Abstract:
A method and a device are disclosed which seek to improve productivity of the installation of fasteners. This improved productivity is achieved by holding a fastener to a driving tool with a mechanical means for a substantial portion of an installation sequence to prevent nuisance disengagement between fasteners and their driving means including dropping of fasteners early in an installation cycle. The productivity of this fastener holding approach is best realized by allowing a streamlined operation with little interaction between the fastener driving device and an operator. Specifically, a fastener installation device is described which requires no direct manipulation of said device during the sequence of loading a fastener into said device, installation of said fastener with said device, disengagement of said device from said fastener to allow complete installation of said fastener, and loading a subsequent fastener.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 62/185,571 filed Jun. 27, 2015. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Fastener elements such as a screw, nut, bolt, nail, rivet, etc., hereinafter referred to as fasteners, are used to join components together in a myriad of applications. With conventional installation tools, a fastener will engage either a drive socket for fasteners with external driving geometry, such as a hex head bolt, or the fastener will engage a drive bit for fasteners with internal driving geometry, such as a slot, cruciform or internal hex bore. Fasteners easily disengage from these conventional tools and thus an installer may steady a fastener in some fashion during the first phase of initial install until the fastener is installed to a degree its position is sufficiently maintained by the workpiece receiving said fastener. When fastening components together, the installer may need to manipulate or position those components before or while applying a fastener. It is not uncommon to see fasteners loosely applied by hand without any drive tools, prior to using such tools, since the conventional drive tools do not hold a fastener firmly enough to allow the installer to perform such manipulation after loading the fastener into or onto an installation tool. 
     For both fasteners with internal and external drive geometry, a fastener is engaged with the drive device by axially positioning the fastener into or around the drive device, after which point it is held there with a limited amount of friction. Multiple devices have improved upon the original state of concerns and may restrain a fastener from disengagement under the force of gravity and modest kinematics from the operator positioning the tool with the fastener loaded for install. The currently known approaches have features or operational requirements which may hinder productivity during their use. The following paragraphs discuss categorical approaches of the most relevant known prior art. 
     A first method employs one or more magnets to impart an axial pull on the fastener, urging it towards the drive mechanism, which may be done by fixing a magnet inside of a drive bore, or for internal drive geometries, the bit itself could be magnetized or a magnetic collar could be disposed around a drive bit so as to contact the face of the fastener directly. Designs with a magnet disposed around a drive bit are depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,641,290 and 7,124,665 (and are commercially available under several brands as of May 2015 including the Hammerhead model HAIB06.) Magnetic drivers have been available for use with drill drivers and other power tools. The drivers are used for driving fasteners, e.g., nuts and screws having a polygonal-shaped, e.g., hex-shaped head. This magnet may interfere with or complicate the loading process by pulling the fastener against the driving tool in an undesired orientation and alignment. Also a magnet may attract metal debris which can interfere with the intended usage of such drive devices. U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,461 provides a fastener holding magnet which can be slid forward in the driving assembly for easier cleaning of the magnet in order to reduce the issues caused by attracting debris, however this modification also increases the difficulty and awkwardness of fastener loading. With this approach, the ability of the fastener retaining mechanism to resist forces normal to the fastener and tool axis, or moments about any axis other than the drive axis, is limited and there is limited ability to prevent disengagement from mechanical procession under such loads. The axial holding force of the magnet is also limited. 
     A second type of approach employs a drive bit for internal fastener drive geometry, which expands inside that fastener&#39;s drive geometry to create retention force. This arrangement could reduce the strength of the drive bit so it may be best used for starting a fastener or installing fasteners which require limited install torque, thus such a mechanism may not be suited for use with a powered driver. Further, these devices often require manual actuation, which may consume time and thus may limit productivity of a user. The fastener retaining means of this approach may be limited. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,063,304, 4,078,593, and 6,681,662 disclose varying approaches to this general concept. 
     A third approach employs multiple holding members comprised of a leaf spring, with some geometry on the end of said leaf spring to apply force to the underside of the fastener head in a radially inward and axial direction, urging the fastener against the drive mechanism. The leaf spring elements themselves may be fragile due to their required flexible nature and thus may not be well suited for use with a power driver or high volume applications. These tools may only seek to restrain the screw from disengaging under the force of gravity and the kinematics of the operator positioning the tool with the fastener loaded for install. This approach will often have a limited ability to retain fasteners. Further, the leaf springs may require additional operator intervention during the loading sequence, possibly during the installation sequence depending on the application and the feature geometry. Examples of this approach are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 815,758, 2,519,811 and 2,762,409. 
     A fourth type of approach employs jaws which pinch around the fastener to assist with maintaining axial alignment, longitudinal position or both. This is similar to the third approach, however the fastener holders with this approach may be shaped differently and actuated in a variety of manners. While this design approach may allow more robust constructions than the leaf spring approach, it may also contain many of the same drawbacks. One example of this approach is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,555. The amount of force that can be exerted by these retaining means may be limited, so undesirable angular misalignment of the fastener from the driving axis may occur in operation. In order to load this device, a fastener is dropped into a loading tube, 24 in the figures. If gravity causes the fastener to drop down into the loading tube and then travel into the main bore of the tool, such a tool may only be suited for installing fasteners in a largely vertical direction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,141 discloses another approach to this design where the retention members (“clamps”) 150 and 151 are urged radially inwards by an outer sleeve 160 in order for these members to engage against the bottom surface of the screw head and hold the screw against the drive bit (102). With this design, the fastener is first located properly relative to the sleeve and then the outer sleeve 160 may need to be manually positioned during the loading sequence. Since this tool is intended to be held in either a hand or power tool, either of which could be held in one of a user&#39;s hands during operation, in order to prevent a fastener from falling off the tool, it may need to be turned into a largely vertical, upside down fashion with the bit pointing up such that the fastener does not fall off the driving device when the user loads the screw with a second hand and then releases that screw to use the same second hand to position the sleeve 160. U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,826 discloses a device used for driving screws with specially formed heads in which jaws 3 and 4 have connected features 19, 20 for engaging with and transmitting torque to drive geometry 13 on the screw head. When a user loads a screw, they supply force to the screw to position components 30, 3, and 4 during which the frictional retention of those components must be overcome, including the position retaining force created by spring loaded pin 36 engaging groove 34. Jaws 3 and 4 are forced radially inward by means of a bore in holder 2 to capture a screw head. After full installation of the screw, the tool may then be pulled away from the screw, releasing it in the process. U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,298 discloses another similar approach in which a user may manually position a sleeve against the force of a spring to hold fastener retention jaws in an open position while loading a fastener. A user holding the driving tool, while also pushing sleeve 52 forward and loading a fastener, may be an awkward task. Further, the sleeve is pushed forward at some point in the installation sequence to release the jaws from the fastener to allow for complete installation without obstruction from the fastener retaining components. User intervention during loading and release of a fastener may limit productivity. 
     A fifth approach employs a plurality of radially traveling segments in a collet type arrangement that can be radially expanded or compressed through a variety of mechanical means. This may put pressure directly on a fastener to clamp it, or it may close around the fastener and geometrically prevent unintended removal by means of a relief slot in the fastener-engaging side of the movable segments. U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,166 discloses such an approach where a collet 40 includes prongs 24 with an internal groove 62 used to hold the head of a screw. The prongs 24 are such that they may surround a screw head 38 without grippingly engaging it until biased inwardly. To clamp the screw, an operator slides sleeve 22 forward, towards the screw being loaded. During installation, the sleeve 22 will contact a work surface and travel rearward, thereby opening the prongs 24 and releasing the screw. Thus a user of this tool may need to manually position the sleeve 22 after loading a fastener. To operate, a user may need to hold the driver, place a fastener, and then hold the fastener while sliding the sleeve 22 forward. This intervention may limit productivity. U.S. Pat. No. 2,658,538 describes a similar approach. In this arrangement, a user may need to manually retract the sleeve (“housing”) 44 in order to load a screw. In operation of this device, the screw is released from the device automatically based on item 50 contacting the work surface and retracting the sleeve 44 without additional intervention from the user. Manual intervention of the tool while loading may limit productivity. 
