Abstract: A "snap-in" bit chuck assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes a body having a hex shank at its rearward end, a retraction collar slidably disposed on the body, and an outer retaining collar fixed to the forward end of the body. The body has a coaxial hex socket formed therein to allow a tool bit to be inserted thereinto. A slot is formed in the body, between the outer surface of the body and the internal hex socket. A coil spring surrounds the body, inside the retraction collar, and normally biases the retraction collar forwardly and biases a retaining clip toward the bottom of the angular slot. The retaining clip slides outwardly in the angular slot, against the bias of the coil spring, as the tool bit is inserted, where recess on the shank of the bit is engaged and retained by the clip. The bit is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of parts, such as spade-type boring bits, from a continuous stock material. Thus, the various steps of the forming method of the present invention can be performed to predetermined portions of the continuous stock material, prior to separating the continuous stock material into a number of discrete parts. The efficiency of the forming process is enhanced since individual parts need not be individually transported and oriented during the forming operations. By not requiring that the individual parts be separately transported and oriented during the forming operations, the quality of the parts formed by the forming method and apparatus of the present invention will also be enhanced since such separate transportation and orientation of individual parts generally increases the opportunities for misalignment and contributes to poor tolerance control during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The spade-type boring bit includes an elongate shank defining a central longitudinal axis and a blade portion joined to one end of the shank. The blade portion includes a pair of generally flat side segments extending laterally from the central longitudinal axis and having a respective forward cutting edge and a respective chamfered corner portion. Each chamfered corner portion includes a chamfered edge which extends both axially rearward and laterally outward from the respective forward cutting edge so as repeatedly cut the peripheral wall of the resulting hole as the spade bit is rotatably advanced through a workpiece. The spade bit therefore produces a high-quality hole having a smooth peripheral wall and relatively clean entry and exit points. In addition, the forward cutting edges of the spade bit can be aligned with each other along a centerline which passes through the central longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft so as to increase the efficiency with which the spade bit drills.