Abstract: An accessory includes an attachment member, a fastener, a locking member, and an eccentric member. The attachment member has a central axis, which is perpendicular to a first surface of the attachment member. The fastener is connected to at least the attachment member. The locking member is movable into at least (a) a locked position in which the locking member is engaged with the attachment member such that the attachment member is configured to rotate about the central axis, and (b) an unlocked position in which the locking member is disengaged from the attachment member such that the attachment member is configured to rotate about an eccentric axis. The eccentric axis is offset from the central axis. The eccentric member includes a first slot that receives the locking member, a second slot that receives the driving shaft, and a third slot that receives the fastener. The second slot of the eccentric member is structured to align with the central axis of the attachment member.

Abstract: A flexible light assembly includes an elongated light transmissible jacket, the jacket including an internal vacancy. The assembly includes a substrate disposed in the internal vacancy. The substrate supports light emitters on a first surface thereof, and includes a reinforcing layer that is fixed to a surface the substrate opposite the first surface. The jacket may also include reinforcing fibers. The flexible light assembly is sufficiently flexible to permit bending such that the flexible light assembly can assume a radius of curvature in a range of 1.3 centimeters to 10.2 centimeters.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a switch guard that prevents inadvertent pressing by a user of the direction-control switch of a handheld power tool. On each side of the housing of the tool, a pair of protrusions extend from the housing, one just to the front of the switch and one just to the rear. Whether the power tool is being operated right- or left-handed, the protrusions prevent a user's thumb or forefinger from inadvertently pressing the direction-control switch while the tool is in operation.

Abstract: An improved detector device for locating studs and other objects behind a substrate (such as a wall) uses one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) in combination with a photochromic compound to mark the locations on the substrate behind which objects are located.

Abstract: A fence assembly configured to guide a workpiece with respect to a blade of a saw device includes a fence that is supported by rails for sliding movement relative to a work surface. Opposed ends of the fence are supported on the rails via rail engagement members. The fence assembly includes a fence angle adjustment mechanism associated with a housing of one of the rail engagement members. The fence angle adjustment mechanism includes biasing elements working in conjunction with an adjustment screw to adjust the position of the fence with respect to parallelism to the blade.

Abstract: A hand-held rotary tool includes a housing that encloses a motor having an output shaft. The tool includes a quick connect adaptor configured to connect an accessory to the output shaft. The adaptor includes a driver that is connected to the output shaft and rotates in concert with the output shaft. An outer surface of the driver has a first flat. The adaptor includes a receiver that includes a connector configured to detachably connect with the housing, and a torque transfer device configured to receive the driver. An inner surface of the torque transfer device includes a second flat that engages with the first flat in such a way that rotation of the driver results in rotation the torque transfer device relative to the connector. The adaptor includes an output device that supports the accessory and that is driven by the torque transfer device to move relative to the connector.

Abstract: A power tool includes a motor and a power supply that are connected by a switch disposed in an electrical circuit. The switch controls the on/off state of the motor and is actuated by a switch actuator that serves as a spring element. The switch actuator includes a guide plate supported on the housing, and a resilient arm that protrudes from the guide plate into an opening in the tool housing. When the switch actuator is in a first actuator position relative to the housing, the resilient arm is biased toward an edge of the opening and engages the edge, thereby preventing inadvertent movement of the switch actuator to the second actuator position. When the switch actuator is actuated by applying a bi-directional manual force to the resilient arm, the resilient arm is displaced from the edge, thereby permitting movement of the switch actuator to the second actuator position.

Abstract: A method for ensuring safety critical functionality for a laser engraver includes obtaining a command from a laser motor controller; obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors, the sensor data corresponding to an operating status of various components of the laser engraver; determining a functioning status for each component; and as a result of determining the functioning status for all of the components, enabling supply of power to a laser, where the method is performed by a safety controller that is embodied in hardware completely separate from hardware in which the laser motor controller is embodied. One example required functioning status is that a power button has been selected twice in quick succession.

Abstract: A fence assembly of a saw device includes a fence, a slide mechanism coupled to one end of the fence, and a tensioning mechanism coupled to the other end of the fence. The fence assembly includes a handle that is supported on the slide mechanism via a cam. The handle is rotatable relative to the cam between a first position in which the fence assembly is fixed relative to the rails, and a second position in which the fence assembly is movable relative to the rails. The fence assembly includes a tension member that is coupled at one end to the handle and at the other end to the tensioning mechanism. The cam is rotatable relative to the slide mechanism about a cam rotational axis, and rotation of the cam relative to the cam rotational axis provides an adjustment of a tension force applied by the tension member.

Abstract: A hand-held rotary cleaning tool includes a housing that encloses an electric motor and a gear set that connects the motor to an output shaft. The rotary cleaning tool includes at least one cleaning accessory that is detachably connected to the output shaft, and a flexible splash guard. The splash guard surrounds the output shaft and cleaning accessory so as to prevent liquid splash during tool use. The splash guard includes a reinforcing ring that is formed of a material that is less flexible than the material used to form the splash guard body. The reinforcing ring prevents the splash guard from excessive deformation, whereby interference of the splash guard with the cleaning accessory or the output shaft is minimized or avoided. The reinforcing ring may also include other features which enhance the cleaning function of the rotary cleaning tool.

Abstract: An automatic mechanical spool changer for 3-D printers includes a filament guide and a pre-loading device. The input to the filament guide receives at least a primary filament from a primary spool and a secondary filament from a secondary spool. The output from the filament guide connects to an extruder, and the output from the filament guide sequentially and automatically provides the primary filament and then the secondary filament to the extruder. The pre-loading device exerts a pre-loaded force on the secondary filament during the extrusion of the primary filament. After the primary filament passes a predetermined location within the filament guide, the force exerted on the secondary filament threads the secondary filament through the output of the filament guide and into the extruder.

Abstract: A rail system for a power tool has a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece, a support mounted to the base, a number of elongated rails slidably supported by the support for movement relative thereto, a yoke engaged to the number of elongated rails for movement with the elongated rails, and a power tool assembly supported by a yoke for performing an operation on the workpiece. A rail stop is movably mounted to one of the support and the yoke, the rail stop including a stop surface adapted to abut the other of the support and the yoke when the rail stop is in a first position between the yoke and the support. The rail stop is movable to a second position different from the first position.