Patent ID: 7165482

Claim:
A fastener driver for use in combination with a fastener to be driven thereby, said fastener driver having a shank and a tip extending from an end of said shank; said tip of said fastener driver having a substantially circular base secured to said end of said shank and a free end portion projecting from the base, said free end portion of said tip having a generally hourglass shape with opposing flared end portions defining a linear waist portion generally midway between said flared end portions of said free end of said tip, each of said opposing flared end portions of said free end of said tip having a pair of opposed, flat substantially rectangular side walls which taper continuously outwardly from the base from a longitudinal axis of said shank at the waist and taper inwardly from a transverse axis of said tip towards the base, said side walls of said flared end portions on adjacent sides of said flared end portions of said free end of said tip intersecting to form a dihedral angle with said linear waist; said fastener having a shank, a head portion, and a slot in said head portion generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said fastener shank, said slot in said head of said fastener having an opening, a base and a generally hourglass shape with opposing flared end portions, each of said flared end portions having a pair of opposed undercut flat, substantially rectangular side walls which taper continuously inwardly along a transverse axis of said slot and intersect with said undercut side walls of said opposing flared end portion of said slot to form a dihedral angle with a linear waist portion generally midway between said opposing flared end portions of said slot, said base of said slot having a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of said opening of said slot; said slot defining a depth substantially equal to a height of the projection of said free end; and said fastener slot adapted to mate with said tip of said fastener driver with said undercut side walls of said slot in said head of said fastener engaging said outwardly tapered side walls of said free end of said tip of said fastener driver over a pair of generally rectangular contact areas to releasably lock said free end of said tip of said fastener driver in said slot of said head of said fastener.