicant disclosed a driving tool which includes a handle, a drive shaft, and a torch. The handle has a tubular outer casing, and a transparent front cap mounted integrally and securely on a front end portion of the outer casing so as to establish a watertight seal therewith. The outer casing confines a receiving chamber with a rear opening, and has an internally threaded rear end portion. The drive shaft is fixed to the front cap, and extends forwardly therefrom. The torch is received removably in the receiving chamber, and includes a tubular inner housing, a lamp unit mounted at a front end portion of the inner housing, a push-button switch member mounted on a rear end portion of the inner housing, a tubular rear cap mounted securely on the rear end portion of the inner housing and having an externally threaded front section for engaging threadedly the rear end portion of the outer casing, and an open rear section for access to the switch member, a sealing ring provided on the rear cap to establish a watertight seal between the rear cap and the inner housing, and a resilient sealing member having a central portion which is adjacent to the switch member, and a peripheral portion sealingly retained at the rear section of the rear cap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a driving tool of the aforesaid type that is provided with a removable torch and that is waterproof so as to be operable in water or under very humid circumstances.
Accordingly, the driving tool of the present invention includes a handle, a drive shaft, a ratchet mechanism, and a torch. The handle is formed integrally from a transparent material, and has a tubular outer casing with open front and rear end portions, and a partition wall disposed within the outer casing and transverse to an axis of the outer casing so as to divide an interior of the outer casing into front and rear chambers which are isolated from each other. The rear end portion of the outer casing is formed with an internal screw thread. The drive shaft has a connecting end which extends into the front chamber of the handle via the open front end portion of the outer casing, and a drive end which extends forwardly of the outer casing. The ratchet mechanism is mounted in the front chamber of the outer casing of the handle, is connected operably to the connecting end of the drive shaft, and is operable to permit the handle to drive rotation of the drive shaft in at least one direction. The torch is received removably in the rear chamber of the handle, and includes a tubular inner housing, a lamp unit mounted in the inner housing at a front end portion of the latter, a push-button switch member mounted on a rear end portion of the inner housing, a tubular rear cap mounted securely on the rear end portion of the inner housing, a sealing ring, and a sealing member. The switch member is associated operably with the lamp unit to control activation of the lamp unit. The rear cap has an externally threaded front section which extends into the outer casing of the handle via the open rear end portion of the latter for engaging threadedly the rear end portion of the outer casing, and an open rear section for access to the switch member. The sealing ring is provided on the rear cap to establish a watertight seal between the rear cap and the inner housing. The sealing member is disposed rearwardly of the switch member, and has a central portion disposed adjacent to the switch member, and a peripheral portion sealingly retained at the rear section of the rear cap to establish a watertight seal between the rear cap and the inner housing. The central portion of the sealing member is depressible to permit actuation of the switch member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2736792 (1956-02-01), Freeland
patent: 5515249 (1996-05-01), Shiao
patent: 5733034 (1998-03-01), Jan
patent: 5913596 (1999-06-01), Lin
patent: 6030092 (2000-02-01), McCalla et al.
Cariaso Alan
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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