Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
This application is a continuation in part of our earlier application filed
under Serial
Number: 09/983,567 on October 25, 2001 under the title BIT HOLDER still
pending.
The present invention relates generally to power tools and more particularly
to a bit
holder adapted to be received in a drill chuck.
A number of devices are available on the market far releasably holding and
storing
tools bits in various containers. The major draw back with the existing
devices is that each
time a tool bit is selected to be inserted into a drill chuck for example, the
chuck must be
released and the tool bit must be inserted. There are adapters on the market
presently which
allow for magnetically receiving and releasing tools bits once such an adapter
is placed in a
chuck of a drill bit. The draw back of these devices is that the tool bits are
held separately
from the adapter.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a device which combines both the adapter
and the
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
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tool bit holding container, such that tool bits are readily available any time
and in close
proximity to the drill chuck and are similar to existing adapters on the
market magnetically
received in an adapter for easy insertion and removal.
Summary of the invention
The present invention a bit holder for use with a drill chuck comprises:
(a) a shaft means adapted at one end for releasably mounting to the drill
chuck, and
at the other end for releasably mounting tool bits therein; and,
(b) a means for releasably storing tool bits in nested fashion around said
shaft such
i 0 that said shaft means and said storing means rotate in unison with said
drill chuck.
Preferably wherein said storing means comprises a framework rigidly attached
to said
shaft means, said framework defining bit compartments for releasably receiving
tool bits
therein.
1~
Preferably wherein said framework further includes at least two dividers
extending
radially from said shaft wherein said dividers define side walls of said bit
compartments.
Preferably wherein said framework further includes a circular base and
cylindrical
20 retainer wherein said retainer base and dividers define the space of each
bit compartment.
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Preferably wherein said retainer further includes a means for holding said
tool bits
within each bit compartment and also for selectively releasing a tool bit.
Preferably wherein said hold meanings includes a retainer opening operable to
be
positioned for selectively releasing a tool bit.
Preferably wherein said retainer rotates about said base for selectively
positioning said
opening to release a tool bit.
l0 In an alternate embodiment the invention is a bit holder for use with a
handle and
compnses:
(a) a shaft means adapted at one end for mounting to the handle, and at the
other end
for releasably mounting tool bits therein; and,
(b) a means for releasably storing tool bits in nested fashion around said
shaft such
1 s that said shaft means and said storing means rotate in unison with said
handle.
The present invention a bit holder for use with a drill chuck comprises:
(a) a shaft means adapted at one end for releasably mounting to the drill
chuck, and
at the other end for releasably mounting tool bits therein; and,
20 (b)a means for releasably storing tool bits in bit compartments located in
nested
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
fashion around said shaft such that said shaft means and said storing means
rotate in
unison with said drill chuck.
Preferably wherein said storing means comprises a housing connected operably
to
said shaft means, said housing defining bit compartments for releasably
receiving tool bits
therein.
Preferably wherein said bit holder means further includes a means for
retaining said
tool bits within each bit compartment and also for selectively releasing a
tool bit.
Preferably wherein said retaining meanings includes a sleeve for positioning
relative
to said housing for selectively retaining or for selectively releasing tool
bits in said bit
compartments.
Preferably wherein said bit holder further includes said housing and said
sleeve
operably rotatably relative each other, wherein said housing or sleeve rotate
about a
longitudinal shaft axis such that rotating said housing or said sleeve
relative each other
selectively retains or releases said bits from said bit compartments.
0 Preferably wherein said retaining means includes a means for incrementally
rotating
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said sleeve or housing relative each other in an incremental or clicking
fashion about said
longitudinal shaft axis, such that said relative rotation is positively
registered in
predetermined positions or increments.
Preferably said incremental means includes radially disposed grooves and cu-
operating tongues, such that rotating said sleeve relative to said housing
causes said tongues
and groves to mesh and releasably maintain said sleeve and housing at
predetermined
rotational positions.
Preferably wherein said sleeve includes an opening portion for selectively
positioning said opening to release a tool bit from a bit compartment while
retaining the
balance of said bits in said bit compartments.
