Abstract:
The present invention is a dust collection assembly for capturing dust, debris and residue that is created during the process of drilling holes into a concrete ceiling. The dust collection assembly is used with a universal drill stand and a drill saddle which has an electric drill secured to it. The drill saddle further comprises a telescoping vacuum tube having a ceiling contact portion that encircles the drill bit at the portion of the drill bit where the drill bit enters the ceiling. As the drill bit begins to penetrate the ceiling, silica dust is generated and removed via the vacuum tube, which tube is connected to a vacuum source.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/679,898 filed Apr. 6, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/086,902 filed Apr. 14, 2011, which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/324,630 filed on Apr. 15, 2010. The subject matter of each of those applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to devices that are used in the field of drills and the process of drilling holes into surfaces. It also relates generally to devices of the type that are used for dust collection. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dust collection assembly that is configured to be used with a drill stand that supports a drill having a drill bit for drilling into overhead ceilings. The drill bit is used for drilling substantially cylindrical holes into ceilings and the dust collection assembly is used in conjunction with the drill and drill bit to collect silica dust, which dust is generated as such holes are drilled into concrete ceilings, in particular. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of the dust collection assembly of the present invention as used with a universal drill stand. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged and partial cross-sectioned front view of the dust collection assembly of the present invention showing the drill bit prior to penetration into a ceiling. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is the same view as shown in  FIG. 2  but showing the drill bit penetrating into the ceiling. 
       
    
    
     GLOSSARY 
       [0006]    As used herein, the terms “drill” and “battery drill” mean a power drill operated by use of a DC battery, but could also include a standard corded AC power drill. 
         [0007]    As used herein, the term “caster” refers to a wheel or any rotatable component that allows a structure to be moved without lifting. 
         [0008]    As used herein, the terms “flat” or “planar” means level, even or without unevenness of surface. 
         [0009]    As used herein, the term “selectively” means capable of being attached, detached, or repositioned. 
         [0010]    As used herein, the terms “vertical” or “vertically” mean a structure that is in a position or direction that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or other horizontal plane. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0011]    Before installing fasteners into concrete ceilings, it is necessary to first drill holes. Holes are typically drilled using a hand-held power drill. This repetitive overhead drilling places a great deal of physical strain on a worker because, not only must the worker support the weight of the drill, but apply substantial upward drilling force to the power drill as well. 
         [0012]    To reach the overhead surface of a concrete ceiling, the worker must typically construct scaffolding or ascend a ladder or other elevating device to drill each hole. For taller ceilings, a ladder may not reach or because of obstacles may not be able to be placed directly under the surface to be drilled or close enough to the drilling surface, requiring the worker to dangerously overextend in order to drill the hole. In addition, standing on a ladder or other elevating device positions the worker in close proximity to the dust and debris associated with the drilling of overhead concrete or other surfaces. 
         [0013]    To avoid these problems It is desirable to have a universal drill stand that is not cumbersome to adjust and such a drill stand is disclosed and claimed in these inventors&#39; U.S. Pat. No. 9,586,312 which will be issued Mar. 7, 207 titled “Universal Drill Stand.” It is also desirable to provide such a drill stand with a power hand tool saddle coupling and saddle base assembly that would be used with the movable universal drill stand for supporting and variably elevating at least one power hand tool proximate to an overhead surface for drilling, nailing or cutting into such surface. Such a saddle coupling is disclosed and claimed in these inventors&#39; U.S. Pat. No. 9,174,337 issued Nov. 3, 205 titled “Saddle Coupling and Saddle Base Assembly for Use With Power Hand Tools.” In the view of these inventors, however, it is also desirable to have a universal drill stand and saddle base assembly that includes a dust collection assembly for capturing dust, debris and residue that is created during the drilling process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention is a dust collection assembly for capturing dust, debris and residue that is created during the drilling process. More specifically, the dust collection assembly is used with a universal drill stand and a drill saddle which has an electric drill secured to it. In the present invention, the drill saddle further comprises a telescoping vacuum tube having a ceiling contact portion that encircles the drill bit at the portion of the drill bit where the drill bit enters the ceiling. As the drill bit begins to penetrate the ceiling, silica dust is generated and removed via the vacuum tube. 
