Illumination – With implement or hand held holder therefor – Hand tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-03-13
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With implement or hand held holder therefor
Hand tool
C362S120000, C362S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199998
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
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a driving tool 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, and a torch. The handle has a tubular outer casing with front and rear end portions, and a transparent front cap mounted integrally and securely on the 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. The rear end portion of the outer casing is formed with an internal screw thread. The drive shaft is mounted on the front cap, and extends forwardly therefrom. The torch is received removably in the receiving chamber of the handle. The torch includes a tubular inner housing, a lamp unit mounted in the inner housing at a front end portion of the inner housing, a push-button switch member mounted on a rear end portion of the inner housing and associated operably with the lamp unit to control activation of the lamp unit, a tubular rear cap mounted securely on the rear end portion of the inner housing and having an externally threaded front section which extends into the outer casing of the handle via the rear opening 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 disposed rearwardly of the switch member and having 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: 5515249 (1996-05-01), Shiao
patent: 5579668 (1996-12-01), Kozak
patent: 5713656 (1998-02-01), Lin
patent: 5980077 (1999-11-01), Shiao
patent: 6030092 (2000-02-01), McCalla et al.
patent: 6145995 (2000-11-01), Hung
Sember Thomas M.
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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