Drilling apparatus and method
AssigneeIrwin Industrial Tool Company
InventorsRyan Hall, Rainer Eggers, Kim Franklin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drill bit has a shank adapted to be attached to a power tool and a cutting portion adapted to drill a hole in a material. A collar is spaced along the length of the drill bit to set a depth distance that the drill bit is allowed to be inserted into a material being drilled. The drill bit further comprises a first engagement structure. A sleeve comprises a second engagement structure that is releasably engageable with the first engagement structure. The sleeve further comprises a coupling mechanism for connecting the sleeve to a fastener driver.
Claims19
A drilling apparatus comprising:
- a drill bit comprising:
- a shank adapted to be attached to a power tool;
- a cutting portion adapted to drill a hole in a material;
- and
- a collar spaced along the length of the drill bit;
- and
- a first engagement structure;
- a sleeve comprising:
- a first end and a distal second end;
- a second engagement structure disposed adjacent the first end and releasably engageable with the first engagement structure of the drill bit;
- and
- a coupling mechanism disposed adjacent the send end, the coupling mechanism releasably coupling a fastener driver to the sleeve.
A method of installing a fastener comprising:
- attaching a drill bit to a power tool, the drill bit comprising:
- a shank;
- a cutting portion adapted to drill a hole in a material;
- a collar permanently secured to the drill bit in a position along the length of the drill bit;
- and
- a stop provided along the length of the drill bit, wherein the stop sets a depth distance that the drill bit is allowed to be inserted into a material being drilled;
- drilling a hole using the cutting portion to penetrate the material;
- removing the drill bit from the hole;
- securing a first end of a driver sleeve to the drill bit, the driver sleeve supporting a fastener driver at a distal second end of the driver sleeve;
- and
- screwing a fastener into the hole using the fastener driver.
A drill bit comprising:
- a first end and a distal second end;
- a shank extending from the first end toward the second end, the shank comprising a quick change shank configured to attach the shank to a power tool;
- a cutting portion extending from the second end towards the first end and adapted to drill a hole in a material;
- and
- a collar spaced along the length of the drill bit between the quick connect mechanism and the cutting portion, the collar comprising a first engagement structure adapted to be attached to a sleeve.
A method of installing a fastener comprising:
- attaching a drill bit to a power tool, the drill bit comprising:
- a shank;
- a cutting portion adapted to drill a hole in a material;
- and
- a collar permanently secured to the drill bit in a position along the length of the drill bit;
- drilling a hole using the cutting portion to penetrate the material;
- removing the drill bit from the hole;
- securing a first end of a driver sleeve to the drill bit, the driver sleeve comprising an opening at a distal second end of the driver sleeve and a coupling mechanism disposed adjacent the second end, the driver sleeve supporting a fastener driver at the second end of the driver sleeve;
- inserting at least a portion of the fastener driver into the opening of the second end of the driver sleeve;
- attaching the fastener driver to the driver sleeve using the coupling mechanism;
- and
- screwing a fastener into the hole using the fastener driver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.