Patent ID: 6499168
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A drill adapter comprising a generally elongate support holder defining a holder axis and first and second axial ends;a generally elongate member fixed to one axial end of said support holder and arranged to be generally aligned and coextensive with said holder axis and dimensioned and configured to be secured with the chuck of a drill to transmit torques applied to said first elongate member by the drill to said support holder to cause common rotation about said holder axis, said support holder having an axial opening at said second axial end coextensive with said holder axis; a reversible bit carrying member generally defining a driver axis and opposing first and second bit supporting axial ends extending in opposite directions along said driver axis and having an intermediate mating portion removably receivable within said axial opening of said support holder, a drill bit extending in one direction along said driver axis from one bit supporting axial end and a driver bit extending in an opposing direction along said driver axis, said intermediate mating portion being removably receivable within said axial opening when said holder and driver axes are substantially aligned, said support holder being provided with an internal axial space extending from said axial opening to receive one of said bits in an inoperative position within said internal axial space when said other of said bits extends in an operative position beyond said axial opening along said axes; and magnet means mounted at said second axial end to be in proximity with said bit carrying member and defining a magnetic axes which is substantially normal to said holder axis, whereby said driver bit becomes part of the resulting magnetic circuit of said magnetic means and at least some of the resulting magnetic field passes through said driver bit to at least partially shunt the magnetic field to magnetize said driver bit and whereby the adapter can be used to initially drill a pilot hole with said drill bit and thereafter drive a fastener into the pilot hole by means of said driver bit that becomes magnetized as soon as it is inserted into said support holder of the drill adapter.