Tool guide

Claim 1

A hand-held workpiece engaging tool for drilling and the like comprising: a hollow housing having an elongated upper bearing guide and gripping section and a lower workpiece engaging section; the housing upper section including a central elongated internal bearing surface and an external surface suitable for gripping by the user at a distance from a work surface; the housing lower section being substantially wider than the housing upper section and having both a wide and deep inwardly tapering cut out section for engaging circular workpieces of varying diameter and other non-planar workpieces, and also having a flat end surface for engaging flat workpieces; an elongated cylindrical shank longer than the housing which extends down therethrough and is smooth surfaced and dimensioned to give a bearing fit for both rotative and longitudinal movement with respect to the internal bearing surface; the shank including a chuck having adjustable jaws for holding a tool at its lower end, and an elongated shaft at its upper end for engaging power tool members; spring means positioned on the outside of and extending above the housing clear of the shank for providing longitudinal spring bias of the shank with respect to the housing, the spring having an inner diameter substantially greater than the external dimensions of the shank for assuring sufficient clearance therefrom to permit unrestricted longitudinal movement between the spring and shank; and the shank being connected to the spring through an adjustable rotative bearing and stop assembly including a collar fixedly connected to the shank, and an intermediate bearing member disposed between the upper end of the spring, and, the collar and the bearing member having flat planar bearing surfaces in engagement with each other.