Preferably wherein said housing further includes bit compartment openings for
exposing a portion of a bit within a bit compartment, said compartment opening
adapted to
allow a user to apply finger pressure to a bit for releasing said bit from
said bit compartment.
Preferably wherein said storing means includes magnets for magnetically
retaining
bits ili said bit compartments.
'' 0
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Preferably, wherein said housing includes a threaded aperture proximate one
end,
said aperture adapted for mounting directly onto a threaded shaft of a drill
which normally
receives a drill chuck.
Preferably wherein said retaining meanings includes an actuating means for
magnetically retaining tool bits within each bit compartment.
Preferably wherein said actuating means includes an actuator assembly slidably
received within each bit compartment, wherein said actuator assembly including
a magnet
1 a housed within a magnet holder for magnetically attracting and retaining a
tool bit within a
bit compartment.
Preferably 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.
Preferably 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 retracted along said
bit compartment
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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.
Alternatively in combination a bit holder for use with a handle further
comprising'
(a) 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.
Alternatively wherein said handle further includes means for releasably
storing tool
bits therein such that said tool bits are accessible when said handle is
released from said bit
holder.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, with references to
the
followings drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 2 is a side plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 5 is a side plan view of the bit holder.
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Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 8 is a side plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 10 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the retainer
removed from
the bit holder.
Figure 11 is a upright perspective view of the bit holder showing the tool
bits nested
in their bit compartments.
Figure 12 is a upright perspective view showing one tool bit inserted in the
socket
and in shadow the tool bit being removed from an empty bit compartment.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the bit holder.
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the bit holder taken along lines 14-14
in Figure
13.
Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the bit holder shown mounted in a
drill
chuck of a drill.
Figure 16 is a schematic front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
a bit
holder 200.
Figure 17 is a rear perspective schematic view of the alternate embodiment bit
holder
200 shown in Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a top plan view of the bit holder shown in Figure 16.
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Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the bit holder shown in Figure 16.
Figure 20 is a bottom plan view of the bit holder shown in Figure 16.
Figure 21 is a side elevational view of the bit holder shown in Figure 16.
Figure 22 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22 - 22 of Figure 21.
Figure 23 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 23 shown in Figure 21.
Figure 24 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 24 - 24 shown in Figure
21.
Figure 25 is an assembly drawing shown the presently preferred bit holder 20U
for
mounting onto a handle.
Figure 26 is a front schematic perspective view of a handle for mounting of
bit holder
200 thereon.
Figure 27 is an assembled schematic perspective front view of bit holder 200
mounted onto handle 230.
Figure 28 is an alternate embodiment of the handle shown in Figure 26.
Figure 29 is a schematic front perspective view of the bit holder shown being
assembled into the chuck of a drill.
Figure 30 is the adapter shaft required for mounting bit holder onto a drill
chuck.
Figure 31 is a partial front schematic perspective view of a drill chuck
together with
a portion of the drill.
Figure 32 is an assembled view of the bit holder mounted onto a drill chuck of
a drill.
Figure 34 is a schematic ghost outline of a drill chuck removed from a drill.
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Figure 35 is a schematic perspective view of a threaded shaft joining a drill
with a
drill chuck.
Figure 36 is a schematic front perspective view of the bit holder.
Figure 37 is an assembly drawing showing the bit holder replacing a
conventional
drill chuck on a drill.
Figure 38 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the
present
invention, namely bit holder 300.
Figure 39 is a cross sectional view of bit holder 300 showing shaft 306 in
place.
Figure 40 is a front, side and bottom plan view of a shaft which is part of
bit holder
300.
Figure 41 is a top, side and rear plan view of a sleeve which is part of bit
holder 300.
Figure 42 is a front, side and rear plan view of a housing which is part of
bit holder
300.
Figure 43 is a front, side and rear plan view of a tool bit which is part of
bit holder
300
Figure 44 is a cross sectional view of a sleeve.
Figure 45 is a cross section view through a housing.
Figure 46 is a front elevational view of the sleeve shown in Figure 44.
Figure 47 is a front elevational view of the housing shown in Figure 45.
