Screw holding and driving device

• US 6,668,941 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Phillips, Gregory A., Ward, Kevin M., Taylor, Steven H., Risen, Carl W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/995,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 173/4, 173/11, 173/13, 173/29, 173/93.5, 227/119, 227/136, 227/137, 814/38, 814/39, 814/51
• US Class Current: 173/93.5
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/005 Screw guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/10 using mechanical gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/029 with storage compartments B25F5/027 takes precedence; handles with provisions for storing tool elements B25C1/08

Abstract

A screw holding and driving device (42) for a power drill (40) is characterized by a body (46), a guide tube (48) reciprocatingly retained by the body, a drive assembly (90) held by the body (46) and operatively coupled to the guide tube (48), and, in certain embodiments, a screw depth adjuster (102). The guide tube (48) is configured to allow individual, top loading of screws for driving. The depth adjuster (102) is rotatable on the body to variably set screw driving depth. The body (46) can also include an integrally formed, bit storage caddie (54).

Claims

1. A device for holding and driving a fastener into a work piece using a rotary drive apparatus and a tool bit configured for driving engagement with the fastener, the device comprising:

a body defining an elongated bore therethrough, and further defining a forward stop surface at a front end and rearward stop surface at an opposite rear end of said elongated bore;

a drive shaft rotatably disposed within said bore, and configured at one end for engagement to the tool bit and at an opposite end for engagement to the rotary drive apparatus;

a guide tube having a portion slidably disposed within said bore and defining;

a guide bore configured to slidably receive at least a portion of said drive shaft therethrough;

a seating surface on said portion of said guide tube configured to abut at least one of said forward and said rearward stop surfaces of said elongated body; and

a spring contact surface; and

a spring element disposed within said bore and arranged between said spring contact surface of said guide tube and the other of said forward and rearward stop surfaces of said elongated body,

wherein said guide tube defines an annular bore along a portion thereof, said annular bore defining said spring contact surface and sized to receive a portion of said spring element therein.

2. The device for holding and driving a fastener according to claim 1, wherein said annular bore is concentric with and radially outward from said guide bore.

3. A device for holding and driving a fastener into a work piece using a driven rotary shaft carrying a tool bit configured for driving engagement with the fastener, the device comprising:

a body defining an elongated bore therethrough, and further having a front end and an opposite rear end, said body including a bearing element for rotatably supporting said body on the drive shaft with the tool bit projecting beyond said front end;

a guide tube having a portion slidably extending into said bore from said front end of said body and defining;

a guide bore configured to slidably receive at least a portion of said drive shaft therethrough, and

a spring contact surface; and

a spring element disposed within said bore and arranged between said spring contact surface of said guide tube and a portion of said body within said elongated bore,

wherein said elongated bore of said body is open at said rear end; and

wherein said body further includes a cap mounted thereon to close said bore at said rear end, said cap including an aperture for rotatably supporting said body on the drive shaft, and said cap defining a rearward stop surface for contacting said spring element within said bore.

4. A device for holding and driving a fastener into a work piece using a driven rotary shaft carrying a tool bit configured for driving engagement with the fastener, the device comprising:

a body defining an elongated bore therethrough, and further having a front end and an opposite rear end, said body including a bearing element for rotatably supporting said body on the drive shaft with the tool bit projecting beyond said front end;

a guide tube having a portion slidably extending into said bore from said front end of said body and defining;

a guide bore configured to slidably receive at least a portion of said drive shaft therethrough, and

a spring contact surface; and

a spring element disposed within said bore and arranged between said spring contact surface of said guide tube and a portion of said body within said elongated bore,

wherein said spring element extends into said guide tube along a portion of the length of the guide tube.

5. The device for holding and driving a fastener according to claim 4, wherein said guide tube defines an annular bore along said portion thereof, said annular bore defining said spring contact surface and sized to receive a portion of said spring element therein.

6. The device for holding and driving a fastener according to claim 5, wherein said annular bore is concentric with and radially outward from said guide bore.

7. A screw holding and driving device, comprising:

a body defining an elongated bore therethrough;

a drive shaft assembly rotatably supported within said body, wherein said drive shaft assembly has (i) a shank portion at a first end portion thereof that is configured to be received in a chuck of a drill, and (ii) a bit retaining bore at a second end portion thereof, said bit retaining bore is configured to receive a screw bit therein, and wherein said drive shaft assembly further has a magnet located within said bit retaining bore;

a guide tube having a sidewall defining a guide bore, wherein said guide tube has a side opening defined in said sidewall that is configured to allow a screw to be advanced into said guide bore, and wherein said guide tube extends at least partially within said elongated bore of said body and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a spring that biases said guide tube toward said extended position.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein:

said guide tube has a proximal opening and a distal opening,

said proximal opening is located within said elongated bore of said body when (i) said guide tube is positioned in said extended position, and (ii) said guide tube is positioned in said retracted position,

said drive shaft assembly defines an access opening for accessing said bit retaining bore of said drive shaft, and

said access opening is interposed between said proximal opening of said guide tube and said side opening of said guide tube.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said side opening of said guide tube is spaced apart from said distal opening of said guide tube.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said guide tube is translucent, whereby a screw located within said guide tube may be visualized through said sidewall of said guide tube.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising a depth adjustment sleeve, wherein:

said body includes an externally threaded portion,

said depth adjustment sleeve includes an internally threaded portion that mates with said externally threaded portion of said body, and

said depth adjustment sleeve is positioned around both said guide tube and said body during movement of said guide tube from said extended position to said retracted position.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein:

said spring is located in said elongated bore, and

said spring is positioned around drive shaft assembly.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein:

said side opening includes (i) a shank opening portion having a first width, and (ii) a head opening portion having a second width, and

said first width is smaller than said second width, whereby insertion orientation of a screw is predetermined.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising said screw bit positioned within said bit retaining bore, wherein:

said screw bit includes a first bit end portion juxtaposed to said magnet and a second bit end portion configured to mate with a head of a screw, and

said head opening portion is positioned adjacent to said second bit end portion of said screw bit when said guide tube is located in said extended position.

15. A screw holding and driving device, comprising:

a body defining an elongated bore therethrough;

a drive shaft assembly rotatably supported within said body, wherein said drive shaft assembly has a shank portion and a bit retaining bore, and wherein said drive shaft assembly further has a magnet located within said bit retaining bore;

a screw bit located within said bit retaining bore;

a guide tube having a guide bore, wherein said guide tube has a side opening defined in said guide tube, and wherein said guide tube extends at least partially within said elongated bore of said body and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a spring that biases said guide tube toward said extended position.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein:

said guide tube has a proximal opening and a distal opening,

said proximal opening is located within said elongated bore of said body when (i) said guide tube is positioned in said extended position, and (ii) said guide tube is positioned in said retracted position,

said drive shaft assembly defines an access opening for accessing said bit retaining bore of said drive shaft, and

said access opening is interposed between said proximal opening of said guide tube and said side opening of said guide tube.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said side opening of said guide tube is spaced apart from said distal opening of said guide tube.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said guide tube is translucent, whereby a screw located within said guide tube may be visualized through said guide tube.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising a depth adjustment sleeve, wherein:

said body includes an externally threaded portion,

said depth adjustment sleeve includes an internally threaded portion that mates with said externally threaded portion of said body, and

said depth adjustment sleeve is positioned around both said guide tube and said body during movement of said guide tube from said extended position to said retracted position.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein:

said spring is located in said elongated bore, and

said spring is positioned around drive shaft assembly.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein:

said side opening includes (i) a shank opening portion having a first width, and (ii) a head opening portion having a second width, and

said first width is smaller than said second width, whereby insertion orientation of a screw is predetermined.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein:

said screw bit includes a first bit end portion juxtaposed to said magnet and a second bit end portion configured to mate with a head of a screw, and

said head opening portion is positioned adjacent to said second bit end portion of said screw bit when said guide tube is located in said extended position.