Power tool with device for preventing unintentional turn-on of drive motor

Claim 1

In a power tool having a drive motor, in combination, a turn-on switch device activatable for turning on the drive motor; a manual activator mounted for swinging movement in a predetermined plane of motion and in a predetermined direction from a normal position to an activating position in which it activates the turn-on switch device, the manual activator being so arranged and configurated as to be depressible in the predetermined direction by a hand of the user of the power tool; and a safety device for preventing unintentional activator depression including a blocking structure mounted for swinging movement relative to the manual activator in generally the predetermined plane and in the predetermined direction from a blocking position in which it prevents activator depression to an unblocking position in which it permits such depression, the blocking structure being so configurated and located relative to the manual activator as to be depressible by a finger of the same hand which depresses the manual activator, the power tool having a housing, and wherein the blocking structure includes a release lever and a blocking lever interengageable and cooperating with each other and both mounted for swinging movement in generally the predetermined plane, with the blocking lever being mounted to rest against the surface of the housing, the blocking lever being arranged to block activator depression when the release lever is in undepressed position, and the release lever being arranged to prevent the blocking lever from blocking activator depression when the release lever is in depressed position.