Magnetic sleeve assembly

A magnetic sleeve assembly includes a body, a sleeve, a magnetic member, and a C-clip. The body includes a function end and a first groove. The body extends through the sleeve. A first space is defined in the first end of the sleeve so as to receive the magnetic member. A second groove is defined in the outside of the sleeve. At least one through hole is defined in the inner end of the second groove and communicates with the first passage. The magnetic member has a second passage which communicates with the first passage. The C-clip is a flexible clip and engaged with the second groove of the sleeve. At least one engaging portion of the C-clip extends through the at least one through hole and is engaged with the first groove. The at least one engaging portion is movable between the first and second sidewalls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a magnetic sleeve assembly, and more particularly, to a magnetic sleeve assembly mounted to a screwdriver, and a C-clip is removably engaged with the sleeve. The sleeve and the C-clip are movable between two sidewalls of a groove in the screwdriver bit.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional magnetic sleeve assembly known to applicant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,882 and comprises a screwdriver having a handle with a shank extending therefrom. The screwdriver has a tip at an end opposite the handle, and the shank has a fastening groove formed thereon adjacent the tip. The fastening groove defines narrow diameter on the shank and a shoulder adjacent the tip. A hollow sleeve has a fastening rim slidably positioned over the fastening groove of the shank. The shoulder abuts the fastening rim when the sleeve slides outwardly of the tip so as to retain the sleeve on the shank. The fastening rim extends inwardly at one end of the sleeve. A magnetic part is affixed to the opposite end of the sleeve. The magnetic part has an outer surface suitable for magnetically connecting to a screw head. The magnetic part has interior passageway, the tip of the screwdriver is slidable through the interior passageway as the fastening rim moves toward the shoulder.

However, because the inner diameter of the fastening rim is smaller than the diameter of the screwdriver, so that the screwdriver has to forcibly pushed to enlarge and then pass through the fastening rim and then reaches the fastening groove, and the fastening rim bounces backward to its original diameter. When the user wants to remove the screwdriver out from the sleeve, because the smaller inner diameter of the fastening rim, it is difficult to remove the screwdriver out from the sleeve, Furthermore, the sleeve has a smooth outer surface which makes the user difficult to firmly grasp the sleeve.

The present invention intends to provide a magnetic sleeve assembly to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a magnetic sleeve assembly and comprises a body having a function end formed on the first end thereof, and a first groove is defined in the outside of the body and located close to the function end. The first groove has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A sleeve has a first passage defined axially therethrough, and the body extends through the first passage, and the sleeve is rotatable relative to the body. A first space is defined in the first end of the sleeve and communicates with the first passage. The diameter of the first space is larger than that of the first passage. A second groove is defined in the outside of the sleeve and located close to the second end of the sleeve. At least one through hole is defined in the inner end of the second groove and communicates with the first passage. The at least one through hole is located between two third sidewalls which are located at the inner end of the second groove.

A magnetic member is a ring-shaped member and has a second passage defined axially therethrough. The magnetic member is received in the first space. The second passage communicates with the first passage. A C-clip is a flexible clip and engaged with the second groove of the sleeve. When the body extends through the sleeve, at least one engaging portion of the C-clip extends through the at least one through hole and is engaged with the first groove. The width of the at least one engaging portion is smaller than that of the first groove so that the at least one engaging portion is movable between the first and second sidewalls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, the magnetic sleeve assembly of the present invention comprises a body10, a sleeve20, a magnetic member30and a C-clip40. The body10is a screwdriver bit and has a function end11formed on the first end thereof. A first groove12is defined in the outside of the body10and located close to the function end11. The first groove12has an inner end connected between a first sidewall121and a second sidewall122. The sleeve20is a tubular member and has a first passage21defined axially therethrough. The body10extends through the first passage21and the sleeve20is rotatable relative to the body10. A first space22is defined in the first end of the sleeve20and communicates with the first passage21. The diameter of the first space22is larger than that of the first passage21. A second groove23is defined in the outside of the sleeve20and located close to the second end of the sleeve20. At least one through hole231defined in the inner end of the second groove23and communicates with the first passage21. In this embodiment, there are two through holes231which are located at even distance in the inner end of the second groove23. Each of the through holes231is located between two third sidewalls232which are located at the inner end of the second groove23. The sidewalls232are parallel with the axis of the sleeve20. The inner end of the second groove23has a first curved face233defined between each pair of the third sidewalls232. The sleeve20has multiple annular recesses24defined in the outside thereof so that the user can easily grasp the sleeve20.

