Patent Publication Number: US-2020290185-A1

Title: Connecting rod assembly for screwdriver bit and sleeve assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
     This application is a continuation of International Application Number PCT/CN2019/079986, filed on Mar. 28, 2019, through which this application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201820542835.3, filed on Apr. 16, 2018, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an accessory device, in particular, a connecting rod assembly for a screwdriver bit and a sleeve assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a power tool is in service, a screwdriver bit is often fitted to a connecting rod for use, and some connecting rods are also fitted to a sleeve to form a connecting rod assembly. At present, frequently-used connecting rod assemblies with a magnetic nail-holding mechanism do not have a locking function for a screwdriver bit, thus the screwdriver bit is easily disengaged from the connecting rod assembly. In addition, most of the sleeves fitted with the connecting rods have non-detachable structures, which limit an application range of the connecting rod and the sleeve and cause waste when the connecting rod assembly is partially damaged. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one described example, a connecting rod assembly for the screwdriver bit includes a connecting rod, one end of which is formed with a transmission slot capable of being fitted with the screwdriver bit, and another end of which is formed with a transmission shank for receiving power to rotate around a central axis. The connecting rod assembly further includes a sleeve assembly movably connected to the connecting rod. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve body, a functional body, and a locking member; where the sleeve body extends along the central axis and is sleeved to an end of the connecting rod and is formed with a through hole through which at least part of the screwdriver bit passes; the functional body is connected to the sleeve body to realize a function of the sleeve assembly; the locking member is movably coupled to the sleeve body, and at least has a locking position and an unlocking position relative to the sleeve body. When the locking member is in the locking position, the sleeve assembly and the connecting rod form a non-detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to an axial force less than a first axial force; and when the locking member is in the unlocking position, the sleeve assembly and the connecting rod form a detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to an axial force greater than a second axial force, where the first axial force is greater than the second axial force. 
     In one described example, an end of the sleeve body is connected to or formed with an elastic portion capable of elastic deformation in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. 
     In one described example, in condition that the locking member is switched from the unlocking position toward the locking position, the elastic portion is configured to contract inward with the central axis as a center; and in condition that the locking member is switched from the locking position toward the unlocking position, the elastic portion is configured to expand outward with the central axis as the center. 
     In one described example, the sleeve body is further connected to or formed with a stopper configured for stopping the locking member from being disengaged from the sleeve body along the central axis. 
     In one described example, the connecting rod is formed with a stepped structure; and the elastic portion is formed with a stopper that is capable of cooperating with the step to prevent the sleeve assembly from being disengaged from the connecting rod along the central axis. 
     In one described example, the connecting rod is inserted into the sleeve body along a first direction parallel to the central axis, and the sleeve body is further connected to or formed with a limiting portion that prevents the connecting rod from continuing to move relative to the sleeve body along the first direction. 
     In one described example, the functional body at least includes a magnetic portion capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. 
     In one described example, the functional body is disposed at an end of the sleeve body opposite to the elastic portion. 
     In one described example, the sleeve body is further formed with an accommodation portion configured to accommodate at least part of the function body. 
     In one described example, the magnetic portion is symmetrically distributed about the central axis. 
     In one described example, part of the connecting rod is located inside the sleeve body; the connecting rod at least has a first position and a second position relative to the sleeve assembly along the central axis; in condition that the connecting rod is in the first position relative to the sleeve assembly, an end of the connecting rod is abutted against a limiting portion; in condition that the connecting rod is in the second position relative to the sleeve assembly, the connecting rod is disengaged from the limiting portion; and the magnetic portion is configured to generate a magnetic force capable of driving the connecting rod to move toward the first position. 
     In one described example, the screwdriver bit at least has a connection position and a disengagement position relative to the connecting rod; when at the connection position, the screwdriver bit is accommodated in the transmission slot and abuts against the connecting rod, and when at the disengagement position, the screwdriver bit is disengaged from the connecting rod; and the connecting rod is configured to generate a magnetic force capable of driving the screwdriver bit to move toward the connection position. 
     In one described example, the connecting rod is made of a magnetic material capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. 
     In one described example, the transmission slot is connected to or integrally formed with a magnetic material capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. 
     In one described example, the sleeve assembly is formed with a stopping portion configured for preventing the screwdriver bit from being disengaged from the connecting rod, and a distance from the stopping portion to the central axis is less than 3 mm. 
     In one described example, the sleeve body further includes a sliding groove located on an outer surface of the sleeve body, and the locking member is slidably disposed in the sliding groove. 
     In one described example, the sleeve body is made of a plastic material. 
     In one described example, the elastic portion is made of a plastic material. 
     In one described example, the elastic portion includes a plurality of claw portions extending along the central axis and symmetrically arranged about the central axis, and an end of a respective claw portion is fixedly connected to the sleeve body. 
     In one described example, a connecting rod assembly for the screwdriver bit includes a connecting rod, an end of which is formed with the transmission slot capable of being fitted with the screwdriver bit, and another end of which is formed with the transmission shank for receiving power to rotate around the central axis. The connecting rod assembly further includes a sleeve assembly movably connected to the connecting rod. The sleeve assembly includes the sleeve body, the functional body, and the locking member; where the sleeve body extends along the central axis and is sleeved to an end of the connecting rod and is formed with the through hole through which at least part of the screwdriver bit passes; the functional body is connected to the sleeve body; the locking member is connected to the sleeve body, and at least has a locked state and an unlocked state relative to the sleeve body. When the locking member is in the locked state relative to the sleeve body, the sleeve assembly is non-detachable relative to the connecting rod; and when the locking member is in the unlocked state relative to the sleeve body, the sleeve assembly is detachable relative to the connecting rod. 
     In one described example, a sleeve assembly adapted to a connecting rod includes a sleeve body, the functional body, and the locking member; where the sleeve body extends along the central axis and is sleeved to an end of the connecting rod and is formed with a through hole through which at least part of the screwdriver bit passes; the functional body is connected to the sleeve body to realize a function of the sleeve assembly; the locking member is movably coupled to the sleeve body, and at least has the locking position and the unlocking position relative to the sleeve body. When the locking member is in the locking position, the sleeve assembly and the connecting rod form the non-detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to an axial force less than the first axial force; and when the locking member is in the unlocking position, the sleeve assembly and the connecting rod form the detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to the axial force greater than the second axial force, where the first axial force is greater than the second axial force. 
     In one described example, a sleeve assembly adapted to the connecting rod includes a sleeve assembly, which extends along the central axis and is sleeved to an end of the connecting rod and is formed with the through hole through which at least part of the screwdriver bit passes; the functional body connected to the sleeve body to realize the function of the sleeve assembly; where the sleeve assembly further includes the locking member, connected to the sleeve body, and at least has the locked state and the unlocked state relative to the sleeve body. When the locking member is in the locked state relative to the sleeve body, the sleeve assembly is non-detachable from the connecting rod, and when the locking member is in the unlocked state relative to the sleeve body, the sleeve assembly is detachable relative to the connecting rod. 
     The present disclosure is beneficial in that the sleeve of the connecting rod assembly is detachable and the connecting rod assembly has a locking function for the screwdriver bit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view illustrating a connecting rod assembly according to a first example of the present disclosure in which a locking member is in an unlocked state; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the connecting rod in  FIG. 1  when inserted into a sleeve assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating the connecting rod in  FIG. 2  after inserted into the sleeve assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view illustrating the connecting rod assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating a sleeve body of the connecting rod assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic structural diagram illustrating the connecting rod assembly in  FIG. 1  acting on a screwdriver bit in which the locking member is in a locked state; and 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view illustrating a connecting rod assembly according to a second example of the present disclosure in which a locking member is in the unlocked state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to a first example as shown in  FIG. 1 , a connecting rod assembly  100  may include a connecting rod  11  and a sleeve assembly  12  capable of being sleeved onto the connecting rod  11 . The sleeve assembly  12  may be adapted to different specifications or types of the connecting rod  11 , after the sleeve assembly  12  is installed on the connecting rod  11 , the entirety of the sleeve assembly  12  and the connecting rod  11  is adapted to the screwdriver bit, which may realize a nail-holding effect on the screw. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the sleeve assembly  12  is movably connected to the connecting rod  11 . In one example, the sleeve assembly  12  is coaxially sleeved onto an end of the connecting rod  11  along a central axis  101 . The connecting rod  11  is rotatable relative to the sleeve assembly  12  with the central axis  101  as an axis, and the connecting rod  11  is also slidable forward and backward along the central axis  101  relative to the sleeve assembly  12 . An end of the connecting rod  11  is formed with a transmission groove  111  capable of being fitted with the screwdriver bit, and another end of the connecting rod  11  is formed with a transmission shank  112  that may be driven by a power tool to make the connecting rod  11  rotate about the central axis  101  as an axis. A sleeve assembly  12  includes a sleeve body  121 , a functional body  122 , and a locking member  123 . The sleeve body  121  extends along a central axis  101  and is sleeved onto an end of the connecting rod  11  facing toward a transmission slot  111  and is formed with a through hole  1211  through which a screwdriver bit passes. The functional body  122  is fixedly connected to the sleeve body  121 . The locking member  123  is coaxially and movably sleeved onto the sleeve body  121 , and has a locking position and an unlocking position relative to the sleeve body  121 . When the locking member  123  is in the locking position, the sleeve assembly  12  and the connecting rod  11  form a non-detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to an axial force less than a first axial force; and when the locking member is in the unlocking position, the sleeve assembly and the connecting rod form a detachable connection when the sleeve assembly is subjected to a axial force greater than a second axial force, where the first axial force is greater than the second axial force. That is, under normal operating conditions, when the locking member  123  is in the locking position relative to the sleeve body  121 , the sleeve assembly  12  is not easily detached relative to the connecting rod  11 , and when the locking member  123  is in the unlocking position relative to the sleeve body  121 , the sleeve assembly  12  is easily detached from the connecting rod  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sleeve body  12  is made of plastic. An elastic portion  1212  capable of having elastic deformation in a direction perpendicular to the central axis  101  is connected or formed at an end of the sleeve body  121  facing toward the through hole  1211 . In one example, the elastic portion  1212  is a part of the sleeve body  121 , and the elastic portion  1212  may be integrally formed with the sleeve body  121  or may be fixedly or detachably connected to the sleeve body  121 . The elastic portion  1212  includes an opening  12121  and a claw portion  12122 . The opening  12121  and the claw portion  12122  are spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the sleeve body  121 . A plurality of openings  12121  and a plurality of claw portions  12122  are symmetrical about the central axis  101  and are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction of the sleeve body  121 , respectively. The plurality of claw portions  12122  extend along the central axis  101  and are generally arc-shaped, and are fixedly connected to the sleeve body  121 . The opening  12121  forms a hollow as shown in  FIG. 4  on a surface of the sleeve body  121 , and enables the elastic portion  1212  to have greater elastic deformation with the center axis  101  as a center. In one example, when the locking member  123 , the screwdriver bit and the connecting rod  11  are inserted into the sleeve body  121 , the elastic portion  1212  expands outward with the center axis  101  as the center. When the locking member  123  switches from the locking position to the unlocking position, the elastic portion  1212  shrinks inward with the center axis  101  as the center, that is, after the screwdriver bit and the connecting rod  11  are inserted into the sleeve body  121 , the locking member  123  is in the locking position, and the elastic portion  1212  shrinks inward with the center axis  101  as the center. Therefore, a relative position of the connecting rod  11  and the sleeve body  121  is locked by interaction of the elastic portion  1212  and the connecting rod  11 , thereby locking a position of the screwdriver bit. 
     In one example, the elastic portion  1212  is made of plastic. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the sleeve body  121  is further connected to or formed with a stopper  1213 ′ for stopping the locking member  123  from disengaging from the sleeve body  121  along the central axis  101 , and the stopper  1213 ′ circumferentially surrounds the sleeve body  121  and radially protrudes outward from the sleeve body  121  to form a convex edge. Two stoppers  1213 ′ are spaced up and down from each other along the central axis  101  at a certain distance to form a sliding groove  1213 . The sliding groove  1213  is located on an outer surface of the sleeve body  121 , the locking member  123  is slidably disposed in the sliding groove  1213 , and is slidable relative to the sleeve body  121  in the sliding groove  1213  along the central axis  101  to the locking position, the unlocking position, and any position between the locking position and the unlocking position. 
