Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Magnets and electromagnets – For magnetizing or demagnetizing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-08-21
Barrera, Ramon M. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Magnets and electromagnets
For magnetizing or demagnetizing
C335S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278349
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hand tools, and more specifically hand tools used to magnetize driving bits which are adapted for use with attachment hardware such as screws.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hand tools are used by craftsman, electricians, homeowners, carpenters and a variety of others to construct buildings, repair household furniture and appliances and perform an endless variety of other tasks and functions. One of the most popular and useful hand tools is a handheld screwdriver or an electric or battery operated power drill adapted with a screwdriver bit. These tools are used to drive screws and other metallic attachment hardware devices in a quick, efficient manner.
To improve the efficiency and speed of a handheld screwdriver or power driven driving tool or bit, it is advantageous that the bit be magnetized to hold the metallic screw. This enables the screw to be temporarily attached to the driving bit and allows the user to have another hand free for holding the tip of the screw for proper alignment prior to turning the screw.
Previous attempts have been made to magnetize metallic driving bits such as screwdrivers, allen wrenches or other tools. These include small rings which are slid over the metallic driving bit to exert a magnetic gauss to the end of the driving bit, which in turn holds the screw on other attachment hardware. Unfortunately, these magnetic rings typically only provide a small contact surface with the metallic driving tool and thus do not provide a sufficient magnetic gauss to be overly effective. Additionally, their close tolerance to the exterior diameter of the metallic driving tool often make them difficult to attach. Finally, the orientation of the magnets are not optimally positioned to provide the most efficient magnetic gauss and hence magnetic force delivered at the driver bit where it is required.
An example of one type of magnetizing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,873. In this device, a ring magnet is used which is positioned close to the screw or other fastener. Due to the strength of the magnet, the fastener is attracted to the driver bit, although the driver bit is never sufficiently magnetized. This system is not overly effective since the orientation of the magnets do not provide an overly effective magnetic gauss at the driver bit. Additionally, very large and expensive magnets are often required. Due to their size and positioning near the driving bit, these larger magnets often obscure the user's view of the driving bit and/or screw.
Thus, there is a significant need for a small, inexpensive device which can be removably attached to a metallic driving bit to provide a sufficient magnetic gauss at the metallic driving bit to securely hold attachment hardware such as screws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a portable magnetizing device which can be quickly attached to a conventional metallic driving bit to magnetize the bit to hold screws and other types of fastening hardware. The conventional metallic driving tool may include a screwdriver, Allen wrench or another similar device which may be used independently or in conjunction with a power tool such as an electric drill.
It is a further aspect of the present invention that the magnetizing device be extremely efficient, thus allowing the size and power of the magnets to be small and extremely cost effective. The efficiency of the device is achieved by the orientation of the magnets, and allowing a plurality of magnets to come into direct contact with the metallic driving tool.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a magnetizing device which is easy to install and which maximizes the magnetic gauss present at the tip of the metallic driving tool. Thus, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnets are positioned in apertures and reciprocate therein based on the positioning of the polarities of the magnets in the apertures. Thus, the magnets are retracted from a central aperture until a metallic driving tool is inserted into the central aperture, at which time the magnets are drawn toward the magnetic driving tool and thus providing a magnetic gauss at the end of the tool, to attach a metallic fastening device such as a screw.
Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus adapted for magnetizing a metallic driving tool is provided, comprising:
a) a substantially non-magnetic housing having an outer circumference, an inner circumference defining a central aperture and a plurality of apertures extending between said outer circumference and said inner circumference;
b) a magnetic material comprising opposing north and south poles slidingly positioned within each of said apertures of said non-magnetic housing to reciprocate therein, said magnetic material positioned with similar poles positioned adjacent said inner circumference, wherein said magnet materials oppose each other until the metallic driving tool is inserted in said central aperture, wherein each of said magnetic materials reciprocate within said plurality of apertures to engage an outer surface of the driving tool; and
c) a non-magnetic press ring extending around said outer circumference of said non-magnetic housing to maintain said magnetic material within said apertures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2370800 (1945-03-01), Kind et al.
patent: 3007504 (1961-11-01), Clark
patent: 3392767 (1968-07-01), Stillwagon, Jr.
patent: 3538792 (1970-11-01), Stillwagon, Jr.
patent: 3662303 (1972-05-01), Arllof
patent: 5586847 (1996-12-01), Mattern, Jr. et al.
patent: 5724873 (1998-03-01), Hillinger
patent: 5861789 (1999-01-01), Bundy et al.
Barrera Ramon M.
Giffen Tec Inc.
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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