     A sixth approach is to have a sleeve slidably disposed about the shank of a driving tool, including a flange capping the end of said sleeve wherein said capping flange has a reduced cross-sectional opening which is too small to permit axial passage of a fastener. A fastener can be loaded into such a holder by passing laterally through a radial slot in the sleeve so that the head of the fastener can be urged against a driving bit or socket by force exerted by this capping flange, said force typically coming from a spring. After substantially installing the fastener into the workpiece, the sleeve may be slid slightly forward in order to allow clearance between the driving tool and the fastener head. The driving tool is then moved laterally past the fastener where the head of said fastener will pass through the aforementioned slot in the sleeve. The sleeve can then be freely retracted such that a driving bit can protrude sufficiently past the capping flange of the sleeve to complete full installation of the fastener. This approach is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,100 where the head 14 has a slot 18 in the end and a capping flange 19 has a slot 20 to permit engaging and disengaging a fastener 9 with the driver 1. In this case the sleeve assembly 8 (“holding means”) is positioned longitudinally and held by use of a cam sleeve 30. Similar approaches which utilize varying mechanics and operational procedures can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,774,401, 2,884,971, and 8,539,865. Screw-holding screwdrivers employing this approach, and utilizing a simple spring to continuously urge the retaining sleeve in a rearward direction, are commercially available under the Greenlee brand at the time of this application, such as item #0453-18C for driving #2 Phillips bits and other models for other head types. The approach of this category may be best suited for applications where the amount of time spent loading a fastener is of secondary importance. User intervention to load the fastener, as well as to disengage the driver part-way through the fastener installation, may make use with a power driver impractical and this manipulation may limit productivity. 
     A seventh approach provides a sleeve into which an entire fastener can be slid for rough guidance. This approach provides axial guidance, though possibly in a limited sense, as the full bore of the sleeve must be greater than the diameter of the head and the leading point of the fastener is often significantly smaller. It is thus possible for a fastener to be located within such a sleeve with angular misalignment from a drive bit or socket, such as having the fastener head roughly centered below the driving bit or socket and the fastener shank bearing against the inner wall of the sleeve near the distal end where the device makes contact with the work surface. Thus this approach may not be appropriate for fasteners which require precise axial alignment. Further, as coaxial misalignment between a fastener and mating bit or socket increases, the ability to transmit drive torque and prevent disengagement of the two may be limited. This general type of fastener driving device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 1,644,074 and products commercially available since at least 2003, for example, what is currently marketed at the time of this application under Dewalt part number DW2055, Bosch part number CC60491 and many others. In operation of the aforementioned commercially available driving devices, the retaining sleeve may need to be re-positioned between each fastener installation, pulling the outer sleeve forward since it is pushed rearward whenever a fastener is installed. This user intervention may limit productivity. U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,941 proposes an improvement to this device wherein the outer sleeve is spring-loaded to automatically return its forward-most position without additional user intervention, thus theoretically reducing time to manually position the sleeve. 
     An eighth approach utilizes a plurality of drive sections stacked axially upon each other, which can have a torsional force applied between them for purpose of retaining a fastener by various types of drive geometry. U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,472 discloses one such device (“nut capturing socket assembly”) 20, which utilizes a sleeve 24 with generally the same drive geometry as a main drive socket 22, but is torsionally disposed about that main drive socket. A user may need to rotate this sleeve 24 to align the drive geometry with that of socket 22, at which point a fastener may be loaded. The operator may release the device after loading the fastener and the relative torsion between the socket 22 and the sleeve 24 will create friction on the outer surface of the fastener to resist dropping of the fastener. The process of manipulating the driving device 20 while loading the fastener may be somewhat awkward with a user holding either the socket 22 or the shank that will provide driving rotation to this device, while also rotating sleeve 24 and loading a fastener. Further, the amount of retaining force possible may be directly related to the torque applied by the torsion creating means which, for purpose of tolerable user actuation, may be relatively small. Holding force applied to the fastener could thus be limited in this approach. Manipulation of the tool may limit productivity. 
     A ninth approach uses a resilient member such as a spring to urge retaining elements radially inward to capture the underside of a fastener head. This may be done by having a resilient member pushing directly on retaining elements, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,235,235, or it may be done indirectly by a spring urging a cam sleeve, which in turn urges retaining elements radially inward, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,452. It should be noted in each of these patents, the spring force which urges the retaining elements radially inward may need to be overcome by a user when loading a fastener. A correlation may exist between the force available to retain a fastener against external forces and the force required to overcome the resilient force urging the retaining elements radially inward when loading a fastener. The time spent loading such a device and the screw retention capacity of this approach may limit productivity. 
     A tenth approach, somewhat similar to the ninth approach, is designed such that a cam sleeve will pass the retaining elements in such a manner that the resilient member (usually a spring) is used merely to position the sleeve, not to directly or indirectly provide the holding force. In this fashion, once the components are positioned, something else must reposition them to allow the retaining elements to release the fastener. During installation that allows very high forces to be exerted by the retaining elements, and thus the driving tool may resist a high level of axial force, and prevent disengagement due to force perpendicular to the fastener axis and moment forces between the driver and the fastener. U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,708 details once such embodiment of this approach. In this patent, a body 41 is locked upon a drive bit 21. A body member 71 is urged forward relative to body 41 by a spring 60. Member 71 has multiple apertures 93 located at the forward end in which a plurality of ball bearing retaining jaws 111 are carried. A cam sleeve 131 is biased forward relative to body member 71 by a second spring 90. Cam sleeve 131 has a pair of bores, 141 which is slightly larger than the diameter of body 71 and bore 142 which is a larger diameter and located at the forward end of sleeve 131. 
     When bore 142 is substantially aligned with retaining jaws 111, they can be retracted in the apertures 93 so as not to restrict the loading and unloading of a fastener 30. However, when sleeve 131 is in its forward position, the smaller bore 141 will be substantially aligned with apertures 93, thus forcing the retaining jaws 111 radially inward towards the tool&#39;s central axis, whereby passage of a screw head past the balls to load or unload a screw is prevented. 
     When no screw is loaded, body 71 and sleeve 131 will be at their forward-most position with retaining jaws 111 protruding into the bore of body 71, thus preventing a screw from being loaded until sleeve 131 is pulled rearward by a user. At that point, a screw 30 can be positioned on bit 21 and sleeve 131 can be released. Sleeve 131 will travel forward, thereby pushing retaining jaws 111 into the central bore of body 71, obstructing said bore enough to prevent removal of the screw. 
     Since the bore 142 passes the center of retaining jaws 111, outward force on the retaining jaws created by any attempt to remove the screw may not cause sleeve 131 to move rearward, thus the screw is mechanically locked in the loaded position. This feature distinguishes devices of this category from the prior ninth category presented. As a screw is being installed, sleeve 131 will contact a work surface and it will be retracted to release the screw to allow for full fastener installation without manual manipulation after driving has begun. A user manipulating sleeve 131 in order to load a screw may be an awkward task considering the user may need to concurrently hold or steady the driving tool such as a drill, retract sleeve 131 and load the screw. The time spent for this manipulation, while loading, may limit productivity. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,140,161 and 5,207,127 and US Patent application 20020166421 utilize similar mechanical components, which require direct manual manipulation of the screw retaining components by a user during the loading sequence. U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,145 discloses a similar approach in which a cam sleeve 400 is positioned by a user. Further, while a user would be loading a screw (“nail”) into the device, they may be required to oppose the force of a compression spring 610 for a significant travel distance. Since this spring is providing the retention force, it is likely stiff. Thus the loading sequence may pose challenges to a user who may need to concurrently steady the tool, exert significant thrust on a sharp fastener, and manually position cam sleeve 400. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,886 describes another device where a user may load a screw without touching or directly manipulating the components of the device, however while loading a fastener, the user is exerting force to position the retaining elements, namely retaining balls 94, their carrier sleeve 84 and a spring 88, which urges those elements forward, whereby the act of loading the fastener will temporarily store energy in spring 88 prior to reaching a triggering point where that energy is released and sleeve 84 is pushed forward, in turn causing balls 94 to be pushed radially inward through contact with cam surface 98. The effort exerted to position the screw retaining components of the device of this invention may limit productivity. 
     The screw retaining means of U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,886 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,452 are similar, however the diagrams of the later patent depict a flat head fastener with a tapered surface under the head. Since the taper angle is closer to the central axis of the tool than the inclined surface 104 which urges the retaining balls inward, the retaining force of that particular configuration may be directly related to the force exerted by the spring and therefore U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,452 was listed in the prior category. As the categories are defined in this background discussion, each could qualify for both categories depending on the screw head geometry which is selected. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,916 describes a prior art device of interest. This patent describes a device for receiving conventional tool shanks such as those conforming to ANSI B 107.4-1982. Thus this device is designed to receive a shank of length significantly greater than cross-sectional width which has a consistent geometrical outer profile aside from a circumferential detent groove to which significant thrust may be imparted between the device and said shank in both directions along the central axis of the device. Also of particular interest is the device described in this patent requires direct manipulation of an outer cam sleeve 14 during the unload cycle. 
     In operation, a user may directly manipulate outer cam sleeve 14 to a first position and release, subsequently allowing an appropriate tool bit 40 to be pushed into a bore 36 of device 10 where the device will cycle to a closed position without requiring direct manipulation of said sleeve 14 while the bit 40 is being loaded. While cycling between the unloaded and loaded configurations, sleeve 14 travels to a second position, whereby the geometry of that cam sleeve locks the installed bit 40 within the bore 36 of device 10 by means of a bit detent ball 16 protruding radially inward into bore 36 and a circumferential groove 44 in the shank of bit 40. To release the bit, a user directly manipulates cam sleeve 14 from its second position where the bit is held by bit ball 16 to its first position where bit 40 can be removed. The user may then release cam sleeve 14 and then directly grasp bit 40 to remove it from device 10. A subsequent bit 40 can then be loaded into device 10 without direct manipulation of the device while the bit is being loaded. The device described in this patent requires direct manipulation to position the cam sleeve 14 whenever a bit is to be unloaded and it contains no provisions to describe, suggest, or motivate any deviation from that style of operation nor does it illustrate or suggest any mechanics which would enable other operational procedures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and a device are disclosed which seek to improve productivity of the installation of various fasteners. This improved productivity may be achieved by allowing a fastener to be loaded into a device as is shown in the descriptions to follow such that no direct manipulation of said device is required during the loading of a fastener, the installation of that fastener, the disengagement of said device from the installed fastener, or before loading a subsequent fastener. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a mechanical means of holding fasteners securely, such that a fastener loaded into a device as depicted in the descriptions below will resist significant axial and bending moment forces about any axis without becoming disengaged from the said device during the initial phase of fastener installation to enhance productive installation of fasteners of all types. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a means by which thrust may be transmitted directly from a driving tool connected to a device of the present invention, through said device and to a fastener without the thrust force applied to the fastener being transmitted through a spring to increase the thrust transmission ability. 
     It is a further object of one embodiment of this invention to provide a means of assisting with proper alignment of two adjoining fasteners for more productive assembly without requiring fastener features, such as a dog-point. Many basic fasteners do not have such a point to facilitate such alignment, and typically adding such a feature adds cost to fasteners and it may further add undesirable length to that fastener. 
     It is a further object of one embodiment of this invention to provide a clutch mechanism for disengaging transmission of torque to a fastener at an adjustable depth for quick and consistent fastener installation. 
     It is another object of the present invention that one or more stages of stored energy will be released while loading a fastener to position fastener retention elements as needed where this energy has been previously stored and thus this energy need not be supplied while a fastener is being loaded into the device. 
     Furthermore, in some fastening applications such as installation of drill-point and other self-drilling screws a significant amount of thrust must be applied to the fastener while it is being driven, typically by a rotary tool. Generally, that fastener will be driven numerous rotations prior to engaging the work sufficiently that buckling between a fastener and the driver is no longer a concern. Further, these screws are commonly installed in large volumes during construction activities. They thus represent particularly demanding applications where the limitations of current methods are amplified and the benefits of the present invention are highly impactful. 
     The device of the present invention can be coupled to or integrated with many types of conventional driving tools for applying thrust and rotational force to the device. These driving tools include, but are not limited to, an impact driver, drill, screw gun, and a manually powered screw driver. 
     The method described can further include use of such tools. It should be noted that the term “direct manipulation” as has been used previously and will be used subsequently refer to a user, machine, mechanism etc. other than a driving tool, fastener, or a work surface contacting the device to position or manipulate components. In many cases of installing a fastener, it is required to apply thrust and/or rotational torque to that fastener and thus thrust and rotational torque may also need to be applied to the shank of the device of the present invention where and as necessary, however these are considered “indirect manipulation” since a user will typically not need to directly touch the device of this invention while applying said thrust and rotational torque. 
     One illustrative application would include the device of this invention installed in a drill where a user&#39;s first hand is always holding onto said drill by the handle as it will be held during typical drilling and driving operations; said user&#39;s second hand being used only to load a fastener into said device as needed by orienting and pushing said fastener or fasteners into said device. The user&#39;s second (fastener loading) hand would not typically need to touch the device while multiple sequential fasteners are installed. 
     The device of the present invention can also be utilized to remove fasteners and it provides unique benefits to such. When removing a fastener, a user would begin with the device in the open configuration, precisely the same configuration the device is in before a fastener is loaded prior to install. As the fastener is backed out from its installed position, the device and fastener will go through the same configurations of the device shown for installation, but in the reverse order. A benefit to the removal of a fastener is that significant thrust can be applied to the fastener in the direction pointing away from the work surface the fastener is installed in. This is of significant benefit for removing drill-point screws where the screw threads disrupt the fastener receiving material after the drill point creates a hole, causing the clear passage diameter of the fastener&#39;s hole to be smaller than the drill tip. Removal of these screws may thus require significant rearward thrust, often supplied by a pliers or similar tool. After removing a fastener in this sort of arrangement, the outer cam sleeve will need to be pulled away from the distal end of the tool to release the fastener. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the fastener retaining and installation device and method will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the fastener retaining and installation device and method when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the fastener retaining and installation device and method in detail, it is to be understood that the fastener retaining and installation device and method is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the fastener retaining and installation device and method. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the fastener retaining and installation device and method. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a section view of a first embodiment with a fastener in the loaded position. 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of a first embodiment in the unloaded position, ready for a fastener to be loaded 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a first embodiment where a fastener is being loaded, near the point that the system will trigger to the loaded position 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of a first embodiment where a fastener has been fully loaded and is ready to be installed 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of a first embodiment where a fastener is being installed in a work piece 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of a first embodiment where a fastener has been entirely installed in a workpiece and the device has been partially retracted from the work surface. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a first embodiment with a fastener loaded. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a first embodiment installed in a power drill. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a section view of a fourth embodiment illustrated with a fastener containing a geometric drive depression in an unloaded state. 
         FIG. 12  is a section view of a fourth embodiment illustrated with a fastener containing a geometric drive depression in a loaded state, ready to be installed. 
         FIG. 13  is a section view of a fourth embodiment with a fastener that has been installed to the point an optional clutch mechanism has disengaged torque transmission to the fastener. 
         FIG. 14  is a section view of a fourth embodiment at the state illustrated in  FIG. 12  illustrating the clutch mechanism in a torque transmitting state. 
         FIG. 15  is a section view of a fourth embodiment at the state illustrated in  FIG. 13  illustrating the clutch mechanism in a non-torque transmitting state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     List of Figure Numerals 
     The following table lists a description of the numerals used to annotate figures in this application. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 A first embodiment of the present invention 
               
