WO2022226597A1

WO2022226597A1 - A reconfigurable bit assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2022226597A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/050395
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cameron Smith
Original assignee: Cameron Smith
Priority date: 2021-04-30
Filing date: 2022-04-29
Publication date: 2022-11-03
Also published as: AU2022267402A1; AU2021106288A4

Abstract

A bit assembly comprises a screwdriver bit having a non-circular shank having a proximal end and a distal screwdriver tip and a sleeve having a bore therethrough. The sleeve may be put in a stowed position so that the screwdriver bit may be used to turn a first type of fastener suited for the screwdriver bit or the sleeve may be put in the in-use position so that the socket may be used to turn a second type of fastener suited for the socket.

Description

A reconfigurable bit assembly

Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to a bit assembly which is reconfigurable for use on different types of fasteners.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0002] There is provided herein a bit assembly which is quickly and easily reconfigurable for use on different types of fasteners.

[0003] The bit assembly comprises a screwdriver bit having a noncircular shank having a proximal end and a distal screwdriver tip. The proximal end may be engaged to a handle or inserted into an impact drill or the like.

[0004] The assembly further comprises a sleeve having a bore therethrough.

[0005] The screwdriver tip and a shank can fit through the bore so that the sleeve can be removed from the screwdriver bit or slidably retained along the shank between stowed and in-use positions.

[0006] In the stowed position, ends of the sleeve locates between the proximal end and the distal tip of the shank. Furthermore, in the in-use position, the distal tip locates between either end of the sleeve.

[0007] The bore defines a central profile which non-rotatably engages the shank. [0008] Furthermore, the bore widens at one end of the sleeve to define a socket. [0009] As such, in use, the sleeve may be put in the stowed position so that the screwdriver bit may be used to turn a first type fastener, such as a Phillips head screw.

[0010] However, the assembly may be quickly reconfigured by sliding the sleeve to the in-use position so that the socket may be used to turn a second type of fastener, such as a hexagonal TEK™ screw.

[0011 ] As such, one need not carry multiple screwdriver and/or socket bits for these two types of fasteners, a convenience especially appreciated in difficult positions such as when one is atop a ladder. [0012] The bore may further widen at an opposite end of the sleeve to define a further socket have any different size to that of the socket.

[0013] As such, the sleeve may be removed from the shank and reattached in the opposite orientation to engage a further type fastener. For example, the sleeve may be attached to the shank to engage 3/8 or 5/16-inch TEK™ screws.

[0014] The assembly may comprise detents which hold the sleeve at the stowed or in-use positions.

[0015] The detent holding the sleeve at the in-use position may be configured so that the screwdriver bit is offset the same distance from either socket irrespective of the attachment orientation of the sleeve. Furthermore, the detent holding the sleeve at the in-use position may hold the screwdriver tip immediately adjacent the socket so that if force is applied to the shank, the detent does not disengage.

[0016] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bit assembly in accordance with an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the bit assembly with exemplary dimensions;

[0020] Figure 3 shows a side view of the bit assembly with exemplary dimensions; [0021 ] Figure 4 shows a distal end view of the assembly; and [0022] Figure 5 shows a proximal end view of the assembly.

Description of Embodiments

[0023] A bit assembly 100 comprises a screwdriver bit 101 having a noncircular shank 102 having a proximal end 103 and a distal tip 104.

[0024] The assembly 100 further comprises a sleeve 105 having a bore 106 therethrough. [0025] As is shown in Figure 1 , the distal tip 104 and the shank 102 can fit through the bore 106 so that the sleeve 105 can be removed from the screwdriver bit 101 or alternatively slidably retained along the shank 102 in the manner shown in Figure 1. [0026] The sleeve 105 may slide along the shank 102 between a stowed position as is shown in Figure 1 wherein either end of the sleeve 105 locates between the proximal end 103 and the distal tip 104. The sleeve 105 may further slide to an in- use position wherein the distal tip 104 locates between either end of the sleeve 105. [0027] The bore 106 defines a central cross-section profile which non-rotatably engages the shank 102. In the embodiment shown, the cross-section profile may be square.

[0028] The bore 106 widens at one end of the sleeve 105 to define a socket 108. [0029] As such, in use, the sleeve 105 may be put in the stowed position (as is shown in Figure 1 ) so that the screwdriver tip 104 may be used to turn a first type of fastener suited for the screwdriver bit.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, the screwdriver tip 104 is a Phillips-type screwdriver bit suited for a Phillips head screw. However, other types of screwdriver tips are envisaged within the scope of the present embodiments.

[0031 ] Furthermore, the sleeve 105 may be put in the in-use position wherein the screwdriver tip 104 is retracted within the bore 106, the shank 102 non-rotatably engages the sleeve 105 and the socket 108 is exposed to turn a second type of fastener suited for the socket 108.

[0032] The socket 108 may be hexagonal. The socket 108 may be particularly suited for TEK™ screws.

[0033] The bore 106 may further widen at the opposite end of the sleeve 105 to define a further socket 108B having a different size to that of the socket 108A. As such, in use, the sleeve 105 may be removed from the shank 102 and reattached in the reverse orientation to interchange between the sockets 1 08A and 108B.

[0034] The socket 108A may be a 3/8-inch socket and the further socket 108B may be a 5/16-inch socket. [0035] The assembly 100 may comprise a mechanical engagement operative between sleeve 105 and the shank 102. The mechanical arrangement may comprise a detent operative between the sleeve 105 and the shank 102. As is shown in Figure 2, the detent may comprise the shank 102 comprising a detent ball 109 engageable in a corresponding detent recess 110 within the bore 106.

[0036] The detent recess 11 1 may locate on all interior surfaces of the bore 106 so that the detent ball 109 may engage either one thereof irrespective of the rotational position of the sleeve 105 with respect to the shank 102.

[0037] The detent may hold the sleeve 105 at the stowed position. A further detent may further hold the sleeve 105 at the in-use position.

[0038] The detent may engage midway between either end of the sleeve 105 so that the sleeve 105 is held at the same relative offset with respect to the shank 102 irrespective of the engagement orientation thereof. In other words, the detent may hold either socket 108A, 108B the same offset with respect to the screwdriver tip 104. [0039] The detent may hold the sleeve 105 so that the tip 104 does not extend into the socket 108.

[0040] Furthermore, the detent may hold the sleeve 105 so that the tip 104 is immediately adjacent the socket 108 so that if forces applied along the shank 102, the tip 104 presses against the head of the screw so that the detent is not disengage. [0041 ] The proximal end 103 of the shank 102 may comprise an impact drill-type engagement which may comprise a hexagonal section 111 and neck 1 12. The shank 102 may transition from a square cross-section to a hexagonal cross-section of the neck 1 12. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, the shank 102 may transition from the square cross-section to the hexagonal section and a transition point 1 13 approximately 30 mm in from the proximal end 103.

[0042] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Flowever, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bit assembly comprising: a screwdriver bit having a non-circular shank having a proximal end and a distal screwdriver tip; and a sleeve having a bore therethrough, wherein: the screwdriver tip and the shank are able to fit through the bore so that the sleeve can be removed from the screwdriver bit or slidably retained along the shank between: a stowed position wherein ends of the sleeve locate between the proximal end and the distal tip of the shank; and an in-use position wherein the distal tip locates between the ends of the sleeve and wherein: the bore defines a central profile which non-rotatably engages the shank and which widens one end of the sleeve to define a socket, so that, in use: the sleeve may be put in the stowed position so that the screwdriver bit can be used to turn a first type of fastener suited for the screwdriver tip; and the sleeve may be put in the in-use position so that the socket can be used to turn a second type of fastener suited for the socket.

2. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein bore or further widens at an opposite end of the sleeve to define a further socket having a differing size to that of the socket.

3. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bit assembly has a detent operative to hold the sleeve at the stowed position.

4. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sleeve engages the shank and various rotational offsets and wherein the detent is operative at each rotational offset.

5. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bit assembly has a further detent operative to hold the sleeve at the in-use position.

6. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the further detent holds the sleeve midway between the ends of the sleeve.

7. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the further detent holds the sleeve so that the tip does not extend into the socket.

8. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the further detent holds the sleeve so that the tip is immediately adjacent the socket so that if force is applied along the shank in use, the tip bears against a head of the first type of fastener so that the further detent does not disengage.

9. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the socket is hexagonal.

10. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the socket is suited for a

TEK™ screw.

11 . The bit assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the socket is a 3/8-inch socket.

12. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the socket is a 5/16-inch socket.

13. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the socket is a 3/8-inch socket and the further socket is a 5/16-inch socket.

14. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shank and central section are square in cross-section.

16. The bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screwdriver tip is a Phillips-type screwdriver tip.

16. A method of using the bit assembly as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising putting the sleeve in the stowed position and using the screwdriver tip to turn the first type of fastener and subsequently putting the sleeve in the in-use position and using the socket thereof to turn the second type of fastener.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the bit assembly as claimed in claim 2, the method further comprising removing the sleeve from the shank and reattaching the sleeve in a reverse orientation and using the further socket determine the type of fastener suited for the further socket.