     In one example, the connecting rod  11  is an inactive connecting rod. An end of the connecting rod  11  facing toward the transmission groove  111  and an end of the connecting rod  11  facing toward the transmission shank  112  are fixedly connected, and the connecting rod  11  is formed with a stepped structure. The elastic portion  1212  is formed with a stopper  1214  that is fitted with the stepped structure to prevent the sleeve assembly  12  from disengaging from the connecting rod  11  along the central axis  101 . In one example, after the screwdriver bit and the connecting rod  11  are inserted into the sleeve body  121 , the locking member  123  slides to the locking position along the central axis  101  while the elastic portion  1212  contracts inward with the central axis  101  as the center; under the action of the locking member  123 , the stopper  1214  abuts against a surface of the connecting rod  11 ; and when the connecting rod  11  is subject to a force in a direction opposite to a first direction A or the sleeve body  121  is subject to a force parallel to the first direction A, the connecting rod  11  moves relative to the sleeve body  121  along the direction of the force. During this process, the stopper  1214  is clamped to the stepped structure of the connecting rod  11 , thereby preventing the sleeve assembly  12  from disengaging from the connecting rod  11  along the central axis  101 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the connecting rod  11  is inserted into the sleeve body  121  along the first direction A parallel to the central axis  101 . The sleeve body  121  is also connected to or formed with a limiting portion  1215  that prevents the connecting rod  11  from continuing to move along the first direction A relative to the sleeve body  121 , that is, during a process of the connecting rod  11  being inserted into the sleeve body  121  along the first direction A parallel to the central axis  101 , the connecting rod  11  is blocked by the limiting portion  1215 , thereby abutting against the limiting portion  1215 . In one example, the limiting portion  1215  is an annular body arranged inside the sleeve body  121 , the annular body is coaxial with and integrated with the sleeve body  121 , and an inner diameter of the annular body is less than an outer diameter of the connecting rod  11 , so as to prevent the connecting rod  11  from disengaging from the sleeve body  121  along the first direction A. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the functional body  122  at least includes a magnetic portion capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. In the present example, the functional body  122  includes a magnet, such as a ring magnet, capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. An end of the sleeve body  121  facing away from the elastic portion  1212  is further formed with an accommodation portion  1216  for accommodating the functional body  122 , that is, the functional body  122  is located at an end of the sleeve main body  121  and the elastic portion  1212  is located at another end of the sleeve main body  121 . The functional body  122  is embedded in the accommodation portion  1216 , and is coaxially and fixedly connected to the sleeve body  121 , and an end surface of the functional body  122  and an end surface of the sleeve body  121  are on a same plane. Certainly, a connection form of the functional body  122  and the accommodation portion  1216  is not limited to a fixed connection, and is not limited to the above-mentioned mosaic structure. When the screwdriver bit is mounted to the connecting rod assembly  100  and is in a working state, the functional body  122  may attract the screw so that the screw does not shake or disengage relative to the screwdriver bit, so as to realize the nail-holding effect, enabling an operator to complete work with only one hand, without holding the screw with one hand and operating the connecting rod  11  with another hand. It can be understood that the structural form of the magnetic portion is not limited to the single integral circular ring magnet structure in the present example, but may also be other integral or split structures that are symmetrical relative to the central axis. 
     Part of the connecting rod  11  is located inside the sleeve body  121 , and the connecting rod  11  at least has a first position and a second position relative to the sleeve assembly  12  along the central axis  101 . When the connecting rod  11  is in the first position relative to the sleeve assembly  12 , an end of the connecting rod  11  abuts against the limiting portion  1215 ; and when the connecting rod  11  is in the second position relative to the sleeve assembly  12 , the connecting rod  11  is disengaged from the limiting portion  1215 . And the magnetic portion generates a magnetic force that may drive the connecting rod  11  to move toward the first position. That is to say, the functional body  122  generates the magnetic force that drives the connecting rod  11  to move toward the first position; when there is no external axial force along the central axis  101 , the connecting rod  11  keeps in the first position relative to the sleeve assembly  12 , that is, an end of the connecting rod  11  facing toward the transmission groove  111  is in contact with the limiting portion  1215  and is maintained at the contact position; when the connecting rod  11  is subjected to an external force that is greater than the second axial force and less than the first axial force and is opposite to the first direction A, the connecting rod  11  is disengaged from the limiting portion  1215 . If the locking member  123  is in the unlocking position, the connecting rod  11  may be disengaged from the sleeve assembly  12  under the external force; and if the locking member  123  is in the locking position, the connecting rod  11  moves farthest to the second position relative to the sleeve assembly  12  under the action of the external force but cannot be disengaged from the sleeve assembly  12 . Certainly, the connecting rod  11  may move relative to the sleeve assembly  12  to any position between the first position and the second position under the external force. 
