Power tool with light emitting assembly

Abstract

A power tool including an end effector rotatable with respect to the housing, a collar non-rotatably coupled to the housing, an annular printed circuit board (PCB) rotatably fixed with respect to the housing, and a light element operatively connected to the PCB and adjacent to the end effector and in a recess of the collar and located to illuminate a workpiece machined by the power tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power tool comprising:
 a housing;   an end effector rotatable with respect to the housing;   an annular collar defining a channel therein, said collar being coupled to the housing;   an annular printed circuit board disposed within the channel;   an annular transparent cover disposed within the annular collar, said transparent cover being rotatably and axially fixed to the printed circuit board; and   a plurality of lighting elements operatively connected to the printed circuit board and radially disposed about the end effector to illuminate a workpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting elements are a plurality of light emitting diodes radially disposed about the printed circuit board, and wherein a portion of the end effector extends through a hole defined by the transparent cover and printed circuit board. 
     
     
         3 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent cover defines a groove and the printed circuit board is rotationally fixed within the groove. 
     
     
         4 . The power tool of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of heat meltable features on the transparent cover configured to allow the printed circuit board to be fixed into the groove in the transparent cover. 
     
     
         5 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further including a chin portion defined by the annular collar, the chin portion providing a protective case for wires operable coupled to the lighting elements. 
     
     
         6 . The power tool of  claim 5 , further comprising a plug terminating the wires and wire holding structure on the chin portion for securing the wires in place. 
     
     
         7 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising collar fasteners defined on the annular collar configured to couple the annular collar to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising alignment grooves on the printed circuit board and alignment tabs on the transparent cover, the alignment grooves on the printed circuit board and the alignment tabs on the transparent cover are dimensioned and located so that the alignment grooves on the printed circuit board rotatably fit into and are retained on the alignment tabs on the transparent cover to keep the printed circuit board and the transparent cover aligned. 
     
     
         9 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising engaging structure on the transparent cover configured to bear against corresponding engaging structure on a transmission housing to lock the transparent cover from rotating with respect to the transmission housing. 
     
     
         10 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member covering the printed circuit board so that the lighting element and the printed circuit board are substantially entrapped by the coupling member and the transparent cover. 
     
     
         11 . The power tool of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling member is axially retained by the annular holder and attached to a transmission housing. 
     
     
         12 . The power tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a stepped portion on the transmission housing wherein the annular holder resides in the stepped portion. 
     
     
         13 . The power tool of  claim 14 , wherein the annular collar is axially locked to the transmission housing at least in part by the annular holder. 
     
     
         14 . A power tool comprising:
 a rotatable end effector;   an annular collar;   an annular printed circuit board;   light elements operatively connected to the annular printed circuit board and being adjacent to the end effector to illuminate a workpiece machined by the power tool; and   an annular cover having a transparent region, said annular cover axially supporting the printed circuit board, wherein a portion of the end effector extends through a hole defined by the cover and printed circuit board and wherein the cover defines a groove and the printed circuit board is located in the groove.   
     
     
         15 . The power tool of  claim 14 , further comprising a heat meltable flange on the transparent cover configured to allow the printed circuit board to be non-rotatably fixed into the groove in the transparent cover and held in place in the transparent cover. 
     
     
         16 . A power tool comprising:
 a motor housing;   a handle coupled to the motor housing;   a transmission case coupled to the motor housing;   an end effector extending from the transmission case;   a substantially annular collar;   a substantially annular circuit board having a plurality of light emitting elements;   a substantially annular cover defining a channel and having a transparent portion;   a first coupler disposed between the collar and the transmission case, said first coupler preventing axial displacement of the collar with respect to the transmission case;   a second coupler disposed between the circuit board and the cover, said second coupler preventing axial and rotational displacement of the circuit board with respect to the cover;   a third coupler disposed between the collar and the cover, said third coupler preventing axial displacement of the cover with respect to the collar; and   wherein at least a portion of the end effector extends through the collar, the circuit board, and the cover.   
     
     
         17 . The power tool according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first coupler, the second coupler, and the third coupler comprises at least one of a heat stake joint, a bayonet joint, and an engaged flange. 
     
     
         18 . The power tool according to  claim 16 , wherein the cover defines an annular groove and the circuit board is disposed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The power tool according to  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the cover is disposed through the collar portion. 
     
     
         20 . The power tool according to  claim 16 , wherein the cover is transparent.