Patent Publication Number: US-6904836-B1

Title: Screw holding screwdriver adapter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to hand tools. 
   More particularly, the present invention relates screwdrivers. 
   In a further and more specific aspect, the instant invention concerns devices for holding a screw to a screwdriver. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Tools for driving screws, namely screwdrivers, are well known and have long been used. While no better tool has been developed for driving screws, an age old problem with screwdrivers has been temporarily affixing the screw to the blade of the screwdriver in some manner. Often an individual grips the screwdriver in one hand and hold the screw onto the blade with the other hand. While this method works and has been used since screwdrivers first appeared, it can be awkward as it eliminates a free hand which could be used for other purposes. Also, in many situations it is difficult to reach into obstructed areas so as to position a hand to hold the screw. Many devices have been developed to overcome this problem. For example, the blade of the screwdriver can be magnetized to attract and hold the screw in position. This method is less than adequate however, and the magnetic field is relatively weak and does not securely retain the screw. 
   It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved screwdriver adapter. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for temporarily affixing a screw to the blade of a screwdriver. 
   And another object of the invention is to provide a screw holding adapter that can be mounted on a screwdriver. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a screw holding screwdriver adapter including first and second elongated mating elements held together by a mounting member. The mounting member engages the elongated mating elements in an opposed relationship so as to define a screwdriver shank engaging portion between the first ends with the second ends cooperating to define a screw engaging portion. The first and second elongated mating elements and the mounting member further define a screwdriver blade and shank receiving opening therein. 
   In operation, the blade and shank of a screwdriver are inserted into the screwdriver blade and shank receiving opening. The screwdriver shank engaging portion of the adapter grips the shank of the screwdriver with the blade of the screwdriver disengaged from the screw engaging portion. The screw engaging portion is formed to fit easily in the slot of a screw and to expand, when the blade of the screwdriver is inserted between the second ends. The outer surfaces of the second ends at the screw engaging portion grip the surfaces of the screw slot until the screw can be partially engaged in a desired opening. The adapter can then be disengaged from the screw slot and slid up the screwdriver shank or removed from the screwdriver. The screw is then mounted or inserted (screwed in) in a normal fashion using the blade of the screwdriver. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a screwdriver with unattached screw holding adapter, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the screw holding adapter of  FIG. 1  as it appears carried by the blade of the screwdriver; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the screw holding adapter of  FIG. 1  as it appears carried by the blade of the screwdriver; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional side view of the screw holding adapter in association with the blade of the screwdriver; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged top plan view of the screw holding adapter engaged in the slot of a screw, portions thereof broken away and shown in section; and 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged side view of the screw holding adapter engaged in the slot of a screw, portions thereof broken away and shown in section. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , which illustrate a screwdriver adapter  10  and screwdriver  12  in accordance with the present invention. Screwdriver  12  includes a handle  13 , a shaft  14 , and a blade  15 . As will be understood from the following description, virtually any of the various types of screwdrivers can be utilized in conjunction with adapter  10  and the type illustrated is only for exemplary purposes. 
   Adapter  10  includes first and second elongated mating elements  18  and  19  held in an opposing relationship by a mounting member  20 . Element  18  has a first end  22  and a second end  23  and element  19  has a first end  24  and a second end  25 . Mating elements  18  and  19  are held in an opposed relationship by mounting member  20  so as to define a screwdriver shank engaging portion between first ends  22  and  24 . Second ends  23  and  25  cooperate to define a screw engaging portion. Further, mating elements  18  and  19  and mounting member  20  define a screwdriver blade and shank receiving opening therein. 
   In this specific example, mating elements  18  and  19  define opposed substantially arcuate portions of a common cylinder between screwdriver shank engaging ends  22  and  24 . Second ends  23  and  25  each define inner and outer planar surfaces and, in an unused orientation (see FIG.  2 ), mounting member  20  holds second ends  23  and  25  with the inner planar surfaces in flat abutting engagement. Also, the outer planar surfaces of second ends  23  and  25  are formed to fit easily in the slot of a screw. At least second ends  23  and  25  of mating elements  18  and  19  are formed of resilient material to allow limited transverse  11  movement upon the at least partial insertion of a screwdriver blade between the second ends (as illustrated in FIG.  6 ). In the example illustrated, ends  23  and  25  of mating elements  18  and  19  are rounded slightly so they can be easily inserted into substantially any type of screw slot. It will of course be understood that other types or shapes of ends  23  and  25  may be incorporated in specific applications to more easily be inserted in and to grip substantially any type of screw. 
   In this embodiment, mating elements  18  and  19  are fixedly held in position by a ring shaped mounting member  20 . It will of course be understood that mating elements  18  and  19  and mounting member  20  can be formed as three separate components and affixed together by some convenient means, such as welding, soldering, gluing, etc. Also, while mounting member  20  is illustrated as having a ring shape, it will be understood that many other configurations are possible, as long as mating elements  18  and  19  are held in the desired position and screwdriver  12  can be inserted into the defined opening. In a different embodiment, mating elements  18  and  19  and mounting member  20  can be formed of a hard plastic or the like and could be molded as one integral unit. To increase the durability of a plastic adapter, at least tips  23  and  25  could be metalized (i.e., covered with metal) or could included metal tips molded into mating elements  18  and  19 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, mating elements  18  and  19  are formed of resilient material, (e.g., metal such as spring steel) and the screwdriver shank engaging portion expands transversely to receive screwdriver shank  14  between first ends  22  and  24 . After insertion of screwdriver blade  15  and shank  14 , the screwdriver shank engaging portion contracts to grip screwdriver shank  14 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Also, in the preferred embodiment, the portion of mating elements  18  and  19  immediately adjacent second ends  23  and  25  is tapered or angled gradually outwardly so that as adapter  10  is moved rearwardly along shaft  14  of screwdriver  12 , blade  15  of screwdriver  12  gradually forces ends  23  and  25  apart. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , slightly enlarged views of screwdriver  12  engaged in adapter  10  are illustrated. Also, a typical screw  30  is illustrated with adapter  10  engaged in slot  31  thereof (see FIG.  6 ). To more clearly explain the operation, blade  15  and shank  14  of screwdriver  12  are inserted into the screwdriver blade and shank receiving opening defined within mating elements  18  and  19 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The screwdriver shank engaging portion of adapter  10  grips shank  14  of screwdriver  12  with blade  15  disengaged from the screw engaging portion. The screw engaging portion is formed with planar inner and outer surfaces to fit easily in slot  31  of screw  30 . 
   With ends  23  and  25  (the screw engaging portion) positioned in slot  31  of screw  30 , screwdriver  12  is moved axially within adapter  10  so that blade  15  is inserted at least slightly between ends  23  and  25 . The portion of mating elements  18  and  19  immediately adjacent second ends  23  and  25  is tapered or angled gradually outwardly so that as relative movement between adapter  10  and shaft  14  of screwdriver  12  occurs, blade  15  of screwdriver  12  gradually forces ends  23  and  25  apart. The outer surfaces of second ends  23  and  25  (the screw engaging portion) grip the surfaces of screw slot  31  temporarily engaging screw  30  with screwdriver  12 . Screw  30  can than easily be partially engaged in a desired opening or any receiving material. Adapter  10  can then be disengaged from screw slot  31  and slid up screwdriver shank  14  or removed completely from screwdriver  12 . Screw  30  is then mounted or inserted (screwed in) in a normal fashion using blade  15  of screwdriver  12 . 
   Thus, a screw holding adapter has been disclosed for use with a screwdriver. The adapter can be quickly and easily engaged with a screw to temporarily hold the screw for partial insertion into a screw receiving hole or material. Once the screw is started, the adapter can quickly and easily be moved so that the screwdriver can be used to set the screw in a normal operation. Because the adapter is not actually used to set the screw, it can be constructed of lighter and less expensive material. Also, the adapter holds the screw firmly and positively for the initial start and then is easily moved to allow normal functioning of the screwdriver. 
   Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.