Fastener holding device

• US 6,244,141 B1
• Filed: 02/09/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ki S.U. Han
• Original Assignee: Ki S.U. Han
• Inventors: Han, Ki Su
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US09/247,754
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 814/51--58, 814/29
• US Class Current: 81/453
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/10 using mechanical gripping means

Abstract

A fastener holding device is designed for use with power or hand tools. The device securely engages a fastener, such as a screw, and automatically disengages the fastener when the device is pushed against a work surface. The device includes a driving bit assembly which has a socket on one end for holding a driving bit and has a polygonally shaped portion on the other end for mounting in a power drill. The device further includes a retaining member adapted to be placed on the driving bit assembly and a sleeve member adapted to be placed on the retaining member. The position of the sleeve member in relation to the retaining member allows the fastener to be either engaged or disengaged with respect to the driving bit.

Claims

1. A fastener holding device operable with a fastener, the fastener holding device comprising;

a driving bit assembly having first and second ends;

a retaining member adapted to be placed on the first end of and in surrounding relation to the driving bit assembly, the retaining member having flexible clamps extending from the retaining member for releasably holding the fastener, the clamps maintaining closed and open positions, wherein the retaining member has opposite slots at lower end thereof and each one of the clamps has an outwardly protruding tab; and

a sleeve member configured to be placed on and in surrounding relation to the retaining member, the sleeve member having

oppositely positioned recesses formed in a body of the sleeve member, each recess being configured to receive the corresponding tab of each clamp; and

oppositely positioned L-shaped protrusions inwardly extending toward the center of the sleeve member to engage corresponding slots of the retaining member to prevent disengagement of the sleeve member from the retaining member, wherein each slot of the retaining member allows the sleeve member to maintain at least one of the first and the second positions in response to the position of the protrusion with respect to the slot, wherein the clamps engage the fastener when the sleeve member is at the first position by an inner surface of the sleeve member pushing against the tabs of the clamps and disengage the fastener when the sleeve member is at the second position as the tabs of the clamps are inserted into corresponding recesses.

2. The fastener holding device according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the driving bit assembly is a socket configured to receive a driving bit.

3. The fastener holding device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve member further includes a window longitudinal formed between the recesses and the protrusion to access the retainer member.

4. The fastener holding device according to claim 1, wherein the clamps of the retaining member includes a hook formed at an end portion of the clamps for engaging a head portion of the fastener.

5. The fastener holding device according to claim 1, further comprising

a bearing ring placed in surrounding relation to the driving bit member and placed inside of the retaining member to allow the driving bit member to rotate with respect to the retaining member.

6. The fastener holding device according to claim 1, further comprising a motorized apparatus connected to the second end of the driving bit assembly to rotate the driving bit assembly.

7. A fastener holding device operable with a fastener, the fastener holding device comprising;

driving bit assembly means for driving the fastener, the driving bit assembly means having first and second ends, the first end being a socket configured to receive a driving bit;

retaining means for releasably holding the fastener, the retaining means adapted to be placed on the first end of and in surrounding relation to the driving bit assembly, the retaining means having flexible clamps extending from the retaining means for releasably holding the fastener, the clamps maintaining closed and open positions, wherein the retaining means has opposite slots at lower end thereof and each one of the clamps has an outwardly protruding tab; and

sleeve means for controlling the release of the fastener, the sleeve means configured to be placed on and in surrounding relation to the retaining member, the sleeve member having

oppositely positioned recesses formed in a body of the sleeve means, each recess being configured and sized to receive the corresponding tab of each clamp; and

oppositely positioned L-shaped protrusions inwardly extending toward the center of the sleeve means to engage corresponding slots of the retaining means to prevent disengagement of the sleeve means from the retaining means, wherein each slot of the retaining means allows the sleeve means to maintain at least one of the first and the second positions in response to the position of the protrusion with respect to the slot, wherein the clamps engage the fastener when the sleeve means is at the first position by an inner surface of the sleeve means pushing against the tabs of the clamps and disengage the fastener when the sleeve means is at the second position as the tabs of the clamps are inserted into corresponding recesses.

8. The fastener holding device according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve means further includes a window longitudinally formed between the recesses and the protrusion to access the retainer means.

9. The fastener holding device according to claim 7, wherein the clamps of the retaining means includes a hook formed at an end portion of the clamps for engaging a head portion of the fastener.