# US 8,770,068 B2 · Screwdriver for an inner profile screw > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,068 B2 - Document ID: US8770068B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/735,439 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2013-05-16 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-13 - Assignees: Stryker Trauma GmbH - Applicants: Stryker Trauma GmbH - Inventors: Peter Witte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770068B2 ## CPC - B25B 23/105: {the gripping device being an integral part of the driving bit} - A61B 17/8888: {at its central region} - B25B 15/008: {Allen-type keys} - B25B 23/108: {the driving bit being a Philips type bit, an Allen type bit or a socket} - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A screw driver for a screw having a drive socket having an axially extending shaft with a bifurcated tip, the tip having a cross-sectional profile for insertion into a cross-sectional profile of the screw socket. The shaft has a tapered section adjacent the bifurcated tip. A bushing is mounted on an outer surface of the shaft for axial movement therealong. The bushing has inwardly extending protrusions for engaging the tapered section on the shaft upon movement in the axial direction along the shaft in a direction away from the tip. This allows the selective capture or release of the screw by the shaft tip by axial movement of the bushing away from and towards the shaft distal tip. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of using a screwdriver with an inner profile screw having an inner profile recess, the method comprising steps of: providing an axially extending shaft including a distal tip having a profile corresponding with the inner profile recess of the inner profile screw, the distal tip having an outer profile formed in a split manner defining at least two sections, at least one of the at least two sections having an oblique contact member, and moving a bushing disposed about the shaft in an axial direction along the shaft toward the distal tip such that an inwardly extending contact ring disposed around a circumference of the bushing disengages from the oblique contact member, thereby allowing the at least two sections of the distal tip to deflect away from one another to clamp the inner profile recess with the distal tip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of engaging the distal tip of the shaft into the inner profile recess of the inner profile screw before the step of moving. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of rotating the shaft about a central axis of the shaft to drive the engaged inner profile screw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein after the step of rotating the shaft, the method further comprises a step of moving the bushing in an axial direction along the shaft away from the distal tip such that the contact ring engages the oblique contact member, thereby pressing the at least two sections of the distal tip together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein before the step of engaging, the method further comprises an initial step of moving the bushing in an axial direction along the shaft away from the distal tip such that the contact ring engages the oblique contact member, thereby pressing the at least two sections of the distal tip together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of an elastic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving includes rotating the bushing relative to the shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving includes screwing an inner thread of the bushing with respect to a complimentary outer thread of the shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the split manner of the distal tip forms a gap defining a plane that is arranged parallel and eccentrically to a central axis of the shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the outer profile of the distal tip is formed as an outer multi-sided head that corresponds with an inner multi-sided recess of the screw, the outer multi-sided head being formed in a split manner in a symmetry plane, and the other of the at least two sections has an oblique contact member such that the oblique contact members are opposite to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the shaft is split parallel to two faces of multiple sides of the outer multi-sided head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oblique contact member is angled with respect to a central axis of the shaft. ### Claim 13 A method of using a screwdriver with a screw having a drive socket, the method comprising steps of: providing an axially extending shaft with a bifurcated tip having two sections, the tip having a cross-sectional profile corresponding with a cross-sectional profile of the drive socket, the shaft having a tapered section adjacent the bifurcated tip; and moving a bushing disposed about the shaft in an axial direction along the shaft from the tapered section toward the bifurcated tip such that an inwardly extending protrusion disposed around a circumference of the bushing disengages from the tapered section on the shaft, thereby allowing the two sections of the tip to expand apart from one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of rotating the shaft about a central axis of the shaft to drive the engaged screw. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the shaft is comprised of an elastic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the step of moving includes rotating the bushing relative to the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the step of moving includes screwing an inner thread of the bushing with respect to a complimentary outer thread of the shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tip is formed as an outer multi-sided head that corresponds with an inner multi-sided recess of the drive socket, the outer multi-sided head being formed in a split manner in a symmetry plane, and the two sections each have an oblique contact member that are opposite to each other. ### Claim 19 A method of using a screwdriver with an inner profile screw having an inner profile recess, the method comprising steps of: engaging a distal tip of an axially extending shaft into the inner profile recess of the inner profile screw, the distal tip having a profile corresponding with the inner profile recess of the inner profile screw, the distal tip having an outer profile formed in a split manner defining at least two sections, at least one of the at least two sections having an oblique contact member, clamping the inner profile recess with the distal tip by moving a bushing disposed about the shaft in an axial direction along the shaft toward the distal tip such that an inwardly extending contact ring disposed around a circumference of the bushing disengages from the oblique contact member, thereby allowing the at least two sections of the distal tip to deflect away from one another to engage walls of the inner profile recess, and rotating the shaft about a central axis of the shaft to drive the engaged inner profile screw. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein after the step of rotating the shaft, the method further comprises a step of moving the bushing in an axial direction along the shaft away from the distal tip such that the contact ring engages the oblique contact member, thereby pressing the at least two sections of the distal tip together.