Fish tape tool
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorNolan J. Henton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fish tape tool includes a housing and a drum supported by the housing for rotation relative to the housing. The drum includes an inner surface that at least partially defines a fish tape storage zone. The inner surface is made of a first material having a first coefficient of friction. The fish tape tool also includes a fish tape positioned at least partially within the fish tape storage zone of the drum. The fish tape is dispensed or retracted from the drum as the drum rotates. The fish tape tool further includes a friction layer positioned on at least a portion of the inner surface of the drum. The friction layer has a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction.
Claims18
A fish tape tool, comprising:
- a housing;
- a drum supported by the housing for rotation relative to the housing, the drum including an inner surface that at least partially defines a fish tape storage zone, the inner surface being made of a first material having a first coefficient of friction;
- a fish tape positioned at least partially within the fish tape storage zone of the drum, the fish tape being dispensed or retracted from the drum as the drum rotates;
- and
- a friction layer positioned on at least a portion of the inner surface of the drum, the friction layer having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction.
A fish tape tool, comprising:
- a fish tape;
- a housing including a housing sidewall having an exit aperture;
- a drum positioned within the housing, the drum receiving at least a portion of the fish tape, the drum being rotatable relative to the housing about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the housing sidewall to dispense or retract the fish tape, the drum including
- a circumferential outer wall,
- a drum sidewall extending generally perpendicular to the axis, and
- an annular aperture formed in the drum sidewall and aligned with the exit aperture such that the fish tape can be dispensed and retracted through the annular aperture and the exit aperture.
A fish tape tool, comprising:
- a motor;
- a drum coupled to the motor, the drum operable to be rotated by the motor;
- a fish tape positioned at least partially within the drum, the fish tape being dispensed or retracted from the drum as the drum rotates;
- a motor current sensor coupled to the motor and configured to measure a current drawn by the motor while the motor rotates the drum;
- and
- a controller coupled to the motor current sensor, the controller configured to deactivate the motor when the motor current sensor measures a current that exceeds a predetermined value,
- wherein the drum rotates in a first direction to dispense the fish tape and rotates in a second direction to retract the fish tape,
- wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the motor when the drum is rotating in the first direction, and
- wherein the motor is configured to be reactivated by operating the motor in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.