The magnetic member30is a ring-shaped member and has a second passage31defined axially therethrough. The magnetic member30is received in the first space22. The second passage31communicates with the first passage21.

The C-clip40is a flexible clip and engaged with the second groove23of the sleeve20. When the body10extends through the sleeve20, two engaging portions41of the C-clip40extend through the through holes231and engage with the first groove12. The width of each of the engaging portions41is smaller than that of the first groove12so that the engaging portions41are movable between the first and second sidewalls121,122. Each of the engaging portions41is connected between two contact portions42which contact the two third sidewalls232. The C-clip40has two hooks43which are bent toward each other, the two hooks43contact the inner end of the second groove23and the first curved face233. An opening44is formed between the two extensions of the C-clip40.

As shown inFIGS. 5 to 7, the magnetic member30is received in the first space22, and the second space31is located in alignment with the first passage21. The body10extends through the sleeve20, and the second groove23is located corresponding to the first groove12. The C-clip40is engaged with the second groove23from the outside of the sleeve20. The engaging portions41extend through the through holes231and are engaged with the first groove12. The function end11is rotatably received in the first passage21. The distal end of the function end11protrudes beyond the magnetic member30.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the width of the first groove12allows the body10to move a pre-set distance relative to the sleeve20. When the user wants to rotate an object50in a hole by the function end11of the body10, the sleeve20is moved relative to the body10to let the C-clip40contact the first sidewall121. The function end11is further extended beyond the magnetic member30which attracts the object50so that the function end11is not separated from the object50.

As shown inFIG. 10, when the user wants to detach the object50, the sleeve20is moved to let to let the C-clip40contact the second sidewall122. The function end11is in flush with the magnetic member30so that the function end11is separated from the object50which is still attracted to the magnetic member30. The user can easily remove the object50from the magnetic member30.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the body10is a screwdriver bit and a hexagonal wrench.

FIGS. 13 to 15show that the sleeve20has only one through hole231, and the C-clip40has only one engaging portion41, and the C-clip is a D-shaped clip.

As shown inFIG. 16, the first groove12of the body10includes an inclined annular face123which is connected between a first face124and a second face125. Each of the first and second faces124,125has an even diameter. The first face124is located close to the function11. The diameter of the second face125is larger than the diameter of the first face124and is smaller than the diameter of the body10.

As shown inFIG. 17, the first groove12of the body10includes an inclined annular face123which is connected between a first face124and a second face125. Each of the first and second faces124,125has an even diameter. The diameter of the second face125is larger than the diameter of the first face124and is the same as the diameter of the body10. When the body10is to be inserted into a deep hole to reach an object50in the hole, and the outer diameter of the sleeve20is larger than an inner diameter of the hole. The sleeve20is slidably mounted to the body10without being restricted by the first sidewall121, the body10is able to reach the object50in the hole.

The present invention has the following advantages:

The C-clip40is engaged with the second groove23of the sleeve20when the sleeve20is mounted to the body10, the engaging portions41are engaged with the first groove12so that the assembly of the sleeve20and the C-clip40is quick.

The length of the groove12of the body1is designed to cooperate with the C-clip40, the first groove12allows the sleeve20and the C-clip40to move a pre-set distance in the first groove12. The C-clip40is restricted to be engaged with the body10and does not drop off.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the magnetic member30attracts the object50and the magnetic member30is movable to connect the function end11to the object50or to separate the function end11from the object50. As shown inFIG. 10, when the object50is removed from the hole, it is attracted by the magnetic member30and does not drop.

The C-clip40has a certain level of flexibility to mount the sleeve20to the body10. When the sleeve20is to be removed from the body10, the user pulls the hooks43away from each other from the opening44of the C-clip40, the C-clip40is then removed from the second groove23, and then the sleeve20can be separated from the body10. It is easy to remove the sleeve20and the C-clip40. When the sleeve20is larger than the hole, and the body10is to be connected to the object50in the hole, the sleeve20can be removed from the body10, and the body10can be inserted into the hole and reaches the object50.

The annular recesses24in the outside of the sleeve20are designed to allow the user to grasp the sleeve20firmly and easily.