SCREW, SCREWDRIVER AND SCREW FASTENING SET

Abstract

Screw, screwdriver and screw fastening set, the screwdriver (1) comprising a screw engaging configuration (10) with a core (11) surrounded by a number of protruding longitudinal ribs (12) elongated in the longitudinal driver axis (DA) direction and radially distributed around the core (11) in radial symmetry, and wherein successive transversal cross-sections of the core (11), perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis (DA), have a regular polygonal shape, longitudinal cross-sections of the core (11), coincident with the longitudinal driver axis (DA), have a convex shape, and each protruding longitudinal rib (12) is connected to the core (11) on an edge between two adjacent arched convex surfaces of the core, a central portion (13) of each side of the regular polygonal shape being exposed for coupling into a complementary flat surface of a driver engaging configuration of the screw, providing friction-retention between the screw and the screwdriver.

Claims

1. A screwdriver for driving screws, the screwdriver comprising: an elongated driver body extending in a longitudinal driver axis direction and comprising a screw engaging configuration on a distal end thereof, the screw engaging configuration comprising: a core surrounded by a plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs radially distributed around the core, leaving exposed portions of a surface of the core exposed between the longitudinal ribs, each longitudinal rib extending in along the longitudinal driver axis direction, the plurality of protruding longitudinal P the surface of the core is defined by several adjacent arched convex surfaces connected through arched edges, and the exposed portions are central portions of at least some of the arched convex surfaces, the surface of the core comprising: a plurality of successive transversal cross-sections each one being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis and comprising a polygonal shape and a plurality of longitudinal cross-sections, each one being coincident with the longitudinal driver axis and comprising a convex shape, each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs being connected to the core on an arched edge between two adjacent arched convex surfaces of the surface of the core, or being connected on one arched convex surface of the core.

2. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal cross-sections of each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs protruding from the core, is substantially coincident with the longitudinal driver axis and has a convex shape.

3. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein the convex shape of the longitudinal cross-section of the core, and/or of the longitudinal cross-section of each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs protruding from the core comprises a substantially semicircular shaped and/or substantially pointed arch shaped.

4. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein each arched convex surface of the core is defined by a surface of zero Gaussian curvature.

5. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein the core is connected to the elongated driver body through a slender portion that is thinner than the core, each one of the plurality of successive transversal cross-sections being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis and having the same polygonal shape than the core, and each one of the plurality of longitudinal cross-sections being disposed coincident with the longitudinal driver axis, having a concave shape and at least partially defining the slender portion with several adjacent arched concave surfaces.

6. The screwdriver according to claim 5 wherein each one of the plurality of protruding the longitudinal ribs protrudes from the slender portion, the longitudinal cross-section of each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs comprising a concave shaped.

7. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs is bordered by two longitudinal grooves engraved in the core, the central portion being exposed and delimited between two of the longitudinal grooves.

8. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein the screw engaging configuration has at a distal end tip thereof a flattened end devoid of any of the plurality of elongated ribs.

9. The screwdriver according to claim 1 wherein a height of each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs diminishes from the core towards the distal end tip of the screwdriver and/or the width of each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs diminishes towards the distal end tip of the screwdriver and/or the central portion of each one of the plurality of arched convex surfaces and optionally of the arched concave surfaces have a constant width.

10. A screw comprising an elongated screw body, extending along a longitudinal screw axis direction and comprising a driver engaging configuration disposed on a proximal end thereof and a threaded region disposed on a distal end thereof, the driver engaging configuration comprising: a central socket surrounded by a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending along the longitudinal screw axis direction and radially distributed around the central socket in radial symmetry, the plurality of longitudinal grooves collectively defining a lobular driver engaging configuration; a plurality of successive transversal cross-sections of the central socket being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal screw axis and comprising a polygonal shape with a diminishing size towards the proximal end of the screw, the plurality of successive transversal cross-sections of the central socket collectively defining a tapering polygonal; each one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves being defined between two adjacent surfaces of the tapering polygonal socket, or being defined on one of the surfaces of the tapering central socket, a central portion of each of the surfaces of the tapering central socket being exposed.

11. The screw according to claim 10 wherein the each one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves are produced according to the standard ISO 10664.

12. The screw according to claim 10 wherein the size of the central socket and/or the size of each one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves diminishes in a linear manner towards the proximal end of the screw.

13. The screw according to claim 11 wherein the exposed central portion of each side of the central socket defines an angle equal or smaller than 18° or equal or smaller than 10° with respect to the longitudinal screw axis direction.

14. A screw fastening set comprising a screwdriver and a screw the screwdriver comprising an elongated driver body, elongated in a longitudinal driver axis direction, with a screw engaging configuration on a distal end thereof, the screw engaging configuration comprising: a core surrounded by a plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs radially distributed around the core, leaving exposed portions of a surface of the core exposed between the longitudinal ribs, each longitudinal rib extending along the longitudinal driver axis direction, the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs collectively defining a lobular screw engaging configuration; the surface of the core is defined by several adjacent arched convex surfaces connected through arched edges, and the exposed portions are central portions of at least some of the arched convex surfaces, the surface of the core comprising: a plurality of successive transversal cross-sections each one being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis and comprising a polygonal shape, and a plurality of longitudinal cross-sections, each one being coincident with the longitudinal driver axis and comprising a convex shape; each one of the plurality of protruding longitudinal ribs being connected to the core on an arched edge between two adjacent arched convex surfaces of the polygonal shape, or on one arched convex surface of the core; the screw comprising an elongated screw body and extending along a longitudinal screw axis direction, the screw comprising a driver engaging configuration disposed on a proximal end and a threaded region disposed on a distal end thereof, the driver engaging configuration comprising: a central socket surrounded by a plurality of longitudinal grooves each one extending along the longitudinal screw axis direction and radially distributed around the central socket in radial symmetry, the plurality of longitudinal grooves collectively defining a lobular driver engaging configuration; a plurality of successive transversal cross-sections of the central socket each one being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal screw axis and comprising a polygonal shape with a diminishing size towards the proximal end of the screw, the plurality of successive transversal cross-sections collectively defining a tapering polygonal; each one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves being defined between two adjacent surfaces of the tapering polygonal socket, or being defined on one of the surfaces of the tapering central socket, a central portion of each of the surfaces of the tapering central socket being exposed; each one of the screwdriver and the screw comprising polygonal shaped transversal cross-sections with an equal number of sides; and the size of a biggest one of the plurality of transversal cross-sections of the socket core being approximately equivalent to a size that is between the size of a biggest one and a smallest one of the plurality of successive transversal cross-sections of the socket, providing friction-retention between the screw and driver engaging configurations.

15. The screw fastening set according to claim 14 wherein the polygonal shaped transversal cross-sections of each of the screwdriver and of the screw have at least four sides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the screw engaging configuration of the distal end of the screwdriver;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the screw engaging configuration shown on FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of the screw engaging configuration shown on FIG. 1;

[0056] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C shows first, second and third transversal cross-sections of the screw engaging configuration shown on FIG. 1, for three successive transversal planes indicated in FIG. 3;

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a screw complementary to the screwdriver of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the driver engaging configuration of the screw shown on FIG. 5;

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the driver engaging configuration shown on FIG. 5;

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a lateral view of the screw fastening set comprising a simplified view of the screw shown on FIG. 5 coupled at an angle with the screwdriver shown in FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the screw fastening set shown in FIG. 8;

[0062] FIG. 10 shows a transversal cross-section of the screw engaging configuration of the screwdriver shown on FIG. 1 coupled to the driver engaging configuration of the screw shown in FIG. 5;

[0063] FIG. 11 shows plan views of different alternative embodiments of the screw;

[0064] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the screw with two longitudinal grooves on opposed surfaces of a quadrangular tapered central socket, letting two surfaces thereof exposed;

