IP Library Granted Patent US 7,455,303
Granted Patent B2
US 7,455,303 · App. 11/219,060 · Granted Nov 25, 2008

Chuck with internal nut

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,455,303
App. No.
11/219,060
Granted
Nov 25, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck including a generally cylindrical body with a nose section and a tail section. The tail section has an internal cavity formed therein and the nose section has an axial bore formed therein. A nut is disposed within the internal cavity, the nut including a central bore. A spindle includes a forward portion extending into the central bore of the nut and a rear portion configured to receive the drive shaft. A plurality of jaws are movably disposed with respect to the body, each of the jaws are in communication with the axial bore and are operatively coupled to the nut, and a sleeve is disposed about the body. The nut is axially movable with respect to the spindle between a first position and a second position. The nut is rotatably fixed to the spindle in the first position and non-rotatably fixed to the spindle in the second position.

Claims (50)

1. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, said chuck comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section, said tail section having an internal cavity formed therein, said nose section having an axial bore formed therein, and said body having a first locking surface formed thereon;

a nut disposed within said internal cavity, said nut being rotationally coupled to the drive shaft;

a plurality of jaws movably disposed with respect to said body, each of said jaws being in communication with said axial bore and being operatively coupled to said nut so that rotation of such nut with respect to said jaws moves said jaws with respect to said body and said axial bore;

a sleeve disposed about said body, said sleeve including a second locking surface configured to selectively engage and disengage said first locking surface; and

wherein said body and said sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other between a first position in which said first and said second locking surfaces are engaged and a second position in which said first and said second locking surfaces are disengaged, said first position preventing the rotation of said body relative to said sleeve.

2. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said second position with respect to each other, said body is rotatable relative to said sleeve.

3. The chuck of claim 2 , wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said first position with respect to each other, said nut is rotatable relative to said body such that said jaws are movable relative to said body.

4. The chuck of claim 3 , further comprising:

a plurality of outer threads disposed about an outer surface of said nut;

a plurality of inner threads disposed on each of said jaws; and

wherein said outer threads are in driving engagement with said inner threads.

5. The chuck of claim 1 , further comprising:

a central bore extending axially through said nut;

a spindle including a forward portion extending into said central bore and a rear portion configured to receive the drive shaft; and

wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said first position with respect to each other, said nut is rotatable relative to said body and said spindle.

6. The chuck of claim 5 , wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said second position relative to each other, said body is rotatable relative to said sleeve and said nut is non-rotatably fixed to both said spindle and said body.

7. The chuck of claim 6 , further comprising a third locking surface disposed in said central bore of said nut, a fourth locking surface disposed on said forward portion of said spindle, and wherein said third and said fourth locking surfaces are configured be disengaged when said body and said sleeve are in said first position and engaged when said body and said sleeve are in said second position.

8. The chuck of claim 7 , wherein said first and said second locking surfaces, and said third and said fourth locking surfaces, further comprise mating sets of locking splines, respectively.

9. The chuck of claim 5 , further comprising:

a first rack disposed about a central portion of said spindle,

a second rack disposed about an inner surface of said body, said second rack being concentric about said first rack;

at least one planetary gear rotatably mounted to said nut, said planetary gear engaging both said first and said second racks; and

wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said first position relative to each other, rotation of said spindle causes said planetary gear to rotate about both a longitudinal center axis of said spindle and a longitudinal center axis of said planetary gear, resulting in rotation of said nut relative to said body.

10. The chuck of claim 9 , wherein when said body is in said second position relative to said sleeve, said planetary gear is non-rotatably secured about its said longitudinal center axis.

11. The chuck of claim 9 , wherein said body further comprises a front portion and a ground plate non-rotatably fixed thereto, said second rack being formed on said ground plate.

12. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is non-rotatably fixed to the housing.

13. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, said chuck comprising: a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section, said tail section having an internal cavity formed therein, said nose section having an axial bore formed therein; a nut disposed within said internal cavity, said nut including a central bore; a spindle including a forward portion extending into said central bore of said nut and a rear portion being configured to receive said drive shaft; a plurality of jaws movably disposed with respect to said body, each of said jaws being in communication with said axial bore and being operatively coupled to said nut; a sleeve disposed about said body; and wherein said nut is axially movable with respect to said spindle between a first position and a second position, said nut being rotatably fixed to said spindle in said first position and non-rotatably fixed to said spindle in said second position, wherein when said nut and said spindle are in said second position with respect to each other, said body is rotatable relative to said sleeve.

14. The chuck of claim 13 , wherein when said nut and said spindle are in said first position with respect to each other, said nut is rotatable relative to said body such that said jaws are movable relative to said body.

15. The chuck of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first rack disposed about a central portion of said spindle,

a second rack disposed about an inner surface of said body, said second rack being concentric about said first rack;

at least one planetary gear rotatably mounted to said nut, said planetary gear engaging both said first and said second racks; and

wherein when said nut and said spindle are in said first position relative to each other, rotation of said spindle causes said planetary gear to rotate about both a longitudinal center axis of said spindle and a longitudinal center axis of said planetary gear, resulting in rotation of said nut relative to said body.

16. The chuck of claim 15 , wherein when said nut is in said second position relative to said spindle, said planetary gear is non-rotatably secured about its said longitudinal center axis.

17. The chuck of claim 13 , further comprising a first locking surface disposed on said body and a second locking surface disposed on said sleeve, and wherein said first and said second locking surfaces are configured be engaged when said nut and said spindle are in said first position and disengaged when said nut and said spindle are in said second position, said first and said second locking surfaces being configured to non-rotatably fix said body to the housing of the driver when said first and said second locking surfaces are engaged.

18. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, said chuck comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section, said tail section having an internal cavity formed therein, said nose section having an axial bore formed therein, and said body having a first locking surface formed thereon;

a nut having a central bore extending axially therethrough, said nut being disposed within said internal cavity and being rotationally coupled to the drive shaft;

a spindle including a forward portion extending into said central bore and a rear portion configured to receive the drive shaft;

a plurality of jaws movably disposed with respect to said body, each of said jaws being in communication with said axial bore and being operatively coupled to said nut so that rotation of such nut with respect to said jaws moves said jaws with respect to said body and said axial bore;

a sleeve disposed about said body, said sleeve including a second locking surface configured to selectively engage and disengage said first locking surface; and

wherein said body and said sleeve are axially movable with respect to each other between a first position in which said first and said second locking surfaces are engaged and a second position in which said first and said second locking surfaces are disengaged, said first position preventing the rotation of said body relative to said sleeve, and

wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said first position with respect to each other, said nut is rotatable relative to said body and said spindle.

19. The chuck of claim 18 , wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said second position relative to each other, said body is rotatable relative to said sleeve and said nut is non-rotatably fixed to both said spindle and said body.

20. The chuck of claim 18 , further comprising:

a first rack disposed about a central portion of said spindle,

a second rack disposed about an inner surface of said body, said second rack being concentric about said first rack;

at least one planetary gear rotatably mounted to said nut, said planetary gear engaging both said first and said second racks; and

wherein when said body and said sleeve are in said first position relative to each other, rotation of said spindle causes said planetary gear to rotate about both a longitudinal center axis of said spindle and a longitudinal center axis of said planetary gear, resulting in rotation of said nut relative to said body.

Assignments (18)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075612/0935 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0150 →
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073077/0584 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 11203070 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 58991 FRAME 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0327 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068753/0687 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068769/0309 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0556 →
SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0442 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: COOPER BRANDS, INC.
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032744/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: COOPER BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032743/0700 →
CONVERSION Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY
To: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 032743/0543 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2006
From: DRAUDT, GREGG; ROW, GORDON; PROULX, TIM
To: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017405/0607 →