Patent Publication Number: US-2009224492-A1

Title: Bit connector with quick release device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bit connector with a quick release device which includes a sleeve movably mounted to the connector so as to change the positions of two beads to secure or release the bit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional bit connector generally includes a tubular member with a polygonal hole in an end and a bit can be inserted into the polygonal hole. A radial hole is defined through the tubular member and a bead is engaged with the radial hole so as to contact against the bit. A sleeve is mounted to the tubular member and cooperated with a spring which is in contact with the tubular member. The sleeve includes a curved inner wall to press the bead. A circular hole is defined in the tubular member so as to receive a positioning member and a spring, the positioning member includes a notch which is located corresponding to the radial hole. By moving the sleeve, the bead is pressed or released by the curved inner wall of the sleeve. The bead is engaged with the notch so that the sleeve and the positioning member are positioned. It is difficult to install the bead and the positioning member in the radial hole and the circular hole during the assembly of the product. 
     The present invention intends to provide a quick release device for a bit connector and the device is easily to be assembled. 
     The quick release device can securely position the bit or quick release the bit from the connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bit connector which comprises a tubular member having a polygonal hole defined in a first end thereof so as to receive a screw bit therein and a polygonal section extends from a second end of the tubular member so as to be connected with a power tool. A first hole is defined radially through a wall of the tubular member and a second hole is defined radially through the wall of the tubular member. The second hole communicates with the polygonal hole. Two slots are defined through the wall of the tubular member and communicate with the polygonal hole. A first bead and a first spring are received in the first hole and the first bead is biased by the first spring outward. A second bead is received in the second hole. A movable member is received in the polygonal hole and a pin extends through the slots and the movable member. A sleeve is mounted to the first end of the tubular member and includes a tapered inner wall so as to press the second bead. A flange extends inward from a first open end of the sleeve and an end piece is mounted to the tubular member and engaged with a second open end of the sleeve. A second spring is mounted to the tubular member and biased between the end piece and the pin. The end piece includes a first recess and second recess defined in an inner wall thereof. The first bead is engaged with one of the first and second recesses. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the bit connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the bit connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view to show the sleeve is located at the first position; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view from another angle to show the sleeve is located at the first position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view to show the sleeve is located at the second position wherein the screw bit is secured positioned by the second bead, and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view from another angle to show that the sleeve is located at the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the bit connector of the present invention comprises a tubular member  10  having a polygonal hole  11  defined in a first end thereof so as to receive a screw bit  100  therein and a polygonal section  12  extends from a second end of the tubular member  10  such that a power tool (not shown) can be connected with the polygonal section  12 . A first hole  13  is defined radially through a wall of the tubular member  10  and located close to the second end of the tubular member  10 . A second hole  15  is defined radially through the wall of the tubular member  10  and located close to the first end of the tubular member  10 . The second hole  15  communicates with the polygonal hole  11 . Two elongate slots  14  are defined through the wall of the tubular member  10  and communicate with the polygonal hole  11 . 
     A first bead  20  and a first spring  30  are received in the first hole  13  and the first bead  20  is biased by the first spring  30  outward. The second hole  15  has a cone-shaped inner periphery and a second bead  60  is movably received in the second hole  15 . A movable member  50  is received in the polygonal hole  11  and includes a permanent magnet  51  on an end thereof so as to magnetically attract the bit screw  100 . A pin  14  extends through the slots  14  and the movable member  50 , and two ends of the pin  14  extend out from the slots  14 . 
     A sleeve  70  is mounted to the first end of the tubular member  10  and includes a tapered inner wall  72  so as to removably press the second bead  60 . A flange  71  extends inward from a first open end of the sleeve  70  and an end piece  90  is mounted to the tubular member  10  and engaged with a second open end of the sleeve  70 . A second spring  80  is mounted to the tubular member  10  and biased between the end piece  90  and the pin  40 . The end piece  90  includes a first recess  91  and second recess  92  defined in an inner wall thereof, the first bead  20  is engaged with one of the first and second recesses  91 ,  92 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when pulling the sleeve  70  to its first position, the tapered inner wall  72  presses the second bead  60  to contact the screw bit  100 , and the two ends of the pin  14  are pushed by a shoulder portion in the sleeve  70  so that the second spring  80  is compressed and the end piece  90  is moved with the movement of the sleeve  70 . The first bead  20  is then removed from the first recess  91  and engaged with the second recess  92 . The engagement of the first bead  20  and the second recess  92  positions the end piece  90  and the sleeve  70 . The flange  71  of the sleeve  70  is moved to stop the second bead  60  from moving outward. Therefore, the screw bit  100  is positioned. 
     When releasing the screw bit  100 , the sleeve  70  is pulled toward the first end of the tubular member  10 , the flange  71  is removed from the second bead  60  and the tapered inner wall  72  of the sleeve  70  allows the second bead  60  to move outward. The second spring  80  then pushes the pin  40  to move the movable member  50  to project the screw bit  100 . The first bead  20  is removed from the second recess  92  and engaged with the first recess  91 . 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.