US5881614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool with reversible bit and method of assembly
Assignee: Gorilla Glue Co
•
Filing: 1996-12-09
•
Granted: 1999-03-16
•
Expires: 2016-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A tool having a handle and including a sleeve and a spring is provided which is simple and cost effective to manufacture. The sleeve is provided with a slot and the spring is positioned so that a portion of the spring extends through the slot. The sleeve is positioned in a bore in the handle. A removable, reversible bit is held in the handle by the sleeve and the spring. The spring applies sufficient force to the bit to retain the bit within the handle. The sleeve also prevents the bit from rotating relative to the handle. The bit may be removed from the handle by pulling the bit away from the handle. The same end of the bit, another end of the bit, or a different bit may be reinserted in the handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Hu Cheng-Tsan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:11
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/0007; B25B23/0042; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/17; Y10T279/17957
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, said handle including a bore through said second end; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said longitudinal axis of said bit being substantially parallel to said longtudinal axis of said handle, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring includes a first end and a second end with said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, said handle including a bore through said second end; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said longitudinal axis of said bit being substantially parallel to said longtudinal axis of said handle, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring includes a first end and a second end with said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which said exterior surface of said sleeve includes a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tool as claimed in claim 2 in which said exterior surface of said sleeve includes a substantially smooth portion generally adjacent to said ribs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tool as claimed in claim 2 in which said slot in said sleeve is positioned between adjacent ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tool as claimed in claim 2 in which said second portion of said spring extends between adjacent ribs and into said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tool as claimed in claim 2 in which there are an absence of ribs in said collar of said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tool as claimed in claim 5 in which neither portion of said spring extends outwardly from said exterior surface of said sleeve beyond said ribs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle, said exterior surface of said sleeve including a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs and a substantially smooth portion generally adjacent to said ribs, said sleeve further including an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said sleeve including a collar having an absence of said ribs and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle, said exterior surface of said sleeve including a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs and a substantially smooth portion generally adjacent to said ribs, said sleeve further including an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said sleeve including a collar having an absence of said ribs and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
225 words
A tool handle comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, said handle including a bore through said second end; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring including a first end and a second end, said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
225 words
A tool handle comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, said handle including a bore through said second end; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring including a first end and a second end, said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 9 in which said exterior surface of said sleeve includes a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 10 in which said exterior surface of said sleeve includes a substantially smooth portion generally adjacent to said ribs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 10 in which said slot in said sleeve is positioned between adjacent ribs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 10 in which said second portion of said spring extends between adjacent ribs and into said slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 10 in which there are an absence of ribs in said collar of said sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tool handle as claimed in claim 14 in which neither portion of said spring extends outwardly from said exterior surface of said sleeve beyond said ribs.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of assembling a tool handle comprising the steps of: providing a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second, said handle including a bore through said second end; providing a sleeve, said sleeve including an exterior surface including a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; providing a spring including a first portion adapted to at least partially encircle said collar of said sleeve and a second portion adapted to extend into said slot in said sleeve, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring including a first end and a second end, said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring, sliding said first portion of said spring over said collar to frictionally engage said collar and hold said spring in position on said sleeve forming a sleeve assembly, said second portion of said spring extending into said slot on said sleeve; positioning said sleeve assembly adjacent said bore in said handle; and applying sufficient pressure to said sleeve assembly to force said sleeve assembly into said bore, said ribs on said sleeve frictionally engaging the inner surface of said bore to retain said sleeve assembly in said handle.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of assembling a tool handle comprising the steps of: providing a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle defining a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second, said handle including a bore through said second end; providing a sleeve, said sleeve including an exterior surface including a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage; providing a spring including a first portion adapted to at least partially encircle said collar of said sleeve and a second portion adapted to extend into said slot in said sleeve, said second portion of said spring extending generally longitudinally away from said first portion of said spring in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle, said second portion of said spring including a first end and a second end, said first end forming a junction point with said first portion of said spring, said second portion of said spring defining an axis extending from said first end of said second portion of said spring to said second end of said second portion of said spring such that said axis of said second portion of said spring is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle and substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said spring, sliding said first portion of said spring over said collar to frictionally engage said collar and hold said spring in position on said sleeve forming a sleeve assembly, said second portion of said spring extending into said slot on said sleeve; positioning said sleeve assembly adjacent said bore in said handle; and applying sufficient pressure to said sleeve assembly to force said sleeve assembly into said bore, said ribs on said sleeve frictionally engaging the inner surface of said bore to retain said sleeve assembly in said handle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which said exterior surface of said sleeve includes a substantially smooth portion generally adjacent to said ribs, said smooth portion of said sleeve positioned adjacent said bore prior to said step of applying sufficient pressure to said sleeve assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which said slot in said sleeve is positioned between adjacent ribs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which said second portion of said spring extends between adjacent ribs and into said slot.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 in which there are an absence of ribs in said collar of said sleeve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 in which neither portion of said spring extends outwardly from said exterior surface of said sleeve beyond said ribs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface having a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve being positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
165 words
A reversible bit tool comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a bit including first and second ends and a shaft extending between said first and second ends, said first end of said bit extending into said bore in said handle; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface having a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough for receiving said shaft of said bit and adapted to prevent rotation of said bit around a longitudinal axis thereof, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve being positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve and frictionally engaging a surface of said shaft of said bit to retain said bit in said handle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tool handle comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface having a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve being positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tool handle comprising: a handle including a bore therein; a sleeve mounted in said bore, said sleeve including an exterior surface having a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally extending ribs engaging said bore of said handle and an interior surface defining a passage therethrough, said sleeve including a collar and a slot in said sleeve communicating with said passage, said slot in said sleeve being positioned between adjacent ribs; and a spring including a first portion at least partially encircling said collar of said sleeve and a second portion extending into said slot in said sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US772593A
Cited
US2158728A
Cited
US2476762A
Cited
US2483563A
Cited
US2596594A
Cited
US2805594A
Cited
US2845274A
Cited
US3455355A
Cited
US4404874A
Cited
US5335409A
Cited
US5481949A
Cited
US5533429A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |