Abstract:
A punch down tool, a receiver for a punch down tool, and a work end adapter for a punch down tool, for terminating electrical conductors and turning fasteners, are disclosed. The work end adapter is adapted to receive standard tool bits and standard finned shaft tips. The punch down tool is adapted to receive standard blades and to receive the work end adapter. When installed in the punch down tool, the work end adapter rotates only with the punch down tool, and will not rotate independently of the punch down tool. The punch down tool has an impact mechanism and a lock-out button to prevent the tool&#39;s impact mechanism from operating.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This patent is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/479,618 filed Jun. 5, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,220,135, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Field 
         [0004]    This disclosure relates to compound tools with screwdriver attachments. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Telephone linemen have long employed impact termination tools for installing and terminating electrical conductors at terminal blocks of telecom equipment installations. These tools are commonly referred to as punch down tools. Punch down tools have a stiff, strong handle to which a blade is attached. Blades are typically double-ended, and the handle has a longitudinal bore in a forward end into which a blade drops. The handle and blades mate so that the blade will stay in place during use. The blades have a tip which conforms with the shape of the terminals on the terminal block. Some blades include a cutting edge so that the wire is simultaneously inserted and trimmed. 
         [0007]    To use the punch down tool, a wire is inserted in between the two metal blades on a punch down block and the punch down tool is pressed down on top of the wire and the two blades on the punch down block. Many punch-down tools have a spring-loaded impact mechanism which delivers a measured impact blow to the termination blade when the operator applies longitudinal pressure on the handle. This requires a bit of pressure until, with an audible snap, the wire is stripped and contact made as it is pushed down between the two punch down block blades. 
         [0008]    There are two common types of blocks—66 blocks and 110 blocks, and each requires different types of blades. Bix and Krone blocks and blades are also common. Some punch down tools have the blade fixed in the punch down tool, whereas others have a standard-form cavity for use with standard-form blades. Blades are often double-ended, with one end being 66 blocks style and the other end being 110 blocks style. Thus, the standard-form cavity is typically double-depth to allow for double-ended blades. Most modern punch down tools have a hollow interior on the butt end of the tool to allow storage of another blade. This storage space can be utilized to store both 66 blocks style and 110 blocks style blades. 
         [0009]    Because a punch down tool is required for almost any well-equipped telephone lineman or network technician, a variety of punch down tools have become available. To improve efficiency and reduce service overhead, it is generally desirable to integrate as many functions as possible in a given piece of service equipment. Thus, in some variations (e.g., the Harris D914), the punch down tool can be used with a screwdriver adapter in place of a blade so that the punch down tool can be used as a screwdriver. In order to accommodate the rotational (torque) function of driving a screw, the punch down tool and the screwdriver adapters are specially designed to mate together while allowing the handle to continue to be useful as a punch down tool. The Harris D914 has become so popular that other manufacturers (e.g., Fluke Networks) sell compatible tools with the same model designation. For example, from Fluke Networks is the Model 10051-300, a ¼″ square driver hex bit adapter which allows a Harris D914 punch down tool to be used with ¼″ square drive sockets. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a tool system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a work end adapter. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a first portion of the work end adapter. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a receiver. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a punch down tool. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a receiver. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    In all of the drawings, a forward end or direction is to the left and the rearward end or direction is to the right. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Despite the advantages of providing a punch down tool with multiple capabilities, there have been virtually no improvements in about fifteen years. This is not due to a lack of market for punch down tools, absence of technology, or limits on materials. Rather, it is has been due to a lack of creativity on the part of tool designers. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown an exploded perspective view of a tool system  100 . The tool system may include a punch down tool  110 , a work end adapter  120 , a hex bit  130  and/or a winged bit  140 . The relative position of various parts of the tool system  100  will be described based upon this view. For example, terms such as top, bottom, left and right are used. However, the tool system  100  may be used in various positions such as upside down. Thus, some descriptive terms are used in relative terms and not absolute terms. 
         [0019]    The punch down tool  110  has a first tool portion  110 F and a second tool portion  110 R. The punch down tool may include an elongate body  111  formed into a hand grip—that is, graspable by a normal human hand. The elongate body  111  may be made from high impact plastic or other rigid, rugged materials. A receiver  115  is shown coupled to the first tool portion  110 F of the punch down tool  110 . The receiver  115  may be adapted to receive standard 66 blocks, 100 blocks, and/or Bix and Krone blades, either single-ended or double-ended. The receiver may be made from hardened steel or other strong, rigid materials. 
         [0020]    The punch down tool  110  may include a hammer assembly  116  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) for delivering an impact to the receiver  115 . The punch down tool  110  may include an impact adjustment switch  112  to adjust the impact force, for example between a high and low setting. The punch down tool  110  may include a lockout  114  to prevent the hammer assembly from delivering the impact, and therefore to provide longitudinal rigidity to the hammer assembly, which is particularly advantageous for when the tool system  100  is used as a screwdriver. 
         [0021]    The lockout  114  may be a flat rigid member having a central hole (not shown). The lockout  114  may be engaged with lateral pressure in one direction and disengaged with lateral pressure in the opposite direction. When engaged, the central hole is off-center of the hammer assembly and thereby prevents the hammer assembly from movement. When disengaged, the lockout  114  may allow the hammer assembly free movement through the central hole. 
         [0022]    The punch down tool  110  may include a blade storage cavity (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in the second tool portion  110 R. A blade release switch  113  is configured to allow the user to open the cavity for insertion or release of a blade. 
         [0023]    The hex bit  130  and the winged bit  140  may have standard configurations and may be Philips screwdriver, bladed screwdriver, hex, torx, square driver, socket, or other ends. 
         [0024]    The work end adapter  120  is provided to allow the punch down tool  110  to be used with hex bits and winged bits. Accordingly, the work end adapter  120  fits into the receiver  115 , and bits such as the hex bit  130  and the winged bit  140  may be inserted into the work end adapter  120 . This provides the punch down tool  110  with numerous functionalities. The work end adapter  120  may be made from hardened steel or other materials, and may be cast and/or machined into shape. 
         [0025]    The work end adapter  120  or the punch down tool  110  may include a ratchet gear assembly to allow rotational ratcheting of the tool system  100 . Fastening using the bit attachments is made easier and faster with the ratchet gear assembly, which allows rotational fastening without removing and re-engaging the bits. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 2A  there is shown a perspective view of a work end adapter  200  which may be the work end adapter  120 . The work end adapter  200  may have a rigid elongate body having a first adapter portion  200 F and a second adapter portion  200 R. 
         [0027]    The work end adapter  200  may be generally cylindrical in shape, with a constant diameter d w . The second adapter portion  200 R may have a male coupling  220 . 
         [0028]    The coupling  220  may have a hexagonal male head having a largest diameter equal to d w . Other non-circular cross-section shapes may be used, such as regular polygons, irregular polygons, and irregular shapes. The shape and size of the coupling  220  may be selected such that when the work end adapter  200  is properly inserted in a complementary coupling of a receiver, the work end adapter  200  will not rotate with respect to the receiver. The coupling  220  may not be a male end. For example, the work end adapter may have a female coupling, and the receiver provided with a complementary male coupling. Alternatively, the couplings may be male/female hybrids or some other form which allows a good, secure fit over repeated use. The couplings may provide retention of the work end adapter in the receiver, prevent rotation of the work adapter relative to the receiver, and proper orientation of the work end adapter in the receiver. The second adapter portion of the work end adapter may be non-circular and therefore not allow the work end adapter to rotate when coupled to the receiver. In this regard, the second adapter portion may be generally circular but have one or more features which prevent rotation, such as a generally flat surface. In this patent, such a configuration is considered to be non-circular. 
         [0029]    The second adapter portion  200 R may further include a groove  230  having a depth d g  extending along the outer surface of the second adapter portion  200 R. The groove may have a substantially constant shape and size along its length. In  FIG. 2A , the groove generally extends along the longitudinal direction of the work end adapter from the end of the second adapter portion to a distance toward the front of the work end adapter. The groove  230  may include a detent portion  235  having a depth d d . The detent portion  235  may be the end of the groove  230  and defined by a bump  236 . Alternatively, the detent portion  235  may be in the form of a depression in the groove  230 . 
         [0030]    The first adapter portion  200 F may be provided with finger grips  210 . The finger grips  210  may provide a user with a place for easier holding on the first adapter portion  200 F during insertion and/or removal of the work end adapter  200  from a receiver, and during insertion and/or removal of bits from the work end adapter  200 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , a perspective view of the first adapter portion  200 F is shown. The first adapter portion  200 F has an adapter opening  240  for receiving and holding bits. The adapter opening  240  may include a first cavity  250  which may be at least partially concentric with a second cavity  260 , and having collinear longitudinal axes. 
