Patent attributes
A portable electric appliance includes a housing, an electrically operable element positioned within the housing, a transmitter adapted to transmit a beam of radiation, and a receiver responsive to the beam of radiation. The transmitter is positioned external to the housing, and the receiver is positioned to receive the beam of radiation. The electrically operable element is de-energized in response to the beam of radiation being blocked or interrupted. A method adapted to disable a portable electric appliance includes transmitting a beam of radiation from a transmitter on the portable electric appliance, receiving the beam of radiation by a receiver on the portable electric appliance, and de-energizing an electrically operable element associated with the portable electric appliance in response to the beam of radiation being blocked or interrupted.
