US 9,943,946 B2Granted

Tool bits with floating magnet sleeves

AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.

InventorsMichael P. Peters, Denny Jiang, Michael Huang, Darren B. Moss, Aland Santamarina, David B. Lee, Mark E. Brunson, Ruth E. Mitchener-Keffer

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A tool bit assembly includes a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and a first reduced diameter portion proximate the working region and disposed between a first shoulder and a second shoulder. A floating sleeve has a rear portion with a pair of opposed window openings, a front portion supporting a magnet, and a pair of balls, with each ball disposed in one of the window openings. The floating sleeve is receivable over the tool bit with the magnet proximate the first working regions and the balls received in the first reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a first position in which the balls abut the first shoulder and a second position in which the balls abut the second shoulder.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A tool bit assembly, comprising:

a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region configured to drive a fastener disposed at a first end of the shaft, a second working region configured to drive a fastener disposed at a second end of the shaft, a first bit retaining region disposed proximate the second working region and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool so that the first working region can drive a fastener, a second bit retaining region disposed proximate the first working region and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool so that the second working region can drive a fastener, and at least one reduced diameter portion between the first working region and the second working region;
and
a floating sleeve having a radially inwardly projecting retention mechanism at a rear end of the sleeve and a magnet at the front end of the sleeve,
wherein the floating sleeve is removably and reversibly receivable over the tool bit in a first orientation and a second orientation,
wherein in the first orientation the magnet is proximate the first working region and the retention mechanism is received in the at least one reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a first forward position in which the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the first working region and a first rearward position in which the magnet is retracted relative to the first working region, the retention mechanism remaining received in the at least one reduced diameter portion in the first forward position and the first rearward position, and
wherein in the second orientation the magnet is proximate the second working region and the retention mechanism is received in the at least one reduced diameter portion to allow the floating sleeve to move between a second forward position in which the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the second working region and a second rearward position in which the magnet is retracted relative to the second working region, the retention mechanism remaining received in the at least one reduced diameter portion in the second forward position and the second rearward position.

3 more elements

A tool bit assembly, comprising:

a tool bit having a shaft with a first working region disposed at a first end of the shaft and configured to drive a fastener, a first shank portion disposed proximate a second end of the shaft and configured to couple the tool bit to a power tool, a first reduced diameter torsion zone disposed closer to the first working region and having a first shoulder closer to the first working region and a second shoulder closer to the first shank portion, a second reduced diameter torsion zone disposed closer to the first shank portion and having a third shoulder closer to the first working region and a second shoulder closer to the first shank portion, and an intermediate portion of larger diameter than the first and second reduced diameter portions disposed between the second shoulder and the third shoulder;
and
a floating sleeve having a radially inwardly projecting retention mechanism at a rear end of the sleeve and a magnet at the front end of the sleeve,
wherein the floating sleeve is removably receivable over the tool bit in a first orientation with the magnet proximate the first working region and the retention mechanism received in the first torsion zone such that the floating sleeve may move between a first forward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the first shoulder and the magnet is able to engage a fastener being driven by the first working region and a first rearward position in which the retention mechanism abuts the second shoulder and the magnet is retracted relative to the first working region.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/817,323Filed 4 Aug 2015 · continuation in part
Priority: CN 2014 2 0463546 U15 Aug 2014
Published: US 2015/0336246 A126 Nov 2015
Granted: 17 Apr 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B25B 23/0035
Connections or joints between tool parts: connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool
B23B 31/1071
Retention by laterally-acting detents, e.g. pins, screws, wedges; Retention by loose elements, e.g. balls: retention by balls
B23B 31/1079
Retention by laterally-acting detents, e.g. pins, screws, wedges; Retention by loose elements, e.g. balls: retention by spring or wire
B25B 23/12
For holding or positioning screw or nut prior to or during its rotation: using magnetic means

Family

Application61/599,222Us provisional application · filed 15 Feb 2012
Application13/766,135Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Feb 2013
Application13/967,775Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Aug 2013
Application14/285,799Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 May 2014
US 2015/0336246 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Nov 2015
US 9,505,108 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 9,227,309 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 9,156,147 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2013/0220086 A1Published application
US 2013/0328276 A1Published application
US 2014/0333037 A1Published application
US 9,943,946 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.