         [0032]    The first cavity  250  may be adapted to matingly receive hexagonal bits and accordingly may have a hexagonal cross-section and a depth sufficient for hexagonal bits. 
         [0033]    The second cavity  260  may be adapted to matingly receive winged shaft bits and accordingly have a central section  261  with a circular cross-section and two opposing slots  262 . Because in a winged bit the shaft typically extends well beyond the wings, the central section  261  may extend beyond the ears to a depth substantially at the bottom  245  of the adapter opening  240 . The slots  262  may extend from the surface of the first adapter portion to a depth above the bottom  245  of the adapter opening  240 . 
         [0034]    The adapter opening  240  has a bottom  245  that may include a magnet  270  fitted snugly into the body of the work end adapter  200 . The magnet  270  may provide a magnetic field which may be useful for holding parts to the bits inserted into the adapter opening  240 . Alternatively, the adapter opening  240  may be closed or may extend through the length of the work end adapter  200  from the first adapter portion  200 F to the second adapter portion  200 R. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  there is shown a perspective view of a receiver  300  for a punch down tool, which may be the receiver  115  of the punch down tool  110  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0036]    The receiver  300  may have a rigid elongate body having a forward end  300 F and a rearward end  300 R. The receiver  300  has an opening disposed forward-most of the receiver  300 . The opening may have a circular cross-section and be sized appropriately to accommodate standard blades. The receiver opening  340  may extend into the receiver&#39;s body toward the rearward end  300 R. The receiver opening  340  may have a cross-sectional shape and depth sufficient to accommodate standard double-ended blades. The receiver opening  340  has a first aperture  310  which may be round and have a ⅜″ diameter. 
         [0037]    The receiver opening  340  may include a second aperture having a female coupling  320  complementary to the coupling of a work end adapter. For example, to complement the hexagonal coupling  220  of the work end adapter  200 , the coupling  320  may be a socket having a hexagonal cross-section which is the same size as the coupling  220 , but just slightly larger to allow for ease of insertion and removal. On the other hand, if the work end adapter has a female coupling, then the receiver should have a complementary male coupling. 
         [0038]    The receiver  300  may have a pin  375  protruding diametrically into the receiver opening  340 . The pin may be a short, thin section of wire which normally extends a distance d p  into the cavity  340 , where d p &gt;d g . Also, d p  may be less than d d . The pin  375  on the receiver  300  and the groove  230  on the work end adapter  200  are complementary, such that they engage when the work end adapter  200  is moved into the receiver  300 . The pin  375  may be biased into the receiver opening  340 , but may be at least partially movable out of the receiver opening  340  during insertion of the work end adapter  200  into the receiver  300 . The pin  375  may cooperate with the groove  230  on the work end adapter  200 . The detent portion  235  in the groove  230  may be positioned so that the pin  375  can drop into the detent portion  235  when the work end adapter  200  is properly seated into the receiver  300 . Furthermore, the size, shape and location of the pin  375  and the detent portion  235  may be selected to also require some extra force to remove the work end adapter  200  from the receiver  300 , such as an amount of force greater than in normal use of the tool system  100 , but small enough that a user can conveniently pull the work end adapter  200  from the receiver  300  without special tools. To provide these various forces on the pin  375 , the pin  375  may be an end of a C-spring  370  disposed around the outside of the receiver  300  and spaced some distance back from the opening. The end of the C-spring  370  may extend from the outside of the receiver  300  into the receiver opening  340  through a hole in the receiver. 
         [0039]    The receiver  300  may further include a central portion  350 . The central portion  350  may have a square cross section for secure installation into the body of the punch down tool, and a back face (hidden in  FIG. 3 ) against which a spring of the hammer assembly may press. 
         [0040]    The rearward end  300 R may have a portion  360  having a reduced diameter which rests against the hammer assembly&#39;s hammer. 
         [0041]    The receiver may have a magnet  380  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) as an alternative or in addition to the magnet  270  of the work end adapter  200 . However, it may be better to have the magnet in the work end adapter  200 , since it may be undesirable to introduce magnetic fields when working with blades. 
       Closing Comments 
       [0042]    Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments. As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.