               
                 11 
                 Trigger shuttle 
               
               
                 12 
                 Driving bit 
               
               
                 13 
                 Distal face of bit 12 
               
               
                 14 
                 carrier sleeve 
               
               
                 16 
                 Cam sleeve 
               
               
                 18 
                 Trigger ball 
               
               
                 20 
                 Retention balls 
               
               
                 21 
                 Radial passages for retention balls 
               
               
                 22 
                 Trigger shuttle spring 
               
               
                 24 
                 Carrier sleeve spring 
               
               
                 26 
                 Cam sleeve spring 
               
               
                 27 
                 Bumper 
               
               
                 28 
                 Washer 
               
               
                 30 
                 Retaining device 
               
               
                 31 
                 Internal circumferential groove 
               
               
                 32 
                 Retaining device 
               
               
                 33 
                 Forward distal end 
               
               
                 34 
                 Fastener 
               
               
                 35 
                 Driven proximal end 
               
               
                 36 
                 Hexagonally shaped quick-change shank 
               
               
                 37 
                 Top washer surface of fastener 34 
               
               
                 38 
                 Intermediate section of driving bit 
               
               
                 40 
                 Front section of driving bit 
               
               
                 42 
                 Circumferential groove for retaining device 
               
               
                 44 
                 Shoulder formed between the front and intermediate sections 
               
               
                 46 
                 Radial passage for trigger detent ball 
               
               
                 48 
                 Formed geometrical profile for torsionally engaging a fastener head 
               
               
                 54 
                 Longitudinal bore of first diameter (in distal end of driving bit 12) 
               
               
                 56 
                 Longitudinal bore of a second smaller diameter 
               
               
                 60 
                 section of trigger shuttle of a first outer diameter 
               
               
                 62 
                 section of trigger shuttle of a second diameter, less than the 
               
               
                   
                 diameter of 60 
               
               
                 63 
                 shoulder in trigger shuttle formed between sections 62 and 64. 
               
               
                 64 
                 section of trigger shuttle of a third diameter smaller than section 62 
               
               
                 66 
                 Shoulder formed between sections 60 and 62 
               
               
                 70 
                 Internal circumferential groove (in sleeve 14, for the triggering 
               
               
                   
                 ball) 
               
               
                 71 
                 Internal collar of sleeve 14 
               
               
                 72 
                 shoulder (at proximal end of circumferential groove 70) 
               
