Detented adapter interface for screwdriver tool attachment

A tool apparatus, comprising:

• (a) an attachment having:
• (i) a first end with an indexing mechanism to move a collated strip of fasteners so that the fasteners can be driven, and (ii) a second end with an open area having an interior mating surface;
• (b) an adapter having a third end with an exterior mating surface, and a fourth end that is shaped for mounting to a power screwdriver;
• (c) said exterior mating surface of the adapter is shaped to fit within said interior mating surface of the attachment;
• (d) said attachment includes at least one manually-actuated movable latch that, if not actuated, has a contact member that engages an area of said exterior mating surface of the adaptor to hold said attachment and said adapter in a substantially fixed axial relationship, wherein if the movable latch is actuated, said contact member becomes disengaged from said area of the exterior mating surface of the adapter, and thereby allows said attachment to be dismounted from said adapter;
• (e) said exterior mating surface including an area that comprises a plurality of sliding surfaces that are separated from one another by a plurality of grooves formed in said area;
• and
• (f) said interior mating surface including a spherical member that is held in a predetermined angular position by an opening of a leaf spring, and when said adapter is mated to said attachment, said spherical member is in physical contact with at least one of:
• (i) said plurality of sliding surfaces and (ii) said plurality of grooves, such that:
• if said spherical member is substantially in contact with one of the plurality of grooves, then said attachment is in a detent position and will not readily move in a radial direction with respect to said adapter;
• and
• if said spherical member is substantially in contact with one of the plurality of sliding surfaces, then said attachment is in a condition that allows movement in said radial direction with respect to said adapter, while said attachment remains mounted to said adapter.

A method for operating a combination power tool, said method comprising:

• (a) providing:
• (i) a power screwdriver;
• (ii) providing an adapter that is fixedly attached to said power screwdriver, said adapter having an exterior mating surface;
• and (iii) providing an attachment that is removably attachable to said adapter, said attachment having:
• (A) a distal end with an indexing mechanism to move a collated strip of fasteners so that the fasteners can be driven, and (B) a proximal end with an open area having an interior mating surface;
• (b) mounting said attachment to said power screwdriver, by inserting said exterior mating surface of the adapter into said interior mating surface open area of the attachment, wherein a contact member of at least one manually-actuated movable latch of said attachment is moved into a retaining groove that is included on said adapter, thereby holding said attachment and said adapter in a substantially fixed axial relationship;
• and
• (c) after said mounting step is completed, changing a radial angle orientation between said attachment and said power screwdriver without dismounting said attachment from said power screwdriver, by:
• (i) twisting said attachment with a first hand while holding said power screwdriver with a second hand, and (ii) causing a deflectable element of said attachment to move along at least one sliding surface of said adapter in a radial direction, from a first radial angular position to a second radial angular position, such that said deflectable element is able to move as necessary in a diametral direction, but at the same time is retained to said attachment.