US3919541A - Screw driver{3 s light - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved screw driver that includes a slidable block along its shank, the block containing a battery, switch and lamp for directing light rays toward the screw driver blade in order to illuminate a screw being turned which is in a dark area, and the block also having a magnet so to hold the screw driver to any steel surface and permit to be used as a flash light.

Description

United States Patent [191 Chao [ 1 Nov. 11, 1975 SCREW DRIVERS LIGHT [76] Inventor: Albert A. Chao, 407 Glendale Road,

Northvale, NJ. 07647 [22] Filed: July 11, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 487,790

[52] US. Cl 240/646; 240/5215 [51] Int. Cl.'- 1343K 29/10; F21V 33/00 [58] Field of Search..... 240/2 MT, 2 E, 6.4 R, 6.46,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,284 3/1954 Henderson 240/2 E 2,773,974 12/1956 Markett 240/646 3,185,832 5/1965 Nagamori 240/646 3.713.614 1/1973 Taylor 240/5215 3.820.795 6/1974 Taylor 240/64 R Primary E.\'uminerRichard M. Sheer Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard L. Miller 5 7] ABSTRACT An improved screw driver that includes a slidable block along its shank, the block containing a battery. switch and lamp for directing light rays toward the screw driver blade in order to illuminate a screw being turned which is in a dark area, and the block also having a magnet so to hold the screw driver to any steel surface and permit to be usedas a flash light.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 SCREW DRIVERS LIGHT This invention relates generally to screw drivers.

It is well known that at times a person is obliged to place or remove a screw that is in a dark area, so that a separate flashlight must be employed to accomplish the task. Often there is not enough space for placement of a flashlight .in the area, or the use of a flashlight necessitates a second person to hold it while a first persons hands are both busy holding the screw and the screw driver. This situation is accordingly in want of an improvement.

Therefore, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a screw driver that incorporates its own light for illuminating a screw being turned, and the vincinity thereof where the light is needed, and which thus eliminates the employment of external lighting means.

Another object is to provide a screw drivers light that takes up no additional space than a conventional screw driver.

Still another object is to provide a screw drivers light wherein the tool can be used as a flashlight for other than screw turning purposes.

Still a further object is to provide a screw drivers light which would be particularly useful to T.V. Service men, plumbers, electricians and others who make household service calls and are often obliged to work in inadaquately lighted areas.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof in use and illustrated partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a screw drivers light according to the present invention wherein there is a steel, straight, elongated shaft or shank 11 which at one end is fitted into a handle 12. The opposite end of the shank is flattened so to form a flat blade 13 for being fitted into a screw head slot in order to turn the screw.

In the present invention, a block 14 made preferably from hard plastic, has a longitudinal central opening 15 therethrough for being slidably carried on the shank, and which is movable thereupon between the blade 13 and an end wall 16 of the handle.

A permanent magnet 17 is imbedded within the block and protrudes outwardly from a cylindrical side wall 18 thereof in order that it can magnetically be attached to any steel supporting surface, and that support the screw driver in use.

The block 14 has a threaded end cap 19 on one end so to enclose an interior chamber 20 within which there is contained a dry cell, 1.5V. battery 21, an electric switch 22 having externally extending switch slide button 23 for manual operation, and a lamp 24 that is positioned in alignment with an opening 25 through the end cap 19 in order to shine upon the screw driver blade 13.

In operative use, as shown in FIG. 2, the device can be attached by its magnet 17 to any steel surface 26 when it is intended for use as a flashlight for illumination purposes only. When the device is used for illuminating a screw 29 that is to be turned, the light rays 28 from the lamp are directed thereupon so work can be done in otherwise unlighted areas, such as within the interior of a T.V. set, or within dark corners of a house or basement. It is to be noted that the inner surface of the magnet abuts the steel shank 11 and may be correspondingly concave, so that the magnet retains the block at any set position along the shank, thus focusing the light at a desired distance from the work. In some situations the screw driver can be supported from steel surface 26, and a work can be brought into position for a screw to be turned (as shown in FIG. 2); the block thus serving as a holder for allowing the screw driver to freely turn an illuminated screw.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A light for use with a screwdriver having a straight steel shank, a handle on one'end of the shank and an opposite end of the shank being flattened into a screwhead slot fitting blade; said light comprising means for illuminating a screw being turned by the blade of the screwdriver, said means comprising a block having a central opening extending therethrough for slidably receiving the shank of the screwdriver, said block carrying a dry cell battery, switch and lamp in electric circuit for producing light rays directed toward the blade of the screwdriver, a permanent magnet embedded within said block having an outer surface protruding from a side of said block for magnetic securement to any steel surface and an inner surface protruding into the opening extending through the block for retaining said block in adjustably selected positions along the shank of the screwdriver.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner end of said magnet is concave in shape corresponding to a cylindrical surface of said shank.

Claims (2)

1. A light for use with a screwdriver having a straight steel shank, a handle on one end of the shank and an opposite end of the shank being flattened into a screwhead slot fitting blade; said light comprising means for illuminating a screw being turned by the blade of the screwdriver, said means comprising a block having a central opening extending therethrough for slidably receiving the shank of the screwdriver, said block carrying a dry cell battery, switch and lamp in electric circuit for producing light rays directed toward the blade of the screwdriver, a permanent magnet embedded within said block having an outer surface protruding from a side of said block for magnetic securement to any steel surface and an inner surface protruding into the opening extending through the block for retaining said block in adjustably selected positions along the shank of the screwdriver.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner end of said magnet is concave in shape corresponding to a cylindrical surface of said shank.

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