Patent ID: 7160065

Claim:
A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a rotatable drive shaft and an elongated tool shaft having a polygonal cross section and defining a circumferential groove, said chuck comprising: a. a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section, said tail section being rotatable with said drive shaft of said driver and said nose section having a central bore formed therein; b. a plurality of jaws mounted in said body in communication with said axial bore; c. a nut coupled to said plurality of jaws; d. a first sleeve rotatably received on said body and in operative engagement with said nut so that when said first sleeve is rotated with respect to said body said plurality of jaws move axially with respect to said body; e. a first detent located in one of said body and at least one of said jaws, said first detent extending radially into said bore and being radially releasable in a outward direction relative to said central bore, wherein when said chuck is in a first state the tool shaft may be inserted into said central bore so that said detent releasably engages the groove formed in the tool shank; f. a bearing assembly positioned between said body and one of said nut and said sleeve, said bearing assembly comprising, (i) a first washer having a plurality of recesses formed therein, (ii) a second washer, and (iii) a plurality of balls positioned intermediate therebetween, wherein when said chuck is in a second state, said first washer rotates with respect to said second washer causing an audible click.