Abstract:
An adapter to convert an electric drill motor being configured with a standard drill bit into a screw gun includes a metal enclosure which slides over a drill chuck to accommodate drill bit and chuck portions. The device also provides a mechanical coupling pin which engages a chuck key aperture to communicate the rotary motion of the drill motor to the device. Once installed upon the drill motor, the device enables connection of standard bit sockets, screwdriver adapters, or similar driving tools. In such a manner, the user can drill a hole, slide the device over the drill chuck, and drive a fastener using the device. This eliminates the need to remove the drill bit and insert a separate driving tool in a repetitive manner to install fasteners.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to drill motor adapters, and in particular, to a drill motor adapter for providing screw gun functionality compatible with an existing electric drill and drill bit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     General construction and wood working projects require a wide variety of power tools to accomplish the job properly. Two (2) such common power tools are the power drill and the power screw gun. The ability for the drill to produce a hole in just about any material and the screw gun&#39;s ability to quickly install fasteners make them very valuable for a wide range of repetitive tasks, saving time and money and reducing stress on the worker. 
     Due to the cost of these tools and the fact that they have similar physical parameters, many users find it prudent to own only a power drill and then to use the drill in a manner similar to a screw gun as needed. When the capabilities of a screw gun are needed, the user simply inserts an appropriate screwdriver bit or socket adapter into the chuck of the drill. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide adapters for drill guns. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents including U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,114, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,545, U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,666, U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,206, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,333. 
     The use of such adapters can be unfavorable due to the fact that it must be repeated and reversed each time the user wishes to switch between the drill functions and the functions provided by the adapter. In certain cases where the adapter is to be utilized infrequently and where a range of functionality or sizing is desirable, this may acceptable. 
     However, construction practices which require drilling a hole, inserting a fastener, and then drilling another hole, will require the removal of the drill bit or fastening driver for each and every hole, thus becoming very time consuming. Furthermore, in many construction projects, these fasteners are of a consistent size over large areas of the construction. In this case, the need to constantly interchange the drill bits and adapters is very detrimental, i.e. as compared to having both a drill and a screw gun. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for an adapter which is smaller and cheaper than having to purchase a screw gun in addition to a drill, but which facilitates repeated use in a quick and minimally taxing manner. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a solution. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise a drill motor adapter for quickly configuring an electric drill motor to perform a screw gun function. The device has an interior bore that slidingly accommodates a standard drill chuck to allow quick conversion from a normal drilling tool to a screw driving tool. 
     Another object of the present invention is to allow quick attachment of various sized bit sockets and other driver tools which utilize an attaching hex shaft portion. The shaft of the adapter includes a socket receiver portion at an end portion opposite the interior bore. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow installation of the device on the drill motor with having to remove a previously installed drill bit, thereby saving significant time for projects which require repeated interchange between the drill and screw driving functions. An extending shaft portion of the apparatus provides an internal drill bit clearance aperture that covers and protects the drill bit and provides sufficient separation between the hex shaft portion and the drill motor. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to secure the device within a chuck key aperture portion of the drill chuck using a spring-loaded anti-rotation pin located within the chuck receiver portion of the apparatus. The pin is further retained in place during use by two (2) retaining rings positioned on the chuck receiver and is installed at an angle such that clockwise rotation of the drill chuck engages the pin and keeps the device installed tightly, but whereby clockwise motioning of the device when the drill is turned off will cause the pin to slide outwardly and allow easy separation and removal of the device from the drill motor. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a similar pair of retaining rings to apply a holding spring force against a bit socket when inserted into the hex aperture portion of the device. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of using an existing drill motor in a conventional manner, inserting the drill bit and drill chuck into the inner bore portion of the device while continually applying a counter-clockwise rotation of the device, rotating the device until the anti-rotation pin engages the chuck key aperture of the drill chuck, inserting a suitably sized bit socket or other driving tool into the hex aperture portion, driving fasteners into the previously drilled holes; removing the device from the drill motor by applying a clockwise rotation to disengage the anti-rotation pin, repeating the above steps to convert the drill motor back-and-forth between a drilling tool and a screw gun as needed; and, benefiting from time and equipment costs saved by using the present device. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a drill motor adapter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a close-up view of a chuck receiver portion  20  of the drill motor adapter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a close-up view of a socket receiver portion  32  of the drill motor adapter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an environmental view of the drill motor adapter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the chuck receiver portion  20  of the drill motor adapter  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the drill motor adapter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  drill motor adapter 
               20  chuck receiver 
               22  inner bore 
               24  pin aperture 
               30  shaft 
               32  socket receiver portion 
               34  hex aperture 
               36  drill bit clearance aperture 
               40  first retaining ring 
               42  first retaining ring slot 
               50  anti-rotate pin 
               60  second retaining ring 
               62  second retaining ring slot 
               100  drill motor 
               102  drill chuck 
               104  chuck key aperture 
               105  drill bit 
               110  bit socket 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a drill motor adapter (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means for quickly configuring an electric drill motor  100  to perform a screw gun function. The device  10  provides an interior bore  22  which slidingly accommodates a standard drill chuck portion  102  of an existing drill motor  100  as well as a previously installed drill bit  105  within, thereby allowing quick conversion from a normal drilling tool to a screw driving tool. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a bell-shaped chuck receiver portion  20  comprising an open-ended and cylindrically-shaped structure envisioned to be made of a light-weight material such as aluminum. Said chuck receiver  20  comprises an inner bore portion  22  sized so as to slide over the standard drill chuck portion  102  of an existing drill motor  100  (see  FIG. 2   a ). The device  10  is mechanically held in place via an anti-rotation pin  50  (see  FIG. 4 ). Said chuck receiver  20  provides a press-fit attachment of an extending shaft portion  30  being approximately two (2) inches in length and one-half (½) inch in diameter and envisioned being made of a rugged metal such as hardened steel, or an equivalent metal. The shaft  30  further comprises a socket receiver portion  32  at an end portion which allows quick attachment of various sized bit sockets  110  and other driver tools which utilize an attaching hex shaft portion (see  FIG. 2   b ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , close-up views of end portions of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The chuck receiver portion  20  of the device  10  further comprises cylindrical and conical-shaped milled internal spaces which constitute an inner bore portion  22  being designed to slidingly receive a standard drill chuck  102  within. Said drill chuck  102  is secured within the chuck receiver  20  via inserting engagement of a spring-loaded anti-rotation pin portion  50  being incorporated into a chuck key aperture portion  104  located on a side surface of said drill chuck  102 . The inserted position of the anti-rotation pin  50  into said chuck key aperture  104  is retained via two (2) first retaining rings  40  which are in turn positioned within respective first retaining ring slots  42  being cut radially into an outer surface of the chuck receiver  20  being arranged in a parallel manner around an outer surface, so as to contact an outer end portion of said anti-rotation pin  50  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
     The device  10  further provides an extending shaft portion  30  which provides an internal drill bit clearance aperture  36  which allows installation of the device  10  upon the drill motor  100  without a need to remove a previously installed drill bit  105  (see  FIG. 5 ). The shaft  30  also provides a mechanical coupling means for attachment of standard bit sockets  110  via a socket receiver portion  32  located at an opposing outer end portion. Said socket receiver  32  comprises features to enable attachment of the bit sockets  110  including a second retaining ring  60 , a second retaining ring slot  62 , and a hex aperture  34 . The second retaining ring slot  62  entraps the second retaining ring  60  at a radial orientation being slightly recessed from an end portion of said shaft  30 . Said second retaining ring slot  62  also allows partial intrusion of said second retaining ring  60  within the internal hex aperture  34  portion of the shaft  30  so as to apply a holding spring force against a bit socket  110  when inserted into said hex aperture portion  34 . 
     The socket receiver portion  32  also enables coupled insertion of other driving tools which incorporate a standard hex shaft portion including screwdriver adapters, star sockets, hex key wrenches, and other fastener driving tools. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an environmental view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. In use, it is envisioned that a user may drill a hole in a conventional manner using the drill motor  100  configured with a drill bit  105 , then slide the device  10  over the drill chuck portion  102 , install a desired bit socket  110 , and drive one (1) or more fasteners. Such features enable a drill motor  100  to provide the functions of two (2) typically separate power tools. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view of the chuck receiver portion  20  of the device  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises an anti-rotation pin  50  and a pin aperture  24 . The anti-rotation pin  50  comprises a cylindrically-shaped and hardened steel pin which provides a mechanical coupling means between the device  10  and the drill chuck portion  102  of the drill motor  100 . Said anti-rotation pin  50  is slidingly inserted into the pin aperture  24  and subsequently engages a chuck key aperture portion of the drill chuck  102 . Said anti-rotation pin  50  comprises a contoured outer surface so as to be held in place via the first retaining rings  40  being nested within the first retaining ring slots  42 . 
     The pin aperture  24  is drilled at an angle of approximately thirty-seven (37) degrees from perpendicular, into an external surface of an open end of the chuck receiver  20 . Said pin aperture  24  comprises a machined hole having a diameter which provides sliding insertion of the anti-rotation pin  50 . Said pin aperture  24  further comprises a flat bottom portion and is machined to a particular depth so as to partially cut into the inner bore portion  22 , thereby allowing partial angled protrusion of the inserted anti-rotation pin  50  into said inner bore  22 . Said anti-rotation pin  50  and pin aperture  24  are positioned in such a manner, as to allow the anti-rotation pin  50  to engage the chuck key aperture portion  104  of the drill chuck  102 . For orientation purposes, the device  10  is illustrated here as viewed from a drill motor  100  side. The angled orientation of the pin aperture  24  enables the anti-rotation pin  50  to engage the chuck key aperture portion  104  in an angled manner, thereby mechanically communicating a normal clockwise rotation of the drill chuck  102  to the device  10  to drive a fastener. Conversely, motioning of the device  10  in a clockwise direction with the drill chuck  102  at rest, will cause the anti-rotation pin  50  to slide in an outward direction, thereby flexing the first retaining rings  40  to allow easy separation and removal of the device  10  from the drill motor  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a pair of first retaining rings  40  and a second retaining ring  60 . Said retaining rings  40 ,  60  are envisioned to be made using a round cross-section spring-steel wire being formed in generally circular shapes and providing flexibility via opening portions to enable normal springing expansion and contraction. The first retaining rings  40  are sized so as to encompass and be nested within the aforementioned first retaining ring slots  42 , thereby holding the anti-rotation pin  50  within the pin aperture  24 . The second retaining ring  60  provides an external snap ring function, being nested within a respectively sized second retaining ring slot  62 . Said second retaining ring  60  further comprises a flat perimeter portion designed to protrude slightly into the internal hex aperture portion  34  of the socket receiver portion  32 , thereby securing an inserted bit socket  110  by applying a spring side force. 
     The shaft portion  30  of the device  10  comprises a drill bit clearance aperture  36  located along a center axis which comprises a longitudinal drilled hole capable of containing a one-quarter (¼) inch drill bit  105 , thereby enabling the device  10  to be installed upon the drill motor  100  without having to remove a previously installed drill bit  105 , therefore saving time when switching between the drilling and fastener driving tasks. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: mounting a drill bit  105  into a drill chuck portion  102  of an existing drill motor  100  in a conventional manner; drilling a desired number of holes; inserting said drill bit  105  and drill chuck  102  portions of the drill motor  100  into the inner bore portion  22  of the device  10  while continually applying a counter-clockwise rotation of the device  10 ; rotating the device  10  until obtaining a snapping engagement of the anti-rotation pin  50  into the chuck key aperture portion  104  of the drill chuck  102 ; stopping rotation of the device  10 ; inserting a suitably sized bit socket  110 , or other driving tool, into the hex aperture portion  34  of the socket receiver  32 ; driving fasteners into the previously drilled holes; removing the device  10  from the drill motor  100  by applying a clockwise rotation of the device  10  to disengage the anti-rotation pin  50  from the chuck key aperture  104 ; pulling the device  10  from the drill motor  100 ; repeating the above steps to convert the drill motor  100  back-and-forth between a drilling tool and a screw gun as needed to complete a project; and, benefiting from time and equipment costs saved by using the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.