US4581962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool to capture, control and manipulate threaded fasteners
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-06-03
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2003-06-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention is intended for use with threaded fasteners, screws, bolts and similar devices, in their almost limitless applications to assembling objects and structures. These fasteners exist in many types, each requiring a special tool bit. On many occasions screws or other fasteners must be installed or removed in locations difficult of access and of which clear view may not be obtained, also where use of two hands is not possible. This invention is particularly intended for these situations. The invention comprises basically a combination of a barrel (11 or 811) and collar (20 or 201), preferably made of stiff but flexible plastic, which fit over and enclose a tool for threaded fasteners, either with a fixed bit or one which can accept insertable bits. The barrel (11) provides at its working or tip end a set of flexible elements (31) which act to grip screw heads and hold them registered with the tool. The barrel (11) can be fixed in place on the tool shaft by a partial turn of either form of collar (20 or 201). Collar (201) works with a spring (202) to move the barrel (11) into gripping position. A variation for jewelers' screwdrivers uses a miniature barrel (170) without a collar but with a spring (202).
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar F. Marbourg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:13
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/02; B25B23/08; B25B23/10; B25B23/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
444 words
A barrel of stiff but resiliently deformable material, for use with an associated tool for threaded fasteners, the shaft of said tool being inserted through said barrel so that the tip of said tool is closely associated with one end of said barrel, said barrel being further adapted at its other end to cooperate with a collar which acts when turned upon said barrel to hold said barrel fixed with relation to said tool shaft inserted therein, further providing that at each end said barrel is slit longitudinally into a plurality of segments symmetrically and circularly disposed about the said inserted tool shaft, still further providing that at the end of said barrel which associates with the tip of said inserted tool, said barrel segments are relatively thin and flexible and act as resilient members comprising gripping means for heads of threaded fasteners in association with annular grooves and shoulders on the interior surfaces of said segments which positively grip the head of a fastener accepted by said segments which expand outward to accept said fastener head, then contract upon it; that at its other end the said barrel is formed into a head section of increased diameter, with a cylindrical portion and an end portion which presents a conical surface formed as a truncated cone, convex to said barrel, and symmetrically disposed around said cooperating tool shaft, and providing that the segments into which said head section is slit are relatively short and thick; that in the surface of said barrel section of increased diameter is formed a single thread slot in the form of a groove which is a portion of a helix traversing substantially half the circumference of the cylindrical portion of said head section, beginning at that edge of said cylindrical portion where it meets said conical surface, and progressing into said cylindrical portion with sufficient pitch to provide for tightening said collar upon said head section. that a collar is provided which cooperates with and accepts within it the said head section of said barrel, said collar interiorly disposing a concave conical face which mates with the conical portion of said head section, also disposing fixedly attached to said collar a pin which projects interiorly therein, which pin engages the said thread slot in the said barrel head section, so that when said collar is turned, said collar pin by the action of said thread slot draws said collar upon said barrel head section, and the conical surface in said collar compresses the segments of the conical end of said head section to grip the shaft within the barrel and hold said barrel fixed with relation to said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
444 words
A barrel of stiff but resiliently deformable material, for use with an associated tool for threaded fasteners, the shaft of said tool being inserted through said barrel so that the tip of said tool is closely associated with one end of said barrel, said barrel being further adapted at its other end to cooperate with a collar which acts when turned upon said barrel to hold said barrel fixed with relation to said tool shaft inserted therein, further providing that at each end said barrel is slit longitudinally into a plurality of segments symmetrically and circularly disposed about the said inserted tool shaft, still further providing that at the end of said barrel which associates with the tip of said inserted tool, said barrel segments are relatively thin and flexible and act as resilient members comprising gripping means for heads of threaded fasteners in association with annular grooves and shoulders on the interior surfaces of said segments which positively grip the head of a fastener accepted by said segments which expand outward to accept said fastener head, then contract upon it; that at its other end the said barrel is formed into a head section of increased diameter, with a cylindrical portion and an end portion