US 12,434,359 B2
Modular tool bit holder system
Thomas R. Kaye, Jr., Bel Air, MD (US)
Assigned to BLACK & DECKER INC., New Britain, CT (US)
Filed by BLACK & DECKER INC., New Britain, CT (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/938,782.
Application 17/938,782 is a continuation of application No. 16/858,896, filed on Apr. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,534,897.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/845,363, filed on May 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0101161 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B25B 23/00 (2006.01); B25F 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 23/0021 (2013.01) [B25B 23/0035 (2013.01); B25F 3/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular tool bit holder system comprising:
a fixed orientation tool bit holder including a housing, a first connector fixedly coupled to the housing, a first input member rotatably drivable about a first axis relative to the housing, and a first tool bit holder rotatably drivable relative to the housing about a second axis; and
a flexible orientation tool bit holder including a handle portion, a second connector fixedly coupled to the handle, a second input member rotatable relative to the handle portion, a flexible intermediate shaft bendable into a plurality of configurations and rotatably drivable by the second input member relative to the handle portion, and a second tool bit holder rotatably drivable relative to the handle portion by the intermediate shaft,
wherein the system is operable in each of (a) a first configuration in which the fixed orientation tool bit holder is operable without the flexible orientation tool bit holder by coupling the first input member to a rotatable output member of a power tool and operating the power tool to rotatably drive the first input member and the first tool bit holder, (b) a second configuration in which the flexible orientation tool bit holder is operable without the fixed orientation tool bit holder by coupling the second input member to a rotatable output member of a power tool and operating the power tool to rotatably drive the second input member and the second tool bit holder, and (c) a third configuration in which the fixed orientation tool bit holder and the flexible orientation tool bit holder are operable in combination by coupling the first input shaft to the second tool bit holder, non-rotatably and axially stationarily coupling the handle portion to the housing by coupling the first connector and the second connector, coupling the second input shaft to a rotatable output member of a power tool, and operating the power tool to rotatably drive the second input member, the flexible intermediate shaft, the second tool bit holder, the first input member, and the first tool bit holder.