Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-04-10
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
C081S057360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212980
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a screw aligning and guiding device, and more particularly to a screw aligning and guiding device having an arrangement which facilitates loading and unloading of a screw strip into and out of the device.
Numerous screw aligning and guiding devices have heretofore been designed which are adapted to be used with screw strips which have a number of screws supported thereon. The screw aligning and guiding devices are designed to sequentially feed screws into alignment with a bit end of a shaft driven by an electrically powered drill. The screw aligning and guiding devices are also designed to sequentially guide such screws during advancement thereof into a workpiece of such shaft.
In order to sequentially feed screws into alignment with the bit end of the shaft, the previously designed screw aligning and guiding devices have incorporated various pawl and ratchet mechanisms. Such mechanisms operate to engage one of the screws supported on an associated screw strip and urge the screw, and consequently the entire screw strip, upwardly toward a desired position. Typically, the previously designed screw aligning and guiding devices have utilized various springs to generate the biasing force needed to urge the screw strip upwardly.
The pawl and ratchet mechanisms, along with their associated springs, tend to be quite complex arrangements. Further, the interaction of the mechanical parts of the pawl and ratchet mechanism with the screws of the screw strip, make loading and unloading of the screw strip into and out of the device a somewhat difficult and complicated task.
What is needed therefore is a screw aligning and guiding device which overcomes one or more drawbacks of the previously designed devices. For example, what is needed is a screw aligning and guiding device which possesses a mechanism for urging a screw strip upwardly to a desired position in the device which is relatively less mechanically complex. Moreover, for example, what is needed is a screw aligning and guiding device which enables very easy loading and unloading of an associated screw strip into and out of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for sequentially aligning a number of screws with a screwdriver and guiding the number of screws during advancement by the screwdriver. The apparatus includes a body which includes (i) a channel adapted to receive a screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon, (ii) a feed passage adapted to sequentially receive the number of screws from the channel, and (ii) a guide track having a planar segment and an inclined ramp segment. The apparatus further includes a movable pawl which travels on the guide track through the planar segment and the inclined ramp segment, wherein (i) the movable pawl contacts at least one of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located in the planar segment of the guide track and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel, and (ii) the movable pawl is spaced apart from all of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located on the inclined ramp segment of the guide track and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel.
Pursuant to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a screw driver assembly which includes a shaft having a screw engaging end. The assembly further includes a body which includes (i) a channel adapted to receive a screw strip having a number of screws supported thereon, (ii) a feed passage adapted to sequentially receive the number of screws from the channel and guide the number of screws during advancement by the shaft, and (iii) a number of rails. Moreover, the assembly includes a movable pawl which travels on the number of rails, wherein (i) the movable pawl is positioned to contact at least one of the number of screws in the channel when both the movable pawl is located on a first portion of the number of rails and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel, and (ii) the movable pawl is spaced apart from all of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located on a second portion of the number of rails and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a screw aligning and guiding device. The device includes a body which includes (i) a channel adapted to receive a screw strip having a number of screws supported thereon, and (ii) a feed passage adapted to sequentially receive the number of screws from the channel and guide the number of screws during advancement by a screwdriver. The device further includes a movable pawl which is movable relative to the body, wherein (i) the movable pawl is positioned to contact at least one of the number of screws in the channel when both the movable pawl is located at a first orientation with respect to the body and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel, and (ii) the movable pawl is spaced apart from all of the number of screws when both the movable pawl is located at a second orientation with respect to the body and the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel. The screw strip used in the device has an upper end and a lower end. And the movable pawl is located at a vertical position which is interposed between the upper end and the lower end when (i) the movable pawl is located at the second orientation with respect to the body, and (ii) the screw strip having the number of screws supported thereon is located in the channel.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful screw aligning and guiding device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved screw aligning and guiding device
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a screw aligning and guiding device which possesses a mechanism for urging a screw strip upwardly to a desired position in the device which is relatively less mechanically complex.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a screw aligning and guiding device which enables very easy loading and unloading of an associated screw strip into and out of the device.
Other objects and benefits of the present invention can be discerned from the following description and accompanying drawings.
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Kratch Kevin H.
Phillips Gregory A.
Maginot Addison & Moore
Ojini Anthony
Smith James G.
Vermont American Corporation
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