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US 2004/0068880 A1Published application
Alignment device
AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorsDaniel Bone, George CH Fung
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorsDaniel Bone, George CH Fung
Estimating the term…
An alignment device (10) for indicating alignment between two component parts, the first component part (12) having an arcuate track (14) with a track following member in the form of a ball bearing (28) to follow the track under the influence of gravity to seek an equilibrium position. The body having a signal input (18) and a signal output port (20) and the second component part comprising an alignment member axially mounted within the body in restraining engagement with the track following member (28) so as to be rotationally displaceable within the body in response to displacement of the member 28, whereby alignment between the alignment member and the input and output ports in response to displacement of the alignment member by the ball bearing, effects operation of an indicator means to provide an indication that such alignment between the alignment member and the alignment ports has been achieved. Further, there is provided a level indicator utilising such an alignment device, together with a power tool utilising such a level indicator to determine when such a tool is held in a horizontal or vertical plane
An alignment device for indicating alignment between two component parts, wherein:
An alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the track following member comprises a sphere.
An alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said track comprises a channel in which said track follower means is restrained by inner and outer walls of said channel.
An alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said first alignment port comprises a signal input port and said second alignment port comprises a signal output port and said alignment member comprises a signal carrying member to effect transfer of a signal from input port to output port when alignment is achieved.
An alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said first and second alignment ports are diametrically opposed about the axis of the track and said alignment member comprises at least one substantially straight axially mounted alignment bar which, upon alignment, extends between said ports.
An alignment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said alignment member comprises a circular disc having a restraining notch formed in its circumference for co-operating engagement with said track following member
An alignment member for use in an alignment device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising two substantially identical circular discs, said member being moment free about an axis extending perpendicular to and through the centre of the discs when fitted together.
An electrical trigger switch for a power tool comprising a trigger having first and second elongate switching members longitudinally displaceable against a resilient biasing force into engagement with first and second electrical switching elements respectively, whereby longitudinal displacement of said trigger moves said first switching member into engagement with said first switching element to effect a first switching operation and continued longitudinal displacement of said trigger moves said second switching member into engagement with said second switching element to effect a second independent switching operation.
33 A power tool as claimed in claim 31 or claim 32 further comprising an electrically powered level indicator, wherein said the first switching operation operates said level indicator and said second switching operation operates the motor of said power tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.