Drill bit with fastener-driving collar assembly

Claim 1

A hole-drilling and fastener driving assembly comprising drill bit means and drive collar means; the drill bit means comprising a three-sectioned, one-piece member having a drill tip, a first section, a second section and a third section all extending along a common axis; said first section comprising a fluted drilling section extending from the drill tip to the start of the second section; said second section having a polygonal configuration which defines a first radial dimension extending from one apex of the polygon to a diametrically opposed portion; said second section joining with the third section; said third section having a major radial dimension exceeding said first dimension and gradually tapering downwardly toward the end opposing the drill tip, said third section being adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped aperture of a chuck of a rotary hammer; said drive collar means including first, second and third portions, said first portion constituting the drive receiving portion and having a polygonal aperture corresponding to and being adapted to receive the polygonal section of the drill bit means, said second portion having a longitudinally extending aperture of sufficient diameter and length to house the drill tip and drilling section of the bit means, said third portion including a fastener-engaging recess adapted to engage and drive the head of a self-tapping fastener, whereby the drill bit means may be inserted in and frictionally driven by said chuck to create a hole in a workpiece and the drive collar means subsequently slipped thereover and drive torque transmitted to said collar means from the drill bit means by the mating polygonal section and aperture and, in turn, from the drill bit means to the fastener by means of the fastener engaging recess to advance the fastener into the just-drilled hole.