Improved techniques for remotely monitoring and managing fasteners and fastener driver conditions, are provided. In some aspects of the invention, conditions of a fastener and/or structural material(s) held by the fastener and/or connector, are monitored by a control system including sensor(s) at least partially embedded in, on or throughout the fastener and/or structural material(s). When an adverse condition is sensed, a torque may be remotely applied to the fastener, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, other remedial actions may be taken by the control system. In some embodiments, such sensor(s) include a magnetizable array, which may include one or more charge-carrying and/or otherwise magnetic wires or particles on, about, or embedded within, the fastener and/or structural material. In some embodiments, such remote monitoring includes testing a magnetic signature of the fastener and/or structural material (e.g., via remote scanning and/or testing).

A tool bit for driving a fastener including a shank having a tool coupling portion configured to be coupled to a tool, a head portion configured to engage the fastener, and an intermediate portion disposed between the tool coupling portion and the head portion. The intermediate portion having an outer diameter that is less than an outer dimension of the tool coupling portion. The head portion is composed of powdered metal (PM) steel having carbide particles distributed uniformly throughout the head portion. The outer diameter of the intermediate portion is selected such that the intermediate portion has a strength about 10% stronger than a shear strength of the head portion.

A screwdriver tool contains: an operation rod and a magnetic attraction assembly. The operation rod includes a tool segment, a neck section, a first stop face, and a second stop face. The magnetic attraction assembly includes a slidable sleeve having an accommodation section, a magnetic attracting loop, an extension piece, and a covering piece. A diameter of the neck section is less than that of the tool segment, and an inner diameter of the accommodation section is more than an outer diameter of the tool segment. The extension piece and the covering piece of the slidable sleeve have at least one flange extending to the neck section and limited between the first stop face and the second stop face. Hence, the at least one flange of the extension piece and the covering piece slides on the neck section between the first stop face and the second stop face.

A tool bit includes a hexagonal drive portion, a working end, and a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the working end. The shank includes an outer peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface tapers an entire length of at least one of the shank and the working end in a direction away from the drive portion.

An Allen-key style wrench that has tips at the working ends of the wrench that are composed of a different material than the body of the wrench. The body include internally-threaded bores at each end, mated to the external threads of bits providing the tips.

A tool bit includes a hexagonal drive portion and a working end having a core material and a cladding layer surrounding the core material. The cladding layer has a first hardness. The tool bit includes a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the working end. The shank has a second hardness. The first hardness is higher than the second hardness.

A tool bit includes a hexagonal drive portion, a working end, and a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the working end. The shank includes an outer peripheral surface having a curvature in a plane including a central axis of the tool bit. The outer peripheral surface having the curvature includes a length in the direction of the central axis. A ratio of the length of the outer peripheral surface having the curvature to the length of the tool bit is between about 0.15:1 and about 0.35:1. The curvature is defined by a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius of the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the shank to the length of the tool bit is between about 0.08:1 and about 0.75:1.

A tool bit includes a drive portion configured to be selectively coupled to a tool and composed of a first material, a shank coupled to the drive portion ad being composed of the first material, and a working end portion configured to engage a fastener. The working end portion includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is coupled to the shank and composed of the first material. The second segment is fixed to the first segment at a connection interface and composed of a second material different than the first material. The second segment includes a first portion and a second portion. Solely the second portion engages the fastener when the tool bit drives the fastener.

A tool accessory includes a drive portion configured to be engaged by an output shaft of a tool. The drive portion has a first hardness. The tool accessory further includes a tip configured to engage a workpiece. The tip has a second hardness different than the first hardness. The tool accessory further includes a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the tip. The shank has a third hardness different than the first hardness and different than the second hardness. The third hardness is between the first hardness and the second hardness, and the drive portion, the shank, and the tip are formed as a unitary body from a common material.

A tool bit includes a hexagonal drive portion, a working end made of a first material having a first hardness, and a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the working end. The shank is made of a second material having a second hardness, and the first hardness is higher than the second hardness.