Patent ID: 7481608

Claim:
A rotatable chuck for use with a power tool having a drive shaft, comprising: a body comprising a rear end adapted to be connected to a drive shaft of a power tool and a forward end adapted to receive a shaft of a work tool, said body thereby being rotatable in response to said drive shaft; a plurality of jaws disposed within said forward end of said body and extending angularly from a longitudinal axis of said body, front ends of each of said jaws thereby being angled toward the other jaws, said jaws comprising jaw faces on inside surfaces of said front ends and threads being formed on outside surfaces of rear ends of each of said jaws; an adjustment ring mounted about said body and threadably engaged with said jaws, said adjustment ring and said body being rotatable relative thereto; a first protrusion connected to said adjustment ring and extending rearwardly therefrom, said first protrusion being rotatable with said adjustment ring; a joint member adapted to be rotationally restrained relative to a frame of said power tool; a guide surface disposed on said joint member and extending along a length of said joint member; an impact member engaged with said guide surface of said joint member, said impact member thereby being axially moveable along said guide surface; a second protrusion connected to said impact member and extending forwardly therefrom, said second protrusion being rotationally fixed to said impact member; a spring disposed behind said impact member thereby biasing said first protrusion and said second protrusion into engagement; wherein said first protrusion impacts said second protrusion when said drive shaft of said power tool is rotated, said impact member thereby restraining said adjustment ring relative to said body to adjust said jaws in response to rotation of said drive shaft, said second protrusion being disengaged from said first protrusion by rearward movement of said impact member; and wherein said guide surface comprises an angular surface of a slot, said impact member comprising a tab installed within said slot and a width of said slot being wider than said tab, wherein said impact member is rotatable along said angular surface relative to said joint member.