US3853025A

US3853025A - Nut starter

Info

Publication number: US3853025A
Application number: US00292081A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Komhyr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-25
Filing date: 1972-09-25
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10
Also published as: GB1440820A; CA1001456A; DE2344621A1; JPS4971596A

Abstract

A nut starting tool for screwing nuts onto screw-type fasteners and the like includes an elongated body and an axial extension of reduced diameter from one end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner threaded surface of a nut for retention of the nut so that the nut can be screwed onto the fastener by rotation of the tool. The axial extension may comprise an outwardly convergent surface which is sized to be wedged into the opening in the nut or an axially split extension to define spaced resilient segments which can be flexed inwardly by forceful application of the nut against the outer end of the extension so that the segments will exert an outward biasing force against the inner threaded surface of the nut to retain the nut thereon. A support for the nut starter includes an elongated hollow member adapted to receive the nut starter for unitary rotational movement while allowing axial sliding movement therein and has a socket on one end through which the nut starter selectively protrudes. The socket is adapted to fit over the nut in driving engagement with the outer surface thereof whereby the nut can be initially started onto the screw-type fastener by rotational movement of the support with the nut starter in engagement with the inner surface of the fastener and can be further driven onto the fastener by continued rotational movement of the support with the socket end of the support engaging the outer surface of the nut.

Description

United States Patent [191 Komhyr 1 NUT STARTER [76] Inventor: Walter D. Komhyr, 70 Manhattan Dr., Boulder, Colo. 80303 [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 292,081

[52] US; Cl 81/71, 81/72, 81/121 R [51] Int. Cl B25b 13/48 [58] Field of Search 81/3.41, 3.35, 53.2, 71,

81/72,l25, 177 E, 13,53 R, 3 R, 3 G, 3 H; 145/50 E; 294/33, 99 R; 29/240, 280, 281; 287/124, 126

Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner.lames G. Smith 5 7 ABSTRACT A nut starting tool for screwing nuts onto screw-type fasteners and the like includes an elongated body and [451 Dec. 10, 1974 an axial extension of reduced diameter from one end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner threaded surface of a nut for retention of the nut so that the nut can be screwed onto the fastener by rotation of the tool. The axial extension may comprise an outwardly convergent surface which is sized to be wedged into the opening in the nut or an axially split extension to define spaced resilient segments which can be flexed inwardly by forceful application of the nut against the outer end of the extension so that the segments will exert an outward biasing force against the inner threaded surface of the nut to retain the nut thereon. A support for the nut starter includes an elongated hollow member adapted to receive the nut starter for unitary rotational movement while allowing axial sliding movement therein and has a socket on one end through which the nut starter selectively protrudes. The socket is adapted to fit over the nut in driving engagement with the outer surface thereof whereby the nut can be initially started onto the screw-type fastener by rotational movement of the support with the nut starter in engagement with the inner surface of the fastener and can be further driven onto the fastener by continued rotational movement of the support with the socket end of the support engaging the outer surface of the nut.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures NUT STARTER The present invention generally concerns tools for performing or facilitating mechanical operations and more specifically, a tool for handling and starting nuts or other threaded sleeves onto screw-type fasteners, bolts and the like.

Frequently, internally threaded nuts are started onto a bolt or screw by hand and then further advanced onto the member by a wrench or other suitable hand tool. When small nuts are being used, it is often awkward and frustrating to use ones hand to start the nut, since it is difficult to grasp and manipulate the nut. Furthermore, difficulty is often encountered in starting nuts in places where the bolt or screwis not readily accessible, for example, when the bolt or screw is located in a recessed area. Nut driving tools have been devised whereby a socket at one end of the nut driving tool is adapted to receive the nut in driving engagement therewith so that when a handle, operatively connected to the socket, is rotated to rotate the socket, the nut is advanced onto the fastener. Conventional nut drivers, however, cannot be used effectively in starting-nuts onto screws inasmuch as the nuts usually are loosely held in the socket and tend to fall out of the socket when the socket is moved suddenly or opened downwardly.

The nut starting tool of the present invention was devised to grip nuts in a manner-such that they are frictionally retained on the tool andcan be picked up from a supporting surface and easily started onto threaded members, such as screw-type fasteners, even when the threaded member is sdisposed within a recessed area in a somewhat inaccessible location. The tool is designed so that the nut need never be touched by hand whereby the previously encountered frustrations of handling smaller nuts are obviated.

