Depth-adjusting system for a power tool

A screwdriver having a housing, comprising:

• (a) a nose portion connected forwardly of the housing and including a first detent portion and a front portion;
• (b) a bit rotatably connected to the screwdriver adjacent the nose portion along an axis and having a predetermined axial length;
• (c) an adjustment collar connected to the housing nose portion coaxial with the bit, and having an internal threaded portion, the adjustment collar connected to the nose portion for rotatable, non-axial movement during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment collar;
• (d) a depth locator connected to the front portion of the nose portion for axial movement relative to the bit, the depth locator connected to the nose portion for slideably axial, non-rotatable movement during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment collar;
• (e) the depth locator including a workpiece-engaging portion and an exterior threaded portion operatively engageable with the adjustment collar internal threaded portion;
• (f) the depth locator axial movement being responsive to rotation of the adjustment collar;
• and
• (g) the adjustment collar further including a plurality of resilient indexing fingers engageable with the first detent portion of the nose portion, whereby the adjustment collar is releasably maintained in a predetermined angular position relative to the nose portion.

A depth-adjusting system for a power tool having a housing, comprising:

• (a) a nose portion connected to the housing, and having an axis;
• (b) an adjustment member connected to the nose portion for rotatable, non-axial movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
• (c) a locator member connected to the nose portion for axially slidable, non-rotatable movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member, and including linking means for axially moving the locator member relative to the nose portion responsive to rotation of the adjustment member;
• (d) the linking means including means operatively associated with the nose portion and the locator member for releasably restraining the locator member from rotating consequent to said rotation of the adjustment member;
• (e) indexing means operatively associated with the adjustment member and the nose portion for releasably maintaining the adjustment member in a predetermined angular position relative to the nose portion for the rotatable, non-axial movement;
• and
• (f) the indexing means including a plurality of resilient axial fingers formed on the adjustment member and engageable with detent means formed on the nose portion.

A depth-adjusting system for a power tool having a housing, comprising:

• (a) a nose portion connected to the housing, and having an axis;
• (b) an adjustment member connected to the nose portion for rotatable, non-axial movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
• (c) a locator member connected to the nose portion for axially slideable, non-rotatable movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member, and including linking means for axially moving the locator member relative to the nose portion responsive to rotation of the adjustment member;
• (d) the linking means including first means operatively associated with the nose portion and the locator member for releasably restraining the locator member from rotating consequent to said rotation of the adjustment member;
• (e) second means operatively associated with the nose portion and the adjustment member for releasably restraining the adjustment member from axially moving relative to the nose portion during the depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
• and
• (f) the second means for restraining including an internal annular flange engageable in a snap-action with a retaining ring connected to the nose portion.

A depth-adusting system for a power tool having a housing, comprising:

• (a) a nose portion connected to the housing, and having an axis;
• (b) an adjustment member connected to the nose portion for rotatable, non-axial movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
• (c) a locator member connected to the nose portion for axially slidable, non-rotatable movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member, and including linking means for axially moving the locator member relative to the nose portion responsive to rotation of the adjustment member;
• (d) the linking means including means operatively associated with the nose portion and the locator member for releasably restraining the locator member from rotating consequent to said rotation of the adjustment member;
• and
• (e) anti-locking means for inhibiting the locator member from locking-up with the adjustment member consequent to rotational movement of the adjustment member relative to the locator member through a predetermined distance.

A depth-adjusting system for a power tool having a housing, comprising:

• (a) a nose portion connected to the housing, and having an axis;
• (b) an adjustment member connected to the nose portion for rotatable, non-axial movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member;
• (c) a locator member connected to the nose portion for axially slidable, non-rotatable movement relative to the nose portion during depth-adjusting movement of the adjustment member, and including linking means for axially moving the locator member relative to the nose portion responsive to rotation of the adjustment member;
• (d) the linking means including means operatively associated with the nose portion and the locator member for releasably restraining the locator member from rotating consequent to said rotation of the adjustment member;
• and
• (e) the locator member and the adjustment member being formed with accommodating structure which permits the locator member and the adjustment member to be assembled together and disassembled without destruction to the locator member and the adjustment member.