Abstract: A tool such as a string trimmer having an outer-rotor motor is disclosed. The tool includes a motor housing configured to align a rotor assembly, a stator assembly, a bearing support structure that fully pilots and supports the rotor assembly on one side of the motor housing, and a heat sink that fully supports the stator assembly on another side of the motor housing. The heat sink seals the motor housing from debris and is configured to absorb heat generated by the outer-rotor motor without added airflow from a fan or from openings. The disclosed outer-rotor motor requires no adhesives to hold magnets, thereby simplifying fabrication and improving magnet performance.

Abstract: A magazine for use with a fastening tool. The magazine can have a pusher assembly that can be retracted into a recess in the magazine to facilitate loading and reloading of fasteners. The pusher assembly can have a pusher assembly knob which can be reversibly latched to a detent to maintain the pusher assembly in a retracted state. The fastening tool can use a magazine which can be reloaded by a method which has a step of reversibly retracting the pusher assembly into the retracted state to allow for feeding one or more fasteners to the magazine.

Abstract: The present directed to a cordless power tool system including a plurality of cordless power tools, a plurality of fixed voltage and multi-voltage battery packs and a plurality of battery pack chargers. The battery packs include circuitry to indicate various parameters about the battery pack and communicate this indication to the power tools in order to enable the power tools to alter their motor output schemes to improve performance. The indication may include whether the battery pack is a fixed voltage battery pack or a multi-voltage battery pack and when the multi-voltage battery pack is in a first configuration or a second configuration.

Abstract: A mechanical timer mechanism can include a driven gear mounted to a rotary damper and a drive gear operably coupled to the driven gear. In bump mode, movement of an auxiliary trigger to its actuating position can initially move the drive gear from a home position into its wind-up position. Thereafter, a contact trip can continue to move the drive gear to its wind-up position and an actuator of a principal trigger to its actuating position each time the contact trip is actuated, unless the timing mechanism has timed-out between actuations. In sequential mode, the drive gear can be moved into a timer lock-out position which holds the contact trip in a bypass position in which the contact trip will not engage the actuator of the auxiliary trigger unless the auxiliary trigger is moved to its actuating position before actuation of the contact trip.

Abstract: A compressor assembly having a high velocity muffler system which produces a particle-free compressor pump feed while reducing noise output from the compressor assembly during compressing operations. The high velocity muffler system is maintenance-free and comprises an inertia filter. The compressor assembly uses a method for producing a compressor pump feed and reducing noise during compressing operations by processing a gas through the high velocity muffler system which has an inertia filter and a muffler chamber to produce a compressor pump feed which can be compressed by a pump assembly.

Abstract: A construction laser level including a housing, a laser mount disposed in the housing and at least one laser generator on the laser mount. A fan disposed in the housing and configured to circulate air to improve heat distribution and dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hand-held modular kitchen multitool having a universal powerhead capable of being used with a variety of kitchen appliance attachments, such as a blender, a whisker, a wine opener, a can opener, and a spice grinder. A dual spice grinder attachment is also disclosed that can select one of two spices to grind. Also disclosed is a wine opener that automatically removes a cork from a bottle.

Abstract: A method of operating a power tool having a motor and a controller is provided. The method includes: setting a protection time limit associated with a condition of the motor; taking protective action to shut down the motor if the condition of the motor persists for a duration of the protection time limit; and in response to occurrence of the condition during a start-up period of operation of the motor, extending the protection time limit for a duration of a constant-clutch time period to allow an output speed of the motor to reach or exceed a speed threshold, and taking protective action to shut down the motor if the output speed of the motor remains below the speed threshold for the duration of the constant-clutch time period.

Abstract: A device for locating an object. The device includes a housing including a first hole. The device also includes a sensor carried by the housing and comprising two or more electrodes that are positioned next to each other to form a substantially circular configuration. The sensor includes a second hole formed in the center of the circular configuration, and the second hole is axially aligned with the first hole.

