Patent Publication Number: US-2007101586-A1

Title: Power tool with a duplicate switch

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
      The present invention is directed to a power tool with the features—that represent the general class—of Claim  1 .  
      Power tools are generally known. Tools of this type always include an operating switch and/or an on/off switch, with which the power tool can be turned on and off. It is important that the operating switch be positioned correctly, so the power tool can be operated in an optimum manner. With known power tools, the operating switch is therefore located in a position on the tool where the switch can be easily reached by the operator during normal operation of the tool. If a known power tool of this type is not used by the operator in the normal, intended position, however, but rather in an unusual position, it is often difficult for the operator to reach the operating switch. This makes turning the tool on and off complicated and time-consuming.  
     ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
      In contrast, a power tool according to the present invention having the features of Claim  1  has the advantage that a power tool is therefore created that is easy to turn on and off not only during normal operation, but also special operation when used in unusual positions. In particular, the power tool according to the present invention, with its second operating switch, enables easy switching on and off and, therefore, optimum usage when the power tool is used overhead.  
      The term “power tool” generally encompasses all tools that are electrically operated. In particular, the term refers to hand tools, i.e., tools that are operated and guided by hand. The power tool is preferably a jigsaw.  
      The first operating switch and the second operating switch of the power tool perform the same function. They are both used to turn the power tool on and off. The power tool according to the present invention can be started up or turned off using either the first or second operating switch. The first operating switch is preferably located on the power tool such that it is easy to reach during normal operation. The other operating switch, however, is preferably located such that it enables a convenient switching on and off of the power tool in a special operating position that is different from the normal operating position. The special operating position is preferably an overhead position, i.e., a position in which the power tool is rotated by 180° relative to the normal position, that is, it is used “upside-down”.  
      When the second operating switch is designed for overhead use, it is particularly advantageous when the first operating switch and the second operating switch are located essentially at right angles to each other. This means that the two planes formed by the respective operating switches form an angle of approximately 90° with each other. This angle can also preferably be slightly less than 90°.  
      In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the power tool can include a side handle and a top handle, the first operating switch being located on the side handle, and the second operating switch being located on the top handle. The side handle and top handle make it possible to hold and guide the tool. The top handle is mainly suited for guiding the power tool when used overhead.  
      The power tool according to the present invention is preferably designed such that the side handle and the top handle transition into each other, thereby essentially forming a right angle, the first operating switch and the second operating switch being located on diametrically opposed surfaces in this angle. With this design, the side handle and the top handle meet in the same region and transition into each other. During normal operation, the top handle is essentially vertical, while the side handle is essentially horizontal. In this case, the first operating switch and the second operating switch are located close to the transition region between the side handle and the top handle.  
      It is advantageous when the first operating switch and the second operating switch are coupled with each other, so that a motion of the first operating switch is transferred directly to the second operating switch, and vice versa. In particular, the first operating switch and the second operating switch can be mechanically coupled with each other via a flexible connecting element. The advantage of this is that only one device is required for both operating switches to convert the mechanical motion of the switch into an electrical variable. The flexible connecting element is preferably a thin strip of sheet metal seated in the angle formed by the side handle and the top handle. The first operating switch is preferably fastened to one end of the connecting element, and the second operating switch is preferably fastened to the second end of the connecting element, so that the first connecting element and the second connecting element are connected with each other “around the corner”, so to speak.  
      It is advantageous when the power tool includes a guide for the connecting element, so it can reliably transfer the motion of one switch to the other switch.  
      Finally, the first operating switch is preferably connected with an adjusting slide, the adjusting slide converting a motion of the first operating switch into an electrical variable. The adjusting slide is preferably designed as a long thin segment connected with the electronics of the power tool. When either of the two operating switches is operated, the adjusting slide is displaced, thereby turning the power tool on or off. 
    
    
     DRAWING  
      An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained in greater detail in the description below with reference to the associated drawing.  
       FIG. 1  Shows a perspective full view of a jigsaw according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  Shows a perspective, enlarged partial view of the jigsaw according to  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  Shows the side of the jigsaw according to  FIG. 1 , in a partial view;  
       FIG. 4  Shows the side of the jigsaw according to  FIG. 1 , in a perspective partial view;  
       FIG. 5  Shows a perspective, side view of the jigsaw according to  FIG. 1 , without housing;  
       FIG. 6  Shows a full view of the jigsaw according to  FIG. 1 , in overhead use; 
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a jigsaw  100  in a perspective full view. Jigsaw  100  rests on a workpiece  101  to be machined. Workpiece  101  can be, e.g., a board to be sawed. Jigsaw  100  includes a top handle  102  and a side handle  103 . Top handle  102  and side handle  103  are essentially positioned at a right angle with each other. The two handles transition into each other in a transition region  104 . A first operating switch  107  and a second operating switch  108  are located in angle  106 , which is formed by two handles  102  and  103 . The two operating switches  107  and  108  are located in a corner, so to speak. Considered together, first operating switch  107  and second operating switch  108  can also be referred to as a duplicate switch. Second operating switch  108  is located on a substantially vertical surface  109  of top handle  102 . First operating switch  107  is located on a substantially horizontal surface  110  of side handle  103 .  
      Jigsaw  100  also includes a shell-like housing  111 .  
       FIG. 2  shows a detained view of first operating switch  107  and second operating switch  108 . The two switched are located “around the corner” from each other. Second operating switch  108  is located above first operating switch  107 . Accordingly, first operating switch  107  can also be referred to as the bottom switch, and second operating switch  108  can be referred to as the top switch. The two operating switches each include one or more projections  112 , with which they can be moved back and forth with the touch of a finger.  
      In  FIG. 3 , first operating switch  108  and second operating switch  108  are shown from the side. First operating switch  107  rests horizontally on side handle  103 . Second operating switch  108  is located nearly vertically on top handle  102 . The two switches are connected with each other via a sheet-metal connecting piece  113 . Sheet-metal connecting piece  113  describes angle  106 . Second operating switch  108  is fastened to the top end of sheet-metal connecting piece  113 . First operating switch  107  is fastened to the other, lower end. Sheet-metal connecting piece  113  is guided in a flexible, clear manner. An adjusting slide  114  is connected with first operating switch  107  and with electronics  115  of jigsaw  100 .  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective detained view. In this view, flexible, curved sheet-metal connecting piece  113  and adjusting slide  114  are easy to recognize. Adjusting slide  114  includes a front section  116 , with which it engages with electronics  115 .  
       FIG. 5  is a further perspective detained view similar to  FIG. 4 . The guide of sheet-metal connecting piece  113  is shown in this figure. Sheet-metal connecting piece  113  is guided inside housing shell  111  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) of jigsaw  100  and with cover disc  117  of jigsaw  100 . In particular, a ramp or a slanted surface  118  is provided, on which sheet-metal connecting piece  113  rests.  
       FIG. 6  shows jigsaw  100  overhead. Jigsaw  100  is seated against a wood ceiling  119  to be machined.  
      The mode of operation of duplicate switch  107 ,  108  will be explained below with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
      Jigsaw  100  can be turned on and off using either first operating switch  107  or second operating switch  108 . If first operating switch  107  is operated, second operating switch  108  is simultaneously moved by sheet-metal connecting piece  118 . Adjusting slide  114  is also displaced. Adjusting slide  114  acts on electronics  115  via its front section  116 , so that jigsaw  100  is turned on or off. If second operating switch  108  is operated, the switching motion is transferred by flexible sheet-metal connecting piece  118  to first operating switch  107 , which, in turn, transfers the motion to adjusting slide  114 .  
      The use of switches  107  and  108  will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6 .  
       FIG. 1  shows the normal operation of jigsaw  100 . In this state, an operator intends to cut through a board  101  using jigsaw  100 . To do this, the operator places jigsaw  100  on board  101  as shown. He grips a front region  120  of handle  102  with one hand and grips side handle  103  with the other hand, so that the thumb of the latter hand rests on surface  110  of side handle  103 . To start sawing, the operator must now turn on jigsaw  100 . To do this, he uses first operating switch  107 . It is located in the direct vicinity of the thumb that rests on surface  110 . Accordingly, jigsaw  100  can be turned on and off using first operating switch  107  by a simple motion of this thumb. First operating switch  107  is therefore located in an optimum position for normal operation of jigsaw  100 . When the jigsaw is used overhead, however, first operating switch  107  is very difficult to reach. This will now be described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  
      In the case illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an operator intends to use jigsaw  100  upside-down, so to speak, to machine a wood ceiling  119 . To do this, the operator places jigsaw  100  overhead against ceiling  119  as shown. The operator then encloses head  121  of top handle  102  with one hand. The operator encloses handle  103  with the other hand. Since, in this case, side handle  103  is not enclosed with the hand from the side, as in  FIG. 1 , but rather from the bottom, the operator&#39;s thumb rests against one of the two side surfaces  122  of side handle  103 . Accordingly, first operating switch  107  is very difficult to reach when the jigsaw is used overhead. For this reason, second operating switch  108  is used to turn jigsaw  100  on and off in the state shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      This second operating switch is now located in the direct vicinity of the thumb of the operator&#39;s other hand. Thanks to second operating switch  108 , the operator can therefore also easily turn jigsaw  100  on and off with the thumb of one hand even when performing overhead work, without having to change his hand positions.