Fastener support apparatus

A fastener support apparatus for facilitating the installation of individual screws into a work surface, and wherein the fastener support apparatus is mounted on a drive assembly having a clutch, the fastener support apparatus comprising:

• a connector for releasably mating with the drive assembly;
• an enclosure borne by the connector and extending outwardly a given distance therefrom;
• a drive shaft rotatably borne by the enclosure and mounted in force receiving relation relative to the drive assembly, the drive shaft reciprocally moveable along a predetermined path of travel;
• a depth adjustment assembly movably borne by the enclosure and operable for travel along a given path of travel;
• a rotatable bit for engaging the head of a screw and which is mounted on the drive shaft;
• a base member borne by the rotatable bit, and simultaneously rotatable therewith;
• a sleeve borne by the base member and reciprocally moveable along a given path of travel;
• a screw support assembly movably borne by the base member and matingly engaging the sleeve, the screw support assembly including a passageway defining a screw receiving station which is operable to receive the head of the screw;
• a locking assembly borne by the screw support assembly and operable for travel from a first, partially occluding position relative to the passageway, to a second, substantially non-occluding position;
• and
• an actuating assembly borne by the screw support assembly, and which positions the locking assembly in the first or second positions, and wherein the actuating assembly is freely rotatable relative to the screw support assembly, and wherein during operation, the locking assembly when disposed in the first partially occluding position retains the head of the screw in the screw receiving station, and when disposed in the second, substantially non-occluding position releases the screw from the screw receiving station such that the screw may be driven completely into the work surface.

A fastener support apparatus for use with a drive assembly having a clutch, the fastener support assembly comprising:

• a connector for releasably mating with the drive assembly, and wherein the connector has opposite first and second ends, and further defines a first passageway which extends from the first to the second end;
• an enclosure borne by the connector and extending outwardly a given distance therefrom, and wherein the enclosure has first and second ends, and defines a second passageway which extends from the first to the second end, and further is substantially coaxially aligned relative to the first passageway;
• a drive shaft rotatably borne by the enclosure and mounted in force receiving relation relative to the clutch, the drive shaft being reciprocally moveable along a predetermined path of travel, and wherein the drive shaft has a first end which is disposed in driving relation relative to the clutch and an opposite second end, and wherein the second end defines a cavity having predetermined dimensions;
• a depth adjustment assembly borne by the second end of the enclosure and coaxially moveable along a given path of travel relative thereto, and wherein the depth adjustment assembly defines a third passageway which is operable to telescopingly receive the second end of the enclosure;
• a biasing means borne by the enclosure and operable to urge the drive shaft in a predetermined direction along the path of travel of the drive shaft;
• a rotatable bit for engaging the head of a screw and which is telescopingly received in the cavity of the drive shaft, and wherein rotatable movement of drive shaft is imparted to the rotatable bit;
• a base member borne by the rotatable bit and simultaneously rotatable therewith, the base member having a main body with opposite first and second ends and further defining a fourth passageway, and wherein the fourth passageway is substantially coaxially aligned relative to the third passageway, and wherein the base member further has a circumscribing flange which is located on the first end;
• a sleeve borne by the base member and reciprocally moveable along a given path of travel, and wherein the sleeve has a main body with opposite first and second ends, and wherein the main body defines a fifth passageway and wherein the main body further includes a second circumscribing flange which is disposed in partially occluding relation relative to the fifth passageway;
• a screw support assembly movably borne by the base member and matingly engaging the sleeve, and wherein the screw support assembly has a main body with opposite first and second ends and further defining a sixth passageway, and wherein the second end of the base portion is telescopingly received in the sixth passageway, and wherein the sixth passageway further defines a screw receiving station which is operable to receive the head of the screw;
• a biasing means borne by the screw support assembly and operable to urge the screw support assembly in a given direction;
• a locking assembly borne by the screw support assembly and operable to travel from a first partially occluding position relative to the passageway to a second, substantially non-occluding position;
• and
• an actuating assembly borne by the screw support assembly, and which positions the locking assembly in the first or second positions, and wherein the actuating assembly is freely rotatable relative to the screw support assembly, and wherein during operation, the locking assembly when disposed in the first, partially occluding position retains the head of the screw in the screw receiving station, and when disposed in the second, substantially non-occluding position releases the screw from the screw receiving station such that the screw may be driven completely into the work surface.

A fastener support apparatus for facilitating the installation of individual screws into a work surface, and wherein the fastener support apparatus works in combination with a drive assembly having a clutch, the fastener support apparatus comprising:

• a depth adjustment assembly;
• a base member located in a predetermined orientation relative to the depth adjustment assembly;
• a sleeve telescopingly borne by the base member and reciprocally moveable relative thereto;
• a screw support assembly reciprocally borne by the base member and matingly interfitted with the sleeve, the screw support assembly including a passageway defining a screw receiving station which is operable to receive the head of the screw;
• a locking assembly borne by the screw support assembly and operable to travel from a first partially occluding position relative to the passageway to a second, substantially non-occluding position;
• and
• an actuating assembly borne by the screw support assembly, and which positions the locking assembly in the first, partially occluding position or the second, substantially non-occluding position, and wherein the actuating assembly is freely rotatable relative to the screw support assembly, and wherein during operation, the locking assembly, when disposed in the first, partially occluding position retains the head-of the screw in the screw receiving station, and when disposed in the second, substantially non-occluding position releases the screw from the screw receiving station.