US4140161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Screw holding and driving device
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1977-06-15
•
Granted: 1979-02-20
•
Expires: 1997-06-15
Abstract
Abstract The present disclosure relates to a device designed for use in surgical procedures requiring the driving of screws into bone. The device provides positive locking screw holding engagement yet permits angular movement of the screw of up to 10° from the axial direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Russo, deceased
- 👤 administrator by Diane Bos
- 👤 administrator by Robin P. Russo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:31
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/02; B25B23/08; B25B23/10; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/8875; A61B17/8886; A61B17/8891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In combination, a screw driving bit having a rearward driving end, a shank and a forward screw engaging end and a screw retaining device movably attached to the shank of said bit, said screw retaining device comprising a collet and a plurality of screw retaining balls disposed within openings equidistantly spaced around the periphery of said collet, said balls being free to move radially in said openings, a spring biased member which, in a first position, biases said balls radially outwardly and which, in a second position, exerts spring pressure against the head of a screw received within said collet, a spring biased collet sleeve which, in a first position, restrains the outward movement of said radially outwardly biased balls and which, in a second position, biases said balls radially inwardly against the shank of said screw thus preventing axial movement of said screw, spring means biasing said screw driving bit into a forward position into engagement with the slot in said screw head thereby further preventing axial movement of said screw and eliminating marring of the screw head in the screw driving process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In combination, a screw driving bit having a rearward driving end, a shank and a forward screw engaging end and a screw retaining device movably attached to the shank of said bit, said screw retaining device comprising a collet and a plurality of screw retaining balls disposed within openings equidistantly spaced around the periphery of said collet, said balls being free to move radially in said openings, a spring biased member which, in a first position, biases said balls radially outwardly and which, in a second position, exerts spring pressure against the head of a screw received within said collet, a spring biased collet sleeve which, in a first position, restrains the outward movement of said radially outwardly biased balls and which, in a second position, biases said balls radially inwardly against the shank of said screw thus preventing axial movement of said screw, spring means biasing said screw driving bit into a forward position into engagement with the slot in said screw head thereby further preventing axial movement of said screw and eliminating marring of the screw head in the screw driving process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring biased member is a cylindrical plunger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring biased member is the screw driving bit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said screw retaining device is carried by the shank of said bit by a retainer nut slidably coupled to said shank by retaining means located on said shank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one split ring, which, when depressed into its retaining groove in said shank, allows passage of said retainer nut thereover thereby permitting interchangeability of screw driving bits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said screw retaining balls are located within openings in said collet, the maximum diameter of said openings adjacent the interior of said collet being slightly less than the diameter of said balls such that the balls will not pass through said openings into said interior.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein four screw retaining balls are disposed within openings equidistantly spaced around the periphery of said collet and are constrained by said openings and said collet sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU258156A1
Cited
US1644074A
Cited
US1645753A
Cited
FR670755A
Cited
US2327074A
Cited
US2840126A
Cited
US2845968A
Cited
FR1189780A
Cited
US2927491A
Cited
CH372622A
Cited
US3298410A
Cited
US3244208A
Cited
US3967664A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-02-19 | 1982-08-21 | 1983-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-19 | 1986-08-21 | 1987-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-19 | 1990-08-21 | 1991-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |