Combination screw driver and bit holder

• US 7,073,417 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bit Holder Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bit Holder Incorporated
• Inventors: Beauchamp, Fern
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OJINI, EZIAMARA ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US10/076,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 811/774, 814/38, 814/39, 814/90
• US Class Current: 81/490
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/029 with storage compartments B25F5/027 takes precedence; handles with provisions for storing tool elements B25C1/08

Abstract

The present invention a combination screwdriver and bit holder for use with a drill chuck includes a shaft adapted at one end for releasably mounting to the drill chuck, and at the other end for releasably mounting tool bits therein; and, a housing connected operably to said shaft, said housing defining bit compartments for releasably receiving tool bits therein. Preferably the bit holder used in combination with a handle adapted at one end for releasably receiving said bit holder such that said handle mated together with said bit holder can be used as manual combination screwdriver.

Claims

1. A screwdriver including a handle and a detachable drill attachment for mounting into a drill chuck, said screwdriver comprising:

(a) a drill attachment including a central longitudinal shaft means adapted at a rear end for selectively releasably mounting into a drill chuck or a handle, and adapted at a front end for releasably mounting tool bits projecting forwardly from said front end and for rotatably driving said tool bits;

(b) the drill attachment including a storing means mounted onto said shaft means such that said shaft means rear end projecting rearwardly from said storing means for mounting into a drill chuck, and said shaft means front end projecting forwardly from said storing means;

(c) wherein said storing means for releasably storing multiple tool bits in longitudinally oriented bit compartments spaced from and nested around said central shaft means such that said bits are securely held in place upon rotation of said drill attachment by a drill;

(d) the handle including an elongated body, said handle including one end adapted to receive and releasably mourn onto the shaft means rear end of said drill attachment such that said drill attachment can be mated together with said handle for use as a manual screwdriver and said drill attachment can be detached from said handle for mounting into a drill chuck.

2. The screwdriver claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle includes at one end a shaft aperture adapted to longitudinally slideably receive said shaft means rear end therein, thereby releasably holding said drill attachment onto said handle such that upon turning said handle rotational torque is transmitted from said handle to said drill attachment.

3. The screwdriver claimed in claim 2 wherein said shaft aperture including at least one flat portion and said shaft means rear end including a corresponding flat portion for slideably mating and engaging with said shaft aperture.

4. The screwdriver claimed in claim 3 wherein said shaft aperture including six flat portions defining an hexagonal shaped aperture and said shaft means rear end including a corresponding hexagonal shaped portion for slideably mating and engaging with said shaft aperture.

5. The screwdriver claimed in claim 1 wherein said storing means including a retaining means for selectively opening and closing said bit compartments thereby selectively retaining or releasing a tool bit.

6. The screwdriver claimed in claim 5 wherein said storing means including a body and said retaining means including a sleeve, wherein said body and sleeve are cooperatively mounted on said shaft means such that said sleeve is rotatable about said shaft means for selectively opening or closing said bit compartments.

7. The screwdriver claimed in claim 6 wherein said sleeve includes an opening for selectively aligning with a bit compartment and thereby releasing a tool bit from a bit compartment.

8. The screwdriver claimed in claim 7 wherein said storing means including a means for incrementally indexing said sleeve relative said body in an incremental or clicking fashion about said longitudinal shaft, such that sleeve positions are positively registered in predetermined positions or increments.

9. The screwdriver claimed in claim 8 wherein said incremental indexing means includes radially disposed grooves and co-operating tongues, such that rotating said sleeve relative to said body causes said tongues and groves to mesh at predetermined intervals and thereby releasably maintain said sleeve at predetermined indexed positions relative to said body.

10. The screwdriver claimed in claim 9 wherein said body including forwardly projecting tongues for cooperatively engaging with radially disposed grooves in said sleeve such that said sleeve grooves, and body tongues mesh at predetermined rotational intervals for selectively rotatably indexing said sleeve.

11. The screwdriver claimed in claim 5 wherein said storing means including a body and said retaining means including a sleeve, wherein said body and sleeve are cooperatively mounted on said shaft means such that said body is rotatable about said shaft means for selectively opening or closing said bit compartments.