- More specifically, the nut starting tool of the present invention comprises an elongated body having anaxial extension from one end thereof adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of a nut to frictionally retain the nut on the .tool while it is being handled and initially screwed onto a mating member. In one disclosed embodiment, the extension from the bodyhas'a forwardly convergent surface adapted to be wedged into the opening in the nut; and, in a second embodiment, the

extension is axially split providing a pair of spaced flexible segments including rounded leading ends which can be flexed inwardly when inserted into one end of the nut to provide an outward biasing force against the inner threaded surface of the nut.

The nut starting tool may be supported by a unique nut driver tool having a hollow shaft in which the nut starting tool is received for unitary rotational movement as well as independent axial sliding movement whereby the nut starter can be extended away from the leading end ofthe driver tool to pick-up the nut and initially start it onto the screw-type member. The nut starting too] then can be withdrawn into the hollow shaft portion of the driver tool so that a socket on the leading end of the driver tool can conventionally advance the nut onto the screw-type member as far as desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for handling nuts to facilitate initial screwing of the nut onto amating threaded member.

- which is axially split to define two spaced flexible segments that can be flexed inwardly to provide an outward biasing force against the inner surface of a nut in which it is inserted so that the nut can be positively retained on the extension and screwed onto a mating threaded member- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tool for handling nuts having a nut starting portion and a nut driving portion whereby the nut can be picked up by the nut starting portion and initially screwed onto a mating threaded member then subsequently advanced as far as desired onto the threaded member by the nut driving portion.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the nut starter tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a end elevation of the nut starter tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the nut starter tool of FIG. 1 with a sectioned nut received on the axial extension thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the nut starter shown in FIG. 3 with a nut partially threaded onto a screw;-

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the nut starter tool of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the nut starter tool shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the nut starter tool of. FIG. 5 with a nut received on the axial extension thereof;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a nut handling tool incorporating the nut starter tool of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 9 through 11 are end elevational views showing various alternate configurations of the axial extension of the nut starter tool of FIG. I.

The nut starting tool 20 of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 1 through 4 to comprise an elongated body or shank portion 22 and an axial extension portion 24 at the leading end of the body portion adapted to be wedged into the central opening 26 in a nut 28 so as to frictionally retain the nut thereon. In the disclosed embodiment the body portion 22 comprises a solid cylindrical rod preferably of a tough metallic or plastic material which may have an etched or serrated outer surface to facilitate gripping of the tool. The extension 24, also of a tough metallic or plastic material that may be etched or serrated to enhance its frictional property, can be seen to have a frusto-conical configuration extending away from the body portion a length or distance equal to approximately half the thickness of the nut and, approximately one-half the mean diameter of the axial extension, and to be of reduced diameter relative to the body portion 22. Looking at FIG. 3, the large diameter 30 of the frusto-conical extension 24 can be seen to be slightly greater than the diameter of the central opening 26 in the nut and the small diameter or rounded leading end 32 of the extension slightly less than the diameter of the opening 26 in the nut whereby the extension 24 can be wedged into the opening 26 for tight frictional gripping engagement with the inner threaded surface of the nut. It can, therefore, be appreciated that the nut 28 is frictionally retained on the extension 24, and is spaced from the end or shoulder 34 of the body portion 22 whereby wear of the extension does not render the tool useless for a particular sized nut until the large diameter 30 of the extension is worn down to be smaller than the inner diameter of the nut.

As can be appreciated by reference to FIG. 4, as the nut 28 is screwed onto a screw 36, the nut will advance along the shank portion 38 of the screw until the flat end 40 of the screw engages the outer flat surface 42 of the extension 24 and forces the tool out of its frictional gripping relationship with the nut. The nut can then be driven further onto the screw by hand, by means of a conventional nut driver, or by a special starter-driver tool to be described hereinafter.

An important feature of the nut starter tool 20 is that nuts can be easily picked up from a supporting surface by the tool thereby avoiding handling of the nuts with ones fingers. In other words, a nut lying flat on asupporting surface can be picked up with the tool merely by inserting the small diameter outer end of the extension 24 into the central opening 26 in the nut and then applying a slight axial force against the nut whereby the extension will become wedged in the opening to frictionally grip the nut. With the nut so retained on the extension, the nut can be started onto a threaded member in most any location and orientation, even a threaded member in an upwardly opening recessed area, without losing the nut from the tool.

