Patent Application
20140150613
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The present invention generally relates to Torx head bits for use with Torx head fasteners and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a Torx head bit which has a grooved, tapered head and shoulder, and a shaft having a curved, indented portion.
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Bits for use with hand and power tools have been known and used for many years. Known bits may have various heads or cutting edges to interact with particular fasteners or cut particularly sized holes or angles in a given material. For example, such tool bits may include a flathead or Phillips head for interacting with a screw. One particular tool bit configuration known and used in the art is a Torx head bit. A Torx head bit generally includes a star-like head having six-points and is configured to be inserted into a fastener having a receptacle matching in both shape and size. When inserted into a matching fastener, the Torx head bit may be rotated to tighten and loosen the fastener as needed. Known Torx head bits generally include the Torx configuration down only a portion of the head or tip of the bit before the head or tip becomes uniform and smooth. The uniform and smooth portion of the head or tip of the bit then ends abruptly at a shoulder forming the top end of the bit shaft, with the shoulder having a substantially greater diameter and circumference than the head or tip of the bit.
When using tool bits having certain edges, like for example cutting edges, collars may be utilized to control the depth the bit or fastener being inserted by the bit may be inserted into a given material. Collars may be used to prevent an oversized or overly deep hole from being drilled into a material, or to prevent a fastener from being applied too tight and potentially damaging the surface of the material into which the fastener is being inserted. In order to realize the advantages of some collars, it is important to insure that collars pinch or lock in place on the bit to insure that the collar rotates with the bit and holds in place, preventing the head and/or tip of the bit from moving laterally in the collar. If the collar is properly locked onto the bit, the full benefit of the collar is realized and the material which is being drilled or fastened is protected and the bit will maintain a substantially constant alignment while being used.
While collars have been used with fastening bits, because of the present configuration of Torx head bits and in particular the heads or tips, shoulders and shafts of known Torx head bits, collars known in the art may not lock in place. The configuration of known Torx head bits may cause any collar attached thereto to shift, slip or disengage during use, allowing the bit and fastener being fastened by the bit to over penetrate and damage the material, or prevent the bit from extending far enough, creating an only partially fastened or completely unfastened portion.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to design a Torx head bit capable of allowing multiple collars to lock and pinch in place in a manner which prevents the collars from disengaging or otherwise shifting when placed on the Torx head bit.
It would also be advantageous if such a Torx head bit was capable of flexing, to allow the bit head to remain in contact with an associated fastener as the fastener is rotated and moved.
It would also be advantageous if the Torx head bit had built in shock absorption to extend bit life.
The present invention is provided to solve these and other issues.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a Torx head bit having at least a fully contoured head or tip and shoulder configured to receive and lock a collar into place.
According to one aspect of the invention a Torx headed bit is provided. The bit includes a Torx shaped head or tip which has a first length, a first width, grooves and protrusions. The grooves and protrusions extend along substantially the entire length of the head or tip, from proximate the uppermost portion of the head to approximately the base or lowermost portion. The Torx headed bit also includes a shaft having a second length and a second width, the second width being greater that the first width—i.e. the shaft is wider than the head. A shoulder connects the head to the shaft. The shoulder is gradually sloped so that the head or tip width gradually increases to the shaft width. The shoulder also includes grooves and protrusions extending along substantially the entire length of the shoulder. The shoulder grooves and protrusions may substantially continue from the grooves and protrusions extending along substantially the entirety of the length of the head so as to allow the shoulder grooves and protrusions to align with the head or tip grooves or protrusions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the protrusions extending along the shoulder may have at least one, and in some cases at least two, contours. The at least one or two contours of the protrusions extending along the shoulder may be capable of cooperating with a collar to hold the collar in place when attached to the bit.
According to another aspect of the invention, the head and shoulder grooves and protrusions may act as shock absorbers to reduce vibrations and shock when the Torx head bit is engaged and in use.
According to another aspect of the invention, the shaft may include an indented portion extending along a portion of the length of the shaft. The indented portion may have a concavely-curved or inwardly-radial shape, wherein a width of the indented portion is less than the second width at any point along the curve radius. The indented portion may allow the shaft to flex. The indented portion may be located anywhere along the length of the shaft, including proximate an opposite end of the shaft than that of the head and shoulder.