12. The bit holder claimed in claim 1 wherein said staring means being press fit onto said shaft.

13. A screwdriver including a handle and a detachable drill attachment for mounting into a drill chuck, said screwdriver comprising:

(a) a housing aligned and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, said housing adapted at the front end for releasably mounting and presenting a tool bit aligned along said longitudinal axis and projecting forwardly from said housing and for rotatably driving said tool bits;

(b) said drill attachment including a shaft connected at one end to the housing rear end, said shaft longitudinally oriented and rearwardly projecting, wherein said rearwardly projecting portion of said shaft adapted for mounting to a drill chuck and a handle;

(c) said housing including a means for releasably storing multiple tool bits in longitudinally oriented bit compartments spaced from and nested around said longitudinal axis such that said bits are securely held in place upon rotation of said drill attachment by a drill;

(d) the handle including an elongated body, said handle including one end adapted to receive and releasably mount onto the rearwardly projecting shaft of said drill attachment such that said drill attachment can be selectively mated together with said handle for use as a manual screwdriver or said drill attachment can be selectively detached from said handle for mounting into a drill chuck.

14. The screwdriver claimed in claim 13 wherein said handle includes a shaft aperture adapted to longitudinally slideably receive said shaft therein, thereby releasably holding said drill attachment onto said handle such that upon turning said handle rotational torque is transmitted from said handle to said drill attachment.

15. The screwdriver claimed in claim 14 wherein said shaft aperture including at least one flat portion and said shaft including a corresponding flat portion for slideably mating and engaging with said shaft aperture.

16. The screwdriver claimed in claim 13 wherein said shaft aperture including six flat portions defining a corresponding hexagonal shaped aperture and said shaft including an hexagonal shaped portion for slideably mating and engaging wit said shaft aperture.

17. The bit holder claimed in claim 13 wherein said storing means includes an actuating means for magnetically retaining tool bits within each bit compartment.

18. The screwdriver claimed in claim 17 wherein said actuating means includes an actuator assembly slidably received within each bit compartment, wherein said actuator assembly including a magnet housed within a magnet holder for magnetically attracting and retaining a tool bit within a bit compartment.

19. The screwdriver claimed in claim 18 wherein said housing further including actuator channels corresponding to each bit compartment, wherein said actuator assembly being slidably received along each actuator channel and bit compartment, wherein said actuator assembly for slidably urging said tool bit longitudinally along said bit compartment.

20. The screwdriver claimed in claim 19 wherein said actuator assembly further including a knob connected to said magnet holder, said knob projecting from the exterior of said housing for receiving finger pressure thereon, such that tool bits can be extended and refracted along said bit compartment by urging said knob forwards and backwards along the longitudinal direction which inturn urges said actuator assembly and inturn urges said tool bit forwards and backwards.

21. A screwdriver including a handle and a detachable drill attachment for mounting onto a threaded output shaft of a power drill, said screwdriver comprising:

(a) a drill attachment including a housing aligned and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, said housing including a treaded aperture at a rear end adapted for mounting to a threaded output shaft of a power drill and a handle, said housing adapted at the front end for releasably mounting and presenting a tool bit aligned along said longitudinal axis and projecting forwardly from said housing;

(b) said housing further including a means for releasably storing multiple tool bits in bit compartments nested around said longitudinal axis such that said housing together with said stored bits rotate in unison about said longitudinal axis and also such that said bits are securely held in place upon rotation of said drill attachment by a drill; and

(c) the handle including an elongated body having one end adapted to threadably mount into the housing rear aperture of said drill attachment such that said drill attachment can selectively be mated together with said handle for use as a manual screwdriver or said drill attachment can be selectively detached from said handle for mounting onto a threaded output shaft of a power drill.

22. The screwdriver claimed in claim 21 wherein said handle includes a threaded shaft projecting centrally forwardly from one end of said handle and adapted to threadably engage with said threaded aperture in said rear end of said drill attachment, thereby releasably holding said drill attachment onto said handle such that upon turning said handle rotational torque is transmitted from said handle to said drill attachment.

23. The screwdriver claimed in claim 21 wherein said screwdriver including an adapter shaft threaded on one end for threadably engaging in said housing rear threaded aperture and adapted at an other end for mounting into a drill chuck.

24. The screwdriver claimed in claim 21 wherein said storing means further includes a means for releasably retaining said tool bits within each bit compartment.

25. The screwdriver claimed in claim 24 wherein said retaining means includes magnets for magnetically retaining bits in said bit compartments.