Ergonomic hand-held power tool and methods of use

Abstract

An ergonomically enhanced electric power tool is disclosed that incorporates a new type of user grip and control system. This grip and control system is housed in a substantially rigid control-housing sheath, which provides enhanced leverage and control over the drilling process while reducing stress on the user's hand, wrist, and arm. The tool motor is disposed substantially in parallel with the user's wrist, but on a different plane, and eliminates the traditional “pistol” type of power-tool grip. The control-housing sheath contains a grip-controller assembly that allows the user to control most major drill operations within the gauntlet-like control-housing sheath. The inventive concepts described can be applied to myriad hand-held power tools, and a detailed example for a power drill is provided.

1 . An ergonomic hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool, said power tool having electrical power; the hand-held receiver-controller comprising:
 a substantially rigid control-housing sheath defining an inner volume to house user controls and having an outer surface for the mounting of said power-tool,
 wherein said control-housing sheath has a closed upper region and has a lower region, 
 wherein said closed upper region of said control-housing sheath defines the top of said control-housing sheath and said lower region of said control-housing sheath defines the bottom of said control-housing sheath, and 
 wherein said control-housing sheath is adapted to receive a user's hand and wrist in said inner volume; 
   a grip-controller assembly mechanically coupled to said control-housing sheath within said inner volume for a user's hand to grip,
 wherein said grip-controller assembly is adapted to be electrically coupled with a power-tool motor and contains control circuitry to facilitate user control over said power-tool energizing operations, 
   a device adapted to mechanically and electrically receive and couple to a power-tool motor adapted to mate with said mechanical and electrical coupling device,
 wherein said device that is adapted to mechanically and electrically receive and couple to a power-tool motor is disposed at the top of said control-housing sheath; and 
   a sheath-to-user-arm-securing device that adapts said control-housing sheath to be able to substantially secure the wrist and/or lower forearm of a user to the control end of said control-housing sheath,
 wherein when a user's hand and wrist are engaged with said control-housing sheath, including said grip-controller assembly, the axis of the user's hand and wrist is on a different, yet substantially parallel axis as that of a mounted power-tool motor; 
   allowing a user to exert directional force to a coupled power tool using said control-housing sheath with said grip-controller assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer handle coupled to an outside surface of said control-housing sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 2 , wherein said stabilizer handle is disposed on the side of said control-housing sheath to allow a user to hold said stabilizer handle with the opposite hand of that which is used to grip said grip-controller assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 1 , wherein said grip-controller assembly is oriented such that when a user's hand is engaged with said grip-controller assembly, the top of a user's gripping hand is oriented toward said top of said control-housing sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 3 , wherein said grip-controller assembly is oriented such that when a user's hand is engaged with said grip-controller assembly, the top of a user's gripping hand is oriented toward said top of said control-housing sheath. 
     
     
         6 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said mechanical coupling of said grip-controller assembly is readily detachable, re-attachable, and reversible in position such that said grip-controller assembly can be used by either a right-handed or left-handed user, and   said electric coupling of said grip-controller assembly remains enabled even when the physical position has been reversed to accommodate either a right-handed user or a left-handed user.   
     
     
         7 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 1  further comprising a power tool, said power tool being electrically powered; said power tool having an electric motor; said power tool having an electric power supply; said power tool having control circuitry to control power tool operations, including energizing and de-energizing said power tool; said power tool being
 mechanically and electrically coupled to the ergonomic hand-held receiver-controller by the device adapted to mechanically and electrically receive and couple to the power-tool motor,
 wherein when the user's hand and wrist are engaged with said control-housing sheath, the user's engaged hand and wrist are substantially located directly below said coupled power-tool motor. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The hand-held power tool of  claim 7 , wherein said grip-controller assembly has controls to allow a user's gripping hand to control power-tool energization. 
     
     
         9 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 7 , further comprising a stabilizer handle coupled to an outside surface of said control-housing sheath. 
     
     
         10 . The hand-held receiver-controller for a power tool of  claim 9 , wherein said stabilizer handle is disposed on the side of said control-housing sheath to allow a user to hold said stabilizer handle with the opposite hand of that which is used to grip said grip-controller assembly.