U.S. patent application number 10/259588 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver and the method of using the assembly.
Invention is credited to Wu, Chia-Tien.
Application Number | 20050082186 10/259588 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34519780 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082186 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu, Chia-Tien |
April 21, 2005 |
Exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver and the method of using
the assembly
Abstract
An exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver includes a
connector partially received in the shank of the screwdriver and
including a polygonal block and the polygonal stub longitudinally
extending from one end of the polygonal block. The polygonal stub
is received in the shank of the screwdriver. A first detaching
block has a polygonal hole defined to selectively receive the
polygonal block of the connector for detaching the connector from
the shank after rotating. A barrel is connected to the polygonal
block of the connector and has a polygonal hole defined to receive
the polygonal block of the connector. A second detaching block is
selectively connected to the barrel and has a hole defined to
partially receive the barrel for detaching the barrel from the
connector after rotating.
Inventors: |
Wu, Chia-Tien; (Taichung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
34519780 |
Appl. No.: |
10/259588 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 23/00 20130101;
B25B 27/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/349 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of using an exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver
uses the polygonal shape of an element and a polygonal hole in
another element, and promotes the friction between the two elements
by rotating to make the inner periphery of the hole securely
abutting the outer periphery of another element.
2. An exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver comprising: a tip
with a first end adapted to be longitudinally connected to and
partially received in a shank of the screwdriver, and a second end
adapted to drive a work piece; and a detaching block having a hole
defined to selectively receive and engaging to the second end of
the tip for detaching the tip from the shank of the screwdriver
after rotating.
3. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the hole in the detaching block is polygonal hole and defined to
receive the second end of the tip during detaching the tip, the
cross-section of the hole corresponds to that of the tip, the hole
having an area greater than that of the tip and having multiple
sides connected to one another and each being convex relative to
the detaching block, the hole being tapered and the enlarged end of
the hole facing the tip.
4. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the tip has an annular groove defined in an outer periphery of the
tip and detaching block has a blind hole defined to receive the
second end of the tip, the blind hole having a diameter slight
greater than a length of each of the diagonals in the tip, the
detaching block including two sticks laterally extending through
detaching block and partially laterally received in the blind hole
wherein a distance between the two sticks is slightly greater than
that between two opposite sides of the tip.
5. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the tip includes multiple edges each having an indentation defined
near a middle portion of the tip and the hole in the detaching
block has a diameter slightly greater than a length of each of the
diagonals of the tip, multiple ratchets formed on an inner
periphery of the hole in the detaching block, each corresponding to
and selectively engaged to a corresponding one of the
indentations.
6. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 2 further
comprising: a connector adapted to be partially received in the
shank of the screwdriver and including a polygonal block and the
polygonal stub longitudinally extending from one end of the
polygonal block, the polygonal stub adapted to be received in the
shank of the screwdriver; a first detaching block having a
polygonal hole defined to selectively receive the polygonal block
of the connector for detaching the connector from the shank after
rotating; a barrel connected to the polygonal block of the
connector, the barrel having a polygonal hole defined to receive
the polygonal block of the connector; and a second detaching block
selectively connected to the barrel, the barrel having a hole
defined to partially receive the barrel for detaching the barrel
from the connector after rotating.
7. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the barrel has a series of notches longitudinally defined in an
outer periphery of the barrel and the second detaching block
includes a series V-shaped protrusion longitudinally extending form
an inner periphery of the hole in the first detaching block, each
protrusion complementary to a corresponding one of the series of
notches of the first barrel.
8. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the barrel is cubic and includes four edges each having a cutout
longitudinally defined in the outer periphery of the barrel and the
hole in the detaching block has a cross-section corresponding to
that of the barrel.
9. An exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver comprising: a
connector adapted to be partially received in the shank of the
screwdriver and including a polygonal block and the polygonal stub
longitudinally extending from one end of the polygonal block, the
polygonal stub adapted to be received in the shank of the
screwdriver; a first detaching block having a polygonal hole
defined to selectively receive the polygonal block of the connector
for detaching the connector from the shank after rotating; a barrel
connected to the polygonal block of the connector, the barrel
having a polygonal hole defined to receive the polygonal block of
the connector; and a second detaching block selectively connected
to the barrel, the barrel having a hole defined to partially
receive the barrel for detaching the barrel from the connector
after rotating.
10. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the barrel has a series of notches longitudinally defined in an
outer periphery of the barrel and the second detaching block
includes a series V-shaped protrusion longitudinally extending form
an inner periphery of the hole in the first detaching block, each
protrusion complementary to a corresponding one of the series of
notches of the first barrel.
11. The exchangeable work assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein
the barrel is cubic and includes four edges each having a cutout
longitudinally defined in the outer periphery of the barrel and the
hole in the detaching block has a cross-section corresponding to
that of the barrel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an exchangeable work
assembly, and more particularly to an exchangeable work assembly of
a screwdriver and the method of using the assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional screwdriver in accordance with the prior art
usually comprises a handle, a shank securely and longitudinally
inserted into the handle for connected to a work assembly. The work
assembly includes a connector connected to a free end of the shank,
a socket partially receiving the connector and a tip partially
inserted in the socket for driving a work piece. The work assembly
of the screwdriver can be exchanged for various work pieces.
However, the user must exchange the work assembly with his fingers
so that the work assembly will dirty user's finger and the sweat on
the user's fingers will make the work assembly rusted.
[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the disadvantages of the conventional screwdriver with an
exchangeable work assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver and the method of using
the assembly.
[0007] To achieve the objective, the method uses the polygonal
shape of an element and a polygonal hole in another element and
promotes the friction between the two elements by rotating to make
the inner periphery of the hole securely abutting the outer
periphery of another element. The exchangeable work assembly of a
screwdriver in accordance with the present invention comprises a
connector partially received in the shank of the screwdriver and
including a polygonal block and the polygonal stub longitudinally
extending from one end of the polygonal block. The polygonal stub
is received in the shank of the screwdriver. A first detaching
block has a polygonal hole defined to selectively receive the
polygonal block of the connector for detaching the connector from
the shank after rotating. A barrel is connected to the polygonal
block of the connector and has a polygonal hole defined to receive
the polygonal block of the connector. A second detaching block is
selectively connected to the barrel and has a hole defined to
partially receive the barrel for detaching the barrel from the
connector after rotating.
[0008] By such a manner, the use's fingers never touch the tip or
the barrel so that the used tip and the barrel do not dirty user's
hand and the sweat on user's fingers should not make the work
assembly rusted.
[0009] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment
of an exchangeable work assembly of a screwdriver in accordance
with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is another detaching block for detaching the
connector in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is another operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 2 when the detaching block is rotated;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is another operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 1 when the detaching block is rotated;
[0016] FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the detaching block for
detaching a tip;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the detaching block in FIG.
7;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 7;
[0019] FIG. 10 is another operational top plan view of the
detaching block in FIG. 7 when the detaching block is rotated.
[0020] FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the detaching block for
detaching a tip;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the detaching block in FIG.
11;
[0022] FIG. 13 is another embodiment of the detaching block for
detaching a tip;
[0023] FIG. 14 is operational side cross-sectional view of the
detaching block in FIG. 13;
[0024] FIG. 15 is another operational side cross-sectional view of
the detaching block in FIG. 13 when the detaching block is rotated
above thirty degrees;
[0025] FIG. 16 is another embodiment of the barrel in FIG. 1 and
the detaching block for detaching the barrel;
[0026] FIG. 17 is another embodiment of the detaching block for
detaching a tip;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the detaching block in FIG.
17;
[0028] FIG. 19 is an operational top plan view of the detaching
block in FIG. 17; and
[0029] FIG. 20 is another operational top plan view of the
detaching block in FIG. 17 when the detaching block id rotated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a
screwdriver (4) usually comprises a handle (41), a shank (42) with
a first end securely longitudinally inserted into the handle (41)
and a second having a polygonal hole (not numbered) longitudinal
defined in the shank (42), and an exchangeable work assembly
attached to a free end of the shank (42). In the preferred
embodiment, the polygonal hole is a hexagon hole.
[0031] The exchangeable work assembly of the present invention
comprises a connector (14) partially received in the polygonal hole
in the shank (42) of the screwdriver. The connector (14) comprises
a polygonal block (not number) and the polygonal stub (not
numbered) longitudinally extending from one end of the polygonal
block. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
polygonal block is cubic, and the stub is hexagon and corresponding
to the polygonal hole in the shank (42). The polygonal block has
four sides and one of the sides has a steel ball (144) mounted in
the polygonal block. The steel ball (144) partially extends out of
the outer periphery of the polygonal block. A first barrel (15) is
mounted to the polygonal block. The first barrel (15) has polygonal
through hole (151) longitudinally defined in the first barrel (15)
and a series of notches (152) longitudinally defined in the outer
periphery of the first barrel (15). The polygonal hole (151) in the
barrel (15) is a cubic hole that is defined to receive the
polygonal block of the connector (14). A first detaching block (25)
includes a through hole (251) defined to partially receive the
first barrel (15) and a series V-shaped protrusion (252)
longitudinally extending form an inner periphery of the through
hole (251) in the first detaching block (25). Each protrusion (252)
is complementary to a corresponding one of the series of notches
(152) of the first barrel (15). A second detaching block (24) has a
polygonal hole (241) defined to receive the polygonal block of the
connector (14). In preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the polygonal hole (241) in the second detaching block (24) is a
cubic hole. The steel ball (144) abuts the inner periphery of the
polygonal hole (241) in the second detaching block (24) and the
friction between the polygonal stub and the inner periphery of the
polygonal hole in the shank (42) is greater than that between the
polygonal block and the polygonal hole (241) in the second
detaching block (24).
[0032] To detach the connector (14) from the second detaching block
(24), the shank (42) is moved to make the polygonal hole in the
second end of the shank (42) receiving the polygonal stub of the
connector (14), then the shank (42) is moved along an opposite
direction and the connector (14) is detaching from the second
detaching block (24) because the friction between the polygonal
stub and the inner periphery of the polygonal hole in the shank
(42) is greater than that between the polygonal block of the
connector and the inner periphery of the polygonal hole (241) in
the second detaching block (24). To detach the connector (14) from
the shank (42), the detaching block (24) is moved to make the
polygonal hole (241) receiving the polygonal block of the connector
(14), and rotated to make the crest lines of the polygonal block
securely abutting the inner periphery of the polygonal hole (241)
in the second detaching block (24) to promote the friction between
the polygonal block of the connector (14) and the inner periphery
of the polygonal hole (241) in the second detaching block (24).
Then the second detaching block (24) is moved away from the shank
(42) and the connector (14) is detached from the shank (42) and
received in the polygonal hole (241) when the friction between the
polygonal block of the connector (14) and the inner periphery of
the polygonal hole (241) in the second detaching block (24) is
greater than that between the polygonal stub of the connector (14)
and the inner periphery of the polygonal hole in the shank
(42).
[0033] With reference to FIG. 1, the connector (14) is previously
connected to the shank (42) of the screwdriver (4). To detach the
barrel (15) from the first detaching block (25), the polygonal
block is moved and inserted into the polygonal hole (151) in the
barrel (15). The friction between inner periphery of the polygonal
hole in the shank (42) and the polygonal stub of the connector (14)
is greater than that between the polygonal block of the connector
(14) and the inner periphery of the polygonal hole (151) in the
barrel (15). Furthermore, the friction between the polygonal block
of the connector (14) and the inner periphery of the polygonal hole
(151) in the barrel (15) is greater than that between the outer
periphery barrel (15) and the inner periphery of the through hole
(251) in the first detaching block (25). Consequently, the barrel
(15) is connected to the connector (14) and the polygonal block is
received in the polygonal hole (151) when the first detaching block
(25) is moved away from the barrel (15).
[0034] To detach the barrel (15) from the connector (14), the first
detaching block (25) is moved to make the through hole (251)
receiving the barrel (15). The first detaching block (25) is
rotated to make the V-shaped protrusion (252) abutting the sidewall
of the notch (152) in the outer periphery of the barrel (15) to
promote the friction between the barrel (15) and the first
detaching block (25). Then the first detaching block (25) is moved
away from the connector (14) and the barrel (15) is detached from
the connector (14) and received in the through hole (251) in the
first detaching block (25) when the friction between the barrel
(15) and the first detaching block (25) is greater than that
between the barrel (15) and the connector (14).
[0035] With reference to FIGS. 7-10, the exchangeable work assembly
of the present invention further comprises a tip (16) partially
received in the polygonal hole in the shank (42) and a third
detaching block (26) for detaching the tip (16) from the shank
(42). The tip (16) has a first end received in the polygonal hole
in the shank (42) and a second end for driving a work piece. The
third detaching block (26) has a polygonal hole (261) defined to
receive the second end of the tip (16) during detaching the tip
(16) from the shank (42). The cross-section of the polygonal hole
(261) corresponds to that of the tip (16) and the polygonal hole
(261) and has an area greater than that of the tip (16). The
polygonal hole (261) in the third detaching block (26) has multiple
sides connected to one another and each is convex relative to the
third block (26). The polygonal hole (261) in the third detaching
block (26) is tapered and the enlarged end of the polygonal hole
(261) faces the tip (16). The method and the principle of detaching
the tip from the shank (42) is the same as that of detaching the
connector (14) from the shank (42) and the papered polygonal hole
(261) and prevent the tip (16) from detaching from the third
detaching block (26) after the tip (16) being detached from the
shank (42).
[0036] With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, it is another embodiment
of the third detaching block, wherein the detaching block (27) has
a polygonal blind hole (271) defined to receive the second end of
the tip (16). A magnet (3) is mounted in an inner periphery of the
polygonal blind hole (3) to fascinate with tip (16) and prevent the
tip (16) from detaching from the detaching block (26) after being
detached from the shank (42). In the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the magnet (3) in mounted in a bottom of the
polygonal blind hole (271) in the detaching block (27). The magnet
(3) has a magnetic force greater than a friction between the tip
(16) and the shank (42).
[0037] With reference to FIGS. 13-15, it is another embodiment of
the tip and the third detaching block. The tip (12), as shown in
the FIG. 13, has an annular groove (123) defined in a middle
portion of the tip (12). The detaching block (28) has a blind hole
(281) defined to receive the second end of the tip (12). The blind
hole (281) in the detaching block (28) has a diameter slight
greater than a length of each of the diagonals in the tip (12). The
detaching block (28) includes two sticks (282) laterally extending
through detaching block (28) and partially laterally received in
the blind hole (281). A distance between the two sticks (282) is
slightly greater than that between two opposite sides of the tip
(12). To detach the tip (12) from the detaching block (28), the
shank (42) is moved toward the tip (12) to make the tip (12)
partially received in the polygonal hole in the shank (42) and
moved the shank (42) away from the detaching block (28) after
turning the tip (12) to make the two opposite sides facing the two
sticks (282). To detach the tip (12) from the shank (42), the
detaching block (28) is moved toward the tip (12) to make the tip
(12) partially received in the blind hole (281) and the annular
groove (123) aligning with the two sticks (282). The detaching
block (28) is moved away from the shank (42) to detach the tip (12)
from the shank (42) after rotating the detaching block (28) to make
the two sticks (282) partially received in the annular groove (123)
in the tip (12).
[0038] With reference to FIG. 16, it is another embodiment of the
barrel (15) and the first detaching block (25). The barrel (17) is
cubic and includes four edges each having a cutout (173)
longitudinally defined in the outer periphery of the barrel (17).
The detaching block (29) has a hole (291) defined to partially
receive the barrel (17). The hole (291) in the detaching block (29)
has a cross-section corresponding to that of the barrel (17). The
method of connecting the barrel (17) to the connector (14) and
detaching the barrel (17) from the detaching block (29) is the same
as using first detaching block (25).
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 17-20, it is another embodiment of
the tip (6) and the third detaching block (26). The tip (11)
includes multiple edges each having an indentation (113) defined
near a middle portion of the tip (11). The detaching block (20) has
a hole (201) defined to partially receive the tip (11). The hole
(201) in the detaching block (20) has a diameter slightly greater
than a length of each of the diagonals of the tip (11). The
detaching block (20) has multiple ratchets (202) formed on an inner
periphery of the hole (201) in the detaching block (20) and each
corresponding to a corresponding one of the indentations (113).
[0040] To detach the tip (11) from the detaching block (20), the
shank (42) is moved toward the tip (11) to make the tip (11)
partially received in the shank (42). The shank (42) and the tip
(11) are moved away from the detaching block (20) after rotating
the tip (11) to make the sides of the tip (11) facing the ratchet
(202) in the hole (201). To detach the tip (11) from the shank
(42), the detaching block (20) is moved toward the tip (11) to make
the tip (11) partially received in the hole (201) in the detaching
block (20). The detaching block (20) is rotated to make the ratchet
(202) engaged to the indentation (113) in the tip (11) so that the
tip (11) is remained in the hole (201) in the detaching block (20)
after removing the shank (42) from the detaching block (20).
[0041] As described above, the use's fingers never touch the tip or
the barrel so that the used tip and the barrel do not dirty user's
hand and the sweat on user's fingers should not make the work
assembly rusted.
[0042] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *