Chucks or sockets – More than one set of gripping means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-02-27
Bishop, Steven C. (Department: 3722)
Chucks or sockets
More than one set of gripping means
C279S022000, C279S062000, C279S143000, C279S902000, C279S905000, C279S071000, C081S438000, C408S226000, C408S23900A, C408S240000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193242
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snap-in chuck assembly and a snap-in tool or tool holder for use in the snap-in chuck assembly. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a snap-in chuck assembly having an axially movable or rotatable nose for initiating or releasing gripping of a tool or tool holder received in the chuck assembly and is directed to a tool having a shank, a drill bit, a screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver or other tool or implement formation at an outer end and a spline formation at an inner end of the shank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore many tools for mounting in a chuck assembly have been proposed.
Examples of previously proposed analogous and non-analogous chuck assemblies and tools and tool holders are disclosed in the following analogous and non-analogous U.S. patents:
U.S. Pat. No.
Patentee
2,728,365
Austin
2,807,473
Kiehne
3,945,653
Falche
4,209,182
Sheldon
4,692,073
Martindell
5,921,562
Robison
5,951,026
Harman, Jr. et al.
5,984,596
Fehrle et al.
5,975,815
Zierpka et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a tool comprising a smooth shank, a tool or implement formation at an outer end of the shank and a spline formation at an inner end of the shank. In some embodiments the shank also has a polygonal, e.g., hexagonal, formation thereon and an annular groove in the shank which can be in the area of the polygonal formation.
Also, according to the present invention there is provided a chuck assembly comprising: a chuck body having an outer end portion, an outer periphery and a central bore extending at least partially through said chuck body along a central axis. The chuck body further has three, substantially equidistantly spaced, generally axially extending, jaw receiving slots which open onto the central bore and has mounting structure for mounting the chuck assembly onto the outer end of a shaft of a drive mechanism. Three axially and radially movable jaws are received in respective ones of the axially extending slots. A mechanism for moving the jaws against the shank of a tool or tool holder received in the central bore is provided. The chuck body has at least one inwardly extending passageway located in the chuck body between two of the axially extending slots and the passageway extends from the outer periphery of the chuck body inwardly to an opening which opens to the central bore. The opening has a diameter less than the diameter of the passageway and at least one detent is provided in the passageway. Structure for urging the at least one detent toward the central bore is provided together with a mechanism for releasing the engagement of the at least one detent against a shaft or shank received in the central bore. A nose collar is mounted on the outer end portion of the chuck body. Drive structure is provided in the central bore for engaging mating drive structure on the shank of a tool or tool holder received in the central bore of the chuck body, whereby the chuck assembly can impart a rotary drive to the tool or tool holder by reason of the mating engagement of the mating drive structures, and whereby axial movement of the shank of the tool or tool holder received in the central bore of the chuck body is inhibited, if not prevented, by the engagement of the jaws with the shank or by the engagement of the at least one detent with the shank received in the central bore or by both engagements.
In one embodiment, the nose collar is mounted for rotation and the urging structure comprises a cylindrical wall portion of a cylindrical cavity in the nose collar and the releasing mechanism comprises one or more cavities or pockets in the cylindrical wall portion which are constructed and arranged to be aligned with the at least one passageway containing the at least one detent so that, upon rotation of the nose collar, the at least one detent in the at least one passageway is allowed to move away from the opening and into one of the pockets.
In another embodiment, the nose collar is mounted for axial movement relative to the outer end portion of the chuck body and the urging structure comprises a first cylindrical wall portion of a cylindrical cavity in the nose collar having a diameter approximately the same diameter as the outer periphery of the outer end portion of the chuck body and the releasing mechanism comprises a second cylindrical wall portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the outer periphery of the outer end portion, whereby axial movement of the nose collar will position the second cylindrical wall portion in the area of the at least one passageway to allow the at least one detent therein to move laterally outwardly away from the opening of the at least one passageway and into the central bore.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 128609 (1941-08-01), Bakeman
patent: 2728365 (1955-12-01), Austin
patent: 2807473 (1957-09-01), Kiehne
patent: 3333490 (1967-08-01), Popin
patent: 3945653 (1976-03-01), Falchle
patent: 4002347 (1977-01-01), Wanner et al.
patent: 4209182 (1980-06-01), Sheldon
patent: 4234277 (1980-11-01), Benson et al.
patent: 4692073 (1987-09-01), Martindell
patent: 5421682 (1995-06-01), Obermeier et al.
patent: 5904456 (1999-05-01), Chern
patent: 5951026 (1999-09-01), Harman, Jr. et al.
patent: 5975815 (1999-11-01), Zierpka et al.
patent: 5984596 (1999-11-01), Fehrle et al.
patent: 133442 (1948-03-01), None
patent: 97/13602 (1997-04-01), None
Bishop Steven C.
Vigil Thomas R.
Vigil Thomas R.
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