Abstract: A compact, lightweight and easy-to-use wheeled lawn care unit comprising a two-wheeled carriage, a power source, plurality of tools which may be alternatively connected to the power source, a handle and a boom connecting the selected tool to the power source. The power source is pivotally connected to the carriage at a location within its footprint. The unit has a low center of gravity by placing the power source pivot and center of gravity within a cylinder defined by the wheels. The boom extends horizontally from the power source and is of a split boom configuration which allows selective rotation for the boom portions relative to one another. An edger that can be selected for the unit, which includes a spring-loaded wheel. The edger may be rotated from a non-working position where the edger blade does not contact the ground to a working position by rocking a handle behind the carriage forward against the bias of the spring. A second more compact version has the shield positioned on the boom.

Abstract: A surface planer for planing wooden boards is provided having a motor and an associated rotary cutter head operatively driven thereby in a feed roller positioned adjacent the rotary cutter head for moving wooden boards to the plane relative to the cutter. A multi-stage chain transmission is interposed between the motor and the feed roller; the multi-stage transmission including a dual speed stage provided with an operator actuated speed selector element which enables the operator to vary the final drive ratio and the resulting speed of the feed roller between a high and low speed.

Abstract: A surface planer for planing wooden boards is provided having a motor and an associated rotary cutter head operatively driven thereby in a feed roller positioned adjacent the rotary cutter head for moving wooden boards to the plane relative to the cutter. A multi-stage chain transmission is interposed between the motor and the feed roller; the multi-stage transmission including a dual speed stage is provided with an operator actuated speed selector element which enables the operator to vary the final drive ratio and the resulting speed of the feed roller between a high and low speed.

Abstract: A fence assembly is provided for a compound miter saw having a saw blade which is tiltable relative to a planer work surface. A first fence portion is affixable to the saw on one side of the saw blade. A second fence portion is affixable to the saw on the opposite side of the saw blade toward which the blade is tiltably adjusted. The second fence portion is made up of a fixed section mounted to the table surface and an adjustable section mounted to the fixed portion and transversely adjustable toward and away from the saw blade, enabling the workpiece to be supported adjacent the saw blade when the saw blade is in the vertical orientation, yet allowing the adjustable fence portion to move outward to provide sufficient clearance for the saw blade at the maximum tilt orientation. A scale is provided on the fixed and adjustable sections of the second fence portion providing an indication of maximum inboard position for various tilt angles.

Abstract: An ergonomic miter saw is provided having a base and a saw arm assembly with the saw arm assembly pivotally affixed at a fixed end to the base and provided with a distal end having a handle extending outwardly therefrom. The central region of the arm assembly includes a rotary spindle supporting a cutting disk. A handle is preferably provided with an elongate grip portion sized for the user's fingers and a palm pad portion extending outwardly therefrom to underlie the heal of the user's hand to minimize bending torque on the user's wrist as the arm is lowered. Ideally, the handle is rotated in a direction opposite that the cutting disk is tilted. Preferably, the handle is ajdustably oriented about the arm axis in a direction opposite that the saw blade is tiltable so that the deviation for horizontal of the handle can be minimized when the miter saw is used in a tilted cutting disk mode.

Abstract: A router having a base and an adjustably positioned motor assembly is provided with a pair of ergonomic elongate handles on opposite right and left sides of the motor housing. The elongate handles which are connected to and spaced from the motor housing by a pair of bridge members are ellipsoidal in shape when viewed in a transverse side elevation. Each elongate handle has a longitudinal length L having a large upper end, diameter Z and a lower small end diameter Z′.

Abstract: A hand-held power tool having a housing and a removably attachable portion. The removably attachable portion, which comprises an object sensor to detect studs hidden behind walls, electrical lines, and other materials, is readily accessible to tradesmen. A level may also be included on the removably attachable portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for punching knock-outs out of light gauge steel framing studs used in building construction to form holes of sufficient size to allow building wiring and piping to extend therethrough includes a compact hand held frame (12) having a generally C-shaped frame portion (14). The C-shaped frame portion has spaced apart ends (16, 18) located along a working axis (20) for receiving a stud (30) therebetween. A punch and die assembly (24) includes a punch (26) and a die (28) mounted opposite each other at the ends of the C-shaped frame portion. An actuatable driving mechanism (36) mounted to the frame is operable to drive the punch and dic assembly over a working stroke range between a deactuated position (52) and an actuated position (54). In the actuated position, the punch extends into the die by punching through the stud to produce a knock-out (342).

Abstract: A motorized power tool and several support structures are defined. A basic embodiment includes a unibody base having base upper and base lower ends and sidewalls collectively forming an internal cavity. Atop the base upper end is disposed a table having a work support surface. A motor driven implement such as a saw blade or a sanding drum is supported so that it is adjustable and extends above the table. Wheels are disposed at the base lower end of one end of the base and an extendable handle at the other. The handle can be used to tilt the base so that all the weight is centered above the wheels and then to move the power tool. A fence is also slidably mounted on the table to adjustably position a workpiece relative to the saw blade.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight and easy-to-use wheeled lawn care unit comprising a two-wheeled carriage, a power source, plurality of tools which may be alternatively connected to the power source, a handle and a boom connecting the selected tool to the power source. The power source is pivotally connected to the carriage at a location within its footprint. The unit has a low center of gravity by placing the power source pivot and center of gravity within a cylinder defined by the wheels. The boom extends horizontally from the power source and is of a split boom configuration which allows selective rotation for the boom portions relative to one another. An edger can be selected for the unit, which includes a spring-loaded wheel. The edger may be rotated from a non-working position where the edger blade does not contact the ground to a working position by rocking a handle behind the carriage forward against the bias of the spring. A second more compact version has the shield positioned on the boom.

Abstract: A disc sander having a scroll type vane pump embodied in a shroud enclosing the back side of a sanding disc. The inlet ports of the pump are coupled by a manifold to a location adjacent to the front face of the sanding disc at a location where the sanding dust and debris are generated. A tortious serpentine path is provided about the periphery of the pump housing which reduces pump noise and increases pump efficiency. The fins of the vane pump are provided on the back side of the sanding disc.