Figure 48 is an alternate embodiment of a bit holder shown in the assembled
state
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
from the components depicted in Figures 44 through 47, wherein bit holder 400
is a
cross sectional view of the bit holder with a shaft in place including a
housing sleeve
and bit.
Figure 49 a bottom plan view of the combination screw driver.
Figure 50 is a side elevational view of the combination screw driver shown in
the
attached position.
Figure 51 is a top plan view of the combination screw driver.
Figure 52 is a perspective schematic view of the handle of the combination
screw
driver.
Figure 53 is a rear schematic perspective view of the handle.
Figure 54 is a front perspective view of the bit holder as shown in Figure 50.
Figure 55 is a rear perspective view of the bit holder as shown in Figure 50.
Figure 56 shows the handle and the bit holder in schematic perspective view in
the
detached position.
l 5 Figure 57 shows the handle and the bit holder schematically in the
detached position.
Figure 58 is a partially exploded view of the bit holder and handle shown in
Figure
50 in the detached position indicating storage of drill bits and tool bits in
their
respective compartments.
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Figure 59 is a schematic exploded rear perspective view of the bit holder
shown in
Figure 50.
Figure 60 is a front perspective schematic view of the handle shown in Figure
50.
Figure 61 is a front perspective view of a bit holder.
Figure 62 is a forward schematic view in the attached position of an alternate
embodiment of the combination screw driver.
Figure 63 is a front perspective view of the body and shaft.
Figure 64 is a front elevational view of the sleeve.
Figure 65 is a front perspective view of the handle.
Figure 66 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the bit
holder.
Figure 67 is an alternate embodiment of a combination screw driver in the
attached
position.
Figure 68 is a front schematic perspective view of the bit holder depicted in
Figure
50 shown diploid onto a drill chuck.
Figure 69 is a front schematic perspective view of the bit holder shown in
Figure 66
diploid onto a drill chuck.
Figure 70 is a front schematic perspective view of the bit holder shown in
Figure 61
diploid onto a screw driver.
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Referring to Figures 1 l and 14 in particular, the present invention of bit
holder shown
generally as 100 and includes the following components: shaft 110 having a hex
portion 11 1
and a socket portion 112, and a magnet 132, a socket 1 14, a frame work 140
including base
126, dividers 118 which define bit compartments 120 and a retainer 130 which
rotates about
shaft bottom 134. Retainer 130 includes a retaining portion 122 and tool bits
116 are housed
within bit compartments 120.
Preferably hex driver 110 and hallow shaft 112 are metal components which
either can
lu be inti~agally formed out of one piece of metal and/or are rigidly mounted
together as shown
in Figure 14. Which ever construction of hex driver 110 combined with hollow
shaft 112 is
selected, the end results must ensure that when torque or rotational forces
are applied to hex
driver 110, hollow shaft 112 is rigidly secured enough to hex driver 110 in
order to transmit
the torque from hex driver 110 to hollow shaft 112.
Magnet 132 is imbedded into driver top 142 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 14
and
normally there is an interference fit wherein magnet 132 is pressed into a
aperture formed in
driver top 142. The purpose of magnet 132 is to hold a tool bit 116 into
socket 1 14 and
prevent it from falling out of socket 1 14.
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Preferably hex driver 110 is hexagonally shaped of the standard 1/4 inch
hexagonal
driver found on the market place, however it can be dimensioned to other sizes
depending
upon the application. Similarly socket 114 is a female hexagonal socket
adapted to receive
hexagonally shaped tool bits 116 having standard dimensions of approximately
1/4 inch
measured from face to face.
Connected and mounted to the combination of hollow shaft 112 and hex driver
110
is frame work 140 as best shown in Figure 10 which consists of base 126 and
dividers 118.
In practice, dividers 118 and base 126 are preferably made by plastic
injection moulding,
I 0 plastic around hex driver 110 and hollow shaft 112.
Once frame work 140 is in place, retainer 130 is placed over bit holder 100 as
shown
in Figure 10 whereby a female groove 150 in the outer diameter of base 126
cooperates with
male ridge 152 found in the inner diameter of retainer 130, thereby locking
retainer 30 onto
base 126. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other
methods can be used
to attach retainer 130 to base 126. The example shown is one of many that can
be used to
effectively mount retainer 130 onto base 126.
