Abstract:
A fastener driver ( 20 ) is provided. The fastener driver includes a driver body ( 32 ) and a guide ( 26 ). The driver body includes a cavity ( 30 ) formed in one end of the driver body and an attachment shank ( 32 ) formed in another end. The guide is slidably attached to the driver body and is positioned for selectively retaining a fastener within the cavity during use of the fastener driver.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The described embodiments relate generally to hand tool accessories and, more particularly to a fastener driver having a fastener guide.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Currently available tool drivers include a shank having a driver head. The shank is configured to be coupled to a hand tool, such as a drill. The driver head is adapted to receive, but not retain, a fastener, such as a screw. During use, an operator must align and retain the fastener with a workpiece, such as a piece of wood, with one hand. It should be apparent that such a fastener presents significant risk of injury to the operator, especially during initial operation.  
         [0003]     Thus, there exists a need for a fastener driver that is capable of retaining and/or guiding a fastener during use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A fastener driver constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body and a guide. The driver body includes a cavity formed in one end of the driver body and an attachment shank formed in another end. The guide is slidably attached to the driver body and is positioned for selectively retaining a fastener within the cavity during use of the fastener driver.  
         [0005]     A fastener driver constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body, a sleeve coupled to the driver body, and means for retaining the sleeve to the driver body. The driver body includes a fastener receiving end and an attachment end. The sleeve is configured for reciprocating movement between an extended position, where the sleeve is adapted to substantially retain a fastener within the fastener receiving end, and a retracted position.  
         [0006]     A fastener driver constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a driver body having a retention end and an attachment end, a guide, and a retention mechanism positioned between the driver body and the guide to retain the guide to the driver body. The attachment end of the driver body is configured for releasably coupling the fastener driver to a hand tool and the retention end is shaped to drive a correspondingly shaped end of a fastener. The guide is coupled to the driver body for reciprocating movement between an extended position for substantially retaining a fastener within the retention end and a retracted position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a fastener driver constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, showing a guide in an extended position;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the fastener driver of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional, side planar view of the fastener driver of  FIG. 1 , showing the fastener driver in a retracted position; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional, side planar view of the fastener driver of  FIG. 1 , showing the fastener driver in the extended position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     A fastener driver  20  constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The fastener driver  20  includes a driver body  22 , a retention mechanism  24 , and a guide or sleeve  26 . The driver body  22  is suitably a cylindrically shaped member formed from a high strength material. One end of the driver body  22  includes a cavity defining a fastener retention cavity  30 .  
         [0013]     The fastener retention cavity  30  is suitably hexagonal in configuration and is sized to fit a correspondingly configured end of a fastener, such as the head of a bolt. As already noted, although the fastener retention cavity  30  is illustrated and described as hexagonal, other shapes, such as spline, square and polygonal, are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0014]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the driver body  22  also includes an attachment shank  32 . The attachment shank  32  is a well-known hexagonally shaped shank adapted to be coupled to a correspondingly shaped chuck of a hand tool, such as a power drill or a hand drill. Although the attachment shank  32  is illustrated as hexagonal, it need not be so limited as other well-known attachment shanks of varying sizes and shapes are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0015]     The retention mechanism  24  is suitably a C-spring sized to be received within an annular groove  34  formed in the driver body  32 . The function of the retention mechanism  24  is to retain the sleeve  26  to the driver body  22 , as described in greater detail below. Equivalent structures having the same or equivalent function as the retention mechanism  24  include springs, e-clips and retention features built into the sleeve  26  and the driver body  22 . Thus, such structures are equivalent and, therefore, are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]     As may be best seen by referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sleeve  26  is suitably a cylindrical member having a longitudinally extending channel  40 . The channel  40  is sized and configured to have an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the driver body  22 . This allows the sleeve  26  to be reciprocated by sliding relative to the driver body  22  between an extended position and a retracted position, as described in greater detail below.  
         [0017]     The sleeve  26  also includes annular first and second retention grooves  42  and  44  formed within the channel  40 . The first and second retention grooves  42  and  44  are longitudinally spaced to define a length of travel of the sleeve  26  during operation of the fastener driver  20 . Each of the first and second retention grooves  42  and  44  are sized to lockingly receive the retention mechanism  24 . The retention grooves  42  and  44  provide a tactile response when the retention mechanism  24  is received within one of the retention grooves  42  and  44 . Each also provides a low level of locking resistance to hold the sleeve  26  therein. This locking resistance is overcome by the operator of the fastener driver  20  by applying a pushing or pulling action along an axis extending longitudinally through the fastener driver  20 .  
         [0018]     Operation of the fastener driver  20  may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . When the sleeve  26  is in the extended position ( FIG. 4 ), a fastener (not shown) is received within both the cavity  40  and the fastener retention cavity  30 . In this position, the sleeve  26  assists in retaining the fastener within the fastener retention cavity  30 , as well as guiding the fastener during operation of the fastener driver  20 . Specifically, the stem of the fastener is coaxially aligned with the cavity  40  and the head of the fastener is seated within the fastener retention cavity  30 .  
         [0019]     During use, the fastener is driven into a workpiece (not shown), such as wood, thereby causing the free end of the sleeve  26  contact the workpiece. As the operator continues to drive the fastener into the workpiece, the interaction between the workpiece and the sleeve  26  applies a load sufficient to overcome the locking resistance between the retention mechanism  24  and the first retention groove  42 . As the fastener is driven into the workpiece, the sleeve  26  assists in retaining and guiding the fastener until it is firmly seated within the workpiece. In this position, the sleeve  26  is displaced into the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The operator applies a load along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve  26  to displace the sleeve  26  into the extended position of  FIG. 4  and the foregoing process is repeated.  
         [0020]     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.