Molded chuck

A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a rotatable drive shaft, said chuck comprising:

• a) an integrally molded body member having a nose section and a tail section, said nose section having an axial bore formed therein and a plurality of angularly disposed passageways formed therethrough and intersecting said axial bore and said tail section being configured to rotate with the drive shaft;
• b) a plurality of jaws slidably positioned in said angularly disposed passageways, each of said jaws having a tool engaging face formed on one side thereof and threads formed on an opposite outer side thereof;
• and
• c) a nut rotatably mounted on said body member and in engagement with said threads on said jaws,
• wherein said tail section extends radially outward to form a gripping surface and axially forward to form a thrust bearing surface in operative engagement with said nut so that said nut transfers rearward axial force to said thrust bearing surface.