Tool holder with pivoting bit

A bit holder and an interchangeable bit that can pivot or articulate relative to the bit holder. The bit holder includes a multi-depth socket for receiving the interchangeable bit. The different depths of the socket determine whether the interchangeable bit operates as a straight-on bit or an off-angle bit. An outer sleeve can slide along a longitudinal axis of a shaft to change the depth of the socket. Alternatively, opposite ends of the bit holder have different depth sockets for receiving the interchangeable bit and/or a shank portion. By flipping over the bit holder, the interchangeable bit can operate as either a straight-on bit or an off-angle bit.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a bit holder and an interchangeable bit that can pivot or articulate relative to a longitudinal axis of the bit holder, and in particular, to a bit holder with a multi-depth socket for receiving the interchangeable bit in either a locked configuration or one or more unlocked configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical magnetic bit holders include a cylindrical body having a socket formed axially in one end configured to receive one of a plurality of interchangeable bits. The socket of the bit holder typically has a transverse cross-sectional shape which is non-circular, such as polygonal. The proximal end of the bit has a complementary shape that fits in the socket. A permanent magnet is typically press-fitted or crimped into a hole at the base of the socket to magnetically retain the associated bit in place.

For many applications, however, the location of fasteners prevents the user from directly aligning the bit holder with the fastener. This limitation impedes the ability of the user to apply maximum torque to the fastener, and increases wear on both the fastener and the interchangeable bit. In order to overcome this problem, hand tools have been designed that have working ends displaceable or pivotable away from the longitudinal axis of the shank of the tool.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,773,529 (Valenti) discloses a screwdriver having a pivotable tool bit part which allows it to be pivoted to a right angle to the screwdriver shank by the rotation of a clamp member which manually holds the tool bit part in alignment with the shank.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,731 (Suligoy et al.) discloses a socket member pivotally attached to a shaft by means of pivot pins. The socket member includes a socket cavity having a conventional polygonal or ribbed cross-section to receive the correspondingly cross-sectioned shank end of a bit. In one embodiment, an elongated collar is provided to retain the socket member in axial alignment with the shaft.

These embodiments, however, locate the pivot point of the bit relative to the bit holder too far behind the working end of the bit. The misalignment requires eccentric rotation of the bit, resulting in excessive wear on both the working end of the bit and the fastener.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,667,194 (Fisher et al.) discloses interchangeable bits that are retained in the bit holder by a snap ring. The square bit receiving socket has a somewhat larger cross section than the square portion of the bit. The resulting clearance permits the bit to “float” in the socket so that the components may be out of axial alignment and still provide proper driving of the bit and proper fit of the bit point with the screw. Fisher discloses clearances in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.010 inches, corresponding to an angular displacement of the bit in the socket of less than about 3 degrees. Large axial forces along the longitudinal axis of the bit and the bit holder drive the flat end of the bit into the base of the receiving socket, inhibiting angular displacement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a bit holder and an interchangeable bit that can pivot or articulate relative to the bit holder. The bit holder includes a multi-depth socket for receiving the interchangeable bit. The different depths of the socket determine whether the interchangeable bit operates as a straight-on bit (i.e., locked configuration) or an off-angle bit (i.e., unlocked configuration).

In one embodiment, an outer sleeve slides along a longitudinal axis of a shaft to change the depth of the socket. In another embodiment, the opposite ends of the bit holder have different depth sockets for receiving the interchangeable bit and/or a shank portion. The deeper socket provides the locked configuration and the shallower socket provides the unlocked configuration. By flipping over the bit holder, the interchangeable bit can operate as either a straight-on bit or an off-angle bit.

In one embodiment, the bit holder includes a shaft with a proximal end adapted to couple with a driver. The distal end of the shaft magnetically couples to an interchangeable bit. An outer sleeve surrounds the shaft in an unlocked configuration to form a socket with a non-circular cross section near the distal end of the shaft. The interchangeable bit includes a working end and a proximal portion with a non-circular cross section complementary to the socket. The proximal portion including a plurality of contoured portions that permit the interchangeable bit to articulate in the socket. The interchangeable bit further includes a relief located between the working end and the proximal portion configured to engage with distal end of the outer sleeve that limits articulation of the interchangeable bit relative to the shaft. The outer sleeve includes a locked configuration such that the distal end of the outer sleeve engages with a body portion of the interchangeable bit to retain the interchangeable bit in general alignment with a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

The bit holder preferably includes a magnet located near the distal end of the shaft. Alternatively, the interchangeable bit can be magnetic. The bit can also be mechanically coupled to the bit holder.

