Patent Application
20060254394
The described embodiments relate generally to hand tool accessories and, more particularly to a fastener driver having a fastener guide.
Currently available tool drivers include a shank having a driver head. The shank is configured to be coupled to a hand tool, such as a drill. The driver head is adapted to receive, but not retain, a fastener, such as a screw. During use, an operator must align and retain the fastener with a workpiece, such as a piece of wood, with one hand. It should be apparent that such a fastener presents significant risk of injury to the operator, especially during initial operation.
Thus, there exists a need for a fastener driver that is capable of retaining and/or guiding a fastener during use.
A fastener driver constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body and a guide. The driver body includes a cavity formed in one end of the driver body and an attachment shank formed in another end. The guide is slidably attached to the driver body and is positioned for selectively retaining a fastener within the cavity during use of the fastener driver.
A fastener driver constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body, a sleeve coupled to the driver body, and means for retaining the sleeve to the driver body. The driver body includes a fastener receiving end and an attachment end. The sleeve is configured for reciprocating movement between an extended position, where the sleeve is adapted to substantially retain a fastener within the fastener receiving end, and a retracted position.
A fastener driver constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body having a retention end and an attachment end, a guide, and a retention mechanism positioned between the driver body and the guide to retain the guide to the driver body. The attachment end of the driver body is configured for releasably coupling the fastener driver to a hand tool and the retention end is shaped to drive a correspondingly shaped end of a fastener. The guide is coupled to the driver body for reciprocating movement between an extended position for substantially retaining a fastener within the retention end and a retracted position.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A fastener driver 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be best understood by referring to
The fastener retention cavity 30 is suitably hexagonal in configuration and is sized to fit a correspondingly configured end of a fastener, such as the head of a bolt. As already noted, although the fastener retention cavity 30 is illustrated and described as hexagonal, other shapes, such as spline, square and polygonal, are also within the scope of the present invention.
Still referring to
The retention mechanism 24 is suitably a C-spring sized to be received within an annular groove 34 formed in the driver body 32. The function of the retention mechanism 24 is to retain the sleeve 26 to the driver body 22, as described in greater detail below. Equivalent structures having the same or equivalent function as the retention mechanism 24 include springs, e-clips and retention features built into the sleeve 26 and the driver body 22. Thus, such structures are equivalent and, therefore, are within the scope of the present invention.
As may be best seen by referring to
The sleeve 26 also includes annular first and second retention grooves 42 and 44 formed within the channel 40. The first and second retention grooves 42 and 44 are longitudinally spaced to define a length of travel of the sleeve 26 during operation of the fastener driver 20. Each of the first and second retention grooves 42 and 44 are sized to lockingly receive the retention mechanism 24. The retention grooves 42 and 44 provide a tactile response when the retention mechanism 24 is received within one of the retention grooves 42 and 44. Each also provides a low level of locking resistance to hold the sleeve 26 therein. This locking resistance is overcome by the operator of the fastener driver 20 by applying a pushing or pulling action along an axis extending longitudinally through the fastener driver 20.
Operation of the fastener driver 20 may be best understood by referring to
During use, the fastener is driven into a workpiece (not shown), such as wood, thereby causing the free end of the sleeve 26 contact the workpiece. As the operator continues to drive the fastener into the workpiece, the interaction between the workpiece and the sleeve 26 applies a load sufficient to overcome the locking resistance between the retention mechanism 24 and the first retention groove 42. As the fastener is driven into the workpiece, the sleeve 26 assists in retaining and guiding the fastener until it is firmly seated within the workpiece. In this position, the sleeve 26 is displaced into the retracted position, as shown in
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
