US4302797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand tools
Assignee: DARLAND FINANCE Co Ltd
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Filing: 1979-10-15
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Granted: 1981-11-24
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Expires: 1999-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A hand tool for use in dark or inconvenient locations comprises its own source of illumination for illuminating a workpiece at the point of application of the tool. The hand tool, for example a screwdriver, carries one or more optical fibres generally in such manner that light can only be seen at an end thereof at or in the vicinity of the working part of the tool. The tool includes at or adjacent the other end of the fibre a source of illumination generally housed within a housing part of the tool, but possibly located externally of the tool but operatively associated therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald Cooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:19
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A hand tool having a handling portion and an elongate body portion which terminates in a working part of small cross-section or dimensions in relation to the length of the body portion, the working part being shaped to engage or contact an element to be worked on by operation of the hand tool, the handling portion comprising an opaque casing and housing a source of illumination having an electric power source therefor housed within or externally of the housing and the body portion carrying one or more optical fibres extending between the source of illumination and the surface of the tool at or adjacent said working part for transmission of substantially the entire light output of the source of illumination therealong for illumination thereby of the element to which the working part is applied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hand tool having a handling portion and an elongate body portion which terminates in a working part of small cross-section or dimensions in relation to the length of the body portion, the working part being shaped to engage or contact an element to be worked on by operation of the hand tool, the handling portion comprising an opaque casing and housing a source of illumination having an electric power source therefor housed within or externally of the housing and the body portion carrying one or more optical fibres extending between the source of illumination and the surface of the tool at or adjacent said working part for transmission of substantially the entire light output of the source of illumination therealong for illumination thereby of the element to which the working part is applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
A screwdriver having a handling portion and an elongate body portion which terminates in a blade of small cross-section or dimensions in relation to the length of the body portion, the handling portion comprising an opaque casing housing a source of illumination and an electric battery and having switch means for completing a circuit between the battery and the source of illumination, and the body portion carrying one or more optical fibres extending between the source of illumination and the surface of the tool adjacent the blade for transmission of substantially the entire light output of the source of illumination therealong and illumination thereby of a screw head to which the blade is applied when the screwdriver is in use.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A screwdriver having a handling portion and an elongate body portion which terminates in a blade of small cross-section or dimensions in relation to the length of the body portion, the handling portion comprising an opaque casing housing a source of illumination and an electric battery and having switch means for completing a circuit between the battery and the source of illumination, and the body portion carrying one or more optical fibres extending between the source of illumination and the surface of the tool adjacent the blade for transmission of substantially the entire light output of the source of illumination therealong and illumination thereby of a screw head to which the blade is applied when the screwdriver is in use.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the or each optical fibre lies in a channel extending lengthwise of the body portion of the tool on an external surface thereof between the source of illumination and the working part, the optical fibre(s) being held in the channel(s) by means of a sheath fitted over the tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body portion is of cruciform section defining four channels extending lengthwise of the tool on an external surface thereof between the source of illumination and the working part, which channels each house an optical fibre held in its channel by means of its sheath fitted over said body portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hand tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each optical fibre passes through a passage disposed within said body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hand tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein said body portion is formed of glass fibre reinforced plastics material pultruded around one or more said optical fibres extending lengthwise thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A screwdriver as claimed in claim 2, wherein the or each optical fibre lies in a channel extending lengthwise of the body portion on an external surface thereof between the source of illumination and the working part, the optical fibre(s) being held in the channel(s) by means of a sheath fitted over said body portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A screwdriver as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body portion is of cruciform section thereby defining four channels each extending lengthwise of the body portion on an external surface thereof, the channels housing optical fibre(s) held therein by means of a sheath fitted over the said body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A screwdriver as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical fibre(s) pass(es) through passages disposed within the body portion of the tool.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hand tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body portion is formed of glass fibre reinforced plastics material pultruded around one or more optical fibres extending lengthwise thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A screwdriver as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric battery is a lithium battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-23 | 1985-05-25 | 1985-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-05-25 | 1989-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-23 | 1993-05-25 | 1993-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |