# US 10,245,656 B2 · Step bit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,656 B2 - Document ID: US10245656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/661,118 - Filed: 2017-07-27 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-27 - Assignees: Greenlee Tools, Inc. - Applicants: Greenlee Textron Inc. - Inventors: Arthur Anton Piper; John Jeremiah Morton; Nalin Devalam; Robert Bruce Bentley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245656B2 ## CPC - B23B 51/009: {Stepped drills} - B23B 51/0002: {Drills with connected cutting heads, e.g. with non-exchangeable cutting heads; Drills with a single insert extending across the rotational axis and having at least two radially extending cutting edges in the working position} - B23B 2251/282: Unequal spacing of cutting edges in the circumferential direction - B23B 2251/44: Margins, i.e. the narrow portion of the land which is not cut away to provide clearance on the circumferential surface - B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A step bit according to some embodiments includes a body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge configured to cut a hole in a workpiece, and a plurality of steps provided on the body. The steps progressively increase in diameter from a first distal step to a terminal proximal step. One or more of the steps have first and second lands. An outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land. A length of the first land is less than a length of the second land. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body from the tip to the proximal end, each step having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, wherein in each step the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land, wherein the length of each first land is the same, and wherein the length of each second land is the same; and a shank extending proximally from the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, wherein the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, and the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land. ### Claim 5 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body, each step having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, wherein in each step the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land; a shank extending proximally from the body; and wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, and wherein the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land, and wherein in one or more of the steps, the proximal surface of the first land is angled at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the distal surface of the first land, and the proximal surface of the second land is angled at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the distal surface of the second land. ### Claim 6 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body, each step having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, wherein in each step the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land; a shank extending proximally from the body; and wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, and wherein the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land, and wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, and the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land; wherein in one or more of the steps, each corner surface is radiused. ### Claim 7 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body, each step having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, wherein in each step the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land; a shank extending proximally from the body; and wherein in two or more of the steps, the outer diameter of the second land is greater than the outer diameter of the respective first land by the same amount. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the length of each first land is less than the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each second land is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The step bit of claim 8, wherein the length of each first land is approximately 59%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each second land is approximately 155%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the combined lengths of the first and second lands greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The step bit of claim 1, wherein in each step, the length of the second land is approximately three times as long as the length of the first land. ### Claim 12 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body, one or more of the steps having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface and defining an outer diameter, and one or more of the steps having a single land, each single land having a length and a surface and defining an outer diameter, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land, wherein in each step having a single land, the length of the single land is substantially the same as the length of the second lands of the steps having first and second lands; and a shank extending proximally from the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein only the terminal step and the penultimate step are comprised of the first and second lands. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein in each single land, the surface comprises a proximal surface, and each single land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land, and the surface in each single land comprises a proximal surface, and each single land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the outer diameter of the second land is greater than the outer diameter of the respective first land by the same amount. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the length of each first land is less than the maximum thickness of the workpiece, the length of each second land is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each single land is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The step bit of claim 19, wherein the length of each first land is approximately 59%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each second land is approximately 155%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the combined lengths of the first and second lands is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein in each step having first and second lands, a total length is defined as the sum of the length of the first land and the length of the second land, and wherein the total length is equal in two or more of the steps having first and second lands. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the length of the second land is approximately three times as long as the length of the first land. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The step bit of claim 12, wherein only one of the steps is comprised of the first and second lands. ### Claim 25 A step bit comprising: a distal end and a proximal end, and a central axis defined between the distal and proximal ends around which the step bit is configured to be rotated; a tip provided at the distal end, the tip including one or more cutting edges; a body extending from the tip, the body including one or more flutes having a cutting edge, a plurality of steps provided on the body, one or more of the steps having a first land and a second land extending proximally from the first land, each first land having a length and a surface defining an outer diameter, each second land having a length and a surface and defining an outer diameter, and one or more of the steps having a single land, each single land having a length and a surface and defining an outer diameter, the lands progressively increasing in outer diameter as the steps progress from a first step at the distal end to a terminal step at a proximal end of the body, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the outer diameter of the first land is less than the outer diameter of the second land, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the length of the first land is less than the length of the second land, wherein in each step having a single land, the length of the single land is greater than the length of the second lands of the steps having first and second lands; and a shank extending proximally from the body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein only the terminal step and the penultimate step are comprised of the first and second lands. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein in each single land, the surface comprises a proximal surface, and each single land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein the surface in each first land comprises a proximal surface, and each first land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface, the surface in each second land comprises a proximal surface, and each second land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land and is angled relative to the proximal surface of the second land, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface of the second land, and the surface in each single land comprises a proximal surface, and each single land further comprises a distal surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface and is angled relative to the proximal surface, and a corner surface which extends proximally from the proximal surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the outer diameter of the second land is greater than the outer diameter of the respective first land by the same amount. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the length of each first land is less than the maximum thickness of the workpiece, the length of each second land is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each single land is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The step bit of claim 32, wherein the length of each first land is approximately 59%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece, and the length of each second land is approximately 155%±15% of the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, the step bit being configured to cut a workpiece having a maximum thickness, wherein the combined lengths of the first and second lands is greater than the maximum thickness of the workpiece. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein in each step having first and second lands, a total length is defined as the sum of the length of the first land and the length of the second land, and wherein the total length is equal in two or more of the steps having first and second lands. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein in each step having first and second lands, the length of the second land is approximately three times as long as the length of the first land. ### Claim 37 (depends on 25) The step bit of claim 25, wherein only one of the steps is comprised of the first and second lands.