Patent ID: 7398713

Claim:
A quick release mechanism comprising: a tool comprising a drive stud comprising an out-of-round drive portion, an adjacent portion, and a passageway extending obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the drive stud between a first end at the drive portion and a second end at the adjacent portion, said out-of-round portion shaped to fit within a tool attachment to apply torque to the tool attachment; a locking element slidably received In the passageway to slide between a tool attachment engaging position and a tool attachment release position; a coil spring extending around the adjacent portion, said spring comprising a first end coupled with the locking element to bias the locking element to the tool engaging position, and a second end; a shoulder formed by the adjacent portion and facing the spring, said shoulder forming a transition between a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, wherein the shoulder is interposed between the radially outer surface and the spring; a ring disposed around the adjacent portion between the second end of the spring and the shoulder; a collar extending around the spring and the ring; and a second ring extending around the adjacent portion between the locking element and the first end of the spring, said second ring transferring biasing forces from the spring to the locking element; said spring extending father than said radially outer surface radially away from the longitudinal axis.