FIGS. 9, l and 11 illustrate three of many possible alternative cross-sectional configurations for the extension portion 24 of the tool shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. In FIG. 9 the cross-section configuration of the extension is seen to be octagonal, with eight flat angularly related sides 44 which would converge outwardly away from the end of the body portion 22 of the tool terminating at a flat outer end similarly to the convergence of the frusto-conical surface of the extension shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. FIG. 10 shows the extension having eight adjacent concave sides 46 which again would converge outwardly away from the end of the body portion 22 of the tool and would terminate at a flat outer I end the same as in FIGS. 1 through 4. FIG. 11 shows the cross-sectional configuration of the extension being of triangular shape whereby three flat adjacent sides 48 would converge outwardly away from the end of the body portion 22 of the tool and again would terminate at a flat outer end.

A second embodiment 50 of the nut starter tool of the present invention is shown in FIGS. through 7 and is seen to comprise a body or shank portion 52 and an axial extension portion 54 protruding away from the leading end of the body portion. The body portion 52 comprises a substantially cylindrical rod that tapers inwardly near one end defining a reduceddiameter neck portion 56 and an abutment head 58 against which a nut 60 can abut when retained on the extension portion 54 of the tool in'a manner to be described hereinafter. The leading end of the tool is slit at 62 along a diameter so as to divide the end of the tool into two identical half segments. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the slit 62 extends through the extension 54 and most of the neck portion 56 of the tool and has a width which is approximately one third of the width of the neck portion of the tool at its narrowest point. The two half segments are accordingly flexible inwardly to a limited extent for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter. Preferably, the nut starter tool 50 is made of spring steel or some other.

suitable material that is long lasting and has the flexibility needed for the extension end of the tool. The abutment head 58 of the tool has a flat outer end or shoulder 64 away from which protrudes the extension portion 54. The extension portion is seen to comprise two identical substantially

semi-cylindrical segments

66 and 68 each having a curved, rounded outer surface, 70 and 72, respectively at its leading end which diverges outwardly away from the flat forward end or shoulder 64 of the abutment head and extends axially away from the abutment head a distance equal to approximately one half the thickness of the nut 60. At the intersection of the

outer ends

74 and 76 with the curved

diverging surfaces

70 and 72 respectively, the

segments

66 and 68 have

curved cam surfaces

78 and 80 respectively which, as will be set forth later, enable the nut 60 to be quickly and easily frictionally fitted onto the extension portion 54 of the tool. The largest diameter of the extension portion of the tool, at the leading end thereof, is slightly greater than the diameter of the central passage 82 through the nut so that when the outer end of the extension is aligned with and axially pressed against one face of the nut, the

cam surfaces

78 and 80 on each

segment

66 and 68 respectively of the extension will allow the threaded inner surface of the nut to cam the segments toward each other whereby they will flex inwardly and, due to their inherent resiliency, produce an outward radial force against the threaded inner surface of the nut to frictionally retain the nut on the extension.

This relationship is illustrated in FIG. 7 with the extension portion 54 inserted into the nut 60 such that the two

segments

64 and 68 of the extension portion are flexed inwardly toward each other reducing the width of the slit 62 at the outermost end of the tool. With the nut so retained on the tool, it can be started onto a threaded screw, such as of the type shown in FIG. 4, until the end of the screw forces the extension out of the nut whereupon the nut can then be driven onto the screw as by hand, a conventional nut driver, or the nut starter-driver tool to be described hereinafter.

The nut starter-driver tool 84 is shown in FIG. 8 comprising a nut starting portion 86 and a nut driving portion 88, the nut starting portion 86 being similar to the tool 20 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 but may also take a form similar to the tool 50 shown in FIGS. 5 through 7. The nut driving portion 88 comprises a handle 90 having an axial passage 92 therethrough and a shank or I sleeve 94 extending axially away from the forward end of the handle 90 with an axial passage 96 in alignment with the axial passage 92. The leading end of the sleeve 94 is enlarged and defines a forwardly opening socket 98 having a cross-sectional configuration adapted to mate with the outer surface of a nut, not shown, so that the nut can be retained therein and driven onto a threaded member, such as a screw, by rotation of the socket. The socket 98 can be seen also to open rearwardly to be in communication with the axial passage I 96 through the sleeve 94 and the passage 92through the handle 90 so that the nut starter portion 86 can be slidably received in the passages so as to be selectively the nut starter portion so that the nut starter portion is.

free to slide axially within the passages. The nut starter portion 86 is slightly longer than the nut driver portion 88 and has a cap 100 secured on its rearward end so that the nut starter portion is prevented from sliding forwardly out of the nut driver portion. The cap 100 also serves to limit the extent to which the nut starter portion protrudes forwardly from the socket 98 so that a nut can be easily gripped by the extension 102 of the nut starter portion without interference from the nut driver portion. The body 104 of the nut starter portion is notched to define a flattened surface 106 whereby a set screw 108, threadedly received in the handle 90, can be moved into closely adjacent spaced relationship from the flat surface 106 so as to prevent the nut starting portion from rotating relative to the nut driving portion but to allow relative axial sliding movement.

In operation, the cap 100 on the end of the nut starter portion 86 is placed against the trailing end 110 of the handle 90 so that the extension 102 of the nut starter portion protrudes forwardly beyond the socket 98 and can be wedged into the central opening of a nut. With a nut frictionally retained on the extension 102, it can be placed in alignment with a screw or other threaded member and by rotational movement of the handle, the nut can be initially screwed onto the screw. When the nut has been screwed a short distance onto the screw, the flat end of the screw will force the extension 102 out of the nut, and the socket 98 which is placed around the nut will then continue to drive the nut onto the screw as far as desired with the nut starter portion of the tool retracted in the nut driving portion. Accordingly, the nut starter-driver tool 84 is usefulin picking up a nut, starting it onto a threaded member, and then driving the nut onto the threaded member any desired distance. It should be pointed out that the'threaded member will of necessity have a diameter which is less than the diameter of the

passages

92 and 96 through the nut driver portion of the tool so that the screw, regardless of its length, can extend into the passages as far as need be, to allow the nut to be driven onto the screw. Accordingly, the tool is not limited to driving nuts onto short screws but can be used for driving nuts onto any length of screw.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A nut starter tool adapted for starting a nut onto a threaded member wherein the nut has a threaded inner surface defining a substantially circular central opening extending therethrough between opposite end surfaces, said tool comprising an elongated body portion and a nut-gripping axial extension at a forward end thereof varying in cross-sectional size along its length and of a reduced cross-sectional size throughout with respect to that-of said elongated body portion, said axial extension having a rounded leading end, and a shoulder portion between said body portion and said axial extension, said axial extension having a length substantially one-half the means diameter of said axial extension for insertion into the central opening of said nut and being adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the nut when inserted therein whereby the nut is releasably retained on said axial extension in a manner such that the nut can be started onto the threaded member by rotational movement of said body portion of said tool.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said axial extension has a forwardly convergent external surface throughout its length adapted to be wedged into said central open- 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said axial extension has a lateral dimension which is smaller than the lateral dimension of the body portion and has its leading end with a smaller lateral dimension than the central opening in the nut and its trailing end with a larger lateral dimension than the central opening in the nut.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said axial extension extends axially away from the body portion for a distance less than the thickness of the nut.

5. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of octagonal cross-section.

6. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of triangular cross-section.

7. The tool of claim 2 wherein the outer surface of the extension comprises a plurality of adjacent concave segments converging outwardly away from the body portion.

8. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of circular cross-section.

9. A tool adapted for starting a nut onto a threaded member wherein the nut has a threaded inner surface defining a substantially circular central opening therein, said tool comprising an elongated body portion and a nut-gripping axial extension at a forward end thereof varying in cross-sectional size along its length and of reduced cross-sectional size with respect to that of said elongated body portion, and a shoulder portion between said body portion and said axial extension, said axial extension comprising a plurality of spaced resilient, axially extending segments which can be urged inwardly to exert an outward bias force against the interior surface of the nut when the leading end portion of said axial extension is inserted into the nut, and said axial extension being sized for insertion into the central opening of said nut for a distance substantially less than the thickness of the nut and being adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the threading on the inner surface of the nut whereby the nut is releasably retained on the extension in a manner such that the nut can be started onto the threaded member by rotational movement of the body portion of the tool.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the lateral dimension of said extension adjacent to its leading end is normally slightly greater than the diameter of the central opening in the nut and said segments have a cam surface on their leading ends whereby when a nut is pressed against the leading end of the extension with the central opening of the nut aligned with the extension, the inner surface of the nut will cam the segments inwardly so that the extension is inserted into the nut with the segments exerting a radially outward force on the inner surface of the nut frictionally retaining the nut on the extension.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein each segment has a forwardly divergent outer surface.

12. The tool of claim 10 wherein said body portion comprises an elongated cylindrical shank and said segments extend axially away from the forward end thereof.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said segments extend forwardly away from the shank a distance which is less than the thickness of the nut.

14. The tool of claim 12 wherein a portion of the forward end of the shank from which the segments extend defines an abutment surface against which the nut can rest when retained by the tool.

15. The tool of claim 1 further including elongated support means, said support means having a socket on its leading end adapted to fit around the outer surface of the nut in driving engagement therewith whereby rotative movement of the socket will advance the nut along the threaded member, and an axial passage in said support means in which the body portion of the tool is adapted to be axially slidably received whereby said axial extension is adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of a nut to enable, the nut to be started onto the threaded member by rotative movement of the tool and the socket on the support means can be slid over the nut for driving engagement with the outer surface of the nut to drive the nut any desired distance onto the threaded member.

16. A tool for starting and driving a nut onto an externally threaded member, the nut having a threaded inner surface defining a central opening therethrough, said tool comprising in combination a nut starting portion and a nut driving portion, said nut starting portion comprising an elongated cylindrical rod and an axial extension from the forward end of the rod, a shoulder portion between the rod and said axial extension, said axial extension having at least a portion thereof sized for insertion into said central opening and being adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the threading on the inner surface of the nut, said axial extension being of a length substantially less than the thickness of the nut so that rotative movement of the nut starting portion will cause the nut to be initially threaded onto the threaded member when the nut is engaged with an exposed threaded end of the threaded member, said nut driving portion comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow member, said hollow member having a socket on its forward end adapted to drivingly engage the outer surface of the nut, rotational control means between said rod and said hollow member for preventing relative rotational movement therebetween, the hollow member having a longitudinal passage of greater diameter than the diameter of said rod and adapted to receive the rod so that the rod is free to slide axially in said passage, said rod including limit stop means cooperating with said rotational control means to limit the axial movement of said rod with respect to said hollow member whereby the nut starting portion can be extended axially forwardly of said socket to initially start the nut onto the threaded member and can be retracted axially through the socket so that the nut driving portion is free to drive the nut any desired distance onto the threaded member.

17. The tool of claim 16 wherein said axial extension of the elongated rod comprises a frusto-conical surface converging forwardly away from the end of the elongated rod.

18. The tool of claim 16 wherein said axial extension of the elongated rod comprises a plurality of spaced resilient segments which can be urged radially inwardly to exert an outward biasing force against the inner surface of the nut when the extension is inserted into the nut.

Patent No.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTICN Dated 10 December, 1974 Inventor(s)'KOmhyr, Walter D.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Specification Column 1, line 34, cancel "sdisposed" and substitute disposed Column line 42, cancel "64" and substitute 66 Column 6, line 2, cancel "means" and substitute mean Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks

Claims

1. A nut starter tool adapted for starting a nut onto a threaded member wherein the nut has a threaded inner surface defining a substantially circular central opening extending therethrough between opposite end surfaces, said tool comprising an elongated body portion and a nut-gripping axial extension at a forward end thereof varying in cross-sectional size along its length and of a reduced cross-sectional size throughout with respect to that of said elongated body portion, said axial extension having a rounded leading end, and a shoulder portion between said body portion and said axial extension, said axial extension having a length substantially one-half the means diameter of said axial extension for insertion into the central opening of said nut and being adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the nut when inserted therein whereby the nut is releasably retained on said axial extension in a manner such that the nut can be started onto the threaded member by rotational movement of said body portion of said tool.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said axial extension has a forwardly convergent external surface throughout its length adapted to be wedged into said central opening.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said axial extension has a lateral dimension which is smaller than the lateral dimension of the body portion and has its leading end with a smaller lateral dimension than the central opening in the nut and its trailing end with a larger lateral dimension than the central opening in the nut.

5. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of octagonal cross-section.

6. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of triangular cross-section.

8. The tool of claim 2 wherein said extension is of circular cross-section.

15. The tool of claim 1 further including elongated support means, said support means having a socket on its leading end adapted to fit around the outer surface of the nut in driving engagement therewith whereby rotative movement of the socket will advance the nut along the threaded member, and an axial passage in said support means in which the body portion of the tool is adapted to be axially slidably received whereby said axial extension is adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of a nut to enable the nut to be started onto the threaded member by rotative movement of the tool and the socket on the support means can be slid over the nut for driving engagement with the outer surface of the nut to drive the nut any desired distance onto the threaded member.