               
                 73 
                 External collar of sleeve 14 
               
               
                 74 
                 Front section of jaw retaining sleeve 14 
               
               
                 76 
                 Internal collar of cam sleeve 16 
               
               
                 78 
                 Distal shoulder of internal collar 76 
               
               
                 80 
                 Groove in sleeve 16 to receive a scratch resisting bumper 
               
               
                 82 
                 Distal face of sleeve 16 
               
               
                 100 
                 Work Piece 1 
               
               
                 102 
                 Work Piece 2 
               
               
                 104 
                 Work surface 
               
               
                 106 
                 Power Drill 
               
               
                 120 
                 Trigger shuttle 
               
               
                 121 
                 Central bore in trigger shuttle 
               
               
                 122 
                 Drive bit 
               
               
                 123 
                 Radial passage for retaining jaws 
               
               
                 124 
                 Sleeve spring 
               
               
                 126 
                 Cam sleeve 
               
               
                 128 
                 Trigger balls 
               
               
                 130 
                 Radial passage for trigger balls 
               
               
                 132 
                 Nut 
               
               
                 134 
                 Bolt 
               
               
                 136 
                 Driver engaging depression 
               
               
                 138 
                 A second embodiment of the present invention 
               
               
                 140 
                 Washer 
               
               
                 142 
                 Retaining device 
               
               
                 144 
                 Internal circumferential groove in cam sleeve 126 
               
               
                 146 
                 Longitudinal threaded bore 
               
               
                 148 
                 Set screw 
               
               
                 160 
                 A fourth embodiment of the present invention 
               
               
                 161 
                 Fastener 
               
               
                 162 
                 Bit holder 
               
               
                 164 
                 Bit insert 
               
               
                 166 
                 Carrier sleeve 
               
               
                 168 
                 Cam sleeve 
               
               
                 170 
                 Spring retainer sleeve 
               
               
                 172 
                 Adjustable ring 
               
               
                 174 
                 Jam nut 
               
               
                 176 
                 Retention balls 
               
               
                 178 
                 Clutch balls 
               
               
                 180 
                 Spacer ball 
               
               
                 182 
                 Intermediate ball 
               
               
                 184 
                 Trigger balls 
               
               
                 186 
                 Retaining ring 
               
               
                 188 
                 Retaining ring 
               
               
                 190 
                 Set screw 
               
               
                 192 
                 Face (of sleeve 168) 
               
               
                 194 
                 Face (of sleeve 166) 
               
               
                 196 
                 Face (of sleeve 166) 
               
               
                 198 
                 Face (of spring retainer sleeve 170) 
               
               
                 200 
                 Internal groove (on carrier sleeve 166 for triggering) 
               
               
                 202 
                 Internal groove (on carrier sleeve 166 for clutch) 
               
               
                 204 
                 Shoulder 
               
               
                 206 
                 Bore face 
               
               
                 208 
                 Workpiece 
               
               
                 210 
                 Circumferential groove 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Now referring to the figures and to the associated descriptive text below, wherein like numbers refer to like matter throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment with a fastener in the loaded position. For clarity, this figure focuses primarily on identifying the individual components of the assembly, not features of the components. The device for retaining and driving fasteners of a first embodiment is illustrated generally as  10 . The assembly includes a trigger shuttle  11 , a driving bit  12 , a carrier sleeve  14 , a cam sleeve  16 , a trigger ball  18 , a plurality of radially spaced retention balls  20 , a trigger shuttle spring  22 , a carrier sleeve spring  24 , a cam sleeve spring  26 , a washer  28 , a retaining device  30 , a retaining device  32  disposed in circumferential groove  31  and a fastener  34 . The assembly has a forward distal end  33  and a driven proximal end  35 . The driven end of drive bit  12  is formed with a shank  36  to be received by a common drive device, such as an impact driver, drill, screw gun, or screw driver. This shank  36  is shown as a standard quick change design. A scratch resistant bumper  27  is optionally included to reduce the likelihood of scratching a work surface receiving fastener  34 . Bumper  27  is held in a circumferential groove  80  in sleeve  16 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment illustrated generally as  10 , configured in the unloaded position, ready for a fastener to be loaded. In this figure, previously shown shank  36  has been cropped off the proximal side of the device as it may take the form of many conventional shank styles, the specifics of which are not central to the function of this embodiment. The distal end of drive bit  12  has a bore  48  for receiving the external drive geometry of a fastener. The trigger shuttle  11  is slidably located in a longitudinal bore  54  within bit  12 . The trigger shuttle  11  has a proximal section  60  of a first outer diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of bore  54  to allow relative sliding motion between trigger shuttle  11  and bit  12 . Shuttle  11  includes a section  62  of a second diameter distal to section  60  and also of a smaller diameter than  60 . A third section  64  is distal to section  62  and section  64  has a diameter which is smaller than section  62 . Trigger shuttle  11  has a circumferential shoulder  66  between sections  60  and  62 . A trigger detent ball  18  is located in a radial passage  46  within bit  12 . A shuttle spring  22  located largely in bore  56  of bit  12  reacts between bit  12  and shuttle  11 . 
     In the unloaded configuration of device  10 , generally depicted by this figure, the trigger detent ball  18  is restricted against radial travel towards the center axis of the device by shuttle  11 . Detent ball  18  protrudes past the outer surface of the front section of the driving bit,  40  and protrudes into the internal groove  70  of sleeve  14 . The proximal shoulder  72  of groove  70  will be in contact with trigger ball  18  due to spring  24  reacting between bit  12  and sleeve  14  with assistance from an internal collar  71  within sleeve  14 , washer  28 , and retaining device  30  installed in a circumferential groove  42  of bit  12 . This configuration limits the forward position of sleeve  14  relative to bit  12 . The forward position of shuttle  11  is limited by shoulder  66  bearing against ball  18 . A plurality of balls  20 , shown here as spherical members, are disposed in radial bores  21  and are limited from traveling radially inward towards the center axis of the tool by contact with the front section  40  of driving bit  12  so as to leave the device unobstructed for the loading of a fastener. Balls  20  protrude past the outer surface of the front section  74  of sleeve  14 . By balls  20  protruding past the outer surface of section  74  and contacting a distal shoulder  78  of internal collar  76  in sleeve  16 , the balls  20  will limit the forward position of sleeve  16  relative to sleeve  14  while spring  26  reacts between sleeve  14  and sleeve  16 , thus urging sleeve  16  forward. Bit  12  has an intermediate section  38  of smaller diameter than the front section  40 , thus forming a shoulder  44  between those sections. Further, the internal collar  71  within sleeve  14  has a bore slightly larger than the diameter of intermediate section  38  to allow relative longitudinal motion. In this configuration of device  10 , there is a gap between shoulder  44  and internal collar  71 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment where a fastener has been partially loaded into device  10  after it was in the state shown in  FIG. 2 . Arrows have been superimposed on various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since the preceding state illustrated in  FIG. 2 , where for purpose of illustration bit  12  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. 
     At this stage, device  10  is near the point that it will trigger to the loaded position where fastener  34  will become retained in device  10 . Fastener  34 , which is depicted as a hex washer head screw, has been inserted into driver bit  12  and has pushed trigger shuttle  11  some distance toward the driven proximal end of the device, whereby spring  22  is further compressed. Ball  18  has traveled radially inward from its prior position due to contact with shoulder  72  on sleeve  14  under the force of spring  24 . Ball  18  is no longer in contact with shoulder  66 , and ball  18  has now started to travel radially inward past the surface of section  62  of trigger shuttle  11 . Ball  18  is bearing against circumferential shoulder  63  to resolve the vertical forces exerted by sleeve  14  under the force of spring  24 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment where a fastener has been fully loaded into device  10  and is ready to be installed in a workpiece. Arrows have been superimposed on various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since the preceding state illustrated in  FIG. 3 , where, for purpose of illustration, bit  12  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. 
     Between  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , fastener  34  was pushed further rearward into bit  12 , moving shuttle  11  rearward allowing ball  18  to fully bypass shoulder  63 . With ball  18  in this position, it no longer protrudes past the outer surface of section  40  of bit  12  and therefore no longer limits the longitudinal position of sleeve  14 , which thus has traveled forward under the force of spring  24  until shoulder  44  of bit  12  contacted internal collar  71  of sleeve  14 . In this position, balls  20  are freely able to travel inward in their respective bores  21 , said bores which are shaped so as to prevent the balls from fully passing inwards through and out of said bores should a device be manipulated to such a position without a fastener installed. Balls  20  will be forcefully pushed radially inwards in radially spaced bores  21  by sleeve  16  traveling forward during the triggering cycle given the force of spring  26  pushing sleeve  16  forward whereby circumferential shoulder  78  bears against balls  20  while sleeve  16  travels forward relative to sleeve  14 . Once the internal collar  76  bypasses balls  20 , the inner surface of collar  76  will prevent travel of balls  20  radially outward, thus mechanically locking fastener  34  into device  10 . There is a minimal clearance between balls  20  and the fastener  34  to maintain alignment of device  10  and fastener  34  to be largely coaxial. The forward position of sleeve  16  is limited relative to sleeve  14  by contact between external collar  73  on sleeve  14  and a retaining device  32 , which is held in an internal circumferential groove  31  in sleeve  16 . It should be noted that an intermediate section  38  of driver bit  12  is sized to be longitudinally slidable within the central bore of internal collar  71  in sleeve  14 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment where a fastener  34  is being installed using device  10 . Arrows have been superimposed on various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since the preceding state illustrated in  FIG. 4 , where for purpose of illustration bit  12  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. 
     In this diagram, fastener  34  is depicted as a self drilling hex washer head screw and a first workpiece  100  is shown containing a hole  106  prior to the installation of fastener  34 . A second workpiece  102  is shown with the fastener  34  protruding through it after the drill point on fastener  34  drilled through it as is typical for screws of this nature. In this diagram, fastener  34  is only partially installed as can be seen from the distance between the exterior work surface  104  of workpiece  100  and the underside of the head on fastener  34 . By thrust being applied to device  10  during the install process while fastener  34  progresses forward, bumper  27  has contacted work surface  104  and has been retracted proximally along with sleeve  16 . Sleeve  14  is limited against further travel forward due to contact between collar  73  with an internal shoulder in sleeve  16 . In this position of sleeve  16  relative to sleeve  14 , sleeve  16  no longer limits the outward radial travel of balls  20  such that further the progression of fastener  34  forward relative to sleeve  14  has pushed balls  20  radially outward. From this state, further installation of fastener  34  will cause bit  12  to progress forward relative to sleeve  14  such that the gap between shoulder  44  and collar  71  continues to grow while further compressing spring  24  in the process until the point fastener  34  has been fully installed. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment where a fastener has been entirely installed in a workpiece and device  10  has been partially retracted from the work surface  104 . Arrows have been superimposed on various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since the preceding state illustrated in  FIG. 5 , where for purpose of illustration bit  12  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. 
     A gap now exists between the top washer surface  37  of fastener  34  and the distal face  13  of bit  12 . Trigger shuttle  11  is no longer in contact with the head of fastener  34  so that spring  22  has pushed shuttle  11  forward to the point that ball  18  has been pushed radially outward into internal groove  70  by section  62  of shuttle  11 , and the forward position of shuttle  11  is limited by ball  18  bearing against shoulder  66 . 
     Further retraction of device  10  away from work surface  104  will cause sleeve  14  to slide further forward relative to bit  12  under the force of spring  24  until shoulder  72  contacts ball  18 , which will then limit the forward position of sleeve  14  relative to bit  12 . Still further retraction of device  10  from work surface  104  will cause sleeve  16  to slide forward relative to sleeve  14  under the force of spring  26  until shoulder  78  contacts balls  20 , which thus will limit the forward position of sleeve  16  relative to sleeve  14 . 
     Further retraction of device  10  will cause bumper  27  to lose contact with work surface  104 . At that point, device  10  will be ready for loading of a subsequent fastener without requiring any direct manipulation. Bumper  27  is designed to prevent contact between face  82  of sleeve  16  or the distal face of sleeve  14  with work surface  104  to minimize marring concerns that may otherwise be present. Bumper  27  may be a soft polymer, elastomer, or rubber. It may also be replaced by a thrust bearing which could take many conventional forms including, but not limited to, a plain thrust bearing of low-friction plastic or a thrust bearing assembly containing roller elements, such as spherical balls with a soft material being applied on the distal external face of such a bearing assembly. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a first embodiment with a fastener  34  loaded into device  10 . Note that this is the same mechanical state or configuration as detailed in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 . 
     Note that while a hex washer head fastener is shown in these figures, this design was chosen as a particularly challenging type of application. The present invention may be utilized for fasteners of other external drive geometries including, but not limited to, square, hexagon or six-lobular with or without a washer head by making simple modifications to the shape of current components. For example, a separate hexagonal nut and a flat round washer could be retained together into device  10  with the mechanisms as illustrated. Loading of such individual fasteners may benefit from utilizing a fixture to stage a nut and washer pair prior to loading for productivity. 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a first embodiment installed in a power drill. Device  10  is shown installed into the chuck of a power drill  106 . A fastener  34  has been installed in device  10  where device  10  would be in the state illustrated by  FIG. 4 . 
     It should be understood that the power drill  106  is only one example of a source of rotary power. Other examples are a ratcheted or non-ratcheted screw driver handle, configured to be grasped and turned by a human hand, and having an interface for receiving and retaining a drill bit, screw driver tip insert or other shaft. Still another example of a source of rotary power could be a ratcheted or non-ratcheted wrench or the like or any suitable substitute. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment. The device for retaining and driving fasteners of the first embodiment is illustrated generally as  10 . The assembly includes a trigger shuttle  11 , a driving bit  12 , a carrier sleeve  14 , a cam sleeve  16 , a trigger ball  18 , a plurality of radially spaced retention balls  20 , a trigger shuttle spring  22 , a carrier sleeve spring  24 , a cam sleeve spring  26 , a washer  28 , a retaining device  30 , and a retaining device  32 . A scratch resistant bumper  27  is optionally included. 
     Following the illustrations of  FIGS. 2 through 9 , the following describes the method of installing two fasteners utilizing the illustrated embodiment. For purpose of this illustrative sequence, the entire device  10  is assumed to be installed in a powered drill via shank  36 . The device will generally be configured in the state shown in  FIG. 2 , where it is ready for a fastener to be loaded. A user may hold a powered driver in one hand with device  10  installed and then pick up a fastener  34  with a second hand, grasping it near the end opposite of the head. The user can then push the fastener  34  into device  10 , using tactile feedback to assist with aligning the drive geometry on fastener  34  with the drive geometry of the bit  12 .  FIG. 3  shows a fastener  34  pushed part way into device  10  where trigger shuttle  11  has been pushed somewhat rearward, device  10  being on the verge of releasing stored spring energy with slightly further rearward travel of shuttle  11 , which will serve to slide a carrier sleeve  14  forward. 
       FIG. 4  shows the device just a moment later after fastener  34  was pushed in slightly further, pushing shuttle  11  rearward which in turn allows ball  18  to move radially inward thus beginning the triggering action of the device to position the carrier sleeve  14  forward, subsequently allowing outer cam sleeve  16  to push retention balls  20  radially inward while cam sleeve  16  moves forward relative to carrier sleeve  14 , thereby establishing a secure retention of the fastener. The user never needed to touch device  10  directly throughout the loading process, they only needed to push the fastener in. 
     At this point, device  10  can then be used to install fastener  34  into a work surface while holding the fastener with significant retention force, which is an object of the present invention. A user will begin to install the fastener and after the amount of the fastener shown protruding out of the device in  FIG. 4  has been installed, device  10  will contact the work surface and cam sleeve  16  will begin to retract relative to fastener  34 .  FIG. 5  shows device  10  and fastener  34  in a state where fastener  34  has been partially installed into a workpiece. Cam sleeve  16  has been retracted due to contact with a work surface. The current position of cam sleeve  16 , in turn, allows retention balls  20  to move radially outward if so urged. No further restrictions will impede forward motion of fastener  34  or bit  12  to fully complete the installation of the fastener. After the fastener is fully installed, a user may freely pull the powered drill and thus device  10  away from the work surface.  FIG. 6  shows device  10  after the user has pulled slightly away from the work surface. 
