Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-24
2001-10-23
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...
C081S490000, C081S177400, C081S437000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305255
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a screwdriver, more particularly to one with four usable wrench units.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional modular screwdriver
1
is shown to include an elongated hollow handle
11
, a plurality of bits
15
,
16
, a first sleeve
12
, a second sleeve
13
, and a connecting rod
14
. The handle
11
has a hexagonal-cross-sectioned central bore
111
formed therethrough. The first sleeve
12
has a central bore
121
that is formed therethrough and that has a hexagonal cross-section. The second sleeve
13
has a central bore
131
that is formed therethrough and that has a hexagonal cross-section of a different size from the central bore
121
in the first sleeve
12
. The connecting rod
14
extends axially and movably through the handle
11
, and has first and second end portions
14
′,
14
″ that extend respectively into the first and second sleeves
12
,
13
. Each of the first and second end portions
14
′,
14
″ of the connecting rod
14
has an end surface that is formed with a hexagonal-cross-sectioned bore
143
,
144
. One of the bits
15
,
16
is disposed removably on the connecting rod
14
. The first sleeve
12
is formed with an annular retaining slot
122
. The first end portion
14
′ of the connecting rod
14
is formed with an annular first positioning groove
141
and an annular second positioning groove
142
. The first positioning groove
141
is nearer to the second end portion
14
″ of the connecting rod
14
than the second positioning groove
142
. A clip
123
extends through the retaining slot
122
′ and engages one of the first and second positioning grooves
141
,
142
. Moreover, the connecting rod
14
is further formed with a hexagonal-cross-sectioned positioning portion
145
to engage fittingly in the central bore
111
in the handle
11
.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, when the connecting rod
14
is located at a first position, the first end portion
14
′ extends through the first sleeve
12
so as to receive the bit
15
for functioning as a screwdriver to drive screws. The second end portion
14
″ extends into a middle portion of the second sleeve
13
so that the second sleeve
13
functions as a wrench.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, when the connecting rod
14
is located at a second position, the second portion
14
″ extends through the second sleeve
13
so as to receive the bit
16
for functioning as a screwdriver to drive screws. The first end portion
14
′ extends into an intermediate portion of the first sleeve
12
so that the first sleeve
12
functions as a wrench.
Accordingly, the conventional modular screwdriver can only provide two usable wrench units, thereby, resulting in limited usage thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a screwdriver with four usable wrench units which is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks commonly associated with the prior art.
According to the present invention, a screwdriver includes:
an elongated hollow handle having a central bore that is formed therethrough and that has first and second end portions;
a plurality of bits disposed removably on the handle;
a first retaining device;
a first sleeve having a central bore that is formed therethrough and that has two hexagonal-cross-sectioned end portions of different sizes, the first sleeve having two ends, one of which is mounted removably within the first end portion of the central bore in the handle by the first retaining device, the one of the ends of the first sleeve being capable of being removed forcibly from the handle so as to mount the other one of the ends of the first sleeve removably within the first end portion of the central bore in the handle by the first retaining device;
a second retaining device;
a second sleeve having a central bore that is formed therethrough and that has two hexagonal-cross-sectioned end portions of different sizes, one of which is mounted removably within the second end portion of the central bore in the handle by the second retaining device, the sizes of the end portions of the central bore in the second sleeve being different from those of the end portions of the central bore in the first sleeve, the one of the ends of the second sleeve being capable of being removed forcibly from the handle so as to mount the other one of the ends of the second sleeve removably within the second end portion of the central bore in the handle by the second retaining device;
a connecting rod extending axially and movably through the handle and having first and second end portions that extend respectively into the first and second sleeves, each of the first and second end portions of the connecting rod having an end surface that is formed with a hexagonal-cross-sectioned bore;
means for retaining the connecting rod on the handle; and
means for locking the connecting rod releaseably at a first position, where the first end portion of the connecting rod extends to a position between the ends of the first sleeve so that the first sleeve functions as a wrench and where a portion of the second end portion of the connecting rod projects from the second sleeve so that the hexagonal-cross-sectioned bore in the second end portion of the connecting rod can receive one of the bits for functioning as a screwdriver, and a second position, where a portion of the first end portion of the connecting rod projects from the first sleeve and where the second end portion of the connecting rod extends to a position between the ends of the second sleeve so that the hexagonal-cross-sectioned bore in the first end portion of the connecting rod can receive one of the bits for functioning as a screwdriver and so that the second sleeve functions as a wrench.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2453901 (1948-11-01), Gonsett et al.
patent: 3034550 (1962-05-01), Dahl
patent: 4300607 (1981-11-01), Mellinger
patent: 5881615 (1999-03-01), Dahl et al.
patent: 5964132 (1999-10-01), Chen
patent: 6029549 (2000-02-01), Baker
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Smith James G.
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