Handheld power tool with compact ac switch

Abstract

A power tool is disclosed having a compact AC switch assembly. An electric motor driving the power tool is contained within a housing that includes a handle. A trigger is slidingly received in the handle and moves in an axis of trigger travel along a trigger travel distance extending between an extended position of the trigger and a depressed position. A trigger switch including a printed circuit board is disposed in mechanical communication with the trigger and controls the electric motor in accordance with trigger position. The printed circuit board has a plurality of conductive traces that are sequentially arranged and linearly aligned adjacent the trigger in a direction that is transverse to the axis of trigger travel to reduce the width of the printed circuit board to a value that is less than or equal to three times the trigger travel distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power tool having a compact AC switch assembly, comprising:
 an electric motor;   a housing containing said electric motor and including a handle;   a trigger configured to selectively operate the electric motor, the trigger being movable along an axis of trigger travel between an extended position and a depressed position;   said trigger having a trigger travel distance over which it travels from said extended position to said depressed position;   a trigger switch attached to said trigger to control said electric motor in accordance with position of said trigger in relation to said trigger switch; and   said trigger switch including a printed circuit board having a width extending along said axis of trigger travel;   a variable resistor on the printed circuit board;   wherein a length of the variable resistor along the axis of trigger travel is greater than 50% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel.   
     
     
         2 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of conductive traces on the circuit board; and
 wherein the conductive traces pass through the axis of trigger travel.   
     
     
         3 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of conductive traces are made of an alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the alloy includes copper. 
     
     
         5 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the alloy includes silver. 
     
     
         6 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the alloy includes copper and silver. 
     
     
         7 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein there are at least four conductive traces. 
     
     
         8 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces passes through the variable resistor. 
     
     
         9 . A power tool having a compact AC switch assembly, comprising:
 an electric motor;   a housing containing said electric motor and including a handle;   a trigger configured to selectively operate the electric motor, the trigger being movable along an axis of trigger travel between an extended position and a depressed position;   the trigger having a trigger travel distance over which it travels from said extended position to said depressed position;   a trigger switch attached to said trigger to control said electric motor in accordance with position of said trigger in relation to said trigger switch; and   said trigger switch including a printed circuit board having a width extending along said axis of trigger travel;   wherein the trigger travel distance is at least 33% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel.   
     
     
         10 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the trigger travel distance is at least 35% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel. 
     
     
         11 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the trigger travel distance is at least 40% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel 
     
     
         12 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 9 , wherein there are a plurality of conductive traces on the circuit board; and
 wherein the conductive traces pass through the axis of trigger travel.   
     
     
         13 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of conductive traces are made of an alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the alloy includes copper. 
     
     
         15 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the alloy includes silver. 
     
     
         16 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the alloy includes copper and silver. 
     
     
         17 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 12 , wherein there are at least four conductive traces. 
     
     
         18 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a variable resistor on the printed circuit board along said axis of trigger travel. 
     
     
         19 . The power tool having a compact AC switch assembly of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces passes through the variable resistor. 
     
     
         20 . A power tool having a compact AC switch assembly, comprising:
 an electric motor;   a housing containing said electric motor and including a handle;   a tool member configured to be driven by the electric motor;   a trigger configured to selectively operate the electric motor, the trigger being movable along an axis of trigger travel between an extended position and a depressed position;   the trigger having a trigger travel distance over which it travels from said extended position to said depressed position;   a trigger switch attached to said trigger to control said electric motor in accordance with position of said trigger in relation to said trigger switch; and   said trigger switch including a printed circuit board having a width extending along said axis of trigger travel;   a variable resistor on the printed circuit board;   wherein a length of the variable resistor along the axis of trigger travel is greater than 50% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel;   wherein the trigger travel distance is at least 33% of the printed circuit board width extending along said axis of trigger travel   wherein there are a plurality of conductive traces on the circuit board;   wherein the conductive traces pass through the axis of trigger travel; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces passes through the variable resistor.