With retainer 130 mounted onto base 126 in this manner, enables retainer 130
to be
rotated about a longitudinal axis 160 shown in Figure 14.
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Retainer 130 has a retaining portion 122 which tapers inwardly towards tool
bits 116
either impinging upon or coming very close to the tapered shoulders of 162 of
tool bits 1 16
thereby ensuring that tool bits 116 remain within a bit compartment 120.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the retainer 130 can take
on various
mechanical arrangements not necessarily shown in the diagrams herein. For
example the
retainer portion 122 may be separate and distinct from the retainer 130. For
example a
simple rotatable ring having an opening 124 not connected to retainer 130 is
possible.
l0 As shown retainer 130 together with frame work 140 defines 6 distinct bit
compartments 120 for housing of tool bits 116. There is no reason why this
number could
be increased or decreased depending upon the final size required of bit holder
100 and also
depending upon the total number of tool bits 116 desired to be housed within
bit holder 100.
Retaining portion 122 of retainer 130 also has a cut out or retainer opening
124 which
can be aligned with a particular bit compartment 120 thereby aligning it with
a particular tool
bit 116.
In Use
In use driver bottom 144 of bit holder 100 as best shown in Figure 15 is
mounted into
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a drill chuck 180 and drill 182. With bit holder 100 mounted in drill chuck
180, a particular
tool bit 116 is selected from bit holder 100 by rotating retainer 130 such
that retainer opening
124 aligns with the desired bit compartment 20 housing the desired tool bit
116. Retainer
opening 124 is so dimensioned as to allow removal of tool bit 116 from its bit
compartment
120 thereby positioning tool bit 116 into socket 114 where it is retained
thereby magnet 132.
The balance of tool bits 116 in this case the five not retained in socket 114
are retained
in their perspective bit compartments 120 by retaining portion 122 of retainer
130.
l0 With a tool bit 116 mounted in socket 114, drill 182 can now be actuated
there by
rotating the entire bit holder 100 and the end of tool bit 116 can be gauged
with a screw or
whatever work piece for utilizing the selected tool bit 116.
When none of the tool bits 116 is desired, the tool bit 116 found within
socket 114 is
removed back to its respective bit compartment 120 and retainer 130 is rotated
such that
retainer opening 124 aligns with a divider 118 as shown in Figure 1 l, thereby
locking all of
the tools bits 116 and their respective bit compartments 120.
The advantage of bit holder 100 is that the bits are easily selectable since
they are
?0 located very close to the drill chuck 180 and the work piece being used. It
will further be
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
appreciated that a particular tool bit 116 can be easily and quickly selected
and placed back
into its respective bit compartment 120 such that the tool bits 116 do not
become lost.
Further, it will appreciated by those skilled in the arts that various lengths
of tool bits
1 l6 can be used depending upon the dimensions of bit holder 100 in addition
to the tool bits
of the type shown, any standard type tool bit can be used, including drill
bits and/or other bits
as long as they are adapted to be received cooperatively within socket 114.
As drill chuck 180 rotates thereby rotating hex driver 110, there in turn
rotating
hollow shaft 112, which there in turn rotates the tool bit 116 found within
socket 114, the
tool bit within socket 114 can impart torque and/or turning forces onto
whatever work piece
it is applied to.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above described
mechanism for
the selection of tool bits can also be adapted for use as a manual driver. For
manual drivers
driver bottom 144 instead of being mounted to chuck 180 would be securely
mounted to a
handle not shown in the drawings. The handle would be designed to fit
comfortably in a
hand. Bit holder 100 would be rotated by the manual turning of a handle which
rigidly
connected to bit holder 100.
