Screwdriver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9931739-B2
Application number	US-201514599072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A screwdriver includes a main body and a switch. The main body is coupled to a handle and includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart slots, and a pawl positioned in each slot. Each pawl is biased outwardly by a spring. The switch is pivotable relative to the main body, and the switch includes a groove extending along an arcuate portion of an inner surface. Pivoting the switch in a first direction moves the switch toward a first position in which the groove is positioned in-line with the first pawl. When the switch is in the first position, the first pawl extends outwardly from the slot and engages the internal tooth surface such that application of a torque in a first direction drives a shank in the first direction and application of a torque in the second direction causes the shank to ratchet relative to the main body.

First claim

We claim:

1. A screwdriver comprising:
a handle including a first end and a second end and defining an axis therebetween;
a main body including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion secured within the handle, the second portion including a pair of slots, the slots oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another, the slots positioned symmetrically on either side of the axis such that each slot is laterally offset from the axis by an equal distance, the main body further including a spring positioned in each slot;
a first pawl positioned within one of the slots and biased outwardly from the slot by one of the springs, the first pawl including a first tooth;
a second pawl positioned within the other of the slots and biased outwardly from the slot by the other spring, the second pawl including a second tooth;
a shank coupled to the main body proximate the second portion, the shank including a first end and second end, the first end having a circular internal tooth surface aligned concentrically with the axis, the internal tooth surface extending circumferentially around a portion of the second portion, the second end having a bore;
a bit removably received within the bore of the shank; and
a switch pivotable relative to the main body about the axis, the switch including an inner surface extending around at least a portion of the first pawl and the second pawl, the switch including a groove extending along an arcuate portion of the inner surface, the groove positioned radially outwardly from the inner surface relative to the axis, pivoting the switch in a first direction about the axis moves the switch toward a first position in which the groove is positioned in-line with the first pawl, pivoting the switch in the second direction about the axis opposite the first direction moves the switch toward a second position in which the groove is positioned in-line with the second pawl,
wherein, when the switch is in the first position, the first pawl extends outwardly from the slot and the first tooth engages the internal tooth surface of the shank such that application of a torque to the handle in the first direction about the axis drives the shank in the first direction while application of a torque in the second direction about the axis causes the shank to ratchet relative to the main body and handle.

2. The screwdriver of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded fastener coupling the main body and the shank, wherein the main body includes a bore and the shank includes a threaded bore, the threaded fastener positioned within the bore of the main body and engaging the threaded bore of the shank.

3. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the main body further includes a hole extending radially relative to the axis and a ball positioned within the hole, the ball biased outwardly from the axis by a spring,
wherein the switch further includes at least two pockets, a first pocket receiving the ball when the switch is in the first position and a second pocket receiving the ball when the switch is in the second position, the ball and spring biasing the switch against movement between the first position and the second position.

4. The screwdriver of claim 3 , wherein the switch further includes a third pocket between the first pocket and the second pocket, the third pocket receiving the ball when the switch is in a third position.

5. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a protrusion extending radially outwardly from the second portion, the protrusion limiting rotation of the switch relative to the main body.

6. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the switch may be positioned in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position in which the groove is positioned in-line with both the first slot and the second slot, wherein the first pawl and the second pawl extend into the groove such that both the first tooth and the second tooth engage the internal tooth surface.

7. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a body portion and a neck portion, the neck portion having a diameter less than a diameter of the body portion, the body portion including a plurality of holes oriented parallel to the axis and extending through the body portion, the holes positioned around the axis.

8. The screwdriver of claim 7 , wherein each hole defines an opening positioned adjacent the neck portion and configured to receive a removable bit.

9. The screwdriver of claim 7 , wherein the handle further includes a rim positioned proximate the second end such that the neck portion is positioned between the rim and the body portion, wherein the rim includes a plurality of holes aligned with the holes of the body portion such that a removable bit positioned in a hole in the body portion can pass through a respective hole in the rim.

10. The screwdriver of claim 7 , wherein the handle further includes a grommet positioned at least partially in each hole, the grommet configured to retain the bits received in the holes.

11. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the switch is positioned between the handle and the shank.

12. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein the switch is pivotable between the first position, the second position, and a third position between the first position and the second position.

13. The screwdriver of claim 12 , wherein, when the switch is positioned in the third position, the groove is positioned in-line with both of the slots, thereby permitting the first pawl and the second pawl to extend outwardly such that both the first tooth and the second tooth engage the internal tooth surface, wherein application of a torque about the axis in either the first direction or the second direction will rotate the shank in the corresponding direction.

14. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein, when the switch is in the first position, the groove is positioned in-line with the slot of the first pawl, thereby permitting the first pawl to extend outwardly.

15. The screwdriver of claim 1 , wherein, when the switch is in the second position, the groove is positioned in-line with the slot of the second pawl, thereby permitting the second pawl to extend outwardly, the second tooth engaging the internal tooth surface of the shank, application of a torque to the handle in a second direction about the axis drives the shank in the second direction while application of a torque in the first direction causes the shank to ratchet relative to the main body and handle.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Nelson Collin J
• Hyma Steven W
• Squiers Grant T
• Cemke Jr James A
• Khangar Abhijeet A

Classifications

• B25G1/085

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25B23/12

  using magnetic means · CPC title

• B25B15/04 Primary

  with ratchet action · CPC title

• B25B15/00

  Screwdrivers (hand-driven gear-operated B25B17/00; impact screwdrivers B25B19/00; portable power-driven B25B21/00 {; screwdrivers specially adapted for osteosynthesis A61B17/8875}) · CPC title