The present invention relates to hand tools and, in particular, to a screwdriver.
Conventional screwdrivers include a handle and a shank portion. The shank portion may include a bore for receiving a removable bit, and the bit may be retained in the bore magnetically. The screwdriver may also include a ratchet mechanism to permit the handle to rotate relative to the shank when a user applies a torque to the handle in one direction.
In one embodiment, a screwdriver includes a handle, a main body, a first pawl, a second pawl, a shank, a bit, and a switch. The handle includes a first end and a second end and defines an axis therebetween. The main body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is secured within the handle and the second portion includes a pair of slots. The slots are oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and the slots are positioned symmetrically on either side of the axis such that each slot is laterally offset from the axis by an equal distance. The main body further including a spring positioned in each slot. The first pawl is positioned within one of the slots and is biased outwardly from the slot by one of the springs. The first pawl includes a first tooth. The second pawl is positioned within the other of the slots and is biased outwardly from the slot by the other spring. The second pawl includes a second tooth. The shank is coupled to the main body proximate the second portion and includes a first end and second end. The first end has a circular internal tooth surface aligned concentrically with the axis. The internal tooth surface extends circumferentially around a portion of the second body. The second end has a bore. The bit is removably received within the bore of the shank. The switch is positioned between the handle and the shank and is pivotable relative to the main body about the axis. The switch includes an inner surface extending around at least a portion of the first pawl and the second pawl. The switch includes a groove extending along an arcuate portion of the inner surface, and the groove is positioned radially outwardly from the inner surface relative to the axis. Pivoting the switch in a first direction about the axis moves the switch toward a first position in which the groove is positioned in-line with the first pawl. Pivoting the switch in the second direction about the axis opposite the first direction moves the switch toward a second position in which the groove is positioned in-line with the second pawl. When the switch is in the first position, the first pawl extends outwardly from the slot and the first tooth engages the internal tooth surface of the shank such that application of a torque to the handle in a first direction about the axis drives the shank in the first direction. Application of a torque in the second direction about the axis causes the shank to ratchet relative to the main body and handle.
In another embodiment, a screwdriver includes a handle, a main body, a first pawl, a second pawl, a shank, and a switch. The handle includes a first end and a second end and defines an axis therebetween. The handle includes an opening extending from the first end at least partially toward the second end. The main body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is received within the opening of the handle, and the second portion includes a pair of slots oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another. The slots are positioned symmetrically on either side of the axis such that each slot is laterally offset from the axis by an equal distance. The main body further includes a spring positioned in each slot. The first pawl is positioned within one of the slots and is biased outwardly from the slot by one of the springs. The first pawl includes a first tooth. The second pawl is positioned within the other of the slots and is biased outwardly from the slot by the other spring. The second pawl includes a second tooth. The shank is coupled to the main body proximate the second portion, and the shank includes a first end and second end. The first end has a circular internal tooth surface aligned concentrically with the axis. The internal tooth surface extends circumferentially around a portion of the second body. The second end has a bore configured to receive a bit. The switch is positioned between the handle and the shank and pivotable relative to the main body about the axis. The switch includes an inner surface extending around at least a portion of the first pawl and the second pawl. The switch includes a groove extending along an arcuate portion of the inner surface. The groove is positioned radially outwardly from the inner surface with respect to the axis. The switch is pivotable between a first position, a second position, and a third position between the first position and the second position. The switch is pivoted a maximum distance in a first direction about the axis to move the switch to the first position, and the switch is pivoted a maximum distance in a second direction about the axis opposite the first direction to move the switch to the second position. When the switch is in the first position, the groove is positioned in-line with the slot of the first pawl, thereby permitting the first pawl to extend outwardly such that the first tooth engages the internal tooth surface of the shank. Application of a torque to the handle in a first direction about the axis drives the shank in the first direction while application of a torque in the second direction about the axis causes the shank to ratchet relative to the main body and handle.
In yet another embodiment, a screwdriver includes a handle, a shank, and a bit. The handle includes a first end and a second end, and defines an axis therebetween. The handle includes a body portion proximate the first end and a neck portion positioned adjacent the body portion. The neck portion has a diameter less than a diameter of the body portion. The body portion includes a plurality of holes extending through the body portion parallel to the axis. The holes are angularly spaced apart about the axis, and each hole defines an opening positioned adjacent the neck portion and configured to receive a removable bit. The shank is coupled to the handle and includes a first end and second end. The second end has a bore. The bit is removably received within the bore of the shank.