Abstract: A power tool light product includes a light body including a power tool battery pack receptacle, the power tool battery pack receptacle configured to removably receive a power tool battery pack that is configured to selectively power the power tool light product and at least one of a drill, a saw, a sander, or a concrete tool. The power tool light product also includes a lighting module, the lighting module operably coupled to the power tool battery pack receptacle. The lighting module includes a printed circuit board, an LED on the printed circuit board, and an LED driver on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A recip blade has a cutting edge defining a cutting direction and a repeating pattern of cutting teeth. Each repeating pattern includes (i) a leading tooth with respect to the cutting direction that includes a rake face defining a first rake angle that is negative, and (ii) a trailing tooth following the leading tooth with respect to the cutting direction that includes a rake face defining a second rake angle that is greater than the first rake angle.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing having a grip portion with a grip circumference of smaller than or equal to approximately 120 mm; and a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor at least partially disposed within the grip portion of the housing and configured to output a maximum power output of at least 450 watts. The motor includes a stator including a stator core and stator windings; and a rotor rotatably received within the stator and including a rotor shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and a series of permanent magnet rings mounted sequentially along the longitudinal axis and surrounding the rotor shaft, each permanent magnet including a plurality of magnetic poles.

Abstract: A laser level including a control mechanism housing which houses a control mechanism, the control mechanism including at least a top surface and a bottom surface. A protective structure extends from the control mechanism housing configured to protect the control mechanism from impact and including an upper structure which extends from a top surface of the control mechanism housing and a lower structure which extends from a bottom surface of the control mechanism housing.

Abstract: A method for job site communications management is provided, including: receiving, via a first wireless headset including a low-energy communication transceiver, at least one advertising signal; determining if the at least one advertising signal denotes at least one approved worksite powered device that is a power tool, a power tool battery pack, a battery charger, or a work light; initiating, via the first wireless headset, communication with the approved worksite powered device if the advertising signal denotes an approved device; receiving, via the first wireless headset, audio data from the approved worksite powered device; and outputting, via the first wireless headset, audio data received from the approved worksite powered device.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided including: a stator including windings, a rotor arranged outside the stator and supporting at least one permanent magnet in magnetic interface with the windings, a bearing including a first portion and a second portion arranged to rotationally support the rotor relative to the stator, and a bearing shield located adjacent the bearing within the rotor. The bearing shield includes a first annular portion in contact with the first portion of the bearing, a flexible portion including elastically deformable material that biasingly maintains the first annular portion in contact with the first portion of the bearing, and a second annular portion that extends proximate the second portion of the bearing and forms an air gap therebetween. The air gap is sized to allow relative rotation between the second annular portion and the second portion of the bearing but substantially block passage of metal particles.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example knife may include a handle and a blade carrier. The blade carrier may be rotatable about the handle and may include a left and a right cap. A blade may be removably disposed within the blade carrier. The knife may further include a blade release mechanism. In one embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a compression spring and a lift bar. In another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may further include a wheel. In yet another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a leaf spring and a slide bar. When the blade carrier is rotated such that the knife is not in a cutting position, at least a portion of the blade release mechanism is exposed. When the blade release mechanism is activated, the blade may be removed from within the blade carrier.

Abstract: A laser detector includes a detection section, the detection section includes an array of photo-detectors configured to detect a vertical position of a beam. The laser detector also includes an indication section, the indication section includes an array of illumination elements configured to indicate the vertical position of the laser beam. The detection section has a height H1. The indication section has a height H2. H2 is in a range of from 0.75 to 1.25 H1.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing having a clamshell structure. An electric motor is provided including a motor can, a stator fixedly supported within the motor can, and a rotor mounted on a rotor shaft, where the motor can is partially contained within the housing and includes a front annular portion that projects out of a front end of the housing and includes a first threaded exterior surface. A head assembly is provided including an output member driven by the electric motor, and a rear annular portion with a diameter similar to the front annular portion of the motor can and that includes a second threaded exterior surface. A nut is mounted onto the first threaded exterior surface and the second threaded exterior surface proximate the front end of the motor case to securely fasten the head assembly to the motor can.