Having Resilient, Relatively Movable, Work Gripping Members Patents (Class 81/452)
  • Patent number: 5724872
    Abstract: A socket spanner having U-shaped elastic body and a fitting end configured to receive a nut. The fitting hole of the fitting end contains a pair of grooves respectively provided on two opposite inner walls thereof for engaging the U-shaped elastic body. The fitting hole further contains a circular slot located in an outer end of an inner wall of the fitting hole. The U-shaped elastic body includes an arcuate head portion and two arms, the two arms are received by the pair of grooves, respectively, of the fitting hole and at least one of the two arms is provided with a protruded portion capable of retaining a nut held in the fitting hole. At least one of the two arms is provided at a free end thereof with a curved or hooked portion engageable with the circular slot, so as to retain the U-shaped elastic body in the fitting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Leo Shih
  • Patent number: 5605080
    Abstract: The present invention involves screwdriver having a grip, a driver blade insertable into and rotationally affixed to said grip and a chuck. The chuck encloses and is longitudinally displaceable relative to the driver blade. The chuck has collets extending from an end disposed near the blade tip. The collets have claws extending from their free ends which are adapted to retain a screw on the blade tip when the chuck is in a retaining position. The collets may be either inwardly biased or outwardly biased. A sleeve, for pressing the collets inward, is provided for embodiments employing outwardly biased collets. A stop device is provided for inhibiting the longitudinal displacement of the chuck towards the blade tip beyond the retaining position. The stop device comprises a groove in the blade shaft and a cooperating detent spring located on the chuck. The free end of the detent spring extends toward the blade tip and is biased inward so that it is disposed within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Elekta Instrument GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Pfefferle, Michael Roth, Peter Scheuble, Hermann Zeuner
  • Patent number: 5515755
    Abstract: An insulated fastener retainer includes an oval sleeve and oval ring coupled by a plurality of connectors and supporting a pair of oppositely positioned elongated beams. The beams are secured to the flat sides of the oval ring at one end and are received within insulating blocks at the outer ends. A pair of resilient jaws having grip portions are coupled to the insulating blocks and are movable in response to movement of the elongated beams. The fastener retainer is received upon a screwdriver shaft and is maintained thereon by the oval sleeve. The elongated beams and jaws are separated by the user's application of a squeezing force to the ends of the oval ring thereby distorting the oval ring and separating the fastener retainer jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Sean H. Kung
  • Patent number: 5237893
    Abstract: A fastener drive tool for applying a rotational torque to a threaded fastener for driving the fastener into or out of a workpiece. The drive tool has an elongated shaft portion with a free end which is engageable with a recess formed in the fastener. Alternating merging concave and convex partially-cylindrical surfaces are formed on the outside of the shank towards the free end of the drive tool. The axes of curvature of the concave and convex partially-cylindrical surfaces are generally parallel to one another. The drive tool has at least one interlobular fastener retention piece attached between two convex partially-cylindrical surfaces which engage a corresponding convex partially-cylindrical surface formed in the fastener recess. The interlobular fastener retention piece releasably retains the fastener on the drive tool when the drive tool is engaged with the recess formed in the fastener and prevents wobbling of the fastener when it is driven by the drive tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Francis E. Ryder, Rowland W. Kanner
  • Patent number: 5129292
    Abstract: A screw starter has a generally cylindrical tubular sleeve sized for closely receiving the screw head, an open upper end, and an opposite lower end with a closure designed to hold the screw point centered in the sleeve, holding the screw perpendicular to the surface into which the screw is driven. The closure is ruputures to pass the screw and the starter is discarded after use. Diametrically opposed slots in the sleeve admit a wide screw driver blade into engagement with the screw head in the sleeve. Two sleeves can be joined end to end for starting a screw longer than either sleeve alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Ocean Shore Toys
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Albert
  • Patent number: 5056386
    Abstract: The improved screwdriver bit and finder system of the present invention substantially aligns the axis of a screwdriver bit with the axis of a slotted-head fastener and maintains the alignment while the fastener is being driven. The inside diameter of a cylindrical finder and the diameter of a cylindrical driver portion and blade formed on an end of the bit are substantially matched in four different systems, with four discrete ranges of fastener head diameters. These matched systems of the present invention minimize the problems generated by conventional "one size fits all" bit and finders, namely, bit "wobble" in the finder and misalignment of the bit axis with the fastener axis, resulting in damaged bits and fasteners. In contrast, the axial alignment produced by the bit and finder system of the present invention minimizes the amount of driving force required and saves bits and fasteners from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Chaconas
  • Patent number: 5029498
    Abstract: A cylindrical internally contoured sleeve-shaped attachment for a screwdriver designed to prevent the screwdriver from slipping out of a slotted head screw and thereby inflicting injury to the fingers or work piece. A cushioned end prevents any marring of the work piece. This attachment is preferably molded of clear plastic material and has no direct mechanical connection to the screwdriver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Inventor: Walter J. Kinsey
  • Patent number: 4976585
    Abstract: A system for the rapid balancing of revolving shafts, in particular, the revolving shaft of a gas turbine. The system comprises two mutually adjacent bores provided in the stator of the turbine, which can be closed by relevant plugs, and which are collimated on the screw-threaded bores of the rotor. The system also comprises a special rigid rod for elastically holding a screw-threaded balancing mass, and for causing it to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Nuovopignone-Industrie Meccaniche e Fonderia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vasco Mezzedimi, Franco Frosini
  • Patent number: 4924736
    Abstract: A gripping screw drive bit for use with conventional drive sockets which utilize non-magnetic means for gripping and retaining Robertson, TORX, and hexagonal screws and bolts. The gripping bit comprises two mating members. The gripping action is provided by the misalignment of the two members of a composite gripping bit, within a screw head recess, when a minimal amount of torque is exerted upon the composite gripping bit by a drive socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: A.T. & G Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Ben V. Bonner
  • Patent number: 4787278
    Abstract: In a tool bit driver, a body suitable for mounting on a square drive of a socket wrench is provided with a bit socket adapted for receiving a tool bit at one end of the body, and diametrically opposed grooves are formed to extend longitudinally within the socket. A spring is provided with resilient fingers seated within the socket grooves, and reversely bent ends are formed on each spring finger for engaging the bit in surface-to-surface contact for positively and releasably securing the bit in a driving position within the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Western Pacific Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Fred A. Bononi
  • Patent number: 4719828
    Abstract: A screw starter device for temporarily holding a screw while starting it into a substrate is a truncated conical rigid tubular member that tapers downwardly from its proximal end portion to the distal end portion. A first arcuate concentric opening in its side is defined by a first proximal transverse edge, a first distal transverse edge and a first pair of longitudinal edges and there is a second arcuate concentric opening similar to, but smaller than and distal of the first opening. A first longitudinal slot through the side of the member extends from the first opening to the second and a second longitudinal slot smaller in width than the first extends from the second opening to the distal end of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Inventor: John A. Corsetti
  • Patent number: 4718313
    Abstract: A hammer head for a hammer which includes a nail-holding part which allows a nail to be initially driven in a wall by a worker using only one hand. The nail-holding part includes a striking surface which engages the head of a nail and a pair of pinching pieces which engage opposite sides of the shank of the nail therebetween. The pair of pinching pieces permit nails of various diameters to be held therebetween and the pair of pinching pieces are disposed adjacent to the striking wall for tightly holding the nail with the head of the nail in tight engagement with the striking wall. A groove is provided in the hammer head at a location further from the striking wall than the pinching pieces for supporting the shank of the nail. The nail-holding part is disposed within a recess in the hammer head and does not interfere with the normal operation of the hammer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventor: Toshihiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 4704929
    Abstract: A device for setting a screw comprises a driver holder for receiving an end of a driver, a screw holder integral with the driver holder for retaining a head of a screw, and a pair of elastic pawls projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall of the driver holder for clamping the driver end, whereby the screw can be temporarily coupled to the driver end via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Osada
  • Patent number: 4671143
    Abstract: Driver jaws for a driver head of an automatic screw feeding machine are disclosed. A pair of cantilever springs are oppositely disposed on a mandrel or housing. The springs are arranged such that the tips thereof form an opening therethrough which comprises the jaws for holding a fastener during the insertion process. The cantilever springs allow the jaws to open to permit the head of the fastener to pass therethrough after the fastener is fully inserted and to be released from the driver jaws. The cantilever springs permit an exceptionally small clearance spaced around the head of the installed fastener. The tips of the jaws spaced the movable portions of the apparatus away from the work surface so that marring or scratching of the work surface is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventors: Michael Heck, Nathan Singer
  • Patent number: 4658679
    Abstract: A nail holding accessory for a hammer includes a body member having an upstanding pair of gripping fingers formed at a forward end thereof and an arcuate surface defined at a rearward end thereof. The pair of gripping fingers establish therebetween an open-ended slot for receiving and retaining a nail forwardly of a striking face of the hammer. An elastomeric band having a portion connected to the body member forwardly of the arcuate surface and a remaining portion adapted to encompass a transverse exterior section of the hammer rearwardly of the striking face thereof is provided for coupling the body member to the hammer such that the pair of gripping fingers are positioned forwardly of the striking face of the hammer. Rebound of the hammer away from a nail initially driven into a wooden board or like workpiece causes the gripping fingers to exert a pivot force on the body member thereby responsively pivoting the gripping fingers away from the striking face of the hammer to release the nail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventors: Jerold I. Nitzberg, Magdalena Nitzberg
  • Patent number: 4644831
    Abstract: This present invention is an improved adaptor sleeve which includes a hollow sleeve having a first bore opening at its first end for receiving a coupling end of a handle and a second bore opening at its second end which has a hexagonal cross section adapted for receiving the head of a tool or screw driver. A U-shaped spring clamp plate is received in the second bore opening, and the U-shaped spring clamp plate is in an arrangement adapted for clamping and grasping the head of a tool or screw driver so that the head of a tool or screw driver cannot easily loosen off or rotate in the hollow sleeve during practical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Inventor: Miriam Yang
  • Patent number: 4581962
    Abstract: The invention is intended for use with threaded fasteners, screws, bolts and similar devices, in their almost limitless applications to assembling objects and structures. These fasteners exist in many types, each requiring a special tool bit.On many occasions screws or other fasteners must be installed or removed in locations difficult of access and of which clear view may not be obtained, also where use of two hands is not possible. This invention is particularly intended for these situations.The invention comprises basically a combination of a barrel (11 or 811) and collar (20 or 201), preferably made of stiff but flexible plastic, which fit over and enclose a tool for threaded fasteners, either with a fixed bit or one which can accept insertable bits. The barrel (11) provides at its working or tip end a set of flexible elements (31) which act to grip screw heads and hold them registered with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: Edgar F. Marbourg
  • Patent number: 4581963
    Abstract: A plurality of devices are disclosed for supporting threaded screws in a plane normal to a surface into which the screws are threaded. Each embodiment includes means for supporting the shank of the screw at points intermediate the ends thereof rather than only at the head thereof. The means is resiliently expandable to permit passage of the head of the screw past the supporting means for disengagement of the device after the screw has obtained substantial threaded purchase with an engaged structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: Han K. Kim
  • Patent number: 4528874
    Abstract: An improved arrangement for driving threaded screw fasteners both manually and automatically utilizes mating conformations in the fastener head and driver including a central, preferably conical, depression in the head and a complementally shaped central projection extending from the driving tool. Further, the head is formed with slots, less deep than the depression, which open both at the depression and at the outer margins of the head. The driver is formed with corresponding blade sections.The central projection and depression are formed such that force along axis of the driver toward the head and rotational force about the driver axis tend to force the fastener axis to alignment with the driver axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Inventor: J. Malcolm Dunn
  • Patent number: 4526072
    Abstract: A screw driving apparatus including a cylindrical tube having a plurality of radial bristles attached to the inner cylinder wall for receiving a driver and a screw to assist in driving the screw and to assist in removing a screw which has been driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Inventor: Louis J. Manhoff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4424729
    Abstract: An accessory for use with a screw driver and screw to prevent the screw driver from accidentally sliding off the screw head. The accessory is a sleeve having a bore to accept freely the screw driver bit and screw therein to permit rotation of the screw driver and screw relative to the bore. A releasable securing structure is mounted on the sleeve so as to engage the surface to receive the screw when an inner end of the sleeve is adjacent the surface, so as to releasably secure the sleeve to the surface. One embodiment of the releasable securing structure includes suction cups mounted adjacent the inner end of the sleeve and positioned so that there is a clearance between the end of the sleeve and the cups to permit the cups to be deformed elastically from an inactive condition prior to attachment to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Inventor: Ralph S. Jacobson