Tap tool assembly

1. A tap tool assembly comprising:

a tap having a thread cutting section and a shaft section, the tap further including a flat surface formed on the shaft section adjacent to one end of the threaded cutting section;

a retaining member fixed to the shaft section of the tap adjacent to the first end of the thread cutting section, the retaining member being installed to the shaft portion in alignment with the flat surface; and

a sleeve having a central bore extending therethrough, a surface of the sleeve that defines the central bore having a shoulder, the sleeve being coupled to the shaft section of the tap for movement between a first position completely covering the thread cutting section and a second position exposing at least a portion of the thread cutting section, the sleeve being biased to move toward the first position.

2. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising

a biasing member installed within the central bore of the sleeve between the shoulder and the retaining member, the biasing member biasing the sleeve to move toward the first position.

3. The tap tool assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the biasing member is in a compressed state between the shoulder and the retaining member such that with the sleeve in the first position the biasing spring has a first overall length and with the sleeve in the second position the biasing member has a second overall length that is less than the first overall length.

4. The tap tool assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the biasing member is a coil spring, and

the tap extends through a central opening defined by the coil spring.

5. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the tap rotates relative to the sleeve.

6. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the retaining member has a first thickness measured along an axial direction of the tap, and

the flat surface has a length measured along the axial direction of the tap, the length being greater than the first thickness such that the position of the retaining member along the axial direction of the tap is adjustable thereby defining an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the first position of the sleeve relative to the tap.

7. The tap tool assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

the tap includes an alignment section at a second end of the thread cutting section, the alignment section of the tap is entirely concealed by the sleeve with the retaining member fixed to the shaft portion at a forward position of the flat surface and the sleeve being in the first position, and the alignment section of the tap at least partially extends out from the second end of the sleeve with the retaining member fixed to the shaft portion at a rearward position of the flat surface and the sleeve being in the first position.

8. A tap tool assembly comprising

a tap having a thread cutting section and a shaft section;

a retaining member fixed to the shaft section of the tap adjacent to the first end of the thread cutting section;

a sleeve having a central bore extending therethrough, a surface of the sleeve that defines the central bore having a shoulder, the sleeve being coupled to the shaft section of the tap for movement between a first position completely covering the thread cutting section and a second position exposing at least a portion of the thread cutting section, the sleeve being biased to move toward the first position;

a retaining clip, and

a surface of the sleeve further that defines the central bore includes a circumferentially extending channel that receives the retaining clip.

9. The tap tool assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

the retaining clip is positioned to limit movement of the sleeve with the sleeve in the first position.

10. The tap tool assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

the retaining member is located between the retaining clip and the shoulder of the central bore of the sleeve.

11. The tap tool assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

the retaining member contacts the retaining clip with the sleeve in the first position and is spaced apart from the retaining clip with the sleeve in the second position.

12. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising

an end cap that includes an opening and a power tool receiving end, with a free end of the shaft section of the tap being fixedly attached to the end cap within the opening.

13. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the sleeve is made of a plastic material.

14. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the sleeve is made of a metallic material.

15. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the tap includes an alignment section at a second end of the thread cutting section.

16. The tap tool assembly according to claim 15 , wherein

the alignment section has an outer diameter that is smaller than the thread cutting section.

17. The tap tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the sleeve has a first end and a second end with the central bore extending from the first end to the second end, such that with the sleeve in the second position the thread cutting section extends out of the central bore at the first end of the sleeve.

18. The tap tool assembly according to claim 17 , wherein

the first end of the sleeve has an outer surface section with a tapering shape and a remainder of the outer surface of the sleeve has an overall cylindrical shape.

19. The tap tool assembly according to claim 17 , wherein

at least a portion of the shaft section of the tap extends out of the central bore at the second end of the sleeve with the sleeve in the first position and with the sleeve in the second position.