Socket for lever removal of screwdriver bit

In combination, a screwdriver having a mandrel, a replaceable screw engaging bit and a separate bit removing lever tool,

• the mandrel elongated along and rotatable about a longitudinal mandrel axis and having at a forward end a socket extending from a socket opening at the forward end of the mandrel rearwardly along the mandrel axis with a side wall about the socket,
• the side wall of the mandrel having an inner surface delineating the socket therein and an exterior surface,
• the bit axially slidably received in the socket for rotation with the socket, the bit retained in the socket in a fully rearwardly seated position against removal by movement forwardly under axially forwardly directed forces less than a required force, the bit slidably movable forwardly from the seated position to a forward position in which the bit may be removed from the socket under axially directed forces less than said required force,
• the bit having a forward end and a rear end,
• a slot extending radially through the side wall from the exterior surface to the inner surface to open into the socket on one side of the mandrel rearward of the rear end of the bit when the bit is in the fully seated position,
• the slot having a forward end and a rear end, the slot providing at its rear end a generally radially-extending, forwardly-directed engagement surface,
• the inner surface of the side wall diametrically opposite from the slot relative the axis comprising a generally axially-extending engagement surface,
• the separate bit removing lever tool comprising an elongate body portion for manual grasping with a hook-shaped portion at one end,
• the hook-shaped portion extending from the body portion to curve back on itself to a distal end and with a hook-shape of the hook-shaped portion defined between side surfaces comprising an inwardly directed inside surface and an outwardly directed outside surface of the book-shaped portion,
• the hook-shaped portion removably insertable via the slot to be received within the socket with the distal end extending forwardly relative the slot into the socket into engagement with the rear end of the bit simultaneously with a rearwardly-directed portion of the outside surface remote from the distal end engaging the forwardly-directed engagement surface of the slot and a radially-directed portion of the side surfaces closer to the distal end than the rearwardly-directed portion engaging the axially-extending engagement surface.

An apparatus for automatically driving threaded fasteners, such as screws or the like, which are joined together by a strap comprising:

• a housing,
• a power driver secured to the housing,
• a drive shaft operatively connected to the power driver for rotation and defining a longitudinal axis,
• a slide body coupled to the housing for reciprocal displacement parallel to the axis of the drive shaft between an extended position and a retracted position,
• screw feed mechanism to receive the fasteners and strap and advance successive threaded fasteners into substantially axial alignment with said drive shaft for engagement by the drive shaft on reciprocal displacement of the slide body relative the housing,
• the drive shaft comprising an elongate mandrel having at a forward end a screw engaging bit coupled to the mandrel for rotation therewith about the axis of the drive shaft,
• the mandrel elongated along and rotatable about a longitudinal mandrel axis and having at a forward end a socket extending from a socket opening at the forward end of the mandrel rearwardly along the mandrel axis with a side wall about the socket,
• the bit axially slidably received in the socket for rotation with the socket, the bit retained in the socket against removal under axially forwardly directed forces less than a required force,
• the bit having a forward end and a rear end,
• a slot extending radially inwardly into the socket through the side wall of the mandrel from one side of the mandrel rearward of the rear end of the bit, the slot adapted for receipt of a removable tool for removal of the bit,
• the slide body having a side access opening on one side thereof opening radially relative the axis proximate a forward end of the slide body which side access opening provides access radially to the mandrel when the slide body is proximate the extended position,
• the slot located at an axial position on the mandrel such that when the slide body is proximate the extended position and the mandrel is rotated with the slot on the same side as the side access opening the slot is accessible via the side access opening.