Driving tool

Claim 2

An adapter for a fastener driving tool in which a clutch mechanism is operable therebetween comprising: A. a housing adapted for securement to the driving tool; B. a main body having an opening therethrough slidably positioned within the housing and adapted for engagement with a workpiece and for extensible movement from the housing; C. a wrenching mechanism positioned within the main body opening including a forward fastener engaging end and a rearward clutch engaging end and an annular groove thereabout intermediate said ends; and D. a detent assembly operative between the main body and the groove in the socket member so that as the main body is urged from an extended position into the housing, the detent engages the groove to move the socket member into engagement with the clutch mechanism and continued movement of the main body into the housing causes the detent to override the groove and move relative to the wrenching mechanism.

Claim 3

An adapter for a fastener driving tool in which a clutch mechanism is operable therebetween comprising: A. a housing adapted for securement to the driving tool; B. a main body having an opening therethrough slidably positioned within the housing and adapted for engagement with a workpiece and for extensible movement from the housing; C. a wrenching mechanism positioned within the main body opening including a forward fastener engaging end and a rearward clutch engaging end and an annular groove thereabout intermediate said ends; and D. a detent assembly operative between the main body and the groove in the socket member so that as the main body is urged from an extended position into the housing, the detent engages the groove to move the socket member into engagement with the clutch mechanism and continued movement of the main body into the housing causes the detent to override the groove and move relative to the wrenching mechanism.

Claim 4

An adapter for a fastener driving tool in which a clutch mechanism is operable therebetween comprising: A. a housing adapted for securement to the driving tool; B. a main body having an opening therethrough slidably positioned within the housing and adapted for engagement with a workpiece and for extensible movement from the housing; C. a wrenching mechanism positioned within the main body opening including a forward fastener engaging end and a rearward clutch engaging end and an annular groove thereabout intermediate said ends; and D. a detent assembly operative between the main body and the groove in the socket member so that as the main body is urged from an extended position into the housing, the detent engages the groove to move the socket member into engagement with the clutch mechanism and continued movement of the main body into the housing causes the detent to override the groove and move relative to the wrenching mechanism.

Claim 5

The adapter of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a slot accommodating the detent assembly.

Claim 6

The adapter of claim 1, said detent assembly including a blind chamber housing threadably engaging through the main body, a detent ball cooperating with the chamber and said groove in the wrenching mechanism and a spring positioned in the chamber to urge the ball into said groove.

Claim 7

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the workpiece engaging portion of the main body comprises a nonskid surface.

Claim 8

The adapter of claim 1 including an adjustment collar engageable with the housing to form a stop for the main body as it advances into the housing.

Claim 9

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the main body includes an annular shoulder along the opening to accommodate a washer positioned on the fastener in spaced relationship from a fastener head to assure proper alignment of the fastener relative to the adapter and workpiece.

Claim 10

The adapter of claim 1 including a coil spring positioned in the housing to urge the main body into an extended position.

Claim 11

The adapter of claim 1 including an adjustment collar threadably engaged to the main body at an end thereof.

Claim 12

The adapter of claim 3 wherein the main body includes a plurality of spaced threaded openings to accommodate the detent assembly housing at various fastener Length adjustments.

Claim 13

The adjustment collar of claim 5 including a plurality of slots spaced thereabout and positioned so one of said slots is in registry with the housing slot at a given adjustment to accommodate the detent assembly.

Claim 14

The adjustment collar of claim 7 including spaced indicia thereon indicating a fastener length and adapted to align with mating indicia on the main body to place an adjustment collar slot in registry with the housing slot for a given fastener length.

Claim 15

A driving tool and fastener combination comprising: A. a motor operated driver; B. a clutch mechanism engageable with the driver; C. an adapter connected to the driver and comprising a. a housing having a slot therein and adapted for securement to the driving tool; b. a main body having an opening therethrough slidably positioned within the housing and adapted for engagement with a workpiece and for extensible movement from the housing; c. a wrenching mechanism positioned within the main body opening including a forward fastener engaging socket end and a rearward clutch engaging end and an annular groove thereabout intermediate said ends; d. a detent assembly cooperating with the slot in the housing and operative between the main body and the groove in the socket member; D. a fastener having a head engageable with the socket end, a shank extending from the head and wholly within the main body opening and a washer slidably positioned on the shank and positioned within the main body opening in spaced relationship from the fastener head whereby a forward pressure on the driving tool causes the socket member to engage the clutch before the fastener engages the workpiece.

Claim 16

A driving tool and fastener combination comprising: A. a motor operated driver; B. a clutch mechanism engageable with the driver; C. an adapter connected to the driver and comprising a. a housing having a slot therein and adapted for securement to the driving tool; b. a main body having an opening therethrough slidably positioned within the housing and adapted for engagement with a workpiece and for extensible movement from the housing; c. a wrenching mechanism positioned within the main body opening including a forward fastener engaging socket end and a rearward clutch engaging end and an annular groove thereabout intermediate said ends; d. a detent assembly cooperating with the slot in the housing and operative between the main body and the groove in the socket member; D. a fastener having a head engageable with the socket end, a shank extending from the head and wholly within the main body opening and a washer slidably positioned on the shank and positioned within the main body opening in spaced relationship from the fastener head whereby a forward pressure on the driving tool causes the socket member to engage the clutch before the fastener engages the workpiece.