Tool holder with pivoting bit
AssigneeBondhus Corporation
InventorsMike Blackston, Mark Petroske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bit holder and an interchangeable bit that can pivot or articulate relative to the bit holder. The bit holder includes a multi-depth socket for receiving the interchangeable bit. The different depths of the socket determine whether the interchangeable bit operates as a straight-on bit or an off-angle bit. An outer sleeve can slide along a longitudinal axis of a shaft to change the depth of the socket. Alternatively, opposite ends of the bit holder have different depth sockets for receiving the interchangeable bit and/or a shank portion. By flipping over the bit holder, the interchangeable bit can operate as either a straight-on bit or an off-angle bit.
Claims17
A bit holder comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end adapted to couple with a driver, and a distal end magnetically coupled to an interchangeable bit;
- an outer sleeve surrounding the shaft in an unlocked configuration to form a socket with a non-circular cross section near the distal end of the shaft;
- at least one interchangeable bit comprising a working end and a proximal portion with a non-circular cross section complementary to the socket, the proximal portion including a plurality of contoured portions that permit the interchangeable bit to articulate in the socket, the interchangeable bit further including a relief located between the working end and the proximal portion configured to permit articulation of the interchangeable bit and to engage with distal end of the outer sleeve to limit articulation relative to the shaft;
- and
- a locked configuration for the outer sleeve such that the distal end of the outer sleeve engages with a body portion of the interchangeable bit to retain the interchangeable bit generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
A bit holder comprising:
- an outer sleeve secured to a shaft to form a first socket with a first depth, and a second socket with a second depth greater than the first depth, at opposite ends of the outer sleeve, the first and second sockets each include a non-circular cross section;
- a shank having a non-circular cross section complementary to the first and second sockets;
- and
- at least one interchangeable bit comprising a working end and a proximal portion with a non-circular cross section complementary to the first and second sockets, the proximal portion including a plurality of contoured portions that permit the interchangeable bit to articulate in the first socket, the interchangeable bit further including a relief located between the working end and the proximal portion configured to engage with distal end of the outer sleeve to limit articulation relative to the intermediate shaft, the outer sleeve at the second socket engaging a body portion of the interchangeable bit to retain the interchangeable bit generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.