Patent Publication Number: US-2004052595-A1

Title: Drill bit point storage system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] (Not Applicable)  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] (Not Applicable)  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003] 1. Technical Field  
       [0004] The present invention relates generally to power tools, and more particularly to electrical or battery powered drills.  
       [0005] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0006] Electric drills, whether powered from an electrical power grid or rechargeable batteries, can be used to bore holes or indentations into a wide variety of materials. Most conventional drills include a chuck for detachably engaging any number of drill bits. Drill bits are manufactured in many different sizes and are constructed of various materials. As an example, many manufacturers produce drill bits ranging in diameter anywhere from one-eighth of an inch to one-half of an inch. Additionally, drills used for boring holes in concrete or other masonry are typically constructed of cobalt to withstand the rigors of such a process.  
       [0007] In view of the vast selection of choices among drill bits, some manufacturers have sought to increase the versatility of drill bits by incorporating detachable drill bit points into the tip of a drill bit. As a result, any number of drill bit points can be coupled to a single drill bit. Switching drill bit points has two primary advantages: (1) the life of a particular drill bit can be greatly extended, as most wear of these devices occurs at the point of the bit; and (2) a single drill bit can be used to drill a number of varying materials. As an example of the latter, a user can employ a drill bit point to bore holes into a soft wood such as pine and can switch to a drill bit point that is designed for use with a hard wood like oak.  
       [0008] Unfortunately, because of their small size, it is quite easy to lose or misplace drill bit points. As such, many drill bit points are stored as part of a set of drill bit points or are stashed in a toolbox or some other suitable container. Even so, when a user wishes to replace a drill bit point, it can be inconvenient to access such storage units. Thus, a need exists for a system that can provide quick and easy access to drill bit points and reduce the possibility that such points will be lost without increasing the complexity or cost of a drilling system.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drill bit point storage system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a drill bit point and a drill bit in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a drill bit point storage system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coupling device in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the coupling device of FIG. 4 engaged with a drill bit in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates another example of a coupling device in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015] The present invention concerns a drill bit point storage system. The system includes a drill bit and at least one cavity in at least a portion of the drill bit for storing at least one drill bit point. In one arrangement, the system can further include a coupling device for securing the drill bit point when the drill bit point is stored within the cavity of the drill bit. The coupling device can be a cover positioned substantially around the drill bit in which at least a first portion of the cover can have a shape that can substantially correspond to a shape of the portion of the drill bit such that the first portion of the cover can be substantially adjacent to the portion of the drill bit. The first portion of the cover can be least partially positioned over the cavity when the drill bit point is stored therein.  
     [0016] In another arrangement, at least a second portion of the cover can have a shape that can substantially correspond to the shape of the portion of the drill bit, and the second portion can include an opening. This opening of the second portion of the cover can be positioned over the cavity to provide access to the drill bit point when the drill bit point is stored in the cavity. In addition, the first portion of the cover can be selectively slidably engaged to the drill bit such that the first portion of the cover can slidably engage the drill bit when a moving force is applied to the cover and can frictionally engage the drill bit when the moving force is removed. This moving force can be a substantially rotational moving force.  
     [0017] In one aspect of the system, the coupling device can be a fastener substantially nestled within the cavity for detachably engaging the drill bit point when the drill bit point is stored within the cavity. The fastener can be a snap. In another aspect, the portion of the drill bit can contain a predetermined number of sides, and each of at least a portion of the sides can contain at least one of the cavities. Each cavity can also have one of a plurality of predetermined lengths.  
     [0018] In another embodiment of the invention, the drill bit point can be detachably engageable to the drill bit. The drill bit point can include an elongated member and the drill bit can include a slot for receiving the elongated member. Additionally, the system can further include a fastener for securing the drill bit point to the drill bit when the slot of the drill bit receives the elongated member of the drill bit point. In one arrangement, the fastener can be a set screw.  
     [0019] The present invention also concerns a method for switching a drill bit point. The method includes the steps of providing a drill bit having at least one cavity in at least a portion of the drill bit, storing at least a first drill bit point in one of the cavities, removing a second drill bit point from the drill bit, removing the first drill bit point from the cavity and detachably engaging the first drill bit point to the drill bit. The method can also include the steps of storing the second drill bit point in one of the cavities of the drill bit and providing a coupling device for securing the first and second drill bit points in at least one of the cavities.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a drill bit point storage system  10  in accordance with the inventive arrangements is shown. The system  10  can include a drill bit  12  having a drill bit point  14 . In one arrangement, the drill bit point  14  can be detachably engageable to the drill bit  12 . A detachably engageable drill bit point  14  permits a user to switch to any other suitable drill bit point. In addition, the drill bit  12  can be any suitable device used for boring holes or indentations into a suitable material and is not limited to the configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The drill bit  12  can also include a chuck extension  15 . A chuck of a drill (not shown) can be used to detachably engage the chuck extension  15  when the drill bit  12  is to be used with the drill.  
     [0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the drill bit point  14  can include an elongated member  16 , and the drill bit  12  can have a slot  18  for receiving the elongated member  16 . The system  10  can further include a fastener  20  for securing the drill bit point  14  to the drill bit  12  when the slot  18  of the drill bit  12  receives the elongated member  16  of the drill bit point  14 . As an example, the fastener  20  can be a set screw. Those of ordinary skill in the art, however, will appreciate that any other suitable device can be used to secure the drill bit point  14  to the drill bit  12  when the slot  18  receives the elongated member  16 .  
     [0022] Referring back to FIG. 1, the drill bit can include one or more cavities  17  in at least a portion  22  of the drill bit  12 , which can be used to store one or more drill bit points  14 . As such, should a user wish to attach a drill bit point  14  to the drill bit  12  or to switch drill bit points  14 , the user can merely access the cavity  17  that is storing the desired drill bit point  14 . In one arrangement, the cavities  17  can be located at an end  24  of the drill bit  12 . The end  24  can be positioned away from the drill bit point  14  and adjacent to the chuck extension  15 . Such a configuration can prevent the cavities  17  from interfering with any drilling operations or the engagement of a drill&#39;s chuck with the chuck extension  15 .  
     [0023] In another arrangement, the shape of the portion  22  of the drill bit  12  that contains the cavities  17  can have a shape that substantially corresponds or conforms to the overall shape of the drill bit  12 . As an example, if the shape of the drill bit  12  is substantially circular, as depicted in FIG. 1, the shape of the portion  22  of the drill bit  12  can also be substantially circular. For purposes of the invention, the term “substantially circular” can mean true circular as well as slight or even moderate deviations therefrom.  
     [0024] The invention, however, is not limited in this regard, as the portion  22  of the drill bit  12  can have any other suitable configuration. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the portion  22  can have a predetermined number of sides  26 , a design in accordance with such geometric patterns as a hexagon or an octagon. In this arrangement, any number of the predetermined sides  26  can contain one or more cavities  17 .  
     [0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, in one arrangement, each of the cavities  17  can have a predetermined length. Each predetermined length can be any predetermined distance suitable for storing one or more drill bit points  14  of any size. Employing a wide variety of predetermined lengths can permit the system  10  to store drill bit points  14  of numerous sizes. Nevertheless, the cavities  17  are not limited to any particular shape or any particular dimensions. As such, the invention is not limited to the cavities  17  shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, as those cavities  17  are merely suitable examples in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
     [0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the system  10  can also include a coupling device  28  for securing a drill bit point  14  when the drill bit point  14  is stored within a cavity  17  of the drill bit  12 . In one arrangement, the coupling device  28  can be a cover  30  that can be substantially positioned around the drill bit  12 . The cover  30  can include a first portion  32  that can have a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of the portion  22  of the drill bit  12 . For purposes of the invention, the term “substantially corresponds” can mean an exact correspondence or slight or even moderate deviations therefrom.  
     [0027] Additionally, the first portion  32  of the cover  30  can be at least partially positioned over one or more cavities  17  when the cavities  17  are storing drill bit points  14 . As an example and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the portion  22  of the drill bit  12  can be substantially circular, and the first portion  32  of the cover  30  can be substantially circular as well. This configuration can permit the first portion  32  of the cover  30  to secure a drill bit point  14  in its respective cavity  17 .  
     [0028] The cover  30  also can have a second portion  34  that can have a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the portion  22  of the drill bit  12 . The second portion  34  can also have a first end  38  and a second end  40  and an opening  36  between the first end  38  and the second end  40 . The opening  36  can provide access to stored drill bit points  14  in any one of the cavities  17 . It is understood, however, that the second portion  34  is not limited to this particular arrangement, as the second portion  34  can have any other suitable configuration for providing access to the cavities  17 .  
     [0029] In another arrangement and without limitation, the first portion  32  of the cover  30  can be selectively slidably engaged to the drill bit  12 . When a moving force is applied to the cover  30 , the first portion  32  of the cover  30  can slidably engage the drill bit  12 , and when the moving force is removed, the first portion  32  can frictionally engage the drill bit  12 . This moving force can be a substantially rotational moving force, which can cause the cover  30  to rotate in a circular or substantially circular fashion. Based on this rotation and the selective engagement by the first portion  32 , a user can easily and quickly access one or more drill bit points  14  as they are stored in a cavity  17  or return the drill bit points  14  to the appropriate cavity  17  for storage.  
     [0030] Referring to FIG. 6, another example of a suitable coupling device  28  in accordance with the inventive arrangements is illustrated. In this example, the coupling device  28  can be a fastener  42 , which can be substantially nestled within one or more cavities  17  and can detachably engage one or more drill bit points  14  when the drill bit points  14  are stored in the cavities  17 . The term “substantially nestled” can refer to fasteners  42  in which no portion of the fastener  42  is exposed outside a cavity  17  and can also refer to fasteners  42  having portions that extend slightly or even moderately outside a cavity  17 .  
     [0031] In one arrangement and as depicted in FIG. 6, the fastener  42  can be a snap. In this arrangement, the fastener  42  can have a first side  44  and a second side  46  opposable to the first side  44 . A gap  48  can exist between the first side  44  and the second side  46 , which can have a width that is less than the width or diameter of a drill bit point  14 . The first side  44  and the second side  46  can be constructed of a material that enables the first side  44  and second side  46  to expand as a drill bit point  14  is forced through the gap  48  and to return to their original configuration after the drill bit point  14  moves through the gap  48 .  
     [0032] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to this particular fastener  42 , as any other suitable fastener can be used. In fact, it is understood that the invention is not limited to either of the coupling devices  28  described above, as any other suitable device for securing the drill bit points  14  in the cavities  17  can be used.  
     [0033] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims.