Interactive tools
OwnerJason Lee Mooreinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Interactive tools and methods are provided. A particular interactive tool set includes a portable handheld tool and an alignment tool. The portable handheld tool includes a selective drive system. When the selective drive system is engaged, the portable handheld tool is operable perform a function and, when the selective drive system is not engaged, the portable handheld tool is not operable to perform the function. The alignment tool is physically separate and distinct from the portable handheld tool. The selective drive system engages in response to an indication of an aligned state of the alignment tool.
Claims24
An interactive tool set, comprising:
- a portable handheld tool including a selective drive system, wherein, when the selective drive system is engaged, the portable handheld tool is operable to perform a function and, when the selective drive system is not engaged, the portable handheld tool is not operable to perform the function;
- and
- an alignment tool physically separate from the portable handheld tool, wherein the selective drive system engages in response to indication of an aligned state of a workpiece relative to a reference that is independent and distinct from the portable handheld tool.
An interactive tool set, comprising:
- a portable handheld tool including a selective drive system, wherein, when the selective drive system is engaged, the portable handheld tool is operable to perform a function and, when the selective drive system is not engaged, the portable handheld tool is not operable to perform the function;
- and
- an alignment tool physically separate from the portable handheld tool, the alignment tool including:
- at least one sensor to determine alignment of a workpiece relative to a reference that is independent and distinct from the portable handheld tool;
- and
- an alignment state sender to send a signal indicating the alignment of the workpiece relative to the reference;
- wherein the selective drive system engages in response to the signal.
A portable handheld tool, comprising:
- a drive head,
- a selective drive system coupled to the drive head, the selective drive system having a plurality of engagement states, wherein, when the selective drive system is in a first engagement state, the drive head is operable to perform a function in response to a user input, and, when the selective drive system is in a second engagement state, the drive head is not operable to perform the function in response to the user input;
- and
- an alignment sensor receiver coupled to the selective drive system, wherein the alignment receiver selects a particular engagement state of the selective drive system based on an alignment state indicated by a physically separate alignment tool, wherein the alignment state corresponds to orientation of a workpiece relative to a reference that is independent and distinct from the portable handheld tool.
An interactive tool set, comprising:
- an alignment tool configured to generate a wireless signal indicating an alignment state of a workpiece relative to a reference;
- and
- a portable handheld drill/driver device physically separate from the alignment tool and independent and distinct from the reference, the portable handheld drill/driver device including a selective drive system, wherein the selective drive system includes two or more engaged drive settings, wherein the selective drive system engages a first drive setting when the alignment tool indicates a first alignment state and engages at a second drive setting when the alignment tool indicates a second alignment state;
- and
- wherein the portable drill/driver device, the alignment tool, or both, includes an output device that generates a human perceptible indication of the alignment state, an engaged drive setting of the selective drive system, or both.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.