US 6,601,483 B2Granted

Automatic bit changing screwdriver

AssigneeFutureWorks Concepts Ltd.

InventorGeorge Michael Wannop

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Abstract

A screwdriver with a bit storage member rotatable about a slotted, apertured core. A magnet-tipped push rod slides through the core. A magnetic lever arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft and biased toward its slot. The rod moves through the member between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the core is rotatable with respect to the member to position the slot adjacent a bit storage cavity; and, the lever arm is pivotally biased toward and through the slot, magnetically attracting the tool bit in the cavity. While the rod moves into the retracted position, the member is not rotatable about the core; the rod pushes the arm and bit away from the cavity, through the slot into the core; the rod's magnet moves forwardly magnetically attracting the bit; and, pushes the bit forwardly through a shaft to protrude through the shaft's open forward end.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A screwdriver, comprising:

(a) an apertured core;
(b) a bit storage member rotatable with respect to said core;
(c) a plurality of bit storage cavities provided within said bit storage member;
(d) a push rod slidably movable through said core;
(e) a push rod magnet supported on a forward end of said push rod;
(f) a hand grip on a rearward end of said push rod;
(g) a magnetic bit changing arm coupled to said core and movable toward a selected one of said bit storage cavities;
(h) an apertured shaft extending from a forward end of and in coaxial alignment with said core;
wherein:
(i) said push rod is slidably movable through said core and through said bit storage member between extended and retracted positions;
(ii) when said push rod is in said extended position:
(1) said push rod magnet is located rearwardly of said bit storage cavities;
(2) said core is rotatable with respect to said bit storage member to position said bit changing arm adjacent said selected one of said bit storage cavities;
(3) said bit changing arm is extended toward said selected one of said bit storage cavities, magnetically attracting to said bit changing arm a tool bit located in said selected one of said bit storage cavities;
(iii) during movement of said push rod from said extended position into said retracted position:
(1) said core is not rotatable with respect to said bit storage member;
(2) said push rod pushes said bit changing arm and said magnetically attracted tool bit away from said selected one of said bit storage cavities and into coaxial alignment with said shaft;
(3) said push rod magnet is pushed forwardly toward a rearward end of said magnetically attracted tool bit, magnetically attracting said tool bit onto said push rod magnet;
and,
(4) said push rod is pushed forwardly, pushing said magnetically attracted tool bit forwardly into said shaft until said magnetically attracted tool bit protrudes through an open forward end of said shaft.

17 more elements

A screwdriver, comprising:

(a) an apertured core;
(b) a bit storage member rotatable with respect to said core;
(c) a plurality of bit storage cavities provided within said bit storage member;
(d) a push rod slidably movable through said core;
(e) a hand grip on a rearward end of said push rod;
(f) a lever arm coupled to said push rod and biased toward a selected one of said bit storage cavities, said lever arm having a lever arm magnet;
(g) an apertured shaft extending from a forward end of and in coaxial alignment with said core;
wherein:
(i) said push rod is slidably movable through said core and through said bit storage member between extended and retracted positions;
(ii) when said push rod is in said extended position:
(1) said lever arm magnet is located rearwardly of said bit storage cavities;
(2) said core is rotatable with respect to said bit storage member to position said bit changing arm adjacent said selected one of said bit storage cavities;
(3) said lever arm is extended toward said selected one of said bit storage cavities, magnetically attracting to said lever arm a tool bit located in said selected one of said bit storage cavities;
(iii) during movement of said push rod from said extended position into said retracted position:
(1) said core is not rotatable with respect to said bit storage member;
(2) said push rod pushes said lever arm and said magnetically attracted tool bit away from said selected one of said bit storage cavities and into coaxial alignment with said shaft;
and,
(3) said push rod is pushed forwardly, pushing said magnetically attracted tool bit forwardly into said shaft until said magnetically attracted tool bit protrudes through an open forward end of said shaft.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.