Rotary tool holder

• US 6,394,715 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyle, David C., McKenzie, Timothy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, TERRENCE M.
• Application Number:
  US09/655,264
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 408/238,239 R,240 279/14,29,74,75,82
• US Class Current: 408/238
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1072 Retention by axially or circumferentially oriented cylindrical elements cylindrical elements acting as jaws B23B31/223
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/001 characterised by material or shape of the tool bit
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/007 Attachments for drilling apparatus for screw or nut setting or loosening
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0035 Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/94 Tool-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/95 with tool-retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/953 Clamping jaws

Abstract

A tool holder for releasably coupling a bit with a non-circular outer connector surface to a rotary driver. The tool holder includes a socket and a retaining mechanism coupled to the socket and operable in a retaining mode and a released mode. The socket includes a forward end with an opening extending rearwardly from the forward end. The opening also includes a non-circular cross-section adapted to receive the outer connector surface of the bit to couple the bit for rotation with the socket. The retaining mechanism is adapted to permit disposable of the bit into an operative position within the opening and to prevent axial movement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its retaining mode. The retaining mechanism is further adapted to permit axial displacement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its released mode. The retaining mechanism includes a sleeve coupled to the socket for displacement toward the forward end of the socket from a locked position to an unlocked position thereby moving the retaining mechanism from its retaining mode into its released mode. The retaining mechanism also includes a spring or alternately a rubber o-ring biasing the sleeve into its locked position.

Claims

1. A tool holder for releasably coupling a bit with a non-circular outer connector surface to a rotary driver, comprising:

a socket having a forward end and an opening extending rearwardly from said forward end, said opening having a non-circular cross section adapted to receive the outer connector surface of the bit to couple the bit for rotation with the socket; and

a retaining mechanism coupled to said socket and operable in a retaining mode and a released mode, said retaining mechanism having a rubber o-ring, said retaining mechanism adapted to permit disposal of the bit into an operative position within the opening and to prevent axial displacement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its retaining mode, said rubber o-ring biasing said retaining mechanism into its retaining mode, said retaining mechanism further adapted to permit axial displacement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its released mode, said retaining mechanism including a sleeve and a spring, said sleeve coupled to said socket for displacement toward said forward end of said socket from a locked position to an unlocked position to move said retaining mechanism from said retaining mode to said released mode, said spring biasing said sleeve into its locked position.

2. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein said retaining mechanism includes a detent mechanism movable between an engaged position and first and second disengaged positions, wherein said socket includes a slot communicating with said opening, wherein said detent mechanism is adapted to extend through said slot and into said opening to engage the bit and prevent axial removal of the bit from its operative position when the detent mechanism is in its engaged position.

3. The tool holder of claim 2 wherein said detent mechanism is adapted to permit insertion of the bit into the opening when the detent mechanism is in its first disengaged position, wherein said detent mechanism is further adapted to permit removal of the bit from the opening when the detent mechanism is in its second disengaged position, wherein said detent mechanism is displaceable from its engaged position to its first disengaged position when the retaining mechanism is in its retaining mode, wherein said sleeve prevents displacement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position to its second disengaged position when said retaining mechanism is in said retaining mode, and wherein said detent mechanism is displaceable from its engaged position to its second disengaged position when the retaining mechanism is in its released mode.

4. The tool holder of claim 3 wherein said socket includes a slanted bearing surface extending rearwardly from said slot, wherein said detent mechanism includes a key disposed in said slot, said key positioned to engage the bit during insertion of the bit into said opening and to be displaced by the bit to slide along said bearing surface from the engaged position to the first disengaged position, said key biased into its engaged position by said rubber o-ring.

5. The tool holder of claim 3 wherein said detent mechanism is movable in a first direction from its engaged position to its first disengaged position and in a second direction generally orthogonal to said first direction from its engaged position to its second disengaged position.

6. A tool holder for releasably coupling a bit with a non-circular outer connector surface to a rotary driver, comprising:

a socket having a forward end and an opening extending rearwardly from said forward end, said opening having a non-circular cross section adapted to receive the outer connector surface of the bit to couple the bit for rotation with the socket;

a sleeve displaceable axially along said socket between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a spring biasing said sleeve toward its locked position;

a detent mechanism having a rubber o-ring biasing said detent mechanism into said opening and adapted to engage the bit and prevent axial removal of the bit from the opening when said detent mechanism is in an engaged position;

said detent mechanism being movable between its engaged position to first and second disengaged positions, said sleeve preventing movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position into its second disengaged position while permitting movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position into its first disengaged position when said sleeve is in its locked position, said sleeve permitting movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position to its second disengaged position when said sleeve is in its unlocked position.

7. The tool holder of claim 6 wherein said detent mechanism includes a key and said socket includes a slot communicating with said opening and a slanted surface extending rearwardly from said slot, and wherein said key slides along said slanted surface when the detent mechanism is moved from its engaged position to its first disengaged position, said key biased by said rubber o-ring into its engaged position.

8. The tool holder of claim 7 wherein said key is displaced away from said slanted surface when the detent mechanism is moved from its engaged position to its second disengaged position.

9. The tool holder of claim 8 wherein said sleeve includes a recess having a conical section and a cavity extending rearwardly from said conical section.

10. The tool holder of claim 9 wherein said conical section includes a slanted face that prevents displacement of said key away from said slanted surface when said sleeve is in its locked position.

11. The tool holder of claim 8 wherein said cavity is moved into operative engagement with said key when said sleeve is displaced into its unlocked position to accommodate said key when said detent mechanism is in its second disengaged position.

12. The tool holder of claim 6 wherein said sleeve is displaced toward said forward end of said socket to move said sleeve from its locked position to its unlocked position.

13. A rotatable tool comprising:

a bit having a non-circular outer connector surface; and

a tool holder having a socket and a retaining mechanism, said socket having a forward end and an opening extending rearwardly from said forward end, said opening having a non-circular cross section, said bit being disposable in an operative position within said socket wherein said opening receives said connector surface to couple said bit for rotation with said tool socket, said retaining mechanism including;

a detent mechanism movable between an engaged position and first and second disengaged positions, said bit displacing said detent mechanism into its first disengaged position during insertion of the bit into its operative position, said detent mechanism extending into said opening to engage the bit and prevent axial removal of the bit from the opening when said detent mechanism is in its engaged position and the bit is in its operative position, said bit displacing said detent mechanism into its second disengaged position during removal of the bit from its operative position, said detent mechanism including a rubber o-ring biasing said detent mechanism into its engaged position,

a sleeve displaceable axially along said socket between a locked position and an unlocked position, said sleeve preventing movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position into its second disengaged position while permitting movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position into its first disengaged position when said sleeve is in said locked position, said sleeve permitting movement of said detent mechanism from its engaged position to its second disengaged position when said sleeve is in said unlocked position, and

a spring normally biasing said sleeve into said locked position.

14. The rotatable tool of claim 13 wherein said bit is a reversible bit assembly including a bit holder, a first bit coupled to said bit holder to extend therefrom in a first direction, a second bit coupled to said bit holder to extend therefrom in a second direction opposite said first direction.

15. The rotatable tool of claim 13 wherein said bit includes a shank having a groove, said detent mechanism engaging said groove when said bit is in its operative position and said detent mechanism is in its engaged position.

16. The rotatable tool of claim 13 wherein said sleeve is displaced toward said forward end of said socket to move said sleeve from its locked position to its unlocked position.