Screw Depth Adjuster for Driving Screw to Certain Depth and Method for Driving Screw to Certain Depth by Using the same

Abstract

A screw depth adjuster used for driving screws to the required depth is revealed. Users can control the depth of the screw being driven to workpiece/material by the screw depth adjuster. The screw depth adjuster includes a rod assembled with a control member, a driving member and a flared sleeve. The control member abutting against and assembled with the driving member is used for locking the driving member so that the driving member is unable to move. The flared sleeve is driven by the driving member mounted therein to to move forward or backward on the rod. Users determine the longitudinal movement of the driving member according to the depth of the screw required so that the screw will not be driven beyond the depth required in the workpiece. Thereby dents formed on the surface of the workpiece can be minimized.

Claims

1. A method for driving a screw to a certain depth by using a screw depth adjuster comprising the steps of: (a) rotating a driving member on a threaded rod to move forward/backward to the positioned required for pushing a flared sleeve to move forward/backward on the threaded rod synchronously; (b) pushing a control member into a second passage of the driving member for positioning the driving member and mounting a polygonal stopper of the control member into the polygonal second passage because that a cross section of the polygonal second passage and shape of the polygonal second passage of the adjustment portion matches shape of the polygonal stopper of the control member; thereby the driving member is locked by the control member, unable to be moved and rotated and so is the flared sleeve; thus the screw is driven to the certain depth and unable to be moved any further.

2. A screw depth adjuster used for driving screws to a certain depth during driving process comprising: a rod 1 having a first portion which is a is a polygonal rod used for connection with power tools; and a second portion which is a threaded rod formed by extension of the first portion and having an assembly portion extended from the rear end of the threaded rod, a first plane and a second plane disposed on two sides of the threaded rod longitudinally and arranged parallel to each other, a hole located close to the first portion and assembled with a stopping pin, and a first C-shaped ring mounted in a mounted in a slot of the assembly portion; and a control member, a driving member, a first washer, a flared sleeve, a second washer and a fixing member, which are fitted on the rod in turn; wherein the control member includes a push portion, a polygonal stopper extended from the push portion, a first passage extended from the push portion to the polygonal stopper, a third plane and a fourth plane; the third plane and the fourth plane are arranged in parallel and formed in the first passage at the positions corresponding to the first plane and the second plane of the threaded rod so that the control member is able to be pushed and moved slidably axially on the threaded rod; wherein the driving member consists of an adjustment portion with a polygonal second passage and a sleeve portion extended from the adjustment portion; a circular limiting groove is arranged at the second passage while a second C-shaped ring is mounted in the circular limiting groove; a third passage is formed by extension of the second passage from the intersection between the second passage and the sleeve portion to the sleeve portion; the third passage having a threaded segment and a smooth segment; a circular groove is formed on the sleeve portion; the shape of the polygonal second passage of the adjustment portion matches the shape of the polygonal stopper of the control member; wherein a fourth passage is arranged at the flared sleeve and having a first surface and a second surface while a socket is mounted in the fourth passage; the first washer is abutting against the first surface while the second washer is abutting against the second surface; wherein the sleeve portion of the driving member is first inserted through the first washer and the socket; then the socket is inserted through the fourth passage of the flared sleeve and mounted into the second washer correspondingly; the rod is inserted into the third passage of the driving member, threaded through the threaded segment and continuingly threaded until the assembly portion is driven into the smooth segment of the third passage of the driving member and a part of the assembly portion is exposed outside the sleeve portion of the driving member; next the fixing member is mounted into the circular groove of the sleeve portion; the control member are pushed forward after the third plane and the fourth plane in the first passage of the control member being aligned with the first plane and the second plane of the threaded rod; lastly the stopping pin is inserted into the hole of the first portion to complete assembling.

3. A screw depth adjuster used for driving screws to a certain depth during driving process comprising: a rod having a first portion used for connection with power tools; and a second portion which is a threaded rod formed by extension of the first portion 1a and having an assembly portion extended from the rear end of the threaded rod, a first plane and a second plane disposed on two sides of the threaded rod longitudinally and arranged parallel to each other; a control member includes a push portion, a polygonal stopper extended from the push portion, a first passage extended from the push portion to the polygonal stopper, and a third plane and a fourth plane arranged in parallel and formed in the first passage at the positions corresponding to the first plane and the second plane of the threaded rod; a driving member which includes an adjustment portion provided with a polygonal second passage whose shape is corresponding to the shape of the polygonal stopper of the control member, and a sleeve portion formed by extension of the adjustment portion and having a third passage formed by extension of the second passage from the intersection between the second passage and the sleeve portion; and a circular groove; the third passage including a threaded segment and a smooth segment; a flared sleeve provided with a fourth passage which includes a first surface and a second surface; and a socket mounted in the fourth passage; a first washer which is abutting against the first surface; and a second washer which is abutting against the second surface; and a fixing member; wherein the control member is able to be pushed and moved slidably axially on the threaded rod by the third plane and the fourth plane in the first passage of the control member being aligned with and fitted on the first plane and the second plane of the threaded rod; wherein the rod is inserted into and threaded through the third passage continuingly until a part of the assembly portion is exposed outside the sleeve portion of the driving member; wherein after the socket being mounted in the fourth passage of the flared sleeve, the sleeve portion of the driving member is first inserted through the first washer and the socket to be mounted into the second washer correspondingly; lastly the fixing member is mounted into the circular groove of the sleeve portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is an explosive view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is another explosive view of an embodiment viewed from another angle according to the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an assembly view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment while in use according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a screw depth adjuster according to the present invention includes a rod 1, a control member 3, a driving member 5, a first washer 6, a flared sleeve 10, a second washer 8 and a fixing member 9, which are fitted on the rod 1 in turn. The rod 1 consists of a first portion 1a and a second portion 1b formed by extension of the first portion 1a. The first portion 1a is a polygonal rod 11 used for connection with power tools. The second portion 1b is a threaded rod 13 with an assembly portion 15 extended from the rear end of the threaded rod 13. The assembly portion 15 is provided with a slot 151 and a first C-shaped ring 16 is mounted in the slot 151. A first plane 14a and a second plane 14b are disposed on two sides of the threaded rod 13 longitudinally and arranged parallel to each other. A hole 12 is formed on both the first plane 14a and the second plane 14b at the position close to the first portion 1a while a stopping pin 2 is mounted in the hole 12.

[0018] The control member 3 is composed of a push portion 31, a polygonal stopper 32 extended from the push portion 31, a first passage 33 extended from the push portion 31 to the polygonal stopper 32, a third plane 34a and a fourth plane 34b. The cross section of the polygonal stopper 32 is a polygon. The third plane 34a and the fourth plane 34b are arranged in parallel and formed in the first passage 33 at the positions corresponding to the first plane 14a and the second plane 14b of the threaded rod 13. Thereby the control member 3 is able to be pushed and moved slidably axially on the threaded rod 13. The driving member 5 consists of an adjustment portion 51 and a sleeve portion 52 extended from the adjustment portion 51. A polygonal second passage 511 is disposed on the adjustment portion 51 and a circular limiting groove 512 is arranged at the second passage 511 while a second C-shaped ring 4 is mounted in the circular limiting groove 512. A third passage 521 is formed by extension of the second passage 511 from the intersection between the second passage 511 and the sleeve portion 52 to the sleeve portion 52. The third passage 521 is composed of a threaded segment and a smooth segment extended from the threaded segment. A circular groove 522 is formed on the sleeve portion 52. The shape of the polygonal second passage 511 of the adjustment portion 51 matches the shape of the polygonal stopper 32 of the control member 3. The cross section of the polygonal second passage 511 is also polygonal, the same as that of the polygonal stopper 32.

[0019] A fourth passage 101 is arranged at the flared sleeve 10 and a socket 7 is mounted in the fourth passage 101. The fourth passage 101 includes a first surface 102 and a second surface 103. The first washer 6 is abutting against the first surface 102 while the second washer 8 is abutting against the second surface 103. The flared sleeve 10 is a shade with windows and a contact surface 104 is formed on the bottom of the shade.

[0020] While being assembled, the sleeve portion 52 of the driving member 5 is first inserted through the first washer 6 and the socket 7. Then the socket 7 is inserted through the fourth passage 101 of the flared sleeve 10 and mounted into the second washer 8 correspondingly. The first portion 1a of the rod 1 is inserted into the third passage 521 and the second portion 1b reaches the threaded segment. The second portion 1b of the rod 1 is threaded through the threaded segment and continuingly until the assembly portion 15 is driven into the smooth segment of the third passage 521 of the driving member 5 and a part of the assembly portion 15 is exposed outside the sleeve portion 52 of the driving member 5. Next the fixing member 9 is mounted into the circular groove 522 of the sleeve portion 52. Then the control member 3 is pushed forward after the third plane 34a and the fourth plane 34b in the first passage 33 of the control member 3 being aligned with the first plane 14a and the second plane 14b of the threaded rod 13. Lastly the stopping pin 2 is inserted into the hole 12. The assembly process has been completed.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the driving member 5 is mounted into the socket 7 after the socket 7 being mounted into the fourth passage 101 of the flared sleeve 10. The flared sleeve 10 is able to be rotated on the assembly portion 15. The flared sleeve 10 can be rotated more smoothly due to the first washer 6 and the second washer 8.

