Patent ID: 6363820
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A hand tool for driving a fastener about an axis, comprising:a handle including a first inner surrounding surface which is disposed around the axis and which defines a first bore axially extending into said handle and terminating at a blind end; a fastener engaging member including a second outer surrounding surface of such a dimension as to be inserted into said first bore in an axial direction parallel to the axis, a second inner surrounding surface surrounded by said second outer surrounding surface about the axis and defining second and third bores axially extending and opposite to each other in the axial direction and proximate and distal to said blind end respectively when said fastener engaging member is received into said handle, and an inner peripheral wall extending radially to communicate said second outer surrounding surface with said second inner surrounding surface and defining a mounting hole, said inner peripheral wall including two end edge portions which are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction; a friction member disposed between said second outer surrounding surface and said first inner surrounding surface to immobilize said fastener engaging member relative to said handle; a deformable member of such a dimension as to be inserted into said mounting hole in a direction radial to the axial direction, and including a protrusion which extends in the radial direction and inwardly of said second inner surrounding surface; a resisting member disposed to retain said deformable member in said mounting hole against movement in the radial direction when said fastener engaging member has been forced into said first bore, and having an abutment wall surface abutting against said deformable member radially and inwardly, and a force transmitting wall surface disposed opposite to said abutment wall surface in the radial direction and abutting against said first inner surrounding surface when said fastener engaging member is forced into said first bore so as to force said abutment wall surface to abut against said deformable member radially and inwardly; a bit including two screwdriver tip ends axially opposite to each other, and a shaft disposed between and interconnecting said screwdriver tip ends, said shaft being brought to be inserted into said third bore in the axial direction such that one of said screwdriver tip ends is inserted into said second bore, and such that said protrusion of said deformable member frictionally engages said shaft in the radial direction so as to hinder removal of said bit from said fastener engaging member in the axial direction; and a spline member disposed between said shaft and said second inner surrounding surface to couple said shaft to rotate with said fastener engaging member when said handle is rotated about the axis.