Accommodating head for a tool with an actuating tip

Details Accommodating head for a tool with an actuating tip Accommodating head for a tool with an actuating tip

2001-05-24

2003-06-10

Wilson, Lee D. (Department: 3723)

Tools

Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor

Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...

C081S177750

Reexamination Certificate

active

06575062

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an accommodating head for a tool with an actuating tip which pivots to the element receiving the actuating tip.
Tools with a slot-type tip or polygonal tip are known. They serve for rotating fastening elements, in particular screws. The actuating tip here is designed, depending on the accommodating contour on the fastening element, as a correspondingly shaped slot-type actuating tip, in particular a cross-slot-type actuating tip. Examples of the polygonal actuating tips are so-called socket actuating or Torx actuating tips. When use is made of these tools or actuating tools with these actuating tips, it is not always ensured, in particular in the case of hand-actuated or hand-guided actuating tools, that the longitudinal axis of the actuating tool is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the fastening element, that is to say, for example of the screw. In the case of a torque transmission from the actuating trip to the screw, a skewed position of the actuating tool may thus result in the actuating tip being forced out of the corresponding accommodating contour on the screw. This may result in damage to the screw head, with the result that subsequent operations for tightening or releasing the screw are not possible. The actuating tools are either hand-actuated tools, for example screwdrivers or the like, or hand-guided tools with a drive motor, in particular battery-powered screwdrivers. Provision may be made for the screwdriver to be formed integrally with the actuating tip. It is also possible, however, to provide on the screwdriver an accommodating head into which the actuating tip can be plugged. In this case, the accommodating head is designed, in particular, as a so-called bit mount and the actuating tip is designed as a bit. Such a configuration may also be provided in the case of the hand-guided actuating tools.
The abovementioned type of accommodating head for a tool with a slot-type or polygonal actuating tip has a drive element and an output element, it being possible for a torque to be introduced into the drive element, and the actuating tip being arranged in the output element. The rotational forces applied by the actuating tool are introduced into the drive element, with the result that, on the output side, the actuating tip can be subjected to a torque in order for it to be possible for the fastening element to be screwed into a mount or unscrewed therefrom. The tool which has the actuating tip may be mounted pivotably in the output element. It is thus possible to ensure, even in the case of a skewed position of the actuating tool in relation to the fastening element, that the actuating tip engages in a mount of the fastening element, such that the longitudinal center axes of the actuating tips and of the fastening element are in alignment with one another. The disadvantage here is that, with the actuating tip pivoted, a tilting moment is produced on account of the axial force which is to be applied to the actuating tool when the fastening element is screwed in or unscrewed, it being possible for said tilting moment to result in the actuating tip slipping out of the cutout on the fastening element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to specify an accommodating head for a tool with an actuating tip in which there is at least a reduction in the risk of the tool being forced out of the fastening element in the case of an alignment error of the longitudinal center axes of the accommodating head and of the fastening element.
This object is achieved by an accommodating head which has the features specified in claim
1
. The accommodating head serves for accommodating a tool with an actuating tip, for example, a slot-type or polygonal actuating tip. The accommodating head has a drive element and an output element, it being possible for a torque to be introduced into the drive element by means of an actuating tool. The tool which has the actuating tip is arranged in a rotationally fixed and pivotably mounted manner in the output element. Suitable torque-transmission means are provided between the output element and the actuating tip in order for it to be possible for the torque applied by the actuating tool to be introduced into the actuating tip. The accommodating head is distinguished in that, in the case of a torque transmission from the actuating tip to the fastening element, the distance between the pivot axis of the actuating tip in the output element and the fastening element is small enough for the line of action of a force running along a longitudinal center axis of the output element or of the accommodating head to intersect the fastening element even in each pivot end position of the actuating tip, that is to say that, in this position of the actuating tip, the line of action runs through the fastening element. With the actuating tip plugged into the corresponding cutout on the fastening element, the pivot axis of said actuating tip is arranged at a very small distance from the fastening element, for example, the head of a screw, in which the cutout for accommodating the actuating tip is located. Since, on account of the configuration of the accommodating head according to the invention, the axial force which is applied to the actuating tool when the fastening element is screwed in and unscrewed, and acts in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the output element, is always introduced into the fastening element in each pivot position of the actuating tip, it is ensured that the actuating tip is forced into the cutout on the fastening element and a tilting moment is not produced—as in the case of known accommodating heads—it being possible for said tilting moment to result in the actuating tip being forced out of the cutout.
The accommodating head according to the invention makes it possible for the actuating tip to be arranged or plugged in an accurately fitting manner in the corresponding cutout on the fastening element although the actuating tool provided for the torque application can be pivoted within an admissible range.
Another advantageous factor with the pivot mounting of the actuating tip is that it is possible to screw in or unscrew even poorly accessible screws located, for example, behind an obstruction. It is also advantageous here that there is no narrowing in the region of the actuating tip, as is albeit necessary in the case of spherical-head hexagon wrenches in order to allow pivoting of the spherical-head hexagon wrench relative to the fastening element. The weak point of the narrowing is done away with in the case of the tool according to the invention. This makes it possible for the torque which is to be transmitted to be very large in the case of the tool according to the invention.
On account of the pivotable mounting of the actuating tip, it is also possible for latter to be designed as a special profile, for example XZN, TorxPlus, TorxTR, TriWing, Torq, etc., in the case of which pivot mounting has not been known at all up until now. It is also advantageous that the multi-part construction allows optimal selection of the materials used for the accommodating head and the actuating tip. It is thus possible, for example, in a particularly advantageous configuration, for the actuating tip to be produced from a very high-grade material, such as solid hard metal, ceramic material or coated steel, whereas the accommodating head could be produced from some other, less expensive material. It is thus nevertheless possible for a high-grade actuating tool to be produced cost-effectively.
A preferred exemplary embodiment is distinguished in that, at its output end, the actuating tip has a sphere section which is mounted pivotably in a sphere-section mount formed on the output element. The ability of the actuating tip to pivot may thus be realized easily and cost-effectively.
A particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment of the accommodating head provides that the distance X between the pivot axis of the tool/of the actuating tip in the output element and th

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