Baluster driver tool and method of using same

• US 20050278926A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Building Products LLC
• Original Assignee: L J Smith Incorporated
• Inventors: Moore, Daniel L., Burrell, Terry D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/453
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/06 of socket type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/065 characterised by the cross-section of the socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/48 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/001 characterised by material or shape of the tool bit
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0035 Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1812 Details of anchoring to the wall or floor
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/26 for mounting staircases, e.g. tools for marking steps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49881 of separate helix [e.g., screw thread]

Abstract

A baluster driver tool for rotating a baluster to threadably secure it to a support. The driver tool includes a housing having a connector at one end for connecting it to a drill and a baluster-engaging member at the opposite end for receiving the baluster. The baluster-engaging member includes a cavity that is complementary sized and shaped to receive an end of the baluster. When the drill is activated, the housing rotates about its longitudinal axis causing the baluster to rotate in unison with the housing and securing a threaded end of the baluster into the support. In a second embodiment, a smooth tapered end of a baluster is received within a threaded tapered cavity in the housing. The threads secure the smooth tapered end of the baluster within the cavity so that rotation of the housing causes the baluster to rotate in unison therewith and securing the threaded end of the baluster to the support.

Claims

1. A tool for connecting a baluster to a support comprising:

a housing having a first and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;

a connector disposed on the first end of the housing for connecting the housing to a tool for rotating the housing about the longitudinal axis; and

a baluster-engaging member disposed on the second end of the housing for engaging an end of the baluster, whereby rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis causes the baluster to rotate and become attached to the support.

2. The baluster driver tool of claim 1, wherein the baluster-engaging member is at least a first central axially extending cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the end of the baluster therein.

3. The baluster driver tool of claim 2, wherein the first cavity has at least one straight wall.

4. The baluster driver tool of claim 3, wherein the first cavity is square in cross-section.

5. The baluster driver tool of claim 2, wherein the first cavity is circular in cross-section.

6. The baluster driver tool of claim 1, wherein the baluster-engaging member further comprises a second cavity formed in the housing and extending substantially continuous with the first cavity.

7. The baluster driver tool of claim 6, wherein the first cavity has at least one straight wall and the second cavity is substantially circular in cross-section.

8. The baluster driver tool of claim 7, wherein the second cavity is provided with a baluster-engaging mechanism for securing the baluster in the second cavity.

9. The baluster driver tool of claim 8, wherein the baluster-engaging mechanism is threads.

10. The baluster driver tool of claim 7, wherein the first cavity has a width and the second cavity has a maximum diameter, and the width of the first cavity is greater than the maximum diameter of the second cavity.

11. The baluster driver tool of claim 10, wherein the second cavity tapers from a maximum diameter proximate the first cavity to a minimum diameter remote from the first cavity.

12. The baluster driver tool of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second cavities are provided with a baluster-engaging mechanism for securing the baluster within the at least one of the first and second cavities.

13. The baluster driver tool of claim 12, wherein the second cavity is surrounded by a wall and at least a portion of the second cavity'"'"'s wall is threaded.

14. The baluster driver tool of claim 1, wherein the connector includes:

a opening formed in the first end of the housing; and

a drive shaft, complementary sized and shaped to be received in the opening.

15. The baluster driver tool of claim 14, wherein the connector further includes:

a locking mechanism for securing the drive shaft within the opening.

16. The baluster driver tool of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism includes:

a projection formed on one of the drive shaft and the opening wall;

an indentation formed on the other of the drive shaft and the opening wall; and

wherein the projection and indentation are complementary sized and shaped so the projection is receivable within the indentation.

17. The baluster driver tool of claim 16, wherein the projection is spring-biased and is movable between a first position where the drive shaft freely enters and exits the opening, and a second position where the drive shaft is locked in the opening.

18. The baluster driver tool of claim 14, wherein the baluster-engaging member comprises:

a first central, axially extending cavity of generally square cross-section, the first cavity having a width;

a second central, axially extending cavity of generally circular cross-section, the second cavity having a maximum diameter that is smaller than the width of the first cavity;

wherein the second cavity is disposed between the first cavity and the opening and the first cavity and second cavity are substantially continuous.

19. The baluster driver tool of claim 18, wherein the first cavity, second cavity and opening are substantially continuous.

20. The baluster driver tool of claim 19, wherein the opening has a width and the second cavity has a minimum diameter and the width of the opening is bigger than the minimum diameter of the second cavity.

21. The baluster driver tool of claim 20, wherein the second cavity tapers in cross section from the maximum diameter proximate the first cavity to the minimum diameter proximate the opening.

22. The baluster driver tool of claim 21, wherein the second cavity is surrounded by a wall and at least a portion of the second cavity wall is threaded.

23. The baluster driver tool of claim 1, wherein housing is shaped so as to be generally frusto-conical proximate its first end and generally cylindrical proximate its second end.

24. A method of connecting a baluster to a support, wherein the baluster is an elongated member having a first end and a second end and has a thread provided at the first end;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing a housing having a connector for connecting the housing to a tool for rotating said housing and a baluster-engaging member for engaging the baluster;

connecting the housing to the tool;

engaging the baluster in the baluster-engaging member of the housing;

positioning the thread of the first end of the baluster on the support; and

activating the tool to rotate the housing and baluster to threadably connect the first end of the baluster to the support.

25. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the baluster-engaging member comprises at least a first cavity complementary sized and shaped to receive the second end of the baluster therein and the step of engaging the baluster in the baluster-engaging member includes:

inserting the second end of the baluster into the first cavity.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein the baluster-engaging member further comprises a second cavity of different width and cross-sectional configuration to the first cavity, the first and second cavities being substantially continuous with one another, and the step of inserting the second end of the baluster includes:

inserting the second end until it is secured into one of the first and second cavities.

27. The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the second cavity includes an interior wall that is at least partially threaded;

and the method further comprises the step of;

twisting the housing into contact with the second end of the baluster until the second end becomes wedged onto the threads on the interior walls of the second cavity.

28. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the housing includes a opening formed therein and the step of connecting the housing to a rotary tool includes:

inserting a first end of a complementary sized and shaped drive shaft into the opening; and

locking the first end of the drive shaft into the housing so that the housing and drive shaft are connected together for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the housing.

29. The method as defined in claim 28, wherein the step of locking the drive shaft in the opening includes the step of:

providing an indentation on one of the drive shaft and a wall surrounding the opening;

providing a complementary shaped and sized projection on the other of the drive shaft and the wall; and

sliding the drive shaft into the opening until the projection becomes engaged in the indentation.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

inserting a second end of the drive shaft into a chuck of a drill; and

securing the second end of the drive shaft within the chuck.