Rotatable chuck

A rotatable chuck for use with a power tool having a drive shaft, comprising:

• a body comprising a rear end adapted to be connected to a drive shaft of a power tool and a forward end adapted to receive a shaft of a work tool, said body thereby being rotatable in response to said drive shaft;
• a plurality of jaws disposed within said forward end of said body, said jaws being moveable between a smaller diametrical relationship defined by said jaws and a larger diametrical relationship defined by said jaws, wherein said jaws are adapted to grip said shaft of said work tool whereby said body and said jaws transmit a force from said power tool to said work tool;
• an adjustment ring mounted about said body and operably engaged with said jaws, said adjustment ring and said body being rotatable relative thereto in a tightening direction wherein said jaws move toward said smaller diametrical relationship and in a loosening direction wherein said jaws move toward said larger diametrical relationship;
• a guide member adapted to be rotationally restrained relative to a frame of said power tool, rotational movement of said guide member thereby being limited relative to said body;
• a guide surface connected to said guide member and extending along at least a longitudinal direction of said body;
• an impact member operably engaged with said guide surface, said impact member thereby being moveable along said longitudinal direction;
• a first protrusion connected to said impact member;
• a second protrusion connected to said adjustment ring and rotatable therewith;
• a spring biasing said first protrusion and said second protrusion into engagement, wherein said first protrusion restricts rotational movement of said second protrusion when said drive shaft of said power tool is rotated, said adjustment ring and said body thereby being rotatable relative thereto to adjust said jaws in response to rotation of said drive shaft;
• and
• a locking member operably engaged with said impact member through a ramp disposed between said locking member and said impact member, said ramp being inclined along said longitudinal direction, and said locking member comprising a first position and a second position, wherein said first position biases said impact member against said spring to disengage said first protrusion and said second protrusion and said second position releases said impact member to engage said first protrusion and said second protrusion.