Fastener holder tool and method

A fastener installation method, comprising:

• inserting a fastener axially into a plurality of teeth arms of a first collar slidably mounted on a fastener shaft for temporarily securing the fastener relative to the first collar and the fastener shaft, the plurality of teeth arms extending from a base portion of the first collar annularly disposed about the fastener shaft;
• complementarily engaging a distal end of the fastener shaft with the fastener for translating rotation of the fastener shaft into rotation of the fastener;
• rotating the fastener shaft to thereby rotate the fastener and install the fastener into a workpiece;
• and
• forcing the plurality of teeth arms to flex radially outwardly via a camming action to reduce a gripping force on the fastener as the fastener approaches full installation into the workpiece, said camming action due to a cam engagement between the first collar and a second collar slidably mounted on the fastener shaft, the second collar having a body portion annularly disposed about the fastener shaft and radially interposed between the fastener shaft and the plurality of teeth arms of the first collar.

A fastener holder tool for installing a fastener into a vehicle, comprising:

• a fastener shaft having a fastener shaft distal end with a complementary fastener engagement shape;
• a first collar slidably mounted on the fastener shaft and having a plurality of axially extending teeth arms for resiliently holding the fastener, each of the plurality of axially extending teeth arms having a first collar tapered surface on an inward radial side thereof;
• and
• a second collar slidably mounted on the fastener shaft and having a body portion annularly disposed about the fastener shaft and radially interposed between the fastener shaft and the plurality of teeth arms of the first collar, the body portion having a second collar tapered surface on an outward radial side thereof that engages the first collar tapered surface during installation of the fastener and moves the first collar relative to the fastener shaft and radially flexes the plurality of axially extending teeth arms radially outwardly to reduce a holding force on the fastener.