Rotary tool including a collet

#The present invention relates to a rotary tool for mounting tool bits and bit replacements on rotatable drives such as drills, power screwdrivers, and other power tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a quick connect collet that attaches tool bits and the like to rotatable drives without the need for tools.

#In one embodiment, the invention provides a collet for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver. The rotary tool includes a shaft having a shaft end and a shaft diameter. The collet includes a body including a first end configured to connect to the rotary tool driver and a second end configured to receive the rotary tool. A magnet is disposed within the body and is positioned to magnetically engage and contact the shaft end to inhibit movement of the rotary tool along a shaft rotational axis. A support member is disposed within the body and is configured to support the shaft for rotation about the shaft rotational axis.

#In another embodiment, the invention provides a collet for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver. The rotary tool includes a shaft having a shaft end and a shaft diameter. The collet includes a body including flats configured for engagement with a hand tool and knurled regions configured to improve a users grip. The body also includes a first end that includes threads that threadably engage a threaded shaft of the rotary tool driver, and a second end that includes an aperture having a diameter that is about the same as the shaft diameter such that the shaft fits within the aperture. A magnet is disposed within the body and is positioned to magnetically engage and contact the shaft end to inhibit movement of the rotary tool along a shaft rotational axis. The magnet used in this embodiment is a rare earth magnet. A support member includes a one-way roller bearing that defines a bearing inside diameter that is about the same as the shaft diameter such that the shaft fits within the inside diameter and is disposed within the body. The bearing is configured to support the shaft for rotation about the shaft rotational axis.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a collet, a tool bit and a rotary drive;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of a collet suitable for use in the assembly of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the collet of FIG. 1 having a first aperture diameter;

#Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The order of limitations specified in any method claims does not imply that the steps or acts set forth therein must be performed in that order, unless an order is explicitly set forth in the specification.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a collet 10 for connecting a rotary tool bit 14 to a rotary tool driver 18. The rotary tool driver 18 can be a drill, powered screwdriver, or other rotatable power tools arranged to drive the rotary tool bit 14. The rotary tool driver 18 includes a housing 22, and a motor 26 disposed substantially within the housing 22. The rotor 34 includes a stator 30 that is fixedly supported by the housing 22 to inhibit rotation of the stator 30 with respect to the housing 22. The rotor 34 is positioned adjacent the stator 30 and is supported for rotation with respect to the stator 30 and in response to the flow of electrical power to the stator 30 and/or rotor 34. In preferred constructions, the rotor 34 is substantially cylindrical and fits within a cylindrical space defined by the stator 30. In other constructions, the rotor 34 is positioned outside of the stator 30 or is spaced axially from the stator 30.

#The rotary tool driver 18 can be powered by an AC motor 26 connected to an AC power source 38 such as is shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the rotary tool driver 18 can be powered by a DC Motor connected to batteries.