     After additional motion away from the work surface, the jaw sleeve  14  and cam sleeve  16  will both be able to travel forward an additional amount until they reach the state which is shown in  FIG. 2 . Note that the user did not need to directly touch device  10  at any point when installing fastener  34 . At that point, with device  10  again in the state shown by  FIG. 2 , it is configured to freely receive another fastener. Without setting the drill down, a user may pick up a subsequent fastener and push it into device  10 , whereby the state of  FIG. 3  will quickly be passed through and the device will rest at the state of  FIG. 4  ready to install a fastener. The user can then install the second fastener  34  into a work surface at which the point of partial installation shown by  FIG. 5  will be passed through on the way to full installation of the fastener. The user can then pull the drill and thus device  10  away from the work surface, during which the device will pass through the state shown in  FIG. 6 , then reaching the state of  FIG. 2  as the device loses contact with the work surface. Thus the sequence of fastener installation into device  10 , installation of a fastener  34 , and retraction from the work surface may happen in multiple repeated cycles without requiring a user to directly manipulate device  10 . 
       FIG. 10  is a section view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated generally as  138 . Device  138  includes a drive bit  122  having a plurality of radial passages  123  which contain retention balls  20 . This approach is in contrast to the first embodiment where the balls were included in ball carrier sleeve ( 14  in prior figures) which is not contained in the second embodiment illustrated here. Passages  123  are shaped so as to prevent the complete passage of balls  20  fully through and past the inner surface of bit  122 . A stack of three trigger balls  128  communicate with radial bore  130  in bit  122 . 
     In this case, a plurality of balls allows for a more sensitive triggering position and reduced longitudinal size of the assembly as compared to using one much larger ball. Trigger balls  128  communicate with trigger shuttle  120  in a similar manner as the first embodiment, however shuttle  120  now includes a central bore  121  for clearance of a mating fastener  134 . Compression spring  22  reacts between trigger shuttle  120  and drive bit  122 . Spring  124  reacts between an outer cam sleeve  126  and drive bit  122  with assistance from washer  140  and retaining device  142 . 
     The interaction by a user or mechanism to utilize device  138  will utilize similar steps as the operation of device  10  as previously described. In this figure, a nut  132  shown here as a hex nut has been loaded into device  138 , which is illustrated in the loaded configuration. Balls  20  are sized such that in the loaded configuration, they will closely approach the shank of fastener  134  which is to be assembled to nut  132 . The close proximity of balls  20  and the shank of fastener  134  will assist in aligning said shank with device  138  and thus fastener  132 . If the shank of fastener  134  is centered between balls  20 , when the distal tip of said shank is engaged with nut  132 , the axis of the two fasteners will be largely parallel and coaxial, thus the assembly sequence can proceed rapidly without a concern for cross threading between fasteners  134  and  132 . 
     Fastener  134  is shown protruding through workpieces  100 , including a work surface  104  closest to device  138 . While not shown, it is assumed that appropriate tools are used to maintain the position and resist rotation of fastener  134  while fastener  132  is installed. During operation of device  138 , sleeve  126  will contact work surface  104  and the fastener  132  will be released by balls  20  to allow full and complete installation without direct manipulation of device  138 . Device  138  will be automatically configured into an open position after installation of a first fastener  132  by the outer most of trigger detent balls  128  protruding into the internal circumferential groove  144  in sleeve  126 . A subsequent fastener  132  can then be loaded without direct manipulation upon device  138  from a user or outside mechanism. Balls  20  float freely and thus will be pushed radially outward by said fastener during loading. Device  138  includes a bore  136  on its proximal end for engagement with a driving device or tool (not shown), bore  136  in this case being illustrated as a square depression though a myriad of engagement methods could be used. Device  138  includes a longitudinal threaded bore  146 , which receives a set screw  148 , which is used to adjust and limit the rearward extreme position of trigger shuttle  120 , thereby allowing device  138  to be adjusted for a fastener  132  that may have a range of lengths, yet still maintaining fastener  132  very close to, or in contact with, balls  20  and the mechanical retaining properties of that arrangement. 
     An illustrative sequential operation of this second embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  could proceed as follows. A user would connect device  138  to a driving tool, perhaps a powered drill with a square socket adapter in the chuck as an illustrative example. The user can then ensure the device is in the proper state to receive a fastener by pressing outer sleeve  126  against their hand perhaps. If not already in a state to receive a fastener, this action will configure device  138  into such a state which is akin to the state of the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The user, then holding the drill in one hand will load a fastener  132  with a second hand by first aligning fastener  132  with a geometric shape, such as a hex cut into the central bore of device  138 . Once aligned, the user can push the fastener, here shown as a nut rearward into the device, perhaps pushing the fastener down into the device with a finger tip. 
     During this loading sequence, fastener  132  will contact trigger shuttle  120  and push it rearward in device  138 , at some rearward position allowing trigger balls  128  to travel radially inward thus allowing stored energy in spring  124  to be released to push sleeve  126  forward relative to drive bit  122 . The user may then install a mating fastener, such as bolt  134  through holes in two work pieces  100  and hold that fastener with conventional means such as a box end wrench (not shown). The user could then approach fastener  134  with device  138  which is holding fastener  132  and then turn on the rotation of the drill. Even without precise alignment, balls  20  will serve to align device  138  and fastener  132  with fastener  134  such that the risk of cross threading engagement between fasteners  132  and  134  is greatly reduced. 
     By proceeding forward with the drill spinning, the threads of fasteners  132  and  134  will engage and thread upon each other, pulling device  138  toward work surface  104 . As the front face of sleeve  126  contacts surface  104 , further progression of the tool forward while progressing the fasteners together will retract sleeve  126  relative to drive bit  122 , thus allowing balls  20  to travel radially outward, removing mechanical obstructions upon fastener  132 . Fastener  132  will be drawn fully out of drive bit  122  for a continuous and complete installation of the fastener since the front bore of bit  122  has substantially the geometric profile to accommodate torque transmission to fastener  132  all the way to its front face. After the user installs fastener  132  upon fastener  134 , they can retract device  138  away from surface  104  and device  138  will be left in an open state to receive a subsequent fastener  132 , without needing to directly manipulate or even contact device  138  in any fashion. The user will simply align and push in another fastener  132  and install it upon a subsequent fastener  134 . This cycle can continue in subsequent cycles of loading, installation, and retraction of the tool from the work surface without requiring that the operator directly touch device  138  to directly manipulate any components. 
     The process of fastener installation and retraction of tool  138  from surface  104  are generally akin to the stages illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  for the first embodiment. 
     A third embodiment of the invention could modify the mechanics of device  138  shown in  FIG. 10  to utilize smaller balls  20  thereby reducing the length and diameter of such a device whereby significantly increasing radial clearance between the shank of mating fastener  134  and balls  20 . This will reduce somewhat the ability of device  138  to engage and align the two mating fasteners  134  and  132 , but the many previously mentioned advantages to the current invention would be retained. 
       FIG. 11  is a section view of a fourth embodiment for fasteners containing geometric drive depressions, generally illustrated as device  160 , which is shown here in an unloaded state. Device  160  includes a fastener  161 , a bit holder  162 , and a bit insert  164  which will include drive geometry to interface with a fastener such as a cruciform, straight blade, hexagon, hex-lobular, or square drive. Bit insert  164  has a circumferential groove in which a retaining ring  188  will retain the bit insert  164  within bit holder  162  under normal operating conditions, but will also allow removal to change to an alternate bit insert  164 . Located within bit holder  162  is a spacer ball  180 , intermediate ball  182  and a plurality of trigger balls  184 . A compression spring (not shown) will react between bore face  206  and ball  182  to urge ball  182  and subsequently ball  180  and bit insert  164  forward towards the fastener receiving end of device  160 . Sleeve  166  contains an internal groove  200  for interacting with trigger balls  184  for controlling the operational states and the triggering of device  160  between those states. 
     A retaining ring  186  can limit the forward travel of spacer ball  180  and thus retain ball  180  even if bit insert  164  is removed. A spring (not shown) will react between face  196  of sleeve  166  and face  198  of spring retaining sleeve  170  to urge sleeve  166  forward relative to bit holder  162 . A third spring (not shown) will react between faces  192  and  194  to urge cam sleeve  168  forward relative to sleeve  166 . A plurality of clutch balls  178  are disposed in radial bores in bit holder  162  to control the transmission of torque between bit holder  162  and bit insert  164 . In this figure, fastener retention balls  176  are retracted radially outward so a fastener  161  can be loaded without obstruction. 