[0065] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the screw fastening set with a screwdriver with three protruding ribs coupled to the complementary screw;

[0066] FIG. 14A to 14E shows a side view and a front view of the screw engaging configuration of the screwdriver according to different embodiments;

[0067] FIGS. 15A to 15E shows a side view and a front view of the driver engaging configuration of the screw according to different embodiments;

[0068] FIG. 16 shows a front view of the proposed screw with a cross-sectioned screw engaging configuration of the proposed screwdriver inserted therein, and a lateral view thereof;

[0069] FIG. 17 shows a front view of the proposed screw with a cross-sectioned screw engaging configuration of a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as hex. E/C inserted therein, and a lateral view thereof;

[0070] FIG. 18 shows a front view of the proposed screw with a cross-sectioned screw engaging configuration of a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as Torx inserted therein, and a lateral view thereof;

[0071] FIG. 19 shows a front view of the proposed screw with a cross-sectioned screw engaging configuration of a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as six node security inserted therein, and a lateral view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0072] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative way.

[0073] According to the preferred embodiment, the proposed screwdriver 1 has an elongated driver body, typically a bar or a tube concentric with a longitudinal driver axis DA, with a screw engaging configuration 10 on a distal end thereof.

[0074] The screw engaging configuration 10 is intended to be engaged with a complementary driver engaging configuration 20 of the screw 2.

[0075] The proposed screw engaging configuration 10 comprises a core 11 surrounded by a number of protruding longitudinal ribs 12 distributed around the core in radial symmetry. Each of the longitudinal ribs 12 is elongated in the direction of the longitudinal driver axis DA, defining a lobular screw engaging configuration.

[0076] According to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B and 4C the screw engaging configuration 10 comprises 6 longitudinal ribs 12, but a different number of longitudinal ribs 12 are also possible.

[0077] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show successive transversal cross-sections of the screw engaging configuration 10, perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis DA, according to a first embodiment, showing the section of both the core 11 and the surrounding longitudinal ribs 12.

[0078] On those transversal cross-sections, it is clear that the core 11 has a regular polygonal shape, in this example a hexagonal shape, with the longitudinal ribs 12 protruding from the edges of said regular polygonal shape, leaving exposed a central portion 13 of each side of the regular polygonal shape.

[0079] The longitudinal cross-sections of the core 11, coincident with the longitudinal driver axis DA, have a convex shape, as can be seen on FIG. 1.

[0080] According to the above, each arched convex surface of the core 11 is defined by a surface of zero Gaussian curvature, i.e. a curvature in a single direction which can be obtained by curving a flat surface without producing distortions on said surface.

[0081] Preferably, also the longitudinal cross-sections of the longitudinal ribs 12, protruding from the core 11, have a convex shape.

[0082] The convex shape of the longitudinal cross-section of the core 11, and/or of the longitudinal cross-section of the longitudinal ribs 12 protruding from the core 11, can be substantially semicircular shaped and/or substantially pointed arch shaped.

[0083] According to a preferred embodiment, the core 11 is connected to the elongated driver body through a slender portion 14 thinner than the core 11, which increases the allowable connection angle between the screw engaging configuration and the driver engaging configuration.

[0084] Successive transversal cross-sections of the slender portion 14, perpendicular to the longitudinal driver axis DA, will have the same regular polygonal shape than the core 11, and the longitudinal cross-sections of the slender portion 14, coincident with the longitudinal driver axis DA, will have a concave shape, defining a slender portion 14 with several adjacent arched concave surfaces.

[0085] The longitudinal ribs 12 can also protrude from the slender portion 14. In this case, the longitudinal cross-section of the longitudinal ribs 12, protruding from the slender portion 14, will be concave shaped.

[0086] According to a preferred embodiment, each longitudinal rib 12 is bordered by two longitudinal grooves 15 engraved in the core 11, the exposed central portion 13 of each arched convex surface of the core 11 being delimited between two of said longitudinal grooves 15.

[0087] The screw engaging configuration 10 of the screwdriver 1 may have at a distal end tip thereof, a flattened end devoid of elongated ribs 12.

[0088] FIGS. 14A to 14E shown different embodiments of the screw engaging configuration with different end tips. For example, FIGS. 14D and 14E sown and end tip are completely flat, FIGS. 14A and 14B shown a smooth and slightly convex end tip, and FIG. 14C shows a pointy rounded end tip covering up to a third of the screw engaging configuration.

[0089] Preferably, the height of the longitudinal ribs 12 from the core 11 diminishes towards the distal end tip of the screwdriver 1, typically reaching a zero height at the distal end tip of the screw engaging configuration 10.

[0090] The width of the longitudinal ribs 12 can also diminish towards the distal end tip of the screwdriver 1, optionally reaching zero width at the distal end tip of the screw engaging configuration 10.

[0091] Each longitudinal rib 12 may have a flattened external surface in the area furthest away from the core. Said flattened external surface may also have a variable width towards the distal end tip of the screwdriver 1.

[0092] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the width of each of the flattened external surfaces firstly increases and later decreases towards the distal end of the end tip, with a maximum width at a central portion of the correspondent longitudinal rib.

[0093] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14B the width of each of the flattened external surfaces decreases towards the distal end of the tip, with a maximum width at the region of the screw engaging configuration furthest away from the end tip.

[0094] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14C the width of each of the flattened external surfaces increases towards the distal end of the end tip, with a maximum width at the region where the longitudinal ribs reach the pointy rounded surface of the end tip.

[0095] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14D and 14E the width of each of the flattened external surfaces first increases and later maintains a constant width towards the distal end of the tip.

[0096] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14A the width of each of the flattened external surfaces firstly decreases, secondly increases, and later decreases again towards the distal end of the end tip.

[0097] The exposed central portion 13 of the arched convex surfaces, and optionally also of the arched concave surfaces, may have a constant width along the screw engaging configuration and even along the slender portion 14, providing a constant amount of friction retention between the screw engaging configuration and the driver engaging configuration, whatever the region of the exposed central portion 13 contacting with the driver engaging configuration.

[0098] The proposed screw, shown in FIG. 5, comprises an elongated screw body, elongated in a longitudinal screw axis SA direction, with a driver engaging configuration 20 on a proximal end thereof, and with a threaded region on a distal end thereof.

[0099] The driver engaging configuration 20 will comprise a central socket 21, aligned with the longitudinal screw axis SA, surrounded by a number of longitudinal grooves 22 elongated in the direction of the longitudinal screw axis SA. Those longitudinal grooves 22 are radially distributed around the central socket 21 in radial symmetry, defining a lobular driver engaging configuration 20.

[0100] Successive transversal cross-sections of the central socket 21, perpendicular to the longitudinal screw axis SA, have a regular polygonal shape with a diminishing size towards the proximal end of the screw 2, defining a tapering central socket 21.

[0101] Each longitudinal groove 22 is defined between two adjacent sides of the regular polygonal shape of the central socket 21, a central portion 23 of each side of the regular polygonal shape of the central socket 21 being exposed, accessible from the central socket 21.

[0102] Preferably, the size of the central socket 21 and/or of the longitudinal grooves 22 diminishes in a linear manner towards the proximal end of the screw 2. According to that, the exposed central portion 23 of each side of the central socket 21 is preferably a flat surface which define an angle regarding the longitudinal screw axis SA, preferably an angle equal or smaller than 18° or equal or smaller than 10°.

[0103] To obtain a coupling between the screw and the screwdriver described above, the screwdriver 1 and the screw 2 will have regular polygonal shaped transversal cross-sections with the same number of sides, in this example six sides.

[0104] Preferably, the longitudinal grooves 22 of the driver engaging configuration 20 are according to the standard ISO 10664, corresponding to the industry standard known as Torx, but the exposed central portions of each side of the central socket 21 will not be according to this standard but will be flat surfaces, the Torx standard being contained within the perimeter of the driver engaging configuration 20.

[0105] This feature allows the same driver engaging configuration 20 to be engageable by the proposed screw engaging configuration 10, as shown in FIG. 16, and also by other different screwdrivers currently commonly used in the industry.

[0106] For example, the proposed screw can be coupled to a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as hex. E/C, which lacks protruding ribs, which gets engaged with the exposed central portions 23 of the central socket 21 without engaging with the longitudinal grooves 22, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0107] The proposed screw can also be engaged with a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as Torx, as shown in FIG. 18, which includes protruding ribs but lacks arched convex surfaces with a straight cross-section between the protruding ribs, which engages with the longitudinal grooves 22 without engaging with the exposed central portions 23 of the central socket 21.

[0108] According to an additional example, the proposed screw can be also engaged with a straight hexagonal screwdriver under the standard of the dental industry known as six node security, as shown in FIG. 19, which includes protruding ribs and arched concave surfaces with a straight cross-section between the protruding ribs.

[0109] None of the known screwdrivers according to the industry standards described above includes protruding ribs with arched convex surfaces in between, allowing for engagement with friction-retention and torque transmission between the driver engaging configuration and the screw engaging configuration at different angles, but all of them can be used to actuate the proposed screw with different limitations compared to the proposed screwdriver. According to that, the proposed screw is a multi-compatible screw which provides different features depending on which screwdriver is used therewith.

[0110] Both the mouth of the driver engaging configuration and the bottom of the central socket, opposed to said mouth, may have different configurations, providing different coupling angles between the screw and the screwdriver, self-guiding engagement, production costs, and other improvements. For example, FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C show different socket mouth embodiments.

[0111] The mouth of the driver engaging configuration shown in FIGS. 15A and 15D is almost flat with a very shy conic concave shape towards the interior of the socket, for example with an angle bigger than 80° regarding the longitudinal screw axis SA.

[0112] The mouth of the driver engaging configuration shown in FIG. 15B have a clearly conic concave shape towards the interior of the socket, for example with an angle between 40° and 60° regarding the longitudinal screw axis SA

[0113] The mouth of the driver engaging configuration shown in FIG. 15C have a clearly hemi-spherical concave shape towards the interior of the socket, for example with an angle between 40° and 60° regarding the longitudinal screw axis SA.

[0114] The central socket bottom shown in FIGS. 7, 15A, 15B, 15D and 15E have a conical concave shape with a maximum diameter inscribed within the central socket 21.

[0115] The central socket bottom shown in FIG. 15C has a semi-spherical concave shape with a maximum diameter inscribed within the central socket 21.

[0116] Also, according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15D and 15E, between the central socket, surrounded by the longitudinal grooves, and the conical or hemi-spherical concave shape of the central socket bottom, an annular groove, concentric with the screw longitudinal axis SA and with a maximal diameter bigger than the central socket, may interrupt the central portions 23, defined between the longitudinal grooves, at a region furthest away from the mouth of the driver engaging configuration.

[0117] The screw 2 and the screwdriver 1 described above constitute a screw fastening set.

[0118] To obtain a friction-retention between the screw and driver engaging configurations 10, 20, which keeps the screw attached to the screwdriver, the size of the biggest transversal cross-sections of the regular polygonal shaped core 11 of the screw engaging configuration 10 has to be defined between the biggest and the smallest sizes of the successive transversal cross-sections of the tapering central socket 21 so, when the screw engaging configuration 10 is inserted in the driver engaging configuration 20, the exposed central portions 13 of the arched convex surfaces of the core 11 are wedged between the convergent central portions 23 of the sides of the central socket 21, providing the friction-retention of the screw 2.

[0119] Preferably, the regular polygonal shaped transversal cross-sections of each the screwdriver 1 and of the screw 2 have at least four sides, but other embodiments are also contemplated, such those shown in FIG. 11, with an even or odd number of longitudinal ribs 12 and longitudinal grooves 22.