IP Library Granted Patent US 11,440,167
Granted Patent B2
US 11,440,167 · App. 16/467,199 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Anti-marring bit holder

Inventors: Chad Aaron Miley (Camden, OH); Timothy Edward Heitkamp (Tipp City, OH); Robert John Rich (Eaton, OH)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B25B23/0035B25B23/12B23B31/1071B23B2231/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,167
App. No.
16/467,199
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bit holder is provided including a tool bit receiver body operably configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit, a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body, a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit, a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body, and a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder and configured such that the tool bit receiver body rotates independent of the axial rotation of at least a portion of the sleeve.

Claims (45)

1. A bit holder comprising:

a tool bit receiver body configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit;

a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body;

a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit;

a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body; and

a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder such that the sleeve is freely and independently rotatable relative to the tool bit receiver body to avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use,

wherein, to further avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use, the sleeve is entirely constructed of an anti-marring material or the sleeve is externally coated along an entire axial length of the sleeve parallel to an axis of rotation of the bit holder with the anti-marring material,

wherein the sleeve is disposed to extend around and fully enclose the tool bit receiver body, the retention element and the release,

wherein the sleeve comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, and

wherein the outer sleeve comprises a release engagement lip configured to disengage the retention element in response to the sleeve moving in a first direction toward the drive element to cause the sleeve to engage the release.

2. The bit holder of claim 1 ,

wherein the anti-marring material comprises nylon.

3. The bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve at least partially encloses the drive element.

4. The bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve comprises a ring magnet disposed around a tool bit receiver aperture.

5. The bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the inner sleeve and outer sleeve comprise complementary ridges configured to retain the sleeve on the bit holder.

6. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a ring magnet disposed around a tool bit receiver aperture.

7. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve and outer sleeve comprise complementary ridges configured to retain the sleeve on the bit holder.

8. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a ball and a spring configured to bias the ball into a tool bit receiver aperture, wherein the ball is configured to engage a recess of the tool bit.

9. The bit holder of claim 8 , wherein disengaging the retention element comprises the release applying a force compressing the spring to relieve the bias applied to the ball.

10. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the tool bit receiver body comprises a fastener retention magnet.

11. The bit holder of claim 10 , wherein the fastener retention magnet enables retention of a fastener at a plurality of engagement lengths.

12. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve at least partially encloses the drive element.

13. The bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the anti-marring material comprises a polymeric material or a urethane.

14. A bit holder comprising:

a tool bit receiver body configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit;

a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body;

a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body; and

a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder such that the sleeve is freely and independently rotatable relative to the tool bit receiver body to avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use,

wherein, to further avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use, the sleeve is entirely constructed of an anti-marring material or the sleeve is externally coated along an entire axial length of the sleeve parallel to an axis of rotation of the bit holder with the anti-marring material,

wherein the sleeve is disposed to extend around and fully enclose the tool bit receiver body, the retention element and the release,

wherein the sleeve comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve,

wherein the inner sleeve and outer sleeve comprise complementary ridges configured to retain the sleeve on the bit holder,

wherein the complementary ridges allow the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to freely and independently rotate with respect to each other and the tool bit receiver body, and

wherein complementary ridges allow the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to slide respective to each other axially without separating.

15. A bit holder comprising:

a tool bit receiver body configured to receive at least a portion of a tool bit;

a retention element configured to retain the tool bit engaged within the tool bit receiver body;

a release configured to disengage the retention element enabling removal of the tool bit;

a drive element operably coupled to the tool bit receiver body and configured to transfer axial rotation from a driving tool to the tool bit receiver body; and

a sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the bit holder such that the sleeve is freely and independently rotatable relative to the tool bit receiver body to avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use,

wherein, to further avoid marring of surfaces adjacent to the bit holder during use, the sleeve is entirely constructed of an anti-marring material or the sleeve is externally coated along an entire axial length of the sleeve parallel to an axis of rotation of the bit holder with the anti-marring material,

wherein the sleeve is disposed to extend around and fully enclose the tool bit receiver body, the retention element and the release,

wherein the release is configured to disengage the retention element in response to the sleeve moving in a first direction toward the drive element and engaging the release to move the release with the sleeve in the first direction,

wherein the release comprises a collar, and

wherein, as the sleeve transitions from an unlocked position to a locked position, a recess in the collar moves out of alignment with the retention element and passes over a retention ring that retains the release on the tool bit receiver body against an urging by a spring in an axial direction.

Assignments (13)
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 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 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 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 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2019
From: MILEY, CHAD AARON; HEITKAMP, TIMOTHY EDWARD; RICH, ROBERT JOHN
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049826/0219 →