       FIG. 12  is a section view of a fourth embodiment illustrated with a fastener containing a geometric drive depression in a loaded state, ready to be installed. Arrows have been superimposed to various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since being in the state illustrated in  FIG. 11 , where for purpose of illustration bit  162  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. By fastener  161  being pushed into device  160 , the train of bit insert  164 , ball  180 , and ball  182 , have moved rearward and balls  184  have moved radially inward to clear internal groove  200  and allow sleeve  166  to travel forward, the forward position of which is limited by a set screw  190  contacting shoulder  204  of bit holder  162 . Note that the tapered point of set screw  190  allows for adjustment of the forwardmost position of sleeve  166  relative to bit holder  162 , which will allow for device  160  to be adjusted to accommodate a range of fastener head geometries (head diameter, shape, thickness etc.) for appropriate fastener holding. With balls  176  then being able to move radially inward, sleeve  168  has caused such movement while being pushed forward by the spring acting on it. Fastener  161  is thus retained by balls  176  and is ready to be installed. 
       FIG. 13  is a section view of a fourth embodiment with a fastener that has been installed to the point an optional clutch mechanism has disengaged torque transmission to the fastener. Arrows have been superimposed to various bodies to indicate the direction they have moved since being in the state illustrated in  FIG. 12 , where for purpose of illustration, bit holder  162  is assumed to be the fixed reference frame. It can be seen that adjustable ring  172  is in contact with the face of a workpiece  208  to where sleeve  168  has been retracted to its extreme rearward position relative to sleeve  166  given a stepped diameter inside sleeve  168  contacting the outer collar of sleeve  166 , thus allowing balls  176  to be displaced radially outward by fastener  161  and bit holder  162 . Sleeve  166  has in turn been retracted rearward relative to bit holder  162  until the point where a plurality of clutch balls  178  are able to move radially outward into internal groove  202  in sleeve  166 . At this point, bit insert  164  with a largely hexagonal cross section is able to rotate freely relative to bit holder  162 . 
     This disengagement of torque transmission means serves to control the driving depth of fastener  161  to a desired and repeatable depth. The depth of installation for fastener  161  may be adjusted by moving adjustable ring  172  forward or rearward on sleeve  168 . A jam nut  174  is provided for locking the position of ring  172 . When device  160  is retracted from workpiece  208 , it will be configured so as to receive a subsequent fastener without direct manipulation. Adjustable ring  172  has a circumferential groove  210  for receipt of an optional scratch resistant bumper as discussed previously. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  are section views of device  160  illustrating the states shown in  FIG. 12  (clutch mechanism transmitting torque) and  FIG. 13  (clutch not transmitting torque) respectively. The longitudinal position of sleeve  166  relative to clutch balls  178  will control the transmission of torque between bit holder  162  and bit insert  164 . This is due to internal groove  202  allowing clutch balls  178  to travel radially outward to eliminate the obstruction they cause for bit insert  164  which otherwise prevents free relative rotation by engaging with the hexagonal cross section of bit insert  164 . 
     An illustrative sequential operation of the fourth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11 through 15  could proceed as follows. A user will install device  160  into a power drill (not shown) by tightening shank  162  into the drill of said drill. The user can then ensure the device is in the proper state to receive a fastener by pressing the fastener receiving end of device  160  against their hand. If not already in a state to receive a fastener, this action will configure device  160  into such a state, as is shown in  FIG. 11 . Then, while holding the drill in one hand they will grab a screw  161  with their second hand and twirl screw  161  slightly while screw  161  is applying light pressure upon bit insert  164  in order to align the drive geometry of screw  161  and bit insert  164 . 
     Once the drive geometry is aligned, the user can then push the screw rearward, in turn pushing bit insert  164  rearward and eventually triggering a release of stored energy as has been described previously in multiple embodiments. This release of energy will position sleeve  166  forward, carrying with it retention balls  176  which will then serve to retain the head of screw  161  into device  160  by mechanically obstructing the removal of screw  161  from device  160 . The state of screw  161  being captured in device  160  is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Screw  161  can then be fully installed into a work piece without any direct contact with or manipulation of device  160  by a user. A unique feature of the fourth embodiment, which is not present in the prior embodiments, is an automatic clutch mechanism which will disengage torque transmission from the drill to the screw to limit the depth at which it is countersunk. Therefore a user is not required to precisely time when they need to stop the drill from spinning. 
     The process of this clutch disengagement is illustrated in the preceding discussion of  FIGS. 12-15 . A cross section of device  160 , screw  161 , and a work surface  208  at the point where the clutch mechanism has disengaged to stop torque transmission from the drill to the screw is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . At the point the user has driven a screw to the point that the clutch has disengaged torque transmission between the drill and screw  161 , they are able to pull device  160  away from work piece  208  and device  160  will be configured to receive a subsequent screw  161  without requiring the user to directly touch or manipulate device  160 . The user can then pick up a subsequent screw  161  and twirl it slightly to align the drive geometries of screw  161  and bit insert  164  and then pushing screw  161  rearward into the device such that device  160  will trigger the release of stored energy where components are repositioned to retain screw  161  with mechanical obstruction to prevent unintentional dropping of the screw while installing. 
     The user can keep the power switch of the drill pressed in until the clutch mechanism within device  160  disengages torque transmission between the drill and screw  161 . At that point, they can again pull device  160  away from work piece  208  and load a subsequent screw  161  with this cycle continuing as much as needed. 
     Further analyzing  FIG. 4 , while there are benefits achieved by having internal collar  76  pass over the retention balls  20  such that the collar  76  contacts the top center of balls  20  outward radial forces applied to said balls by a fastener do not impart longitudinal positioning force onto sleeve  16 , collar  76  need not pass fully past the balls  20  but rather shoulder  78  alone may push on balls  20 , perhaps multiplying the force applied by spring  26  through a mechanical advantage of such an orientation would not deviate from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Modifications to the profile of shoulder  78  as illustrated can be made to alter the mechanical advantage realized by the spring to retain fasteners, such as modifying the slope tangent of the profile of shoulder  78  at various points to be disposed at a smaller angle from the tool&#39;s central axis. Some of these modifications are illustrated in  FIGS. 11 through 13 . Note that such modifications can allow for greater variations in fastener geometry to be tolerated while holding a fastener in a specific position at the cost of potentially reduced retention force. 
       FIGS. 11-13  illustrate adjustability between sleeve  166  and a bit holder  162  utilizing a set screw with a tapered point, but various options could achieve a similar result. As a couple examples, on the figures detailing device  10 , adjustment mechanisms could be added to provide adjustability for the forward extreme position of sleeve  14  relative to bit  12 , such as internal collar  71  being separate from yet threadably adjustable within the bore of sleeve  14 . A resilient member may be disposed between bit  12  and sleeve  14  to provide some urging force would serve a similar purpose. 
     The present invention can be characterized as a system for advancing a fastener which includes a means for engaging a fastener head and causing the fastener head to be subjected to forces which cause the fastener head to rotate; a means for storing energy by installing a fastener into a workpiece; a means for mechanically obstructing disengagement of the fastener from the means for engaging, by releasing stored energy from said means for storing energy; and a means for interfacing a source of rotary power, so as to provide for an ability to rotate said means for engaging. It should be understood that the means for interfacing a source of rotary power may include an integral clutch mechanism to disengage transmission of rotary power from the source of rotary power to the fastener thereby controlling the driven depth of fastener into the work piece. 
     As one illustrative example of alternative constructions, the details of the fastener retaining elements are illustrated as spherical elements in the figures of this application, however they could be replaced by elements of other shapes without departing from the scope of the device and method claimed. The pinching fingers discussed above in the fourth category of prior art could be integrated into the device as claimed to replace the ball bearings illustrated in the figures of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     As an example, elements similar to those labeled 150 and 151 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,141 could be integrated into an alternative embodiment of the devices illustrated in the present invention where, for example, these alternative components would be positioned by a sleeve of structure similar to  14  in the detailed description of the present invention and they would be urged radially inward by a cam sleeve of structure similar to  16  in this same description. 
     Another alternate embodiment could integrate the collet arrangement illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,166 into similar structures as said carrier sleeve  14 , and urged inward by similar structures as said cam sleeve  16  where  14  and  16  are illustrated in the figures of the present invention. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description, and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.