~' 0
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Presen ~y Preferred Embodiment Figures 16 through 37
Referring now to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is
depicted
in Figures 17 through 37. The presently preferred invention, a bit holder
shown generally
as 200 in Figure 22 includes the following major components, namely housing
202, tools bits
204. six bit compartments defined in housing 202, nested symmefirically about
a longitudinal
axis 218 of housing 202, a hexagonal socket defined centrally along
longitudinal axis 218
within housing 202 for receiving tools bits 204 therein, magnets 210 located
at the base of
hex socket 208 and magnets 212 located near the bottom of bit compartments 206
for
magnetically retaining tools bits 204 within either bit compartment 206 or hex
socket 208,
l0 a threaded aperture in the rear portion of housing 202 and fix compartment
openings 216
corresponding to bit compartment 206 for the purpose of enabling the user to
slide a tool bit
tool four out of its bit compartment 206 by applying finger pressure.
15 Bit holder 200 can be used as a manual screw driver by affixing it to a
handle 230
shown in Figure 26 via threaded shaft 232 located symmetrically along
longitudinal axis 218.
Threaded shaft 232 is threadably received within threaded aperture 214 of bit
holder 200
thereby securely joining bit holder 200 to handle 230 as shown in the
assembled condition
in Figure 27. This configuration, bit holder 200 can be used as a manual bit
driver and tools
20 bits 204 can be selected by slideably removing tool bit 204 out of its bit
compartment 206
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by using finger pressure to slide the tool bit 204 out of bit compartment 206
and manually
positioning it slideably into hex socket 208 until magnet 210 holds tool bit
204 within bit
socket 208. In this manner a total of seven tool bits can be held magnetically
in place by bit
holder 200 and each bit can be selected according to need.
Referring now to Figures 29, 30, 31 and 32 by using adapter shaft 240 which is
threaded on one end to be threadably received within threaded aperture 214 of
tool bit 204
and is smooth and/or hexagonally shaped on the other end to be received in
drill chuck 242
of a standard portable drill 244 as depicted. By using adapter shaft 240, bit
holder 200 can
1 a be mounted into a drill chuck 242 and thereby bit holder 200 can be used
as a bit driver on
a drill 244.
Referring now to Figures 33, 34, 35 and 37, most commercially available drills
244
have a removable drill chuck 242 as shown in Figure 34. This drill chuck will
either leave
behind a threaded shaft 250 which is removable and/or projects out of the end
of drill 244
where drill chuck 242 was previously mounted. This threaded end is normally
either 3/8 fine
thread or '/2 fine thread and threaded aperture 214 is adapted in size and
threading to be
threadably received onto threaded shaft 250 which is either integrally part of
drill 244 or can
be sold as an adapter piece to allow one to mount bit holder 200 directly onto
drill 244. In
this manner, bit holder 200 essentially replaces drill chuck 242, thereby
reducing the weight
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and the cantilever action of bit holder 200 and minimizes the distance that
bit holder 200
projects away from drill 244. This makes for a much more compact installation
than that
shown in Figure 32, reduces weight and certainly if of interest to contractors
who are
constantly using bit drivers.
Alternate l resently Preferred Embodiment
An alternate presently preferred embodiment is depicted in Figures 38 and on
showing
the present invention a bit holder 300 which includes the following major
components
housing 302, a sleave 3U4, shaft 305. tool bit 309 all of which are assembled
together as
l0 shown as Figure 39.
Referring first of all to housing 302 which is preferably injection moulded in
plastic,
it includes the following major components, namely six bit compartments 308
and inter
diameter which mates onto out diameter 320 of sleave 304 and a series of
twelve groves 310
and the reax portion of housing 302 which comparatively engage with tongues
326 found in
sleave 304.
Sleave 304 includes the following major components, retainer portion 324,
inner
diameter 322 for fitting onto socket portion 342 of shaft 306, outer diameter
320 which acts
as a baring surface on which housing 302 rotates and tongue 326 extending
rearwardly and
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cooperatively engaging within grooves 310 of housing 302. Retainer portion 324
further
includes an opening 328 through which tool bit 308 may pass through without
impediment.
Shaft 306 includes the major elements hex portion 340 which is a hexagonally
shaped
shaft with a socket portion 342 which is normally metallic in material having
a magnet 132
wherein said socket portion 342 is dimensioned to receive the hexagonal shaft
of tool bit 308.
