JP7571048B2 - Screwdriver bits and tightening tools and kits with such bits - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to bits for power tools for fastening screws, and more particularly to a screwdriver bit for such tools having structure for engaging a tip of the tool.

It is well known that power tools for fastening are used in various industries. To provide an engagement between the tool and the element to be fastened, such as a screw, a so-called bit (i.e. a screwdriver bit) is usually utilized. For example, interchangeable bits can be used.

These bits are subject to wear to varying degrees and need to be replaced at regular intervals to provide proper engagement with the thread and not damage the thread as would occur if an overly worn bit were used. This process can have a significant impact on the total assembly time in some industries because it can be time consuming and because some applications require such replacement to be done frequently, even after every tightening in critical joints. Given the high efficiency and time saving demands on all stations along the assembly line, such delays can be a major problem for the overall assembly efficiency. Furthermore, depending on the steps required to perform the bit replacement, unnecessary complexity can be introduced into the assembly process.

To make bit changes quicker and easier, it is known in the art for tool operators to, for example, vibrate the tool or handle it in some other suitable manner to force the bit into place. However, not only is this less effective at actually achieving the goal of properly positioning the bit within the tool, but handling often complex and sophisticated tools in this manner increases the risk of damage to the tool and/or the bit.

For this reason, there is a need for improvements in the field of screwdriver bits.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a bit for a power tool in which changing of the bit and proper positioning after such change is facilitated. In particular, it would be desirable to provide such a bit which allows for quick and convenient changeover while at the same time reducing the complexity of the workstation. To better address one or more of these problems, a bit and kit are provided as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a screwdriver bit, the bit including a body having a first end portion including a first engagement structure adapted to engage a fastener head (such as a screw head), an opposing second end portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, the second end portion including a second engagement structure adapted to engage a tip of a tool, the second engagement structure being formed by at least one protruding structure extending in an axial direction A-A.

According to a first aspect, a screwdriver bit provides an inventive solution to the above-mentioned problems by a design incorporating an engagement structure or top coupling means arranged at the end of the bit, which in use can be described as the rear or upper end and is therefore usually accessible when the bit is arranged on the screwdriver. This is due to the fact that the usual design of screwdrivers, such as electric devices for pneumatic powered screwdrivers, is a design that includes a so-called set screw (or stop screw) to hold the bit in a predetermined position on the tool. In such tools, a through hole is provided at the front end of the tool into which the bit can be "dropped" or placed, after which the set screw is inserted into the hole and engages (e.g. by means of a thread) with the wall of the through hole, thereby locking the bit in place when the set screw engages the thread and abuts against the rear end of the screw, thereby preventing axial movement of the bit relative to the tool. Furthermore, such set screws usually include a structure at the rear (or top) end adapted to engage the tip of a screwdriver or the like, so that the set screw can be fixed on the tool by rotation. Therefore, an operator performing a bit change will usually need to have a suitable screwdriver nearby.

The bit according to the present invention takes advantage of this already existing screwdriver by providing a structure at the second end that can be adapted to engage the screwdriver. Thus, an operator can conveniently use the same screwdriver to mount the bit in place by engaging the engagement structure, thereby, for example, pushing the bit into place and/or rotating the bit to a desired rotational position, and then tightening the set screw after this operation, again using the same screwdriver.

More specifically, the design of the second engagement structure of the bit can be designed to correspond to the design of the engagement structure at the top or rear end of the set screw, for example, so that an operator can more conveniently utilize the same screwdriver for both tasks.

The inventive design of the bit according to independent claim 1 thus elegantly solves the problem of excessive time spent changing bits, while at the same time utilizing the screwdriver already required to tighten the set screw, reducing the complexity of the change operation and the workstation as a whole.

Thus, according to one embodiment, the second engagement structure is adapted to engage the tip of a screwdriver.

The reference tool on which the bit of the present invention may be placed may be a fastening tool such as a screwdriver, e.g. a powered screwdriver such as a pneumatic, electric screwdriver, or in some cases a battery-powered tool. More specifically, the screwdriver bit may be suitable for use with a powered screwdriver that includes a set screw for holding the bit as described above, where one example includes a crowfoot tool, i.e. a tool with a crowfoot extension.

The second engagement structure is formed by at least one protruding structure extending in the axial direction, more specifically from or towards said rear portion. For example, the at least one protruding structure may extend in the axial direction from a substantially flat rear surface of the rear portion. Such a surface may be a surface perpendicular to said axial direction. Generally throughout this specification, unless otherwise indicated, the axial direction should be understood to be along the screwdriver bit body, i.e. along between the first and second end portions of the screwdriver bit. Of course, a person skilled in the art will understand that such a structure may equally well be described as a concave structure, i.e. a recess for engaging the tip of a tool according to a reference surface.

According to one embodiment, the at least one protruding structure at least partially surrounds a recessed portion adapted to receive a tip of a tool. For example, a recess defined by the surrounding protruding structure can be provided on an upper surface of the bit forming the aforementioned engagement structure, and a mating projection can be provided by the tool tip to be engaged so as to transmit torque. According to one embodiment, the at least one protruding structure forms a hole adapted to receive a tip of a tool. In one embodiment, such a hole can have a hexagonal cross section. In another embodiment, such a hole can have a double hexagonal cross section. However, any other shape is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, the second engagement structure is formed by or includes at least two protrusions extending axially and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. For example, two or more tongues or pins or the like can be arranged in any suitable pattern at the second end portion of the bit to extend axially. In some embodiments, such a structure can be achieved by a slotted structure. For example, the second engagement structure can include a hollow axially extending structure, i.e. a protruding structure surrounding a recess, through which a radial slot can be introduced, thereby generating two or more sections. Such a design can be advantageous in terms of ease of manufacture and in that less material can be required for the bit.

According to one embodiment, the at least two projections form an axially extending castellated projecting structure, said structure comprising slots spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. In the context of this specification, castellated should be understood to mean a structure comprising a substantially rounded, i.e. cylindrical, axially projecting structure, i.e. what can be called a base structure, in which one or more radial slots or notches are introduced to form at least two axial projections. Castellated in this sense therefore means to be similar to the serrated upper part of a castle battlement, i.e. the battlements of medieval castles. According to one embodiment, the castellated projecting structure comprises slots spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction.

According to one embodiment, the second engagement structure is adapted to engage a tool tip having a hexagonal cross-section. For example, the second engagement structure can be a hole having a hexagonal cross-section or a slotted or castellated structure adapted to engage a hexagonal tip. Such a design is advantageous in that the hexagon, also known as an Allen, is a common screwdriver type that is easily available to workers, for example, on an assembly line. Moreover, this cross-section is also a common choice for the engagement structure on the rear end of the set screw mentioned above, and thus is also the shape of the screwdriver used to tighten this screw. In one embodiment, at least one protrusion has a double hex shape, i.e., a double hexagonal cross-section.

According to one embodiment, the second engagement structure is adapted to engage a tool tip of a type selected from the group including Torx, square, and triangular. In other embodiments, the second engagement structure may be adapted to engage a tool tip of any other common type, such as slot, cruciform (also known as Phillips), or square (also known as Robertson). In one embodiment, the intermediate portion of the bit includes a hexagonal cross-section.

According to one embodiment, the overall length of the screwdriver bit is in the range of 10-50 mm, and in some embodiments in the range of 15-25 mm. According to one embodiment, the length of the second engagement structure bit is in the range of 2-5 mm.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising a screwdriver bit according to any of the above-mentioned embodiments and a tightening tool including a set screw for locking the bit in the tightening tool, the set screw including a thread for engaging a corresponding thread in a through hole at a front end of the tightening tool to lock the bit, and a rear face including an engagement means adapted to engage a tool tip of a first type, the second engagement structure of the screwdriver bit being adapted to engage the tool tip of the first type. Thus, in such a kit, the engagement means of the rear face of the set screw and the engagement means of the second end portion of the bit are made to match, i.e. can be adapted to engage a tool tip of the same size and shape, the advantages of which have been explained above. The rear face should be understood to be the surface at the end of the set screw opposite the end facing and possibly abutting the screwdriver bit.

According to one embodiment of the second aspect, the rear face of the locking screw, which includes an engagement means adapted to engage a tool tip of a first type, is adapted to engage a screwdriver tip of a first type, and a second engagement structure of the screwdriver bit adapted to engage a tool tip is adapted to engage a screwdriver tip of the first type. As explained above, a hexagonal or Allen screwdriver are possible choices of screwdriver type.

According to a further embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the front portion of the tool is a crowfoot extension.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit including a screwdriver bit according to any of the above-described embodiments and a crowfoot extension for a power tool including a set screw for locking the bit on the crowfoot extension, the set screw including threads for engaging corresponding threads in a through hole in a front end of the crowfoot to lock the bit, and a rear surface including engagement means adapted to engage a first type of tool tip, the second engagement structure of the screwdriver bit being adapted to engage the tool tip being adapted to engage the first type of tool tip.