Other independent aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiments, the handle 18 has holes 78 to hold six bits 42a; in other embodiments, the handle 18 may include fewer or more holes 78 to store fewer or more bits 42a. Also, the illustrated embodiments indicate that the bits 42a may be square bits, flat bits, or Philips bits; in other embodiments, the bits 42a may have another type or another size. In some embodiments, a grommet is positioned at least partially within each hole 78 to retain each bit 42a within a respective hole 78. In the embodiment of
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 90 is formed as a ring extending around a portion of the main body 94. The switch 90 is pivotable about the longitudinal axis 46 relative to the main body 94, and the switch 90 includes an inner wall 126 and a groove 130 formed in the inner wall 126. The groove 130 defines a surface that is spaced farther from the axis 46 than the rest of the inner wall 126. The inner wall 126 also includes three pockets 134 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 94 includes a hole 154 aligned with the axis 46 and extending through the first portion 98 and the second portion 102. The shank 22 also includes a hole 158 (
In the illustrated position, the main body 94 and handle 18 ratchets or rotate relative to the shank 22 in a clockwise direction when the user applies a clockwise torque on the handle 18 (and therefore the main body 94) sufficient to overcome the biasing force exerted on the extended first pawl 114a. Conversely, applying torque in the opposite or driving direction (i.e., anti-clockwise in
In the illustrated position, the main body 94 and handle 18 ratchets or rotate relative to the shank 22 in an anti-clockwise direction when the user applies an anti-clockwise torque on the handle 18 sufficient to overcome the biasing force exerted on the extended second pawl 114b. Conversely, applying torque in the opposite or driving direction (i.e., clockwise in
The ratchet assembly 26 prevents accidental shifting of the switch 90 during use that may occur when the user's fingers slip and apply torque to the switch 90. Since the switch 90 is rotated in the same direction as the driving direction of the shank 22, the user will not accidentally rotate the switch 90 relative to the main body 94. The switch 90 incorporates a single groove that can be aligned with both pawls 114 at the same time.
The screwdriver 410 includes a handle 418 and a shank 422. The shank 422 is formed integrally with a mandrel 494 (
The ratchet assembly 826 includes a main body 894, a switch 890, and a gear ring 892 having an internal tooth surface 850. The main body 894 includes a bore 954 and a cutout 910 extending through an arcuate portion of a wall of the main body 894. The cutout 910 includes a hole 926. In the illustrated embodiment, the hole 926 is oriented parallel to the bore 954. The main body also includes a driver 824 configured to engage a shank or a bit (not shown). The main body 894 also includes a pawl member 914 coupled to a pivot pin 920. The pawl member 914 includes two ends, and each end defines a tooth portion 922. The pivot pin 920 is received within the hole 926 of the main body 894 such that the pawl member 914 can pivot about the pivot pin 920 relative to the main body 894. The tooth portions 922 alternately engage the internal tooth surface 850 depending on the position of the pawl member 914. In the illustrated embodiment, a helical washer or spring 996 biases the gear ring 892 into axially to maintain engagement between the gear ring 892 and the main body 894.
The switch 890 includes a protruding pin 896 received within the bore 954 of the main body 894. The pin 896 includes a hole 992 extending perpendicular to the pin 896. When the switch 890 is assembled with the main body 894, the hole 992 is aligned with the cutout 910. A piston 924 is positioned within the hole 992 and is biased outwardly from the hole 992 by a spring 918. The piston 924 is biased into engagement against the pawl member 914. When the switch 890 is rotated to a first position, the piston 924 biases a first tooth portion 922 outwardly to engage the internal tooth surface 850; when the switch 890 is rotated to a second position, the piston 924 biases a second tooth portion 922 outwardly to engage the internal tooth surface 850. In each position, applying a torque on the gear ring 892 in one direction will drive the main body 894 (and therefore also the driver 824) to rotate, while applying a torque to the gear ring 892 in an opposite direction will cause the main body 894 to ratchet or rotate relative to the gear ring 892.
In the embodiment of
Thus, the invention may provide, among other things, a screwdriver. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain independent embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/924,811, filed on Mar. 19, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/599,072, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,931,739, filed Jan. 16, 2015, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,243, filed Jan. 16, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/968,611, filed Mar. 21, 2014, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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Child | 17216100 | US | |
Parent | 14599072 | Jan 2015 | US |
Child | 15924811 | US |