Black Decker Inc.

Daniel Bone

Andrew Walker

Roger Thomas

George Ch Fung

Mark Stratford

Kevin Stones

Michael Martin

Colin Pugh

Ulrich Reiferscheid

Jonathan Armstrong

Philip Wren

A paint applicator including an applicator head for carrying an applicator attachment, a substantially rigid elongate support having a hollow interior for supplying paint to the applicator head, a pivot mechanism interconnecting the elongate support and the applicator head, and a flexible conduit interconnecting the hollow interior of the elongate support and the applicator head. The pivot mechanism includes a detent arranged such that it releasably secures the applicator head in any of a plurality of discrete preset orientations with respect to the elongate support.

Paint applicator

A self-cleaning vacuum cleaneris disclosed. The vacuum cleanercomprises a housinghaving an inletand an outletand a fan arranged within the housingfor causing air to flow through a coarse filter and a fine filter. A vibrator mechanism causes vibration of the fine filter, and the vacuum cleanerhas a working condition in which the fan causes air to flow from the inletto the outletand a self-cleaning condition in which the vibrator mechanism causes vibrations of the fine filter to cause particles to be released from the fine filter, and in which the housingis opened to enable at least some of the particles released from the fine filter to pass through the coarse filter and out of the housingand into a receptacle

Self-cleaning vacuum cleaner and receptacle therefor

A removable dust collection module () for use with vacuum cleaners as well as a vacuum cleaner incorporating such modules and a method of detachably securing the dust collection module () to a vacuum cleaner housing. The dust collection module is slidably received within a vacuum cleaner housing and comprises a latch member () that can move from a first position, in which it engages with the housing of the vacuum cleaner () to retain the dust collection module within the vacuum cleaner, to a second position out of engagement with the vacuum cleaner to allow the dust collection module to be removed. The latch member is displaceable from its first to second position by activation of a slideable release member () which is actuated by an end user so as to lock or unlock the dust collection module.

Locking mechanism for dust collection module of vacuum cleaner

Electro-mechanical trigger switch

A Vacuum Cleaner ( ) having a removable dust collection bowl ( ) through which the air flow passes so as to deposit dirt carried on the air flow. The dust bowl ( ) contains a closure member ( ) which is slidably displaceable relative the dust bowl ( ) so as to simultaneously close a first air inlet ( ) into the dust bowl ( ) while opening a second air flow path ( ) to the dust bowl ( ) that is remote from the first air flow path ( ). The second air flow path allows an external hose connector to be coupled in air flow communication with the dust bowl. The closure member ( ) comprises a slidable shuttle cassette.

Air flow modification in vacuum cleaners

A level indicator utilizing an alignment device, together with a power tool utilizing such a level indicator to determine when such a tool is held in a horizontal or vertical plane. An alignment device ( ) has a first component part ( ) with an arcuate track ( ) with a track following member in the form of a ball bearing ( ) to follow the track under the influence of gravity to seek an equilibrium position. The body has a signal input ( ) and a signal output port ( ) and the second component part has an alignment member axially mounted within the body in restraining engagement with the track following member ( ) so as to be rotationally displaceable within the body in response to displacement of the track following member ( ) whereby alignment between the alignment member and the input and output ports in response to displacement of the alignment member by the ball bearing, effects operation of an indicator means to provide an indication that such alignment between the alignment member and the alignment ports has been achieved.

Alignment device utilizing components responsive to gravity

The invention relates to a powered reciprocating saw, in particular, to a pruning saw. To simplify use of the saw, a clamping mechanism is provided which holds an object in position while it is sawed. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping arm that is mounted at the front portion of the saw housing near the blade by a one way rotary clutch such that the arm can freely rotate in only one direction. During use, the saw vibrates due to its reciprocating parts. Since the clamping arm has a center of mass spaced apart from the axis of rotation provided by the one way rotary clutch, a progressive rotational movement of the clamping arm results which thereby automatically closes to clamp the object to be cut.

Powered reciprocating saw and clamping mechanism

A battery powered lawn mower includes a cutting deck ; an electric motor mounted on the deck ; a battery mounted on the deck which is in electrical connection with the motor ; and a switch mounted on the deck . The switch is disposed closely adjacent both the battery and the motor and is between the battery and motor in the electrical circuit. The switch is linked by a cable to a lever mounted on the mower handle which controls the switch so as to be in one of two positions. In the first position the switch links the motor and battery so as operate the motor. In the second position, the switch links the two terminals of the motor so as to create regenerative braking within the motor.