         [0015]    The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0016]    For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text to an exemplary embodiment of a telescoping vacuum tube that is used with a universal drill stand as briefly described above. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an assembled perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the universal drill stand, generally identified  10 . The drill stand  10  comprises a planar base plate  34 . Extending outwardly from the base plate  34  are a plurality of legs  19 . In this embodiment, four legs  19  are shown. At the distal end of each leg is a caster  17 ,  18 . Two of the legs  19  have fixed casters  17  attached to them and two of the legs  19  have rotatable casters  18  attached to them. The rotatable casters  18  are rotatable about a vertical axis such that the casters  18  can turn for maneuvering of the drill stand  10 . This configuration allows for easy movement of the drill stand  10  from one location to another and for easy turning and positioning of the stand  10  below a ceiling to be drilled. 
         [0018]    Extending upwardly from the base plate  34  is a bottom cap  32 , a telescoping or upwardly movable outer tube  4  and a stationary inner tube (not shown). This structure is essentially that of a vertically-oriented wash-down type pneumatic cylinder, the cylinder being powered by compressed air or bottled gases, such as CO 2  or nitrogen. The inner tube, which is essentially the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder, is coupled to the outer telescoping tube  4 . 
         [0019]    A control  2  is attached to a handle  3 , the handle  3  being that part of the drill stand  10  that is used to move the drill stand  10  and to actuate elevation of the drill saddle and vacuum assembly, generally identified  20  (and also alternatively referred to herein as a “dust collection assembly”). Where a corded drill is used, the control  2  would provide means for powering the drill. A pole clamp offset  8  is provided and an offset tube  7  is secured within the offset  8 . A gap  33  in the base plate  34  allows the lower end of the offset tube  7  to be extended downwardly and below the plate  34  as may be required from time to time. This structure is provided in view of the fact that the inner and outer tubes are somewhat limited in their fully-extended height. The offset tube  7  overcomes this limitation. The offset tube  7  is elevated to the desired height and then clamped in position via the pole clamp offset  8 . The offset tube  7  comprises an uppermost portion  5 , which is preferably configured to be modular such that various attachments can be used with the drill stand  10 . 
         [0020]    Most significantly, the universal drill stand  10  can elevate drills well beyond the reach of tradesmen. Corded drills can be turned on and off with the switch on the multi-outlet strip or control  2  attached to the handle  3 , but this does not allow battery drills to be used. Accordingly, a cable trigger subassembly  50  is provided which is comprised of a cable  52 , an extension spring  53 , an anchoring washer  54  and a utility pole  56  with a retaining ring  57  with embedded magnets (not shown). The cable  52  whose first end is attached to the saddle and vacuum assembly  20  (or dust collection assembly) in a position to be guided over the drill trigger. The second end of the cable trigger subassembly  50  is attached to the anchoring washer  54  which is slipped over the utility pole  56 . Just above the anchoring washer  54  is an extension spring  53 . The embedded magnets in the retaining ring  57  allow storage for the anchor washer  54  and for vertical adjustment of the drill stand  10  prior to engaging the cable trigger system. When the drill is extended vertically to within 4-6″ of the ceiling, the anchoring washer  54  is separated from the embedded magnets and allowed to slip down the utility pole  56 . When the drill is moved upwardly, the anchor washer  54  binds on the utility pole  56  and tension accumulates on the cable  52 . The drill trigger actuates when sufficient cable tension occurs and with the extension spring  53  in the cable linkage allows drill actuation over a practical vertical stroke since the spring stretches as the drill advances vertically. When the drill is reversed in direction, the cable tension is relieved and the drill de-actuates. 
         [0021]    Dust control, especially of silica-based dust of the type that is associated with concrete, is becoming an essential safety feature required on job sites. Currently used dust collection constructs use an integrated retractable dust shroud which recedes as the brill bit penetrates the ceiling. Though effective at collecting dust, such constructs have limitations. One such limitation is that accurate placement of the drill bit is obscured by the dust shroud. The saddle and vacuum assembly of the present invention overcomes this limitation and others. 
         [0022]    The preferred saddle and vacuum assembly, or dust collection assembly, is generally identified  20 . A portion of the assembly  20  cradles an electric drill  50  of conventional manufacture. As will be apparent herein, the saddle and vacuum assembly  20  of the present invention allows for collection of silica dust by using suction from a common shop vacuum, generally identified  60 . See  FIG. 1 . It also allows for use of the assembly  20  with the user being able to visualize the location for the hole that is to be drilled, as will be apparent. 