     In one example, the screwdriver bit at least has a connection position and a disengagement position relative to the connecting rod  11 . When the screwdriver bit is in the connection position, the screwdriver bit is accommodated in the transmission slot  111  and abuts against the connecting rod  11 ; and when the screwdriver bit is in the disengagement position, the screwdriver bit is disengaged from the connecting rod  11 . The connecting rod  11  generates the magnetic force that may drive the screwdriver bit to move toward the connection position, that is to say, the connecting rod  11  is made of a magnetic material capable of attracting the screwdriver bit, so that the connecting rod  11  always has a magnetic attraction to the screwdriver bit, so that the screwdriver bit may be tightly mounted to the connecting rod  11 . Certainly, the screwdriver bit may overcome the magnetic attraction to move to the disengagement position under the action of external force. In one example, part of the connecting rod  11  is made of the magnetic material. For example, the transmission groove  111  is connected to or integrally formed with the magnetic material capable of attracting the screwdriver bit. As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the sleeve assembly  12  is formed with a stopping portion  124  for preventing the screwdriver bit from disengaging from the connecting rod  11 , and a distance between the stopping portion  124  and the central axis  101  is less than 3 mm. For commonly used screwdriver bit with a diameter ranges from 6 mm to 7 mm, when the connecting rod assembly  100  is used to cooperate with the commonly used screwdriver bit, the stopping portion  124  limits the screwdriver bit in the first direction A so that only part of the screwdriver bit may pass a screwdriver bit hole  124 , preventing the screwdriver bit from disengaging from the connecting rod  11  and the sleeve assembly  12  from the first direction A. In the locking position, the locking member  123  prevents the screwdriver bit from disengaging from the connecting rod  11  and the sleeve assembly  12  from the direction opposite to the first direction A, thereby realizing the function of locking the screwdriver bit. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a connecting rod assembly  200  according to a second example. In the present example, the connecting rod assembly  200  may have a connecting rod  21  having the same structure as that of the second example, except that the structures of the locking member  223  and the sleeve body  221  of the sleeve assembly  22  in the present example are different. The portions of the first example that are compatible with the present example may be applied to the present example. Only the differences between the present example and the first example will be described below. 
     In the present example, the sleeve assembly  22  includes the sleeve body  221 , the magnetic portion (not shown in the figure), and a locking sleeve  223 ; where the locking sleeve  223  is fixedly connected to the sleeve body  221 , and the locking sleeve  223  includes an adjusting portion  2231  that may extend relative to the sleeve body  221  in a plane perpendicular to the central axis  201  so as to adjust the tightness of the connection between the locking sleeve  223  and the sleeve body  221 . The locking sleeve  223  has the locked state and the unlocked state relative to the sleeve body  221 . When the locking sleeve  223  is in the locked state relative to the sleeve body  221 , the locking sleeve  223  makes the elastic portion  2212  shrink inwardly with the central axis  201  as the center via the adjusting portion  2231 , thereby locking the sleeve body  221  and the connecting rod  21  so that the sleeve assembly  22  is non-detachable relative to the connecting rod  21 ; and when the locking sleeve  223  is in the unlocked state relative to the sleeve body  221 , the sleeve assembly  22  is detachable relative to the connecting rod  21 . It can be understood that the connection manner between the locking sleeve  223  and the sleeve body  221  may also be a movable connection manner. In addition, since the locking sleeve  223  is fixedly connected to the sleeve body  221  in the present example, the sleeve body  221  does not include the sliding groove  1213  and the similar movable connection structure in the first example, but it can be understood that in the present example, the locking sleeve  223  and the sleeve body  221  may also form a movable connection, and the sleeve body  221  may also form a limit structure for the locking sleeve  223 . 
     In fact, it can be understood that, in other examples, the locking member may also be other structural members having the locking function, and the connection manner between the sleeve body and the locking member is also not limited to the preferred modes in the above-mentioned two examples. 
     The above illustrates and describes basic principles, main features and advantages of the present disclosure. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the above examples do not limit the present disclosure in any form, and all solutions obtained by means of equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.