Shaft retention mechanism

A retention assembly for connecting a base to a tool having a shaft, the retention assembly comprising:

• a shaft engagement socket defining a shaft receptacle configure to receive the shaft along an insertion axis;
• a retainer configured to releasably secure the shaft to the shaft engagement socket, the retainer having a body that defines an opening extending therethrough, the opening being dimensioned to receive the shaft;
• and
• at least one finger extending from the body of the retainer, the at least one finger defining a sliding surface and being configured to contact the shaft,
• wherein the sliding surface of the at least one finger is configured to slidably contact a ramp on the shaft engagement socket;
• wherein the retainer is configured to translate relative to the shaft engagement socket along the insertion axis, such that when the retainer is translated toward the shaft engagement socket, the sliding surface of the at least one finger slides along the ramp of the shaft engagement socket and causes the at least one finger to move away from the shaft, and when the retainer is translated away from the shaft engagement socket, the sliding surface of the at least one finger slides along the ramp and causes the at least one finger to move towards the shaft;
• wherein the retainer includes an outer wall extending from the body and a deformable clip disposed on the outer wall, the deformable clip being configured to slidably engage the shaft engagement socket to releasably secure the retainer to the shaft engagement socket;
• and
• wherein the shaft engagement socket includes four walls, each wall being orthogonal to two adjacent walls, the four walls defining the shaft receptacle being configured to receive the shaft, wherein the proximal end of the shaft having a rectangular cross section and wherein the shaft engagement socket is configured to contact a locking surface on a socketing region of the shaft when the socketing region is in the shaft engagement socket, such that when the wall is in contact with the locking surface, rotational movement of the shaft around the insertion axis is precluded and wherein the socketing region is shaped to correspond to the cross-section of the shaft.