Tool-free collet tightener
AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorsRobert Alan Berry, Michael E. Bitzel, Allen K. Brelsford, John L. McKibben
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collet assembly for a tool comprising a collet nut rotatably connectable to the tool; a collet operatively connectable to the collet nut; and a collet wrench movably connected with the tool and engageable with the collet nut for tightening and loosening the collet.
Claims9
A collet assembly for selectively attaching a tool accessory to a tool comprising:
- a collet nut rotatably connectable to the tool;
- a collet compressable by the collet nut;
- and
- a torque application feature movably connected with the tool and engageable with the collet nut for compressing and loosening the collet.
A collet assembly for selectively attaching a tool accessory to the spindle of a tool comprising:
- a collet operatively coupled to the spindle and adapted to securely engage the tool accessory when tightened;
- a collet nut rotatably coupled to the collet and having torque application features formed thereon;
- a collet tightening member rotatably coupled to the tool and engageable with said torque application features for rotating the collet nut to tighten and loosen the collet.
A method of tightening a collet for selectively attaching a tool accessory to a tool without the use of separate hand tools, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a tool comprising a collet, a collet nut and a collet tightening member;
- inserting the tool accessory into the collet;
- preventing rotation of the collet;
- moving the collet tightening member from an engaged to a disengaged position, wherein the collet tightening member contacts the collet nut;
- and
- rotating the collet tightening member such that the collet compresses around the tool accessory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.