Speed control device with independent speed control and on-off operating members

Claim 1

In a speed control device for a portable electric tool or the like, the improvement comprising: a. a casing adapted to be operatively mounted within such power tool or the like; b. means within said casing defining a speed control circuit of the type which includes a linear variable resistor and an associated movable element whereby the speed of the tool motor may be varied in response to changes in the resistance of said variable resistor resulting from movement of said element; c. a manually operable, elongated, speed control member mounted by said casing for reciprocal sliding movement and engaged with said movable element of said variable resistor for moving the latter in response to movement of said member; d. on-off switch means including a movable contact associated with said circuit for opening and closing the same; e. a manually operable, on-off, elongated control member mounted by said casing adjacent said speed control member for reciprocal sliding movement along a path parallel with the path of movement of the latter, said on-off control member being engaged with said movable contact for operating said on-off contacts in response to movement of said on-off control member, said speed control member and said on-off control member being slidably engaged with each other for independent sliding movement; f. said speed control member including a series of gear teeth forming a rack; g. said casing mounting a pinion gear engaged with said rack; and h. a manually operable wheel engaged with said pinion gear thereby to impart reciprocal movement to said speed control member in response to rotation of said wheel.