Power tool with light emitting diode

Abstract

A hand-held power tool, such as a rotary cutting tool, allows for improved operator control and visibility. The power tool includes a housing and a motor provided in the housing. A cutting accessory is coupled to the motor and is adapted to cut a workpiece at a point of cut. At least one light emitting diode is coupled to the housing and configured to direct light toward the point of cut.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hand-held cutting tool comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor provided in the housing;    a cutting accessory coupled to the motor, the cutting accessory being adapted to cut a workpiece at a point of cut; and    at least one light emitting diode coupled to the housing and configured to direct light toward the point of cut.    
     
     
         2 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical cord coupled to the housing and adapted to provide electrical power to the motor.  
     
     
         3 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode is turned on automatically when the motor is in operation.  
     
     
         4 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode is a high-output light emitting diode.  
     
     
         5 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising two light emitting diodes coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         6 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 5 , wherein the housing has an axis and the two light emitting diodes are arranged at an angle to the axis.  
     
     
         7 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 5 , wherein a first beam of light is provided by a first light emitting diode and a second beam of light is provided by a second light emitting diode, the first and second beams of light intersecting at the point of cut when the hand-held cutting tool is in operation.  
     
     
         8 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 7 , further comprising a depth guide attached to the housing to set a depth of cut of the hand-held cutting tool.  
     
     
         9 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode illuminates at least a portion of the cutting accessory.  
     
     
         10 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode is mounted in an aperture formed in the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing tapers along the length of the housing.  
     
     
         12 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting accessory is a tool bit having a cutting edge helically wrapped around the tool bit.  
     
     
         13 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan coupled to the housing to direct air to the point of cut.  
     
     
         14 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable handle coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         15 . The hand-held cutting tool of  claim 14 , wherein the detachable handle includes a trigger switch for activating the motor.  
     
     
         16 . A cutting tool comprising: 
 a housing enclosing a motor;    cutting means coupled to the motor and configured to form cuts in a workpiece at a point of cut; and    a plurality of light emitting diodes provided on the cutting tool, each of the light emitting diodes directing a beam of light away from the housing and toward the point of cut.    
     
     
         17 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are automatically turned on when the motor is activated.  
     
     
         18 . The cutting tool of  claim 17 , wherein each of the light emitting diodes is a high-output light emitting diode.  
     
     
         19 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are spaced equally about the cutting means.  
     
     
         20 . The cutting tool of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned at an angle to the cutting means.  
     
     
         21 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein light beams emitting from each of the plurality of light emitting diodes overlap at a point spaced away from the housing.  
     
     
         22 . The cutting tool of  claim 21 , wherein the light beams illuminate at least a portion of the cutting means.  
     
     
         23 . The cutting tool of  claim 22 , wherein the light beams illuminate at least a portion of the cutting means at the point of cut.  
     
     
         24 . The cutting tool of  claim 23 , wherein power for the cutting tool is provided through an electrical cord coupled to the motor.  
     
     
         25 . The cutting tool of  claim 23 , further comprising an adjustable depth guide for setting a depth of cut of the cutting means.  
     
     
         26 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes are provided in apertures formed in the first end of the housing.  
     
     
         27 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting means comprises a rotary tool bit.  
     
     
         28 . The cutting tool of  claim 27 , wherein the motor is configured to rotate the rotary tool bit at a speed of at least 15,000 RPM.  
     
     
         29 . The cutting tool of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one air vent formed in the housing for directing a flow of air toward the point of cut.  
     
     
         30 . A hand-held power tool comprising: 
 a housing having a motor provided therein;    a shaft extending from a first end of the housing along an axis of the housing, the shaft being coupled to the motor;    a light emitting diode provided in the first end of the housing to direct light away from the first end of the housing substantially along the axis of the housing; and    an electrical cord coupled to the motor for providing power to the hand-held power tool.    
     
     
         31 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , further comprising means for attaching at least one of a cutting tool bit and a cutting accessory to the shaft.  
     
     
         32 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one of a cutting tool bit and a cutting accessory coupled to the shaft.  
     
     
         33 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , wherein the light emitting diode is a high output light emitting diode.  
     
     
         34 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes provided in the first end of the housing.  
     
     
         35 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the housing.  
     
     
         36 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 35 , wherein beams of light emitting from each of the plurality of light emitting diodes overlap at a point spaced away from the housing along the axis.  
     
     
         37 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 36 , wherein the point spaced away from the housing corresponds to a point of cut in a workpiece.  
     
     
         38 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , wherein the light emitting diode is turned on automatically whenever the motor is activated.  
     
     
         39 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , wherein the housing has a first width at the first end and a second width at a second end, the second width being greater than the first width.  
     
     
         40 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , further comprising a detachable handle coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         41 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 30 , further comprising an air vent formed in the first end of the housing and means for directing a flow of air from the air vent away from the housing along the axis.  
     
     
         42 . A power tool having an electrical cord for transmitting power to the power tool, the power tool comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor provided in the housing;    a tool bit coupled to the motor; and    a plurality of high-output light emitting diodes coupled to the housing and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the tool bit at a point of cut;    wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes each emit light when the motor is activated.    
     
     
         43 . The power tool of  claim 42 , wherein a beam of light is emitted from each of the plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein the beams of light intersect at a point spaced away from the housing.  
     
     
         44 . The power tool of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged at an acute angle to the tool bit to illuminate at least a portion of the tool bit.  
     
     
         45 . The power tool of  claim 43 , wherein the beams of light intersect at a point of cut of the tool bit, wherein the point of cut is determined by an adjustable depth guide coupled to the power tool.  
     
     
         46 . The power tool of  claim 42 , wherein the power tool comprises two light emitting diodes coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         47 . A hand-held power tool having an electrical cord for providing power to the power tool, the power tool comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor provided in the housing;    a tool bit coupled to the motor, the tool bit being adapted to cut a workpiece at a point of cut;    a depth guide provided on the housing for altering the depth of cut of the tool bit into a workpiece between a first position and a second position;    a plurality of high-output light emitting diodes coupled to the housing and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the tool bit at a point of cut between the first and second positions of the depth guide;    wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes each emit light when the motor is activated.    
     
     
         48 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , further comprising a handle removably coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         49 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 48 , wherein the handle includes a trigger switch for activating the motor.  
     
     
         50 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , further comprising a fan provided in the housing to direct a flow of air toward the point of cut.  
     
     
         51 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes automatically emit light whenever the motor is activated.  
     
     
         52 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the motor is configured to rotate the tool bit at a speed of at least 15,000 RPM.  
     
     
         53 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the housing has a first end and a second end, the first end having a larger width than the second end.  
     
     
         54 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , further comprising a multiple-position power switch coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         55 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 54 , wherein the multiple-position power switch is configured to toggle between at least three operating conditions.  
     
     
         56 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the motor is a variable speed motor.  
     
     
         57 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the depth guide is configured to be detachable from the housing.  
     
     
         58 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 47 , wherein the tool bit has a cutting edge helically wrapped around the tool bit.