Patent ID: 6170366
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A power-operated screwdriving device configured to be used with a rotary power source and a supply of screws, said screwdriving device comprising;a housing structure constructed and arranged to be engaged with the rotary power source;structure defining a drive track constructed and arranged to receive a lead screw from the supply of screws;a rotatable screw engaging bit member constructed and arranged to be engaged with the lead screw from the supply of screws during a screwdriving operation wherein the lead screw is driven into a workpiece;a releasable bit locking assembly disposed in said housing and constructed and arranged to operatively connect said bit member to the rotary power source to enable the rotary power source to rotate said bit member during the screwdriving operation;said releasable bit locking assembly including bit locking structure constructed and arranged to lockingly engage said bit member;said rotatable screw engaging bit member being engageable with the lead screw and movable relative to said drive track such that rotation of said bit member and relative movement between said bit member and said drive track drives the lead screw into the workpiece during the screwdriving operation;a manually engageable release structure disposed exteriorly of said housing structure and operatively connected to said releasable bit locking assembly;said release structure and said bit locking assembly being constructed and arranged such that manually moving said release structure in a bit releasing movement moves said releasable bit locking assembly between (1) a releasably locked position wherein said bit locking structure lockingly engages said bit member and (2) a released position wherein said bit locking structure is moved out of said locking engagement to thereby allow said bit member to be removed and replaced by another rotatable screw engaging bit member.