Abstract:
Retractable chuck for drill bits, screw bits and other tools for any chuck size operated by hand or power source which operates without the user touching the bits to move into operating position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,002 B1, issued Jan. 14, 2003, by Cummins, included by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to retractable quick change driver and, more particularly, to driver equipped to change drill bits, screw and other fastener driving tools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Productivity of a laborer or of a machine is affected by the length of time that is required to change tooling in accordance with the task at hand. Such bits as drill, screw, hex, machine tool and others have to be changed for various tasks performed on the job. In many applications it can be required to have 10 or more sizes or types of bits to complete one job. Each time a bit or tool needs to be changed the operator must remove the old tool, locate the new one and insert it. Often times the tools are not convenient or must be located. They get mixed in with other tools, lost or can not be sized or chose ahead of time because there is no way to keep them sorted or have them readily available. 
         [0004]    Other solutions do exist. One is to provide a holder on the outside of the machine in which one or more tools can be secured for close at hand means of acquiring them. Other solutions are to provide a machine with multiple heads in which a head may be turned and a new tool provided. In automated machines such as a computer controlled machines the computer tells the machine which tool is needed and the machines locates and changes the tool itself. 
         [0005]    While other solutions do exist many have at least one disadvantage over the present invention. For example while an external tool holder does exist to hold additional tolls it is cumbersome and inefficient. Tools can easily get lost or be in the way when the machine is being used in restricted area locations. The tool holders do not permit fast changing of tools either. Where multiple heads or computer controlled machines are used they do not lend them selves to portability of a hand tool. They can be extremely expensive and large in size so do not lend themselves to a mobile service need. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the invention to lesson the time and ease of changing tool bits. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to increase productivity of the operator or machine. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the invention to permit the user to remain free of contaminants by not being required to touch the tool bits. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the invention to provide the user with a compact easy to carry multiple bit holding device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided retractable chuck for drill bits, screw bits and other tools for any chuck size operated by hand or power source which operates without the user touching the bits to move into operating position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a left elevation view of a drillver in its complete and assembled form; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a barrel which holds the sliders and bits when not in use; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side and top view of a head which accepts the tools and sliders when a particular tool is in use; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side, top and end elevation view of a tool holder; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider and tool holder connected; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a barrel showing the association between it and where the slider and tool holder fit in; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a barrel connected to a head depicting a tool in the hexagon tool holder. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a left elevation view of a drillver in its complete and assembled form. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a barrel  36  which holds the sliders and bits when not in use. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side and top view of a head  48  which accepts the tools and sliders when a particular tool  68  is in use. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider  54 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side, top and end elevation view of a tool holder  70 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider  54  and tool holder  70  connected. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a barrel  36  showing the association between it and where the slider  54  and tool holder  70  fit in. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a barrel  36  connected to a head  48 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of a barrel  36 , head  48  and sliders in place depicting one slider  54  in the potion for use with the tool  68  extended from the head  48 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a left side elevation of the present invention which incorporates a prior art hand drill  10  and present invention drillver head  32 . The figure shows the removably attached power pack  24  that provides DC power to the motor mechanism  19  that is controlled by the motion selection switch  22 . The direction of rotation of the screw driver bit  14  can be manually changed through positioning of the reverse and forward applicator  20  switch that is electronically attached between the power pack  24  and the motor mechanism  19 . The screw driver bit  14  is slidably located in or out of the hexagon locking device  26  through the retractable head  16  thus providing the operator with a selection of bits for individual applications. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a side elevation view of a barrel  36  which holds a plurality of sliders and bits when not in use. The barrel  36  is fitted with slider slots  34  configured into separate open sided tubular shaped slider barrels  42  arranged in a circular design around the perimeter of a the barrel  36 . The internal portion of the barrel  36  is also cylinder shaped with a center hole fitted with a D slot  44  and washer  40  to prevent slippage when attached to the motor mechanism  19  shaft (not shown). Key tabs  38  of a semi circular shape permit alignment to the bead (Not shown) by indexing both pieces in a manner that permits extension of the slider slots  34  from one part to the other permitting the slider  54  (not shown) to travel back and forth unimpaired. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a side and top view of a head  48  which accepts the tools and sliders when a particular tool  68  is in use. The head  48  consists of a conical shaped device fitted with a plurality of threaded index pins  46  and a plurality of key tabs  38  for indexing and attaching the head  48  to the barrel  36  (not shown) in a secularly removal manner. On the sides of the head  48  are slider slots  34  that permit the slider  54  (not shown) to travel into the head  48 . The most forward portion of the head  48  is reduced in size through a progressively smaller cone ending in a cylinder portion that further ends in a hexagon locking device  26 . The hexagon locking device  26  consists of a hexagon shaped port fitted with a plurality of retractable locks  50  that are engaged or disengaged by means of the hexagon lock release  52 . The hexagon lock release  52  is a spring loaded tubular slide that causes the retractable locks  50  to become pressured though its travel over and off of them. This hexagon locking device  26  then serves to retain the tool holder  70  (not shown) into position while being used by the operator. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider  54 . Comprising of a generally rectangular shank  58  equipped on one end with a thumb tab  56  for movement of the slide to and from by a human thumb and shaped in a general concave rectangular form. A lifting guide  60  is fitted opposite yet on the same end of the slider  54  which is general sloped to permit easy movement over irregularities in the slider barrels  42  (not shown). On the opposite end of the shank  58  there exists a stop  64  to prevent the slider  54  and tool holder  70  (not shown) from going past center when the tool holder  70  (not shown) is forced in an extended direction of tool  68  usage. There is a connecting slot  62  that protrudes through the shank  58  at the stop  64  end for attachments of the tool holder  70  (not shown). The slot consists of a circular hole which is slotted on a horizontal plane with the shank  58  to permit retention of the tool holder  70  (not shown) when the tool holder  70  (not shown) is removably attached. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side, top and end elevation view of a tool holder  70 . A tool holder  70  is comprised of a connecting shaft  66  that permits removable pivotal attachment to the slider  54  (not shown) by means of the connecting slot  62  and retailed in the connecting slot  62  (not shown) by means of the connecting shaft t retainer  74 . The connecting shaft t retainer  74  when inserted through the connecting slot  62  (not shown) in it&#39;s indexed position and then turned  90  degrees prevents extraction of the connecting shaft  66 . The portion thus described is permanently attached to the hexagon shaft  72 . The hexagon shaft  72  is configured to receive the tool&#39;s shaft shape. In a preferred configuration the tool&#39;s shaft would be cylindrical in shape and attached permanently by means of epoxy through other means of attachment would occur because of the various tool&#39;s shaft configurations and tool&#39;s shaft being a prior art component. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a side &amp; top elevation view of a slider  54  and tool holder  70  connected. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a slider  54  and tool holder  70  would be connected by means of a connecting shaft  66  on the slider  54  consisting of a generally rod shaped connecting shaft  66  ending with a T tab passing though a generally circular hole with a T slot. 
         [0036]    A lifting guide  60  and thumb tab  56  cause the parts to align in the slider barrels  42  (not shown) and permit the operator to extend the tool  68  for use when extended into the hexagon locking device  26  (not shown) or retract the tool  68  into the barrel  36  for storage when not in use. The pivotally attached tool holder  70  is able to flex and move into the reduced diameter of the generally conical portion of the head  48  entering the hexagon locking device  26  unimpaired. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a side perspective view of a barrel  36  showing the association between it and where the slider  54  and tool holder  70  fit in. In a preferred version of the present invention the slider  54  moves through the slider slots  34  and rides in the slider barrels  42  (not shown). The barrel  36  is depicted removed from the head  48  (not shown), but key tabs  38  indicate where the head  48  (not shown) would be attached if present. The thumb tab  56  is eternal of the barrel  36  for use by the operators thumb. The thumb tab  56  which is general rectangular and concave in shape both prevents the slider  54  from falling into the slider barrels  42  and permits movement both extending the tool holder  70  to a position of use and for retraction of the tool holder  70  into the barrel  36  for storage. When extended the tool  68  fits into the hexagon locking device  26  (not shown) where it is retained. The barrel  36  is equipped with a plurality of slider barrels  42  to permit storage of a plurality of tools while the hexagon locking device  26  is capable of holding only one tool  68  at a time. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a side elevation view of a barrel  36  connected to a head  48 . This assembled view shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The thumb tab  56  labeled indicates the position of thumb tab  56  when its connecting slider  54  (not shown) and tool holder  70  are in the extended use position. The other thumb tabs (not labeled) are depicted in the storage position. The tool  68  in use position along with its hexagon shaft  72  are shown in the head  48  and the hexagon lock release  52  in it&#39;s relative position on the head  48 . A plurality of slider slots  34  are shown in their circumferential position around the barrel  36 . 
         [0039]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0040]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.