         [0023]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As shown, the saddle and vacuum assembly  20  of the present invention comprises a modular base  25 . The base comprises a bottom support portion  26  and a substantially vertical support portion  27 . Together, these portions  26 ,  27  allow the electric drill  50  to be harnessed in such a way that the drill bit  52  is presented vertically and substantially perpendicularly relative to the ceiling C. Further, a height-limiting structure  22  is incorporated with this assembly  20  such that, when the tip  23  of the height-limiting structure  22  contacts the ceiling C as the drill  50  is elevated, this is an indicator to the user that the required depth of the drilled hole is reached. The assembly  20  can then be lowered to withdraw the drill bit  52  from the ceiling C and the stand  10  can be moved to the next location for a hole to be placed. 
         [0024]    The vacuum  60  has a suction hose  24 . The dust collection assembly  20  further comprises an attachment collar  21  for securing a hollow outer collection tube  41  in a substantially vertical position. One end of the hose  24  is secured to the bottommost portion of the outer collection tube  41 . Disposed within the outer collection tube  41 , but also located at or near the bottommost portion of the outer collection tube  41 , is a spring-stop portion  43 . Disposed above the spring-stop portion  43  is a compression spring  42 . Disposed above the compression spring  42  is one end of a hollow inner collection tube  45 . The inner diameter of the outer collection tube  41  and the outer diameter of the inner collection tube  45  are dimensioned such that the combination of the tubes  41 ,  45  allows them to slidably engage one another. The hollow interior  49  of the tubes  41 ,  45  and the hose  24  provide an air suction continuum between the uppermost portion  46  of the inner tube  45  (in the area where the hole is to be drilled and the vacuum  60 . That is, they are telescoping relative to one another with the outer collection tube  41  being stationary and the inner collection tube  45  being vertically movable within the outer collection tube  41 . Though disclosed as being round, it is also possible for the shape of the tubes  41 ,  45  to be configured in shapes other than round—the only structural relation requirement being that the tubes  41 ,  45  must be telescopically and slidably engageble with one another. For example, a rectangular shape or other shapes are also within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Use of the compression spring  42  within the outer collection tube  41  allows the inner collection tube  45  to be urged upwardly, which is the normal or default position for the inner collection tube  45 , as per  FIG. 2 . Upwardly vertical travel of the inner collection tube  45  is limited via a slot  44  defined within the inner collection tube  45 , the slot  44  used in conjunction with a limiting pin  40 . See  FIG. 2 . As shown, the inner collection tube  45  is substantially L-shaped and has a substantially horizontal upper portion  46  that is substantially parallel to the surface of the ceiling C. This right angle tube is laterally adjustable and terminates with a vacuum site tube  47  and dual aperture  48 , the aperture  48  being “dual” because it is open at the top and at the bottom. This allows the drill bit  52  to pass through it. This also allows the assembly  20  to compensate for small dimensional differences between various drills. The telescoping tube assembly  41 ,  45  functions to allow the vacuum site tube  47  to retain ceiling contact for various drilling depths via the spring action of the inner telescoping tube  45  so as to create air flow for the vacuum that effectively “seals” at the ceiling C and allows rapid air movement upward into the downward facing portion of the aperture  48  of the vacuum site tube  47  to prevent dust generated by drilling from falling through the aperture  48 . The dual aperture  48  of the vacuum site tube  47  surrounds the drill bit  52  while drilling and simultaneously allows clear site lines to the drilling target on the ceiling C. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the position of the component parts of the assembly  20  are illustrated prior to the drill bit  52  penetrating the ceiling C. As the drill  50  is urged upwardly, the vacuum site tube  47  seals about the bit  52  and silica dust and debris is sucked upwardly and inwardly into the inner collection tube  45  and then downwardly into the vacuum hose  24  from the outer collection tube  41 . The proper depth of the drilled ceiling hole is reached when the tip  23  of the height-limiting structure  22  contacts the ceiling C. See  FIG. 3 . During drilling, the vacuum site tube  47  maintains sealing contact with the ceiling C as the inner collection tube  45  moves downwardly, compressing the spring  42 . Once drilling is completed, the drill stand  10  and the drill  50  can be conveniently moved to another location to continue the drilling of other holes in the ceiling C.