[0022] Moreover, the flared sleeve 10 can be pushed by the driving member 5 to be moved on the threaded rod 13. The polygonal stopper 32 of the control member 3 is used to be mounted into the polygonal second passage 511 of the adjustment portion 51 correspondingly and the second C-shaped ring 4 is used to temporarily hold and position the control member 3 for preventing the control member 3 from being released. At the moment, the driving member 5 is locked by the control member 3 and unable to be rotated and moved on the threaded rod 13. As to the driving member 5, it is used to push the flared sleeve 10 so that the flared sleeve 10 is able to be moved and positioned at any position of the threaded rod 13 for adjustment of the depth of the screw. Thereby the flared sleeve 10 can be moved forward or backward on the threaded rod 13 under control of the longitudinal movement of the diving member 5 which is determined according to the depth of the screw required by users. Thereby the screw will not be driven beyond the depth required in the workpiece and dents formed on the surface of the workpiece can be minimized.

[0023] During the driving operation, a method for driving a screw to a depth required steadily according to the present invention includes the following steps. First rotate the driving member 5 on the threaded rod 13 to move to the positioned required. Now the flared sleeve 10 is pushed by the driving member 5 to move forward or backward on the threaded rod 13 synchronously. Then the control member 3 is pushed and inserted into the second passage 511 of the driving member 5 until the polygonal stopper 32 being mounted into the polygonal second passage 511. Thereby the driving member 5 is locked by the control member 3, unable to be moved and rotated.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, while in use, first a head of a screwdriver bit 17 is placed into assembly portion 15 of the driving member 5 to be mounted and positioned therein. At the moment, the working end of the screwdriver bit 17 is exposed outside the contact surface 104 of the flared sleeve 10. When the user rotates the driving member 5, the flared sleeve 10 is synchronously driven to move longitudinally. The user can directly see the length of the working end of the screwdriver bit 17 protruding from the contact surface 104 of the flared sleeve 10. After finding the length between the working end of the screwdriver bit 17 and the contact surface 104, the control member 3 is pushed and inserted into the second passage 511 of the driving member 5 until the polygonal stopper 32 is mounted into the second passage 511 so that the driving member 5 is locked and unable to be rotated and moved. Now the first portion 1a of the rod 1 is connected to a power tool while a screw 18 is fitted on the working end of the screwdriver bit 17. Once the present invention is driven by the power tool to rotate until the contact surface 104 of the flared sleeve 10 is abutting against the surface of the workpiece/material 19, the flared sleeve 10 is idling and unable to drive the screw 18, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0025] In summary, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0026] 1. The user can see the length of the working end of the screwdriver bit 17 protruding from the contact surface 104 of the flared sleeve 1 in a real time manner while operating the driving member 5 so that the screw depth can be adjusted all at once.

[0027] 2. The present device provides fine adjustment of the screw depth due to that the shape of the polygonal second passage 511 of the adjustment portion 51 matches the shape of the polygonal stopper 32 of the control member 3. When the driving member is rotated to a required position which is corresponding to one side of the polygonal cross section of the polygonal stopper 32. Each side of the polygonal cross section represents a scale of fine adjustment. There are at least four sides of the polygonal cross section. The polygon can be a hexagon, an octagon, a dodecagon, a star polygon or a circle with a zig zag border. Take the octagon as an example. Compared with the device available now, the present invention provides fine adjustment of the screw depth. In the device available now, the device needs to be rotated at least half a circle as one scale for adjustment of the depth. It is assumed that the depth being adjusted is 1 mm when the device available now is rotated a circle. Thus one scale (being rotated half a circle) is 1 mm/2. That's 0.5 mm. Owing to the octagon of the present invention, one scale is 1 mm/8. In the present invention, the minimum depth able to be adjusted is 1 mm/8. That's 0.125 mm. Thus the polygonal shape of the present invention provides the fine adjustment function.

[0028] 3. The first passage 33 of the control member 3 are provided with the third plane 34a and the fourth plane 34b which are arranged parallel to each other and aligned with the first plane 14a and the second plane 14b of the threaded rod 13 respectively. Thereby the control member 3 is able to be moved slidably on the threaded rod 13. Owing to the parallel design of the planes 34a, 34b, the impact force acted on the first passage 33 of the control member 3 can be dispersed and the control member 3 will not be deformed.

[0029] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.