The objects, advantages and features of each of the possible kits within the scope of the second and third aspects of the present invention will be readily understood from the above discussion with reference to the first aspect of the present invention.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed disclosure, drawings and appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various features of the present invention may be combined to produce embodiments other than those described below.

The present invention is described in the following illustrative, non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary screwdriver bit according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary screwdriver bit according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary screwdriver bit according to one embodiment shown with a set screw arranged at the front of an exemplary power tool.

All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally show only those parts necessary to clarify the invention; other parts may be omitted or simply presented.

An exemplary screwdriver bit 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a body having a first end portion 10 including a first engagement structure 11 adapted to engage a fastener head, such as a screw head having a square cross section in the illustrated embodiment, an opposing second end portion 20, and an intermediate portion 30 connecting the first end portion 10 and the second end portion 20. Thus, the first end portion 10 is the portion of the bit that faces away from the tool when placed on the tool (i.e., the distal portion), whereas the second end portion 20 is the portion of the bit that faces away from the tool when placed on the tool (i.e., the proximal portion).

The second end portion 20 includes a second engagement structure 21 adapted to engage the tip of a tool, more particularly the tip of a screwdriver in the illustrated embodiment. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this second engagement structure includes or is formed by three protruding structures 21a-c spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and extending in an axial direction A-A defined between the first and second end portions 10, 20. These protruding structures 21a-c can be described as at least partially surrounding a recessed portion 22 capable of receiving the tip of a screwdriver.

More specifically, the three protrusions 21a-c in the exemplary embodiment can be described as castellated protrusion structures 21a-c that extend in the axial direction A-A and include slots 23a-c that are equally spaced from one another circumferentially around the bit 1.

The shape of the protrusions 21a-c is such that a screwdriver tip having a hexagonal cross section, i.e. a hexagonal or Allen key, can be replaced by the protrusions. The cross section of each protrusion 21a-c thus includes an outer arcuate portion 24 (i.e. corresponding to or following the circumference of the second end portion 20 of the bit 1), two inclined portions 25a-b, and a straight inner portion 26, as can be seen in FIG. 2. This allows all other edges of the hexagonal screwdriver tip to abut and engage with the straight portion 26 (when the screwdriver is used to properly position the bit).

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the overall length of the screwdriver bit from the first end portion 10 to the second end portion 20 is approximately 20 mm, while the axial length of the protruding structure 21a is approximately 2 mm.

In the case of protruding structure 21a having a continuous non-slotted design, a hole adapted to receive the tip of a tool (in this case a hex or Allen type screwdriver) can instead be located at the top or rear end of the bit.

In FIG. 3, the screwdriver bit 1 is shown positioned at the front 200 of the tightening tool, which includes a set screw 110 (or locking screw) for locking the bit 1 to the tool. In the exemplary embodiment, the bit and thus the set screw are positioned at a so-called crow's foot 200, i.e. the front 200 of the tool is a crow's foot extension 200.

The crowfoot 200 at the front end 210 includes a through hole 211 having threads 211a for engaging the threads 111 on the set screw 110 to lock the set screw 110 and thus the screwdriver bit 1 which is positioned below the set screw 110 of the tool in use. In the illustrated embodiment, the set screw 110 at the rear face 112 includes engagement means 112a in the form of a recess or hole 112a having a hexagonal cross section to allow tightening of the set screw 110 and thus adapted to engage an Allen or hexagonal screwdriver.

The screwdriver bit of FIG. 3 includes the same second engagement structure 21a-c as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., has three circumferentially spaced apart and axially extending protruding structures 21a-c, and is thus adapted to engage a hexagonal or Allen type screwdriver tip. More specifically, the engagement structure is adapted to allow the upper or rear end 112 of the set screw 110 to engage a hexagonal or Allen type screwdriver of the same size as the hexagonal bore 112a.

During operation of the tool, when the operator needs to change a bit, he can use a hexagonal screwdriver to remove the set screw 110 from the through hole 211 of the crowfoot extension 200, remove the used bit 1 (if necessary by engaging the castellated structures 21a-c at the rear end 20 of the bit 1), insert a new bit 1 into the hole and engage the protruding structures 21a-c with the same hexagonal screwdriver to conveniently position the bit 1 in the correct position (including rotation of the bit 1 and axial translation on the bit). Finally, the set screw 110 can be tightened again with the same hexagonal screwdriver. Thus, the operator can perform a complete job quickly and efficiently using only one tool, which is a standard screwdriver, without the need for undesirable harsh handling of either the bit and/or the tool that could cause damage to the tool.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the above description, such illustration and description should be considered as illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive, and the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that many modifications, variations and alternatives are envisaged within the scope defined in the appended claims. In addition, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in carrying out the claimed invention and form a study of the drawings, disclosure and appended claims. In the claims, the term "comprises" does not exclude other elements or steps, and singular nouns do not exclude the plural. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims (15)

a screwdriver bit (1) comprising a body having a first end portion (10) with a first engagement structure (11) configured to engage a fastener head, an opposing second end portion (20) and an intermediate portion (30) connecting said first end portion and said second end portion, said second end portion comprising a second engagement structure (21) configured to engage a tip of a tool, said second engagement structure being formed by at least one protruding structure (21a, 21b, 21c) extending in an axial direction A-A;
a clamping tool having a set screw (110) for locking the bit to the clamping tool;
A kit (100) comprising:
the set screw having threads (111) that engage with corresponding threads (211a) in a through hole (211) in a front end (210) of the fastening tool to lock the bit, and a rear face (112) having engagement means (112a) configured to engage a tool tip of a first type;
the second engagement structure (21) of the screwdriver bit (1) configured to engage the tool tip is configured to engage the first type of tool tip;
A kit (100). the rear surface of the set screw includes an engagement means configured to engage a first type of tool tip configured to engage a first type of screwdriver tip, and the second engagement structure of the screwdriver bit configured to engage the tool tip is configured to engage the first type of screwdriver tip.
The kit of claim 1. The front end (210) of the fastening tool is a crowfoot extension.
The kit according to claim 1 or 2. 1. A kit comprising a screwdriver bit (1), comprising a body having a first end portion (10) including a first engagement structure (11) configured to engage a fastener head, an opposing second end portion (20) and an intermediate portion (30) connecting said first end portion and said second end portion, said second end portion comprising a second engagement structure (21) configured to engage a tip of a tool, said second engagement structure being formed by at least one protruding structure (21a, 21b, 21c) extending in an axial direction A-A,
A crowfoot extension for a power tool is provided, the crowfoot extension having a set screw for locking the bit on the crowfoot extension, the set screw having threads that engage corresponding threads in a through hole at a front end of the crowfoot extension to lock the bit, and a rear surface including engagement means configured to engage a first type of tool tip, the second engagement structure of the screwdriver bit configured to engage the tool tip is configured to engage the first type of tool tip.
A kit characterized by: a first end portion (10) including a first engagement structure (11) configured to engage a fastener head;
an opposite second end portion (20); and
an intermediate portion (30) connecting the first end portion and the second end portion;
A method of using a screwdriver bit (1) having a body having
the second end portion includes a second engagement structure (21) configured to engage a tip of a tool;
the second engagement structure is formed by at least one protruding structure (21a, 21b, 21c) extending in an axial direction A-A in a fastening tool, the second engagement structure (21) of the screwdriver bit (1) configured to engage with a tool tip of the first type, the second engagement structure (21) of the screwdriver bit (1) being ...
A method of use comprising: The method of claim 5, wherein the tool includes a crowfoot extension. the at least one protruding structure (21a, 21b, 21c) at least partially surrounds a recessed portion (22) configured to receive a tip of the tool;
The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or the method according to claim 5 or 6 . The kit or method of use according to claim 7, wherein the at least one protruding structure (21a, 21b, 21c) forms a hole configured to receive a tip of the tool. The second engagement structure includes at least two protrusions (21 a, 21 b) extending axially and spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.
A kit or method of use according to claim 7 or 8. the at least two projections form an axially extending castellated projection structure, the structure including circumferentially spaced apart slots (23a, 23b);
10. The kit or method of use according to claim 9. the castellated protruding structure includes slots equally spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction;
11. The kit or method of use according to claim 10 . the second engagement structure is configured to engage a tool tip having a hexagonal cross-section.
A kit or method of use according to any one of claims 1 to 11. the second engagement structure is configured to engage with a tool tip of a type selected from the group including Torx, square, and triangular.
A kit or method of use according to any one of claims 1 to 12. The kit or method of use according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the overall length of the screwdriver bit is in the range of 18 to 50 mm. the second engagement structure is configured to engage a tip of a screwdriver ;
A kit or method of use according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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