Fastener driver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018345461-A1
Application number	US-201715615639-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2017
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A driver for non-magnetic gripping of a socketed fastener head. The driver includes a shank and two cantilever beams. Each cantilever beam has an end and a basal segment adjacent the shank opposite the end. The driver also includes a gap defined by the two cantilever beams in resting positions. The gap extends between the two cantilever beams from an open end toward the shank. The ends of the two cantilever beams are configured to bend into the gap from the resting positions.

First claim

1 . A driver for gripping a socketed fastener head, the driver comprising:
a shank; and two spaced-apart cantilever beams extending from the shank and defining a longitudinal gap between them, each cantilever beam having an end and a basal segment adjacent the shank,
wherein the cantilever beams are configured to narrow the gap between the ends when transitioning from resting positions to assembled positions.

2 . The driver of claim 1 , wherein the socketed fastener head presents a top surface and a socket is formed in and below the top surface that presents a first substantially vertical surface and a second substantially vertical surface across the socket from the first substantially vertical surface, the driver comprising an outward-facing surface on the end of each of the two cantilever beams, the outward-facing surfaces being oriented, when assembled to the socketed fastener head, to apply forces outward on the first and second substantially vertical surfaces in response to the bending of the two cantilever beams from the resting positions.

3 . The driver of claim 1 , wherein the ends of the cantilever beams each present a cross-section having the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

4 . The driver of claim 1 , wherein the ends of the cantilever beams each present a cross-section having a rectangular shape.

5 . The driver of claim 1 , wherein each end of the two cantilever beams includes a tip and a substantially orthogonal outward-facing surface.

6 . The driver of claim 2 , wherein the two ends are configured to abut one another when assembled to the fastener.

7 . The driver of claim 2 , wherein the driver is configured such that at least a portion of the gap between the ends remains when the driver is assembled to the socketed fastener head.

8 . The driver of claim 1 , wherein each end of the two cantilever beams includes a tip, an outward-facing surface, and an angled entry surface between the tip and the outward facing surface configured to facilitate insertion of the driver into the socketed fastener head.

9 . The driver of claim 1 , comprising a sliding shim positioned in the gap.

10 . The driver of claim 9 , wherein the gap defined by the two cantilever beams in resting positions narrows as it extends from the shank toward the ends.

11 . The driver of claim 9 , wherein the sliding shim includes fins positioned on opposite sides of the gap.

12 . The driver of claim 9 , comprising a track of protrusions defining cradles therebetween for incremental movement of the sliding shim along the gap.

13 . A driver for gripping a socketed fastener head, the driver comprising:
a shank; two spaced-apart cantilever beams extending from the shank and defining a longitudinal gap between them, each cantilever beam having a basal segment adjacent the shank and an end terminating at a tip; and a sliding shim positioned in the gap,
wherein the sliding shim and cantilever beams are configured such that moving the sliding shim toward the tips, when the driver is assembled to the socketed fastener head, causes the ends to apply outward pressure on the socketed fastener head.

14 . The driver of claim 13 , wherein the socketed fastener head presents a top surface and a socket is formed in and below the top surface that presents a first substantially vertical surface and a second substantially vertical surface across the socket from the first substantially vertical surface, the driver comprising an outward-facing surface on the end of each of the two cantilever beams, the outward-facing surfaces being oriented, when assembled to the socketed fastener head, to apply forces outward on the first and second substantially vertical surfaces in response to movement of the sliding shim toward the tips.

15 . The driver of claim 13 , wherein the gap defined by the two cantilever beams in resting positions narrows as it extends from the shank toward the open end.

16 . The driver of claim 13 , comprising a track of protrusions defining cradles therebetween for incremental movement of the sliding shim along the gap.

17 . A method for installing a fastener having a socketed head presenting a top surface and a socket formed in and below the top surface, the method comprising:
providing a driver having two cantilever beams, each cantilever beam including an outward-facing surface; aligning the driver with a socket of the socketed fastener head; and applying a force to the driver causing the cantilever beams to move relative to one another thereby applying a pressure on the socket.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the force is applied to the shank of the driver generally in the direction of the socketed fastener head, and the relative movement of the cantilever beams is toward one another to permit at least partial insertion into the socket.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the force is applied to a sliding shim in a gap between the two cantilever beams, and is applied generally in the direction of the socketed fastener head, the relative movement of the cantilever beams being away from one another to apply the pressure on the socket.

20 . The method of claim 19 , comprising torqueing the driver to install the socketed fastener in a receiving surface followed by applying a force to the sliding shim generally in a direction opposite the socketed fastener head to at least partially reduce the pressure applied by the cantilever beams on the socket.

Assignees

• Honeywell Federal Mfg & Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schnitzler Joshua Michael
• Branson Donald Conrad

Classifications

• B25G3/28

  comprising wedges, keys, or like expanding means · CPC title

• B25B23/105

  the gripping device being an integral part of the driving bit · CPC title

• F16B23/0038

  substantially prismatic with up to six edges, e.g. triangular, square, pentagonal, Allen-type cross-sections · CPC title

• B25B15/004 Primary

  characterised by cross-section · CPC title

• B25G1/005 Primary

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque · CPC title