Black Decker Inc.

Timothy T McKenzie

Rickey James Thomas

Paul Andrew Stone

David C Boyle

Stephen R Crosby

Richard Alan Adams

Charles P Gure

Charles T Wetherington

Ronald R Biederman

Jason R Melvin

Thomas Trevor Bludis

Kelton W Lovell

Jeffrey W Tartamella

Gregory H Selke

Lawrence George Buganto

Kyle J Eppley

Matthew J Holland

John P Streich

Robert Scott Simmons

Chris McKenna

Ioannis Voskakis

Antoni Von Felkerzam

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 discrete parts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the forming process. The present invention also provides an improved forge for forming portions of the continuous stock material into parts having a predetermined shape. The forge can be designed to provide a clearance region proximate the forward end of the ram to permit slight flexing of the forward end of the ram in a radially outward direction during forging operations. The forge can also include a lubrication system for lubricating its various components. In addition, the forge can incrementally rotate the ram after one or more parts have been forged. By repeating the incremental rotation of the ram, the forge will eventually rotate the ram a full 360&#xb0;. An improved forging die is also provided which includes a back surface having a conical medial section and a pair of conical lateral sections that are recessed relative to the medial section such that forces will principally be applied to the medial section during forging operations.

Method and apparatus for forming parts from a continuous stock material and associated forge

A 'snap-in' bit chuck assembly for a rotary hand or powered tool, includes an elongated body having a hex shank at its rearward end, an elongated 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 reversible tool 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 reversible tool is inserted, where a recess on the reversible tool is engaged and retained by the clip. The tool is removed by sliding the retraction collar rearwardly, to compress the coil spring and allow the retaining clip to retract back up the slot. The clip is directly engaged by the coil spring and has two legs extending about the body so that the clip is self-retaining. The clip legs extend around the body such that the retraction force on the coil spring is directed through the center of the coil spring to keep it coaxially aligned with the body.

Quick-acting tool bit holder

A reciprocating saw includes a saw blade that is connected to a hand held driver for reciprocating the saw blade to perform a cut. A bit holder and a blade holder is used to provide connection between the saw blade and the handle of the hand held driver. The bit holder includes connecting mechanism for connecting the bit holder to the hand held driver. The blade holder provides a connection between the saw blade and the bit holder. The blade holder includes a holder body and a hex-shaped shank extending rearwardly from the holder body. The shank further includes a first holding mechanism for coupling the holder to the bit holder at the rear end and a second holding mechanism for coupling the saw blade to the holder at the forward end.

Reciprocating saw holder

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 discrete parts, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the forming process. The present invention also provides an improved forge for forming portions of the continuous stock material into parts having a predetermined shape. The forge can be designed to provide a clearance region proximate the forward end of the ram to permit slight flexing of the forward end of the ram in a radially outward direction during forging operations. The forge can also include a lubrication system for lubricating its various components. In addition, the forge can incrementally rotate the ram after one or more parts have been forged. By repeating the incremental rotation of the ram, the forge will eventually rotate the ram a full 360&deg;. An improved forging die is also provided which includes a back surface having a conical medial section and a pair of conical lateral sections that are recessed relative to the medial section such that forces will principally be applied to the medial section during forging operations.

A tool holder for releasably coupling a bit with a non-circular outer connector surface to a rotary driver. The tool holder includes a socket and a retaining mechanism coupled to the socket and operable in a retaining mode and a released mode. The socket includes a forward end with an opening extending rearwardly from the forward end. The opening also includes a non-circular cross-section adapted to receive the outer connector surface of the bit to couple the bit for rotation with the socket. The retaining mechanism is adapted to permit disposable of the bit into an operative position within the opening and to prevent axial movement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its retaining mode. The retaining mechanism is further adapted to permit axial displacement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its released mode. The retaining mechanism includes a sleeve coupled to the socket for displacement toward the forward end of the socket from a locked position to an unlocked position thereby moving the retaining mechanism from its retaining mode into its released mode. The retaining mechanism also includes a spring or alternately a rubber o-ring biasing the sleeve into its locked position.

Rotary tool holder

A tool holder for releasably coupling a bit with a non-circular outer connector surface to a rotary driver. The tool holder includes a socket and a retaining mechanism coupled to the socket and operable in a retaining mode and a released mode. The socket includes a forward end with an opening extending rearwardly from the forward end. The opening also includes a non-circular cross-section adapted to receive the outer connector surface of the bit to couple the bit for rotation with the socket. The retaining mechanism is adapted to permit disposable of the bit into an operative position within the opening and to prevent axial movement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its retaining mode. The retaining mechanism is further adapted to permit axial displacement of the bit out of its operative position when the retaining mechanism is in its released mode. The retaining mechanism includes a sleeve coupled to the socket for displacement toward the forward end of the socket from a locked position to an unlocked position thereby moving the retaining mechanism from its retaining mode into its released mode. The retaining mechanism also includes a spring biasing the sleeve into its locked position.

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. The clip is directly engaged by the coil spring and has two legs extending about the body so that the clip is self-retaining. The clip legs extend around the body such that the retraction force on the coil spring is directed through the center of the coil spring to keep it coaxially aligned with the body. Corners of the clip serve as 'stops' for the retraction collar to prevent over-retraction and consequent jamming. The coil spring can be provided with 'dead coils' at its ends so it flatly abuts the clip, thus keeping the coil spring and the retraction collar properly aligned. A polymeric cover, preferably formed by a two-step process, is retained on the periphery of the retraction collar.

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.

Method and apparatus for forming parts of a predetermined shape from a

Spade-type boring bit having chamfered corner portions

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. The spade bit also includes a spur joined to and extending axially from the forward end of the blade portion. The spur can include spur cutting edges separated radially, angularly and, in some instances, longitudinally or axially from the forward cutting edge of the adjacent side segment to prevent accumulation of chip swarf between the spur cutting edge and the adjacent forward cutting edge.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Timothy T McKenzie