Gear cutting – milling – or planing – Milling – Randomly manipulated – work supported – or work following device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2002-09-03
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Gear cutting, milling, or planing
Milling
Randomly manipulated, work supported, or work following device
C409S137000, C409S135000, C408S016000, C408S124000, C144S136950, C144S154500, C016SDIG002, C016S422000, C016S111100, C016SDIG001, C310S047000, C310S050000, C403S322400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06443675
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to hand-held power tools such as spiral cutting tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A spiral cutting tool is a hand-held power tool having an electric motor that rotates a spiral cutting tool bit at high speeds. A spiral cutting tool bit includes a sharp cutting edge that is wrapped in a spiral around the axis of the bit. The spiral cutting tool bit is designed for cutting perpendicular to the axis of the bit. The electric motor that drives the bit is enclosed in a motor housing. The motor housing is generally cylindrical in shape, with the spiral cutting tool bit extending from one end of the motor housing along the axis of the housing. A spiral cutting tool is used to remove material from a workpiece by moving the rotating spiral cutting tool bit through the workpiece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bit. A spiral cutting tool is conventionally operated by grasping the motor housing with one or both hands, turning on the electric motor to begin high-speed rotation of the spiral cutting tool bit, plunging the spinning spiral cutting tool bit into a workpiece, such as a piece of wood, and then moving the cutting tool bit through the workpiece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the spiral cutting tool bit by moving the motor housing in a direction parallel to the plain of the workpiece surface while keeping the axis of the motor housing generally perpendicular to the workpiece surface.
Precise control of a cut being made by a spiral cutting tool, or any other hand-held power tool, is dependent upon at least two factors: the tool operator maintaining a firm grasp on the tool, and good visibility of the workpiece at the point of the cut.
Various methods have been employed to ensure that an operator may maintain a firm grip on a hand-held power tool. With extended and continuous operation, the motor housing of a spiral cutting tool can become warm, and cutting tool vibrations may cause an operator's hands and arms to become fatigued. Extended and continuous use of a spiral cutting tool by grasping the motor housing can, therefore, become uncomfortable, reducing the ability of the operator to precisely control the cut being made. U.S. Pat. No., 5,813,805 issued to Robert K. Kopras, describes a detachable handle for spiral cutting tools and other similar hand-held power tools. The detachable handle provides for extensive continuous use of the power tool while maintaining operator comfort and cutting tool control. The handle may be attached securely to the spiral cutting tool when the tool is to be used for extended periods of time, or generally to enhance the operator's comfort and control in using the spiral cutting tool. The handle may be removed from the tool, for example, when the spiral cutting tool is to be used in tight quarters wherein the handle might become an obstacle to precise control of the spiral cutting tool. The handle is removably secured to the spiral cutting tool by threaded knobs that are inserted through mounting holes in the ends of the handle and tightly threaded into threaded holes formed in handle lugs extending from the motor housing. The threaded knobs are preferably designed so that the detachable handle may be secured tightly to the handle lugs by hand, without the need for a wrench or other tool. Although the threaded knobs may be tightened and removed by hand, they can take some time to thread and unthread from the handle, thereby increasing the time required for attaching the handle to and removing the handle from the motor housing. The detachable handle also features compartments formed therein for holding various spiral cutting tool accessories, such as extra spiral cutting tool bits and a wrench for securing the bits to the spiral cutting tool.
Many hand-held power tools include a power on/off switch mounted on the tool motor housing, rather than on a tool handle. In such tools, the tool motor cannot be controlled by the hand, usually the dominant hand, which is grasping the tool by the handle. Some hand-held power tools, therefore, have power on/off trigger switches mounted in or near the tool handle. However, such handles are not removable. Furthermore, such trigger switches are typically mounted in the handle of the power tool such that the trigger switch is operated by the forefinger, or forefinger and index finger, of the operator's hand. These are typically the strongest fingers of the hand, which must be used, therefore, in such tools, to both hold and control the tool while simultaneously operating the trigger switch. This can increase fatigue and reduce the operator's effective control of the tool.
The second significant factor in making a precise cut using a spiral cutting tool, or any other hand-held power tool, is operator visibility at the point of the cut. Such visibility can be reduced by a build-up of cutting debris, e.g., sawdust, removed from the workpiece by the tool at the point of a the cut, and poor lighting at the point of the cut. Some power tools employ vacuum systems connected to the tool to remove cutting debris from the point of the cut. However, the use of such a vacuum system often makes use of the tool more cumbersome. Proper lighting at the point of a cut can be a problem, both in generally poorly lighted construction environments and, more generally, in any environment where the operator of the tool and the tool itself cast a shadow over the workpiece at the point of the cut.
What is desired, therefore, is an improved spiral cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, which includes features for improving operator control of the tool and operation visibility at the point of a cut being made using the tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved hand-held power tool, such as a spiral cutting tool, including features for improving an operator's ability to operate the tool to provide a precise cut. The present invention provides a hand-held power tool with features for improving both operator control of the tool and operator visibility at the point of a cut being made using the tool.
The present invention provides an easily detachable handle for a spiral cutting tool and other similar hand-held power tools. The use of the detachable handle provides for extensive continuous use of the tool while maintaining operator comfort and tool control. The detachable handle of the present invention includes a gripping surface for an operator's hand which is oriented substantially parallel with the axis of the tool housing. Precise control of the tool is maintained by grasping the tool with two hands, one on the handle, the other on the tool motor housing. The detachable handle facilitates positioning the tool with its axis perpendicular to the workpiece, and moving the tool along the plane of the workpiece in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tool.
A detachable handle in accordance with the present invention is easily and quickly attachable to the motor housing of a spiral cutting tool, or other hand-held power tool, and is easily and quickly detachable therefrom. The detachable handle may be attached securely to the tool when the tool is to be used for extended periods of time, or generally to enhance the operator's comfort and control in using the tool, and may be removed easily and quickly from the tool, for example, when the tool is to be used in tight quarters, where the detachable handle might become an obstacle to precise control of the tool.
A detachable handle in accordance with the present invention preferably has two handle ends, each of which is securely but detachably attachable to a hand-held power tool housing. This provides a very securely attachable and stable handle for the tool. The structures by which the handle is detachably attached to the tool housing preferably provide for easy and quick removal of the handle from the housing when desired. In accordance with the present invention, a detachable handle may include a fixed handle mounting stru
Adler Scott
Bullis Daniel
Gunseor Larry
Kopras Jason R.
Kopras Robert K.
Cadugan Erica E
Roto Zip Tool Corporation
Wellington A. L.
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