Patent ID: 7200516
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B23B,B23Q,B25H,G01B,G01S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for assisting a user to operate a portable power tool, said apparatus comprising: an annular strap having a continuous and unitary length removably positional about a selected portion of the power tool, said strap maintaining a static relationship with the power tools while a drill bit and chuck rotate along a axis centrally aligned with a perimeter of said strap during operating conditions; a plurality of light-emitting sources directly conjoined to said strap and protruding outwardly therefrom such that said light-emitting sources become equidistantly positioned about the outer perimeter of said strap, said light-emitting sources facing forwardly and emitting a plurality of corresponding light arrays aligned parallel to the drill bit such that said light arrays reflect off a planar work surface being drilled by the power tool; means for electrically mating each said light-emitting sources to a power supply source of the drill bit in such a manner that said light-emitting sources automatically toggle between on and off positions when the user activates a trigger of the power tool; a plurality of sensors electrically coupled to said light-emitting sources respectively, said sensors measuring a linear distance defined between said light-emitting sources and a target surface, said sensors generating a plurality of control signals corresponding to distance values wherein said power tool is centrally and orthogonally aligned with the target surface when the distance values are equal; and means for visually displaying a position of a drill bit of the power tool in such a manner that the user can centrally align the drill bit with the target surface during operating conditions; wherein each said light array defines a reflection having a unique diameter on the planar work surface when the power tool is not aligned perpendicular thereto and thereby notifies the user to adapt an angle of the power tool such that each said light array reflects a substantially identical diameter of the planar work surface, the drill bit being aligned perpendicular to the planar work surface when said light-emitting sources are equidistantly spaced from the planar work surface.