IP Library Granted Patent US 11,819,984
Granted Patent B2
US 11,819,984 · App. 17/462,999 · Granted Nov 21, 2023

Tool illumination device

Inventors: Michael T. Rajzer (Kenosha, WI); Jason Genz (Kenosha, WI); Craig Brouwers (Kenosha, WI); Joshua M. Beer (Kenosha, WI)
Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
B25B23/18B25B21/004F21V5/046F21V23/005F21V33/0084F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,819,984
App. No.
17/462,999
Granted
Nov 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An illumination source disposed in a housing of a tool without the need for fasteners or snaps. The illumination source includes a number illumination elements, such as LEDs, disposed on a circuit board. A lens and the housing cooperatively direct light emitted by the illumination elements away from a user's eyes during use of the tool.

Claims (10)

1. An illumination device for a tool having a housing portion with first and second clamshell housing portions coupled together and cooperatively forming a circumferential rim having an inwardly extending portion, the illumination device comprising: an illumination source disposed in the housing portion and having illumination elements disposed on a circuit board that has a shape that substantially corresponds with an internal geometry of the housing portion; and a lens retained by the circumferential rim between the illumination source and the circumferential rim, and including a recess on an exterior surface of the lens that engages the inwardly extending portion of the circumferential rim, wherein the lens is adapted to diffuse light emitted by the illumination elements.

2. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board has a substantially circular shape that substantially corresponds to the internal geometry of the housing portion and is adapted to be disposed in the housing portion adjacent to the circumferential rim, wherein the circuit board includes radially extending protrusions adapted to engage the housing portion to restrict rotational movement of the circuit board relative to the housing portion; and illumination elements disposed on the circuit board.

3. The illumination source of claim 2 , wherein the circuit board is a printed circuit board (PCB).

4. The illumination source of claim 2 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit.

5. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the lens is rotatable relative to the illumination source.

6. The illumination device of claim 5 , wherein the lens includes different surface features disposed on an internal facing surface facing the illumination source, the different surface features are adapted to respectively produce different light diffusion effects, and wherein the light diffusion effects are selectable by rotation of the lens relative to the illumination elements.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is a printed circuit board that has a cross-section that substantially corresponds to the internal geometry of the housing portion.

8. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the illumination elements are LEDs.

9. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board is a flexible printed circuit.

10. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board has a substantially circular shape.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2021
From: RAJZER, MICHAEL T.; GENZ, JASON; BROUWERS, CRAIG; BEER, JOSHUA M.
To: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 057345/0468 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17028296 · Sep 22, 2020
Related Publication 20220088755A1 · Mar 24, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,427,633