GB2190865A

GB2190865A - Interchangeable tip screwdriver

Info

Publication number: GB2190865A
Application number: GB08612947A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jinn-Lih Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-28
Filing date: 1986-05-28
Publication date: 1987-12-02
Also published as: EP0247263A1; GB8612947D0

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for quickly replacing a standard screwdriver tip end This invention relates to a device which can quickly replace a standard screwdrivertip end repeatedly. Most of the currently used screwdrivers may be classified into following categories: Ascrewdriver, of which the handle and its tip end are fixedly connected together; another kind of screwdriver, which comprises a handle and a plurality oftip ends in different shapes and sized to be mounted on or dismounted from the handle. In the former category, the whole screwdriver has to be discarded upon the tip end being damaged; further, one screwdriver of that category can only be good for operation on one type of screw, and it is rather inconvenient to a user who is working on various types of screw heads, and therefore it is deemed the major drawback of that screwdriver. In the latter category, the handle of the screwdriver is adaptable to a plurality of tip ends of different shapes and sizes. Upon replacing a tip end, the user may pull outthetip end and insertanothertip end of a right size in the handle. That pulling out and inserting in operations are considered being still not convenientto the user. Further, there is anothertype of screwdriver, which contains several screwdrivertip ends. The tip ends can be replaced or changed quickly by means of pushing and pul!ing the handle stem. The tail end of the screwdrivertip end is formed into a shape something like a barbed hook through special process so as to be engaged with a channel on the end of the handle stem as shown in Figure 1; as a result, the ordinary conventional screwdrivertip endsthatwere not processed specifically will be unableto adaptto the handle stem. Moreover, since the barbed hook portion (A) onthetip end and the channel (B) on the end of the handle stem asshown in Figure 1 are rather weak in structure, they are susceptible to breaking upon the handle being often twisted with force during normal operation. This invention provides a device which can quickly replace a standard screwdrivertip end repeatedly; that device comprises a handle, a magnetic piece, a lower cap, a body portion, an upper cap, and a hexagonal socket. The body portion mounted between the upper and lower caps can be rotated freely so as to facilitate the user to select a screwdrivertip end at anytime desired. By means of a sleeve socket on the upper cap, various types and sizes ofscrewdrivertip ends can be mounted therein, whereby the objects of simplicity and interchangeability of parts are achieved. The prime object of the present invention is to provide a screwdriver device which is adaptable to various kinds screwdrivertip ends in terms of shapes and sizes so as to simplify the parts, and to easily and quickly replacethetip end desired. An embodiment of this invention is described by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a conventional screwdriver, showing the tip end being specially treated, and the handle stem are to be engaged together. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention after being disassembled. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the operation mode No.1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the operation mode No. 2. Figure 5is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the operation mode No.1. Figure 6is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the operation mode No. 2. Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a disassembled view of the present invention, which comprises a handle 1, a magnetic piece 2, a lower cap 3, a body portion 4, an upper cap 5, and a hexagonal socket 6. The body portion 4 may be made of a transparent material. Upon the screwdrivertip ends7 being loaded inthe hole41,theycan be seen clearly from the outside so as to facilitate a userto select a given screwdrivertip end 7 required. Before assembling the present invention, fixedly mount the magnetic piece 2 in the end of the handle stem 11, and mountthe hexagonal socket 6 in the sleeve socket 51 in a rotatable manner and rivetthe edge portion of the socket 51 to prevent itfrom coming off. During assembling, mountthe handle stem 11 through the slleeve hole 32 of sleeve 31, and then assemble the body portion 4 and the uppercap 5, etc. in correct sequence, and lock it in place with a screw 10. In that case, the body portion 4 can rotate around the center shaft 33 of the lower cap 3 so asto letthe handle stem 11 push or change a screwdriver tip end 7 through any hole 41 of the body portion 4 quickly. The operation theory of pushing or changing the screwdrivertip end is to be described in the following paragraph.Afterthe device being assembled as shown in Figures 3 and 4, push the handle 1 forwards as shown in Figure 3 to drive a screwdrivertip end 7 out of the sleeve socket so as to be ready for operation. Figure 4 shows the handle 1 being pulled backwards and then rotating the body portion 4 so as to change another screwdrivertip end desired. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown the theory of howto push or change a screwdrivertip end quickly. As shown n Figure 5, one screwdrivertip end 7 has been pushed out afterthe handle stem 11 being pushed forwards as shown with an arrow. Since the screwdrivertip end 7 is attracted with the magnetic piece 2 and fixed with the hexagonal socket 6, the tip end 7 wll rotate upon the handle stem 11 being rotated; the hexagonal socket 6 that is used for connecting the handle stem 11 and the screwdrivertip end 7 will also be rotated together with the handle stem synchronously. Since the screwdrivertip ends 7 are all designed and made into a uniform specifications or standards, they can be replaced, in case of being damaged, anytime by pulling outthe damaged one and replacing with a new one, and this is a prime feature of the present invention. Referring to figure 6, there is shown, with an arrow, the handle stem 11 being pulled backwards and being stopped on the bottom of the doby portion 4; them, the screwdriver tip end 7 will be stored back in one of the holes 41 of the body portion 4. The user may further rotate the body portion 4 to select a screwdrivertip end 7 desired, and then push it outas shown in Figure 5for intended operation.

Claims

1. A device for quickly replacing a standard screwdrivertip end, comprising a handle, a magnetic piece, a lower cap, an upper cap, a body portion and a hexagonal socket; and said magnetic piece being embedded in the end ofthe stem of said handle; and said body portion being mounted between said lower cap and said upper cap in a rotatable manner; and said hexagonal socket being mounted in the sleeve socket on said upper cap in a rotatable manner, and by means of said hexagonal socket, said handle and said screwdrivertip end being coupled together; and during operation said screwdrivertip end and said handle rotating synchronously; and also by means of said hexagonal socket, a standard screwdrivertip end being mounted or dismounted so as to facilitate replacing said screwdrivertip end if necessary.

2. A device for quickly replacing a standard screwdrivertip end, and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings.