Tool bits with floating magnet sleeves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9943946-B2
Application number	US-201514817323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 15, 2012
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A tool bit assembly includes a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and a first reduced diameter portion proximate the working region and disposed between a first shoulder and a second shoulder. A floating sleeve has a rear portion with a pair of opposed window openings, a front portion supporting a magnet, and a pair of balls, with each ball disposed in one of the window openings. The floating sleeve is receivable over the tool bit with the magnet proximate the first working regions and the balls received in the first reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a first position in which the balls abut the first shoulder and a second position in which the balls abut the second shoulder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool bit assembly, comprising:
a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region configured to drive a fastener disposed at a first end of the shaft, a second working region configured to drive a fastener disposed at a second end of the shaft, a first bit retaining region disposed proximate the second working region and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool so that the first working region can drive a fastener, a second bit retaining region disposed proximate the first working region and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool so that the second working region can drive a fastener, and at least one reduced diameter portion between the first working region and the second working region; and
a floating sleeve having a radially inwardly projecting retention mechanism at a rear end of the sleeve and a magnet at the front end of the sleeve,
wherein the floating sleeve is removably and reversibly receivable over the tool bit in a first orientation and a second orientation,
wherein in the first orientation the magnet is proximate the first working region and the retention mechanism is received in the at least one reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a first forward position in which the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the first working region and a first rearward position in which the magnet is retracted relative to the first working region, the retention mechanism remaining received in the at least one reduced diameter portion in the first forward position and the first rearward position, and
wherein in the second orientation the magnet is proximate the second working region and the retention mechanism is received in the at least one reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a second forward position in which the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the second working region and a second rearward position in which the magnet is retracted relative to the second working region, the retention mechanism remaining received in the at least one reduced diameter portion in the second forward position and the second rearward position.

2. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises one of an O-ring, a C-clip, at least one retaining ball, and an inwardly projecting wall portion of the floating sleeve.

3. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises at least one ball received in at least one window in the floating sleeve and a spring band received in an annular recess in the sleeve, the spring band biasing the at least one ball radially inward toward the tool bit.

4. The tool bit assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one ball comprises a pair of balls and the at least one window comprises a pair of window openings, with each ball received in a different window opening.

5. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a ring-shaped magnet.

6. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bit retaining region comprises a shank region of polygonal cross-section disposed between the first working region and the at least one reduced diameter portion, and the second retaining region comprises a shank region of polygonal cross-section disposed between the second working region and the at least one reduced diameter portion.

7. The tool bit assembly of claim 6 , wherein each shank region further comprises an annular groove.

8. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reduced diameter portion comprises a single reduced diameter portion disposed substantially equidistant between the first working region and the second working region.

9. The tool bit assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a third reduced diameter portion disposed between the first and second reduced diameter portions.

10. The tool bit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reduced diameter portion comprises a first reduced diameter portion closer to the first working region that receives the retention mechanism when the floating magnet sleeve is in the first orientation and a second reduced diameter portion closer to the second working region that receives the retention mechanism when the floating magnet sleeve is in the second orientation.

11. A tool bit assembly, comprising:
a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and configured to drive a fastener, a first shank portion disposed proximate a second end of the shaft and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool, a first reduced diameter torsion zone disposed closer to the first working region and having a first shoulder closer to the first working region and a second shoulder closer to the first shank portion, a second reduced diameter torsion zone disposed closer to the first shank portion and having a third shoulder closer to the first working region and a second shoulder closer to the first shank portion, and an intermediate portion of larger diameter than the first and second reduced diameter portions disposed between the second shoulder and the third shoulder; and
a floating sleeve having a radially inwardly projecting retention mechanism at a rear end of the sleeve and a magnet at the front end of the sleeve,
wherein the floating sleeve is removably receivable over the tool bit in a first orientation with the magnet proximate the first working region and the retention mechanism received in the first torsion zone such that the floating sleeve may move between a first forward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the first shoulder and the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the first working region and a first rearward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the second shoulder and the magnet is retracted relative to the first working region.

12. The tool bit system of claim 11 , wherein the diameter of the intermediate portion is substantially the same as a diameter of the first shank portion.

13. The tool bit system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second torsion zones have substantially equal length.

14. The tool bit system of claim 11 , wherein the tool bit further comprises a second working region disposed at a second end of the shaft and configured to drive a fastener and a second shank portion disposed proximate the first end of the shaft and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool.

15. The tool bit system of claim 14 , wherein the second shank portion is disposed between the first working region and the first torsion zone and the first shank portion is disposed between the second working region and the second torsion zone.

16. The tool bit system of claim 14 , wherein the floating sleeve is removably receivable over the tool bit in a second orientation with the magnet proximate the second working region and the retention mechanism received in the second torsion zone such that the floating sleeve may move between a second forward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the fourth shoulder and the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the second working region and a second rearward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the third shoulder and the magnet is retracted relative to the second working region.

17. The tool bit assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises at least one ball received in at least one window in the floating sleeve and a spring band received in an annular recess in the sleeve, the spring band biasing the at least one ball radially inward toward the

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Peters Michael P
• Jiang Denny
• Huang Michael
• Moss Darren B
• Santamarina Aland
• Lee David B
• Brunson Mark E
• Mitchener-Keffer Ruth E

Classifications

• B23B2260/10

  Magnets · CPC title

• B25B23/12

  using magnetic means · CPC title

• Y10T279/17

  Socket type · CPC title

• B23B2231/46

  Pins · CPC title

• B25B23/0035 Primary

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title