According to another aspect of the invention, the protrusions extending along substantially the entire length of the head may become wider as the protrusions approach the shoulder. In addition to becoming wider, the protrusions extending along substantially the entire length of the head may protrude from the head a lesser amount as the protrusions approach the shoulder. As the grooves and protrusions extend over the shoulder, the grooves may become wider proximate the area where the head connects to the shoulder.
Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.
While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
As seen in
In order to alleviate the collar connection problem and insure that any collars attached to a Torx head bit lock in place and the material into which a cooperating fastener is inserted is protected, the present invention is directed to a Torx head bit having a head or tip with a width and length, the head or tip having grooves and protrusions extending along substantially its entire length. The grooves and protrusions may continue through a curved or sloped shoulder which gradually expands out to the width of a bit shaft, the shaft being wider than the head or tip.
Protrusions 120 extend downwards along length L of head 112 and approaches shoulder 116. The protrusions may begin to become wider and flatter, i.e. protrude outward a shorter distance from grooves 118 and head 112, proximate portion 126 of each protrusion. As protrusions 120 extend over shoulder 116, each protrusion may briefly maintain the wider width and flatter protrusion before finally continuing to widen and protruding further from the shoulder proximate the uppermost portion of shaft 114.
As each protrusion extends over shoulder 116, at least one, and as seen in
Like protrusions 120, grooves 118 may also extend along substantially the entire length L of head 112 and over shoulder 116, terminating proximate the uppermost portion of shaft 114. While extending along the length L of head 112, in embodiments where protrusions 120 widen and/or flatten proximate area 126, grooves 118 may become narrower and shallower in response to the changing protrusions. As the shoulder begins to slope and widen the bit, the grooves may also begin to widen, effectively covering at least a portion of the new surface formed by the widening bit. If the protrusions protrude further from the head and/or shoulder as they extend over the shoulder, the shoulder groove portion may become deeper.
The combination of grooves 118 and protrusions 120 may act as shock absorbers to lengthen the life of the tip of the Torx headed bit. As a result of the protrusions extending along the entire length L of the tip or head, as the tip or head engages and inserts a fastener into a material, the protrusions may flex or vibrate in the grooves and absorb the resulting vibrations. Rather than be a solid structure which imparts the entire vibration on the tip or head, the protrusions receive and diffuse and dampen the vibrations, protecting the tip or head, extending the tip or head life.
In addition to having grooves and protrusions, which in some embodiments may include one or more contours, shoulder 116 may also be sloped or curved to gradually widen the width W of head 112 to a larger width WW of shaft 114 to further insure any applied collars are locked in place. The sloped and curved shoulder, along with the grooves and protrusions, and any contours, help fix a collar in place, preventing the collar from disengaging or slipping, allowing for the Torx head to properly engage a cooperating fastener while protecting the underlying material.
In order to further insure that the Torx head maintains proper engagement with a cooperating fastener, shaft 114 may include an indented or recessed portion 136 to allow the shaft to flex when necessary. Portion 136 may have an inwardly-radial or concavely-curved surface which reduces bit width throughout the indented or recessed portion—any point along the radius or curvature of the portion will have a width less than the shaft. The reduced width may allow the shaft to flex, allowing the bit head to maintain engagement with a fastener should the bit, tool, or collar be slightly adjusted as the fastener is inserted into a material.
An example of a Torx headed bit having a collar attached thereto as contemplated by the invention may be seen, for example in
Though collar 138 may be held in place using grooves 118, protrusions 120, and contours 128, 130, collar 138 may be removed and replaced by collars of varying lengths to allow more or less extension of head or tip 112 from the collar to allow bit 110 to insert a fastener more or less into a material. This may allow for shorter collars to be used if more head extension is required to fasten a longer fastener to insure the longer fastener is fully inserted into the material. The shorter collar may be removed and replaced with a longer collar in order to insert a shorter fastener to insure the shorter fastener is not over inserted or torqued from too much head or tip extension.
While in the foregoing there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