The components described above are firstly assembled as follows. The inner
diameter
l0 312 of housing 302 fits slideably over the outer diameter 320 of sleave 304
and are slid over
until tongue 326 engage with grooves 310 found within housing 302. This
assembly of
housing 302 and sleave 304 is shown in Figure 38. This sub assembling is then
press fit
onto the socket portion 342 of shaft 306 and the inner diameter 322 of sleave
304 is
dimensioned to fit interferingly with the outer diameter of socket portion
342, such that when
sleave 304 together with housing 302 are press fit onto socket portion 342 of
shaft 306 it is
rigidly held in place on shaft 306.
The inner diameter 312 of housing 302 is dimensioned to slideably and
rotatably fit
over outer diameter 320 of sleave 304 such that housing 302 together with tool
bit 309
located within bit compartment 308 can rotate around sleave 304 which is
stationary and
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
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rigidly positioned onto socket portion 342 of shaft 306. Groove 310
cooperatively engaging
with tongues 326 of sleave 304 provide resistance to tinning of housing 302
which can be
overcome by hand pressure, namely manually turning housing 302 and rotating it
around
sleave 304 such that a clicking action occurs as it is moved from one groove
310 to the next.
There are essentially double as many grooves 310 as there are bit compartment
308, such that
if there are six bit compartments as shown there are twelve grooves 310 and
therefore there
are twelve positions to which housing 302 can be moved to. In six of those
positions.
opening 328 coincides with the opening on one end of bit compartment 308,
thereby allowing
a tool bits 309 to freely be removed from bit compartment 308 adjacent to
opening 328. By
moving the housing 302 one click further, this locks all of the bits within
their compartments
and none of the tools bits 309 can be removed from bit compartment 308 since
they are being
blocked off by retainer portion 324 of sleave 304.
A tool bit 309 is selected from one of its bit compartment 308 as described
above and
1 _5 placed in the socket portion 342 of shaft 306 and held in place by magnet
132. As previously
shown in Figure 15, the hex portion 340 of bit holder can be mounted into a
chuck of a drill
as shown in Figure 15 in identical fashion as bit holder 100 is. In this
manner, bit holder 300
can be used to quickly and effectively select up to seven bits which can be
neatly held within
bit holder 300 and organized in such a fashion that they are not lost.
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Pr~sentlX Preferred Alternate Embodiment of a Bit Holder
Figures 44 through 48 inclusive show an alternate embodiment and a bit holder
shown
generally as 400 in the assembled state in Figure 48. Bit holder 400 is very
similar to bit
holder 300, the major difference being that the tongue and grooves which are
located nearest
S the back of the body 302 for bit holder 300 have been moved to the front of
the body 402 for
bit holder 400. In order to have the tongue 326 and grooves 310 moved to the
front of body
402, sleeve 404 is modified to have the hooves 310 defined therein and the
tongues 326 are
placed on the front of body 402 rather than on the rear of sleeve 304 as in
the previous
embodiment. In all other aspects the presently preferred embodiment of bit
holder 400
operates and functions in an identical and analogous manner to bit holder 300
with the
exception that rather than rotating body 302, sleeve 404 is rotated relative
to body 402 which
is stationarily mounted onto shaft 306 and sleeve 404 rotates about the
tongues 326 and about
shaft 306 as shown in Figures 44 through 48. In the previous embodiment bit
holder housing
302 was rotatably mounted onto sleeve 304 whereas in the presently preferred
embodiment.
bit holder housing 402 is securely mounted onto the socket portion 342 of
shaft 306 and
sleeve 404 is mounted over tongues 326 which are now part of housing 402.
In this manner it would apparent to those skilled in the art that is
irrelevant whether
or not sleeve 404 or body 402 are rotating, but what is important is that
either the body or the
sleeve are rotating relative to each other and that the tongue 326 and groove
310 mechanism
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
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used can be placed either in the forward portion or the rearward portion of
bit holder 400 or
300 as shown in the Figures. For that matter the tongue and groove mechanism
can be
mounted in a different location and yet render the same function.
Ne~y Maker Enterec'~ir~this Continuation in Part
Alternate Embodiment
A further embodiment of the bit holder is shown in Figures 49 through 59 and
is
shown generally as combination screw driver 501 which is comprised of the
major
components, bit holder 500 and handle 570.
1U
Firstly, we will describe the components of bit holder 500 as best shown in
the
exploded view depicted in Figure 59. Bit holder 500 includes the following
major
components, namely housing 502, end cap 504, socket 506, bit compartments 508,
tool bits
509, actuator 520 including the components, knob 510, magnet 522, magnet
holder 524,
actuator channel 512, washer 526 and fasteners 550.
Housing 502 has defined therein six bit compartments 508 which are dimensioned
to
receive bits 509 slideably therein. An actuator assembly 520 which includes
the components
of a magnet 522, a knob 510, a magnet holder 524 is also slideably received
within actuator
channel 512 at the bottom end of each bit compartment 508. Magnets 522 are
attracted
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magnetically to the metal bits 509 at one end and also attracted magnetically
to metal washer
526 at the other end. Housing 502 is preferably made of plastic and/or non-
ferrous metals
and has defined therein bit compartments 508 as well as slot shaped actuator
channels 512
which allow magnet holder 524 to slideably move longitudinally along each
actuator channel
S 512. With all actuators 520 in place and washer 526 in place end cap 504 is
fastened onto
the rear portion of housing 502 therefore closing off the rear portion of bit
holder 500. Shaft
514 is rigidly and permanently attached to housing 502 either by moulding it
right into
housing 502 or attaching it by other means known in the art.
Tool bits 509 are extended and retracted along bit compartment 508 by urging
knob
510 which in turn urges actuator assembly 520 which in turn slidably urges bit
509 forwards
531 and backwards 533 within bit compartment 508. Bit 509 is shown in the
retracted
position 543 with magnet 522 contacting the end of bit 509 and also washer
526. Bit 509 is
also shown in the extended position 541 wherein magnet 522 is only contacting
the tool bit
509. In the fully extended position not shown, actuator assembly is urged to
the extreme
forward 531 position along actuator channel 512.
The top portion of housing 502 defines, a socket 506 for receiving slideably
therein tool bits
509. Tool bits 509 are retained in socket 506 magnetically by a magnet which
is situated in
CA 02408711 2002-10-17
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the bottom of socket 506 and not shown in the drawings. Tool bits 509 are
loaded into bit
compartments 508 from the top portion after end cap 504 is in position and as
shown bit
holder 500 can hold 6 tool bits within bit compartments 508 and as well a
seventh tool bit
509 in socket 506. Socket 506 is preferably hexagonal in shape accommodating a
standard
shape quarter inch hexagonal tool bit as shown in the diagrams. Any number of
bit
compartment 508 are possible as are alternate shaped bits 509.
Referring now to Figure 68, bit holder 500 is shown mounted onto a drill chuck
as
depicted in Figure 68. Shaft 514 is received within drill chuck and clamped
into position and
l0 in this manner will rotate in unison with the drill chuck.
A tool bit 509 is selected by slideably urging knob 510 along an actuator
channel 512
therefore magnetically releasing magnet 522 from washer 526 and urging tool
bit 509 out of
each bit compartment 508. To reinsert the tool bit 509, it is simply slid into
a vacant bit
compartment 508, wherein it is magnetically attracted to magnet 522 of
actuator 520 which
in turn is magnetically attracted to washer 526. In this manner each bit 509
is held
magnetically in its respective bit compartment 508 by the magnetic attraction
of the magnet
522 with bit 509 together with washer 526. Similarly tool bits 509 can be
mounted into
socket 506 simply applying finger pressure to release tool bit 509 from the
magnetic
attraction of the magnet in the bottom of each socket 506 and in this manner
tools bits can
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be placed and removed from socket 506 simply using longitudinal finger
pressure onto tool
bit 509. When shaft 514 is mounted into a drill chuck, the entire housing 502
with shaft 514
and the bits stored therein all rotate in unison as shaft 514 is rotatably
urged by a rotating drill
chuck.
I will now describe how handle 570 is constructed and cooperatively adapts
together
with bit holder 500, thereby creating a combination screw driver 501 as
depicted in Figures
~0, 56, 57 and 58.
Handle 570 includes the following major components, namely handle body 572
having bit compartments 574, housing drill bits 507. Handle body 572 also
includes a
centrally located shaft aperture 576 and a mating surface 580. As depicted in
Figures 58,
showing the bit holder 500 and the handle 570 in the detached position 530,
bit holder 500
can be mated to handle 570 by urging them together in the longitudinal
direction 555 in such
a manner that shaft 514 is received into shaft aperture 576 of handle 570. In
the attached
position 532 as best shown in Figure 50. mating surface 580 butts up to end
cap 504 thereby
producing a combination screw driver 501 as depicted in Figure 50. In this
manner, one can
grip handle 570 in the hand and bits 509 can be selected from bit holder 500
as previously
described and placed into socket 506 and in this manner combination screw
driver 501 can
be used as a manually operated screw driver. By urging in the longitudinal
direction 555, bit
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holder 500 away from handle 570 and into the detached position 530 one can
select further
drill bits 507 which are stored within bit compartment 574 of handle body 572.
Furthermore.
one can detach handle 570 from bit holder 500 completely and mount bit holder
500 into a
drill chuck as shown in Figure 68.
In this manner it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that bit
holder 500
can be used independently of combination screw driver 501 in which case it
would be
mounted into a chuck of a drill and this manner one can select various tools
bits 509 from
either housing 502 or out of handle body 572.
Depending upon the requirements of the user, one can attach bit holder 500 to
handle
570 as depicted in Figure 50 and in this manner the handle 570 together with
bit holder 500
can be used as a manual screw driver.
1 S An Alternate Embodiment
Referring now to Figures 60 through 64 as well as Figure 70, bit holder 500 as
described in combination screw driver 501 can be replaced with bit holder 400
which is
analogous and identical to bit holder 400 described above. The only difference
between bit
holder 400 described above and the one depicted in Figure 61 for example is
the fact that
body 402 has been slightly elongated to accommodate a longer tool bit 309. In
all other
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manners, bit holder 400 depicted in 61 operates identically and analogous to
bit holder 400
depicted in Figure 48. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the length
of bit holder 400
does not affect the functioning of combination screw driver 601 and is
selected depending
upon the users requirements.
Combination screw driver 601 operates in identical fashion as combination
screw
driver 501 with the exception that bit holder 400 operates on the principle of
the bit holder
described above, namely that in order to select a certain tool bit 309, sleeve
404 can be
indexably rotated, such that opening 328 aligns with a bit compartment 308 to
release a tool
l0 bit 309 from a compartment and placed into socket 342.
Similarly to combination screw driver 501, bit holder 400 can be mounted
independently of handle 57U into a drill chuck as depicted in Figure 70 and/or
handle 570 can
be mounted together with bit holder 400 in the attached position as shown as
399, wherein
1 S the combination handle 570 and bit holder 400 can be utilized as a manual
screw driver,
namely combination screw driver 601.
Finally referring to Figure 65 through 67 as well as Figure 69, an alternate
20 embodiment of the present invention, combination screw driver 701, is
comprised of bit
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holder 201 together with handle 470 shown in the attached position 299 in
Figure 67. Bit
holder 201 differs slightly from the above described bit holder 200 in that
rather than having
a threaded aperture 214 at the rear portion of housing 202 of bit holder 201,
instead has a
shaft 209 rigidly attached and aligned longitudinally in housing 202 as
depicted in order that
bit holder 201 can mate with handle 570 as shown in the drawings. In all other
aspects, bit
holder 201 is identical having bit compartments 206, compartment openings 216,
bits 204
and tool bits 204 are selected by urging a tool bit manually using finger
pressure through the
exposed compartment opening 216, thereby allowing a bit to be detached from
magnet 212
and placed into hex socket 208 of bit holder 200.
As in the previously described embodiments, bit holder 201 can be used
independently
of combination screw driver 701 by placing the bit holder in the detached
position 297 and
into a drill chuck as depicted in Figures 69 and/or bit holder 201 can be
mated together with
handle 570 and placed in the attached position 299 as shown in 67 wherein the
combination
screw driver 701 can be used as a manual screw driver.
It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various
modifications and
adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure
from the spirit of
the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.