Electric switch

A lawn mower having a deck; wheel assemblies; height adjustment mechanisms positioned intermediate the deck and wheel assemblies; an interconnecting bar positioned between at least two of the height adjustment mechanisms, the interconnecting bar being connected to the height adjustment mechanisms to transfer the movement of one height adjustment mechanism to the other height adjustment mechanism so that the height adjustment mechanisms operate in unison; a rack located on the interconnecting bar; a locking mechanism attached with the rack to hold the interconnecting bar stationary relative to the deck, the locking mechanism including a pinion rotatably mounted on the deck, the pinion meshing with the rack to releasably lock the locking mechanism in a plurality of positions.

Locking mechanism for an interconnecting bar

A power tool includes a motor (,) mounted within a body (,) of the tool. The tool (,) is able to accept any one of a plurality of attachment members (,) so as to form a tool dedicated for a particular job. Each one of the attachment members (,) of the plurality has a pre-determined output speed and one of a rotary and non-rotary output. By the ability to interchange the attachment members of the plurality therefore a total power tool is provided having the above features.

Power tool having interchangeable tool head

A hand held router (2) includes a rotatable member (22) having screwthread engagement with the housing (4) of the router (2). Rotation of the rotatable member (22) causes adjustment of the depth of cut of the router bit (18) protruding through the rotatable member (22). A releasable detent means (30) engages with latching members (28) in the rotatable member (22) thereby to enable locking of the depth of cut mechanism.

Depth of cut mechanism

A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprises first and second portions which can be pivotally separated in order to allow the filter mechanism to be cleared of debris. The two portions are pivotally connected via a hinge such that on separation, the portion moves to a position below the other portion and provides a chute for guidance of the debris which is then emptied from the filter.

Hand-held vacuum cleaner

A hammer mechanism (14) for a rotary drill (10) comprises a hollow piston (18), a drive (15,26) for effecting reciprocating motion of the piston (18) towards and away from an end portion (35) of a rotatable output spindle (13) of the drill (10) and a ram (21) adapted to slidably locate in a hollow portion of the piston (18). In use, reciprocating movement of the piston (18) is transferred to the ram (21) and the ram (21) periodically strikes the end portion (35) of the output spindle (13), thereby providing the hammer action of the drill. The hammer mechanism (14) also comprises a plurality of guide pins (27,28) fixed in position relative to a housing portion (11) of the drill (10), the piston (18) being provided with a plurality of guide cylinders (23,24) each one of which is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding one of the guide pins (27,27) so as to guide the reciprocating motion of the piston (18).

Hammer mechanism

The invention provides a braking system for a powered oscillating hand tool which tool comprises (i) a housing; (ii) a drive unit (2) having an electric motor (4) and a drive shaft (8); (iii) a bearing (28) mounted on the drive shaft (8) and located radially eccentrically relative to the drive shaft (8), adapted to drive a second drive shaft (26); (iv) means (22) for mounting an oscillating head (24) on the second drive shaft (26) and (v) brake means (30) for providing braking between the oscillating head (24) and the housing (6). The brake means (30) comprises (i) a reaction surface (35, 46); (ii) a resilient support member (32, 40) formed from a resilient material which material, under compression, provides a resultant load on the contact surface and (iii) an abrasion resistant contact layer (34, 44) mounted on the support member (32, 40).

Oscillating hand tool

A flange lock 10 for retaining a disc or blade on a spindle of a power tool and for facilitating removal therefrom, comprising a support member 22 for threadedly engaging a spindle of a power tool, a plurality of cam devices 30 mounted through the support member 22, a pressure plate 44 for applying pressure to a flange of a disc or blade to hold the disc or blade on the power tool, the pressure plate 44 including a cam surface 46 for bearing against the cam devices 30, and a housing for receiving the support member 22, the cam devices 30 and the pressure plate 44 and including means 14, 34 for driving the cam devices 30 between an active position (FIG. 3 ) in which the pressure plate 44 is held spaced from the support member 22 and an inactive position (FIG. 2 ), wherein the flange lock 10 can be partially released to facilitate removal of a disc or blade from the spindle of the power tool by operating the drive means 14, 34 to move the cam devices 30 into their inactive position and thereby allow pressure between the pressure plate 44 and the disc or blade to be reduced. Such a flange lock 10 is particularly useful for use with angle grinders and circular saws which, after use, often have their flange locks extraordinarily tight.

Growing community of inventors

Langley Moor, United Kingdom

Daniel Bone