which presents a conical surface formed as a truncated cone, convex to said barrel, and symmetrically disposed around said cooperating tool shaft, and providing that the segments into which said head section is slit are relatively short and thick; that in the surface of said barrel section of increased diameter is formed a single thread slot in the form of a groove which is a portion of a helix traversing substantially half the circumference of the cylindrical portion of said head section, beginning at that edge of said cylindrical portion where it meets said conical surface, and progressing into said cylindrical portion with sufficient pitch to provide for tightening said collar upon said head section. that a collar is provided which cooperates with and accepts within it the said head section of said barrel, said collar interiorly disposing a concave conical face which mates with the conical portion of said head section, also disposing fixedly attached to said collar a pin which projects interiorly therein, which pin engages the said thread slot in the said barrel head section, so that when said collar is turned, said collar pin by the action of said thread slot draws said collar upon said barrel head section, and the conical surface in said collar compresses the segments of the conical end of said head section to grip the shaft within the barrel and hold said barrel fixed with relation to said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A screw starter comprising a barrel and collar as described in claim 1, with a bit of similar material, provided with a head for gripping, said bit being inserted through said barrel and collar to cooperate therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A screw starter as described in claim 2, wherein said insertable bit is provided with a hardened tip to resist wear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A screw starter as in claim 2 or 3 wherein a set of bits is provided for use with different sizes or types of screw heads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A barrel and collar as described in claim 1, in association with a cooperating tool, further providing: that the said collar described therein further dispose at the end nearest the handle of said cooperating tool an annular recess which accepts a spring placed around the shaft of said tool and bearing upon said tool handle and said collar, to extend said collar and barrel towards the tip end of said tool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A barrel and collar combination as described in claim 1 or claim 5, further providing that a guide pin is fixedly attached to the shaft of said cooperating tool, said guide pin extending into or through a longitudinal slot in said barrel, so disposed as to limit and guide the movement of said barrel relative to said tool shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as described in claim 6, further providing that the guide pin may be rigidly but removably attached to said shaft of said cooperating tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A combination as described in claim 6 in which said guide pin is attached to said shaft of said cooperating tool by cementing to said shaft a tube of the stiff but deformable plastic of which the said barrel is formed, or its equivalent, providing that said projecting guide pin be integral with or fixedly attached to said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A barrel and collar combination, in association with a cooperating tool having a guide pin affixed to the shaft thereof, as in claim 6, further providing that one of the slots which slit the said head section of said barrel into segments, be widened so that its width is slightly less than the diameter of said guide pin, said slot further extending substantially beyond said head section into the other portion of the barrel where said slot terminates in a broader portion of width slightly greater than the diameter of said guide pin, so that the barrel may be passed over said guide pin by deformation at the widened slot, whereupon the broader portion of said slot accepts and contains said guide pin to limit and guide the movement of said barrel relative to said cooperating tool shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination wherein a standard tool for threaded fasteners is inserted through the barrel as described in claim 6 and used in cooperation therewith for the control and use of threaded fasteners.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination as in claim 10 wherein the standard tool used is a magnetic driver which accepts bits of varying sizes and types.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
In association with the handle of a tool cooperating with a barrel and collar combination as in claim 1 or 5 or 10 or 11, a rotating end cap on said handle, firmly but rotatably mounted on a center mounting pivot shaft, so that said end cap may freely rotate with respect to said tool handle, while bearing firmly upon it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A barrel and collar combination as in claim 1, used in conjunction with a nut driver to locate and grip hexagonal nuts for starting, or for retrieving said nuts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as in claim 13, with a cooperating tool shaft inserted therein to provide a handle for control of its use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as in claim 5, with a cooperating tool shaft inserted therein to provide a handle for control of its use, as used in conjunction with a nut driver to locate and grip hexagonal nuts for starting or retrieving said nuts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |