Patent Application
20080184854
The present disclosure relates to a rotatable tool, and more specifically to a tool holder having a reversible bit assembly and a drywall dimpler.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
When purchasing various rotary tools, professional tradesmen and do-it-yourselfers are frequently required to purchase several of a series of tool or driver configurations that have different types of driving ends, e.g. Philips®, Torx® and flat head, as well as various hexagonal nut driver configurations in metric and English units. The combinations of different tools for a given task may require the use of various different driving ends. Thus, the cost associated with having a complete set of tools is increased since each tool is generally sold separately. Moreover, there is a significant drawback for a user of many different tools in that the user must carry with him or her a specific tool for each task to be accomplished. For example, a user may need to bring multiple screw drivers and nut drivers to accomplish a single task. As a consequence, the user's tool belt or tool box soon becomes cluttered with these various implements resulting in an increase in the weight of the tools the user must carry from one location to another. Likewise, boaters, motorists, bicyclists, and homeowners have a need for a single multipurpose rotary tool that can be stored conveniently and compactly for use in an emergency or otherwise.
Further, when using a rotary tool to drive a fastener into drywall it is often desirable to create a dimple in the drywall where the fastener is to be inserted so that the fastener head can be countersunk into the drywall. The depth of the dimple may be difficult for a user to gauge without any assistance, as it is merely dependent on the force applied by the user. Alternatively, a separate tool may be used to create a predetermined depth dimple. However, this only compounds the drawback mentioned above by the addition of yet another tool to the user's collection.
All of these developments have created a need for a single rotary tool that has a variety of functions and serves as a multiple rotary tool, while eliminating the aforementioned inconveniences. However, this need has not been easily achieved. Hence, there exists a need for a single rotary tool and kit that functions as a multipurpose tool which can be stored and organized in a convenient manner and having the approximate size of a conventional single purpose rotary tool.
According to the present teachings, a rotary tool includes a tool holder, a reversible bit, and an outer sleeve. The tool holder includes a socket and a shank. The socket includes an opening extending rearwardly from an end thereof. The shank is integral with and extends rearwardly from the socket and includes a non-circular cross-section. The reversible bit includes an inner sleeve, a first reversible bit driver, and a second reversible bit driver. The inner sleeve is disposed within the socket and rotates with the tool holder. One of the first and second bit drivers contains a bit having an end extending axially out of the socket opening. The outer sleeve is disposed over the socket and includes a first end having an opening. The bit end extends outwardly beyond the outer sleeve opening a distance equal to a depth of a drywall dimple.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
As shown in
As shown in
The coupler 26 is generally illustrated in
With reference to
Each of the first and second bit drivers 54 and 56 are reversible within their respective cavities 44 and 46 such that either of the bit ends 58 or 60 can extend from sleeve 42. Additionally, the sleeve 42 is reversible within the socket bore 38 such that either the first or second bit drivers 54, 56 operably extend from the socket 22. Accordingly, the tool 10 may be configured such that any of the four bit driver ends operably project from the socket 22. Further, either of the bit drivers 54 and 56 may be removed from the sleeve 42 to expose the hex-shaped cavity 44 or 46 for use as a nut driver. Finally, the tool's sixth driver is provided by removing the reversible bit assembly 18 from the socket bore 38 to expose the hex-shaped bore 38 for use as a second nut driver. It should be noted that bore 38 is larger than cavities 44 and 46, thereby drivably accommodating larger nuts. The bore 38 may be a 5/16 inch hex-opening while the cavities 44, 46 may each be ¼ inch hex-openings.
An outer sleeve 62 extends over socket 22, sleeve 42, and bit drivers 54, 56. Sleeve 62 includes first and second ends 64, 66. Sleeve 62 further includes a radially inner portion 68 and a radially outer portion 70. First end 64 may include a recess 72 in inner portion 68. Socket 22 may also include a recess 74 near shank 20. A C-clip 76 may be located in recess 74 and may be engaged with recess 72, as seen in
Sleeve 62 may be a substantially cylindrical body 78 with a radially outwardly extending portion 80 located at second end 66. Specifically, radially outwardly extending portion 80 may have outer and inner diameters greater than the outer and inner diameters of the substantially cylindrical body 78. The inner diameter of radially outwardly extending portion 80 may be slightly larger than the diameter of drywall fastener head. For example, radially outwardly extending portion 80 may have an inner diameter of approximately 9 mm. Alternatively, the inner diameter may be greater.
Sleeve 62 may provide for an outward extent of a bit end 60 beyond radially outwardly extending portion 80 a distance L1 generally equal to that required for a drywall dimple when C-ring is located in recess 74, thereby limiting the depth of a drywall dimple to a predetermined depth. More specifically, distance L1 may be between 1.5 mm and 2.3 mm beyond radially outwardly extending portion 80. Additionally, the arrangement of sleeve 62 may be used to limit the insertion depth of a fastener based on the relation between radially outwardly extending portion 80, bit end 60, and a fastener head.
Sleeve 62 may be rotatably mounted on socket 22. More specifically, there may be a clearance between inner portion 68 and socket 22. Additionally, recess 72 may extend continuously about a circumference of inner portion 68, allowing C-clip to rotate therein. Alternatively, a rotation preventing feature (not shown) may be formed on sleeve 62 or socket 22. Sleeve 62 may be formed from a variety of materials including metals and plastics. Additionally, an elastomer coating may be formed on an outer portion thereof.
As previously noted, sleeve 62 may be rotatably engaged with socket 22. This rotatable engagement allows sleeve 62 to remain generally stationary as socket 22 is rotated to drive a fastener or to drive bit end 60 into drywall to create a dimple. A user may therefore hold sleeve 62 to provide added stability when using rotatable tool 10. Additionally, this allows a user to have sleeve 62 abut a wall or other structure during use of rotatable tool 10 without causing damage that may otherwise result from use of a traditional rotatable tool.
Sleeve 62 is removable from socket 22, allowing access to sleeve 42. More specifically, as seen in