The bit holder preferably includes a locking mechanism adapted to retain the outer sleeve in either the unlocked configuration or the locked configuration. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a snap ring interposed between the outer sleeve and the shaft, a first set of grooves on the shaft adapted to engage with the snap ring when the outer sleeve is in the unlocked configuration, and a second set of groove on the shaft adapted to engage with the snap ring when the outer sleeve is in the locked configuration.

In one embodiment, a flat portion is located on the proximal portion of the interchangeable bit and a corresponding flat portion is provided on the distal end of the shaft. The two flat portions cooperate to retain the interchangeable bit generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft even when the outer sleeve is in the unlocked configuration.

The contoured portions on the interchangeable bit are optionally a plurality of facets or a curvilinear configuration. In one embodiment, the proximal portion on the interchangeable bit includes a hexagonal cross section and the socket includes a plurality of surfaces arranged in a complementary hexagonal configuration. The interchangeable bit articulates primarily in a plane perpendicular to one of the plurality of surfaces.

The maximum angle of articulation of the interchangeable bit relative to the longitudinal axis can be controlled by the depth of the relief and/or the location of the outer sleeve along the shaft. The maximum angle of articulation for the interchangeable bit is preferably between about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees. The minimum angle of articulation is about 5 degrees.

A pivot location for the articulation preferably extends through the interchangeable bit perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The pivot location is preferably less than about 1.0 inch, or less than about 0.4 inches, from a distal-most portion of the working end.

In another embodiment, the bit holder includes an outer sleeve secured to a shaft to form a first socket with a first depth, and a second socket with a second depth greater than the first depth, at opposite ends of the outer sleeve. The first and second sockets each include a non-circular cross section. A shank portion is provided with a non-circular cross section complementary to the first and second sockets. At least one interchangeable bit includes a working end and a proximal portion with a non-circular cross section complementary to the first and second sockets. The proximal portion including a plurality of contoured portions that permit the interchangeable bit to articulate in the first socket. The interchangeable bit further including a relief located between the working end and the proximal portion configured to engage with distal end of the outer sleeve to limit articulation relative to the intermediate shaft. By contrast, when the interchangeable bit is engaged with the second socket, the outer sleeve engages a body portion of the interchangeable bit to retain the interchangeable bit generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a side sectional view of bit holder20in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Proximal end22of shaft24includes shank26and groove28adapted to coupled to a driver, such as an electric drill or a tool handle. Distal end30of the shaft24preferably includes magnet32adapted to magnetically retain interchangeable bit34in socket36. In an alternate embodiment, the interchangeable bit34can be magnetized.

Socket36is formed by outer sleeve42surrounding the shaft24. The depth53of the socket36is determined by the location of the outer sleeve42relative to the shaft24. Proximal portion52of the interchangeable bit34includes contoured portions56that permit articulation in the socket36in directions58. Relief70located between the proximate portion52and body portion72on the interchangeable bit34engages with distal end74of outer sleeve42to limit articulation.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the outer sleeve42includes compression member44that biases snap ring46into grooves48A in the shaft24. The compression member44and snap ring46retain the outer sleeve42in unlocked configuration50along longitudinal axis63of the shaft24.

Modifying the depth of the relief70or the depth53of the socket36will alter articulation58of the interchangeable bit34. The locations of the grooves48A illustrated inFIG. 1can be adjusted to move the outer sleeve42as desired. In another embodiment, the shaft24includes additional sets of grooves48B to permit the socket36to be adjusted to multiple depths53.

The proximal portion52of the interchangeable bit34optionally includes a flat end54that couples with the magnet32. The flat end54on the proximal portion52aids in retaining the interchangeable bit34in axial alignment with longitudinal axis63. Compressive forces55along the longitudinal axis63(such as illustrated inFIG. 5, generated when the working end40is engaged with a fastener64) serve to stabilize the flat end54against bottom66of the socket36, even if the outer sleeve42is in the unlocked configuration50.

