Patent ID: 6966562

Claim:
A quick-release chuck assembly for a plurality of tool bits, each tool bit having a shank and a groove extending circumferentially about the shank, the chuck assembly comprising: a hub having a forward end, a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal hub bore having a terminating face, and a bore wall disposed along the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive a first tool bit shank having a first cross-sectional profile; a plunger slidably disposed within the longitudinal hub bore, the plunger having a forward face proximate the forward end, a rearward end and an outer wall in fixed rotational engagement with the longitudinal hub bore wall; a longitudinal plunger bore disposed into the plunger extending rearwardly from the forward face along the longitudinal axis forming a plunger inner bore wall and terminating at a terminating end face that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plunger, wherein the plunger bore is adapted to receive a second tool bit shank having a second cross-sectional profile smaller than the first cross-sectional profile; and an elastic body disposed between the rearward end of the plunger and the terminating face of the longitudinal hub bore, wherein the elastic body acts to bias the plunger towards the forward end of the hub into a first plunger position.