Patent Application
20060104737
The present invention generally relates to the field of power tools, and particularly to an ergonomically designed power tool, such as a router.
Routers are employed to accomplish a variety of tasks. Used for shaping objects typically composed of wood, plastic, metal, and the like, routers have become a mainstay of the construction work site and home work shops. From handles located on either side of the housing, to attachments which extend away from the housing, to base designs which allow an operator to guide the operation of the router, controlling the router while in operation has been the purview of many design configurations. And in typical workman-like fashion the design of these handles have often been focused on functionality and not taken into account ergonomic considerations.
Typically, ergonomic designs have focused on the structure of the handles and/or external attachments to the routers. For instance, differently shaped handles or various attachment angles thought to provide easier functionality. Additionally, typical router configurations may require the user to grasp the motor housing of the router. These motor housings, surround the motor, and typically leave unused space between the interior of the walls of the housing and the windings of the motor. This may result in a large housing of the router, which may be difficult for the user to firmily grasp, thus, limiting the effective control over the router. Further, the demands placed on the hands of the user, in grasping the large motor housing, may increase. fatigue levels which may decrease productivity. Unfortunately, attempts to construct more ergonomically configured routers have fallen short of the goal of providing a significantly easier to operate router.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an ergonomically designed router to reduce fatigue and improve control over the router.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a router with an ergonomically designed base and motor casing. Ergonomic design features function to relieve stress on the parts of an operator being used to operate a machine. For instance, providing a thinner handle enables the hand to more comfortably grip an object. This in turn relieves stress on the muscles used for gripping which in turn decreases fatigue levels in those muscles and increases overall performance of the muscles. In the present invention, an ergonomically designed motor casing provides an overall narrower profile, reducing the amount of unused space between the interior of the walls of the motor casing and the windings of the motor. Additionally, a base with a hand cradle assembly is provided for engaging the side of the hand of an operator. These features provide support to the hand of the operator which relieves stress on the muscles and allows the operator to firmly grasp the router with one hand thus decreasing fatigue levels as compared to those routers which require both hands of the operator to be engaged for control over the router.
The present invention, further enables the hand of the operator to engage with a grip assembly which provides additionally ergonomic functionality. The grip assembly is designed to incorporate materials which engage the hand of the operator with material as opposed to the metal of the motor casing. The material is designed to flexibly engage the hand of the operator and provide absorption of operational stresses. Such flexible engagement may comprise a grip zone which provides a flexible or cushioned gripping region for the hand of the operator. Operational stress absorption may be provided by the choice of materials employed on the grip assembly, for instance a firmer material may provide a firmer grip region but translate stresses, such as vibrations, at a higher rate than a more flexible material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a router which is ergonomically designed to increase operator comfort and control when operating the router. It is a further object of the present invention to reduce muscle fatigue and the concomitant productivity decrease experienced by users of typical routers.
It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring generally now to
A router assembly 100 including a motor casing 102 coupled with a base assembly 104, is shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the grip assembly is integrally defined within the configuration of the motor casing 102. In alternative embodiments, the grip assembly may be established in a variety of ways as contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The dimensions established by the configuration of the motor casing 102, including the first grip zone 106 of the grip assembly 105, may substantially correspond to a grasp size of an average human hand. The grasp size being defined generally as the area circumscribed by a grasp of a thumb and forefingers of the average human hand. It is understood that the motor casing 102, which at least partially encompasses a motor (i.e., motor windings), including the grip assembly 105 may provide a configuration which may result in the increased ease of operation of the router and reduction of muscle fatigue in an operator of the router. In alternative embodiments, the motor casing 102 may assume a variety of configurations, which enable the motor casing 102 to surround the windings of the motor and provide similar advantages. It is understood that alternate configuration parameters may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
The motor casing 102 encompasses the motor which includes a router bit engagement assembly 112 that couples with a router bit 114. An actuator 116 is disposed upon the motor casing 102 for selecting the operation of the router assembly 100. It is contemplated that the motor casing 102 may be removed from the base assembly 104. This may allow a secondary motor casing to be coupled with the base assembly 104 or a secondary base assembly, such as a plunge base assembly, to be coupled with the motor casing 102, thereby increasing the functionality of the motor casing 102 and the base assembly 104.