In the illustrated embodiment, working end40of the interchangeable bit34is a Phillips screw driver. Alternatively, the working end40can be ballpoint tools, Torx drivers, square drivers, hex wrenches, star drivers, socket wrenches, flat-head screw drivers, or a variety of other configurations.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, proximal portion52of the interchangeable bit34has a generally hexagonal cross section with six discrete surfaces60that are complementary to interior surfaces62of socket36arranged in a hexagonal configuration. Articulation of the interchangeable bit34is typically perpendicular to one of the surfaces62of the socket36. In alternate embodiments, the socket36and proximal portions52can have other non-circular cross-sectional shapes, including triangular, square, pentagonal, star-shaped, curvilinear, and the like.

FIG. 4Aillustrates an alternate interchangeable bit34A where contoured portions56A includes a plurality of facets61A that approximate a curvilinear shape.FIG. 4Billustrates another alternate interchangeable bit34B in which the contoured portions56B are curvilinear, without the flat portion. The radius of curvature of the contoured portions56B can be uniform or non-uniform. The contoured portions56B can have a variety of other shapes, such as for example, circular or elliptical. In one embodiment, the contoured portions56B correspond generally to the shape of a Torx driver, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,251,521 (Burda et al.) and 5,408,905 (Mikic et al), both of which are incorporated by reference.

FIG. 6illustrates angle of articulation76of the interchangeable bit34relative to the bit holder20. The angle of articulation76is preferably between about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees. The angle of articulation76can be adjusted by a variety of mechanisms.

The configuration of the present interchangeable bit34results in a pivot location80extremely close to the working end40. The pivot location80is located within the proximal portion52of the interchangeable bit34. In embodiments where the contoured portions56are circular, the pivot location80may be a point. Where the contoured portions56are not circular, the pivot location80may be a sphere, an elliptical volume, or a variety of other shapes.

In the preferred embodiment, the pivot location80is less than about 1.0 inches from the distal-most portion of the working end40. In another embodiment, the pivot location80is less than about 0.4 inches from the distal-most portion of the working end40. Consequently, wear on the working end40and vibration while driving fastener64are minimized.

FIG. 7is a side sectional view of the bit holder ofFIG. 1with the outer sleeve42slid forward in direction88to locked configuration82in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the socket36has a second depth57, greater than the depth53illustrated inFIG. 1. In the locked configuration82, inner surface84of the sleeve42near the distal end74engages with body portion72to retain the interchangeable bit34in axial alignment with longitudinal axis63. Snap ring46engages with forward grooves86formed in the shaft24to retain the outer sleeve42in the locked configuration82.FIG. 8illustrates the bit holder20driving fastener64with the outer sleeve42in the locked configuration82.

FIG. 9is a side sectional view of bit holder100in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The intermediate shaft104is located within the outer sleeve106to create first socket108and second socket110at opposite ends of the bit holder100. The intermediate shaft104is preferably secured to the outer sleeve106, such as by a compression fit, pin, swaging, or the like.

The shank portion102and the interchangeable bit112can be coupled with either the first or second sockets108,110. The coupling of the shank portion102, intermediate shaft104and outer sleeve106, and interchangeable bit112, can be magnetic, mechanical, frictional, and the like.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, first socket108has a depth116that permits interchangeable bit112to pivot off-angle, such as discussed in connection withFIG. 1. The first socket108corresponds to the unlocked configuration. Shank portion102couples with second socket110to act as an interface for a driver.

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the intermediate shaft104and the outer sleeve106can be flipped over so the interchangeable bit112is located in the second socket110, with a depth118greater than the depth116. The second socket110corresponds to the locked configuration. Body portion120of the interchangeable bit112is constrained by the inner walls114of the outer sleeve106to act as a straight-on bit, such as illustrated inFIG. 7. Shank portion102is coupled with the first socket108to interface with a driver100.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these disclosures belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosures, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All patents and publications mentioned herein, including those cited in the Background of the application, are hereby incorporated by reference to disclose and described the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

Other embodiments of the disclosure are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the disclosures. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed disclosures. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present disclosures herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.