In the preferred embodiment, the first grip zone 106 of the grip assembly 105 provides an operator a flat surface with which to engage the hand of the operator. Thus, the first grip zone 106 establishes a flat side which may make grasping engagement of the router assembly 100 by the hand of the operator more secure and may decrease fatigue in the hand of the operator. It is understood that the first grip zone 106 may establish various ergonomically correct configurations for the grasping of the router 100 by the hand of the operator without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the first grip zone 106 may be configured with contoured grooves for engaging with individual fingers of the hand of the operator. Alternatively, the first grip zone 106 may be configured with alternating flat regions and rounded regions.
In the present embodiment, the first grip zone 106 is disposed on the motor casing 102 proximal to the first knob handle 108. This location is exemplary for an operator who is right-hand dominant, allowing the operator to engage the dominant hand with the flat surface securing the router assembly 100 in the grasp of the operator. It is understood that the location of the first grip zone 106 may be adjusted to accommodate an operator with a left-hand dominance. In such an instance, the first grip zone 106 may be located proximally to the second knob handle 110.
The position of the first grip zone 106 is changed through use of an adjustment assembly which enables the position of the motor casing 102, and thusly the first grip zone 106, to be adjusted in various positions relative to the base assembly 104. As shown in
The adjustment assembly, in preferred embodiments, may comprise a variety of systems allowing for releasing, adjusting, and securing the position of the motor casing 102 relative to the base assembly 104. For example, a pin alignment system may employ one or more pins which may be removably coupled with one or more grooves disposed within the base assembly 104. The pins may removably engage with the motor casing 102, through a boss assembly, and the like, and into the one or more grooves. This type of assembly allows for pre-set angular adjustments to be made.
Other assemblies may allow for a user of the present invention to establish a plurality of discrete positions through angular adjustment of the motor casing 102 relative to the base assembly 104. For example, a compression lock assembly comprising a sleeve defining an open and closed position, disposed within the base assembly 104 and at least partially surrounding the motor casing 102, may be engaged by a fastener which allows the operator to secure the sleeve in either the open or closed position. When in the open position the operator may rotate the motor casing 102 relative to the base assembly 104 without being limited by pre-set angular adjustment sites. Once the operator has established the desired position of the motor casing 102 relative to the base assembly 104, the operator may engage the fastener, thereby establishing the sleeve in the closed position. In the closed position the sleeve secures the position of the motor casing 102.
In a still further alternative, the fastening assembly may include a latch assembly which may be released to allow the position of the motor casing 102 to be adjusted relative to the base assembly 104. Once the new position of the motor casing 102 is established the latch assembly may be engaged to secure the new position and prevent further movement of the motor casing 102 during operation of the router assembly 100. It is understood that a variety of fastening assemblies may be employed, such as a strap lock assembly, and the like. Alternatively, the fastening assembly may employ fasteners, such as bolts, screws, clips, and the like, which may secure the position of the motor casing 102 relative to the base assembly 104. It is understood that alternate configurations of the adjustment assembly as contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
As shown in
It is further contemplated that the adjustment assembly may promote the presentation of the motor casing 102 at various angles relative to the vertical main axis ‘B’ of the base assembly 104, as shown in
Referring now to
It is contemplated that the base grip assembly include a base second grip zone. The base second grip zone may be aligned with a second motor casing grip zone of the motor casing grip assembly, providing an overall narrower profile to the router assembly 200. It is further contemplated that the motor casing grip assembly and the base grip assembly may include first and second grips coupled with the first and second grip zones disposed upon the motor casing and the base assembly. The grips may provide vibration dampening and may reduce the heat transfer from the router assembly to the hand of an operator.
The router assembly 200 further includes a first knob handle 210 and a second knob handle 212 coupled with the base assembly 206. A router bit engagement assembly 214 is coupled with a router bit 216, the router bit engagement assembly 214 is also coupled with a motor which is disposed within the motor casing 202. An actuator 218 is disposed on the motor casing 202 for controlling the operation of the router assembly 200. It is contemplated that the base assembly 206 disposed with the base first grip zone 208 and the motor casing 202 disposed with the first motor casing grip zone 204 may present at an angle relative to a main axis of the router bit engagement assembly 214 and the router bit 216. Providing an angled motor casing 202 and base assembly 206 may allow the operator to utilize the router with the router positioned below the operator's elbow.
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
A router bit engagement assembly 316 couples to a motor disposed within the motor casing 302. A router bit 318 couples with the router bit engagement assembly 316. Similar to the angular adjustment capabilities shown and described for the router assembly 100, in
It is understood that the location of the first grip zone 506 and thus the first grip 502 may be varied. In the exemplary embodiment, the first grip zone 506 including the first grip 502 is disposed proximal to a first knob handle 510. This is preferable for a right hand dominant operator of the router assembly 500. Alternatively, the first grip zone 506 and the first grip 502 may be disposed proximal to a second knob handle 512 which provides increased grasping ability and control over the router assembly 500 to a left hand dominant operator. The position of the first grip 502 may be adjusted through use of an adjustment assembly similar to the adjustment assembly described above in reference to
The router assembly 500 further includes a base assembly 508 coupled with the motor casing 504. The base assembly 508 includes the first knob handle 510 and the second knob handle 512. A router bit engagement assembly 514 is coupled with a router bit 516, the router bit engagement assembly 514 being coupled with a motor disposed within the motor casing 504. An actuator 518, for selection of the operation of the router assembly 500, is disposed upon the motor casing 504. As described above, in
In the preferred embodiment, the first grip 502 is disposed integrally with the configuration of the motor casing 504. For example, the first grip zone 506 establishes a recess from the plane of the motor casing 504 and the first grip 502, coupled with the first grip zone 506, may fill the recess and re-establish the planar surface. It is contemplated that the first grip 502 may be coupled to the first grip zone 506 of the motor casing 504 using various fastening assemblies. For example, the first grip 502 may be adhered to the first grip zone 506 through a standard manufacture process. The adhering may be accomplished through the use of glue, epoxy, or other substances which provide a similar effect. Alternatively, the first grip 502 may be affixed to the first grip zone 506 of the motor casing 504 through the use of fasteners. Fasteners may include screws, bolts, and the like. Additionally, the first grip 502 may couple with the first grip zone 506 of the motor casing 504 through the use of a magnetic system. The magnetic system may comprise a magnetic strip being placed upon the first grip 502 which is attracted to the metal of the motor casing. Other fastening assemblies may be employed as contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
It is contemplated that the first grip 502 may be removed from the first grip zone 506. Upon removal the first grip 502 may be stored to protect the material composing the first grip 502 and increase its usable life. The enablement of removal may be accomplished through the use of a variety of design implementations. For example, the first grip 502 may be disposed with a loop and hook system. In such an instance, a receiving loop patch may be affixed in position on the first grip zone 506 of the motor casing 504 and be enabled to couple with the first grip 502 which may include a hook patch. Alternatively, when the first grip 502 is secured to the first grip zone 506 through the use of fasteners, as described above, the fasteners may be removed.
Referring now to
The first grip 610 and the second grip 612 may be disposed in various locations upon the motor casing 604. Further, it is contemplated that the material composing the first and second grips may be disposed within the first and second grip zones locations or may be disposed continuously upon the motor casing 604, at least partially encompassing the motor casing 604. In an alternative embodiment, the base assembly 614 may be disposed with a grip assembly comprising a first grip zone and a second grip zone. The base assembly first and second grip zones may be located in alignment with the first grip zone 606 and the second grip zone 608 disposed on the motor casing 604. However, the first and second grip zones of the base assembly 614 may be disposed in various locations upon the base assembly 614 not necessarily in alignment with the first grip zone 606 and the second grip zone 608 of the motor casing 604. Further, the base assembly first and second grip zones may be include a base first grip and base second grip, composed of material similar to or varying from the first grip 610 and the second grip 612, disposed on the first and second grip zone 606 and 608, respectively. The manner in which the material of the base first grip and base second grip may be disposed on the base assembly is similar to that described previously in
It is contemplated that the motor casings and base assemblies shown and described in
The present application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. §120 of the U.S. application Ser. No. 10/686,300, filed on Oct. 15, 2003, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/418,510, filed on Oct. 15, 2002, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/467,169, filed on May 1, 2003. Said U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/418,510 and said U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/467,169 are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. The present application herein incorporates U.S. application Ser. No. 10/384,510, filed Mar. 7, 2003, and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/458,167, filed Jun. 10, 2003 by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60418510 | Oct 2002 | US | |
| 60467169 | May 2003 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10686300 | Oct 2003 | US |
| Child | 10740235 | Dec 2003 | US |
