IP Library Granted Patent US 11,364,547
Granted Patent B2
US 11,364,547 · App. 16/766,319 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Chuck with mode control clutch

Inventors: Jichun Zhou (Suzhou, CN); Jinping He (Suzhou, CN); Tingwei Zeng (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
B23B31/123B23B31/1238B23B2231/06B23B2231/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,364,547
App. No.
16/766,319
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle is provided. The chuck may comprise a plurality of jaws, a front body, a nut, a rear body, and a clutch. The clutch may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth may be engaged with the rear body teeth such that rotation of the rear body by the drive spindle rotates the clutch, the front body, and the jaws. In the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth may not or need not be engaged with the rear body teeth and the rear body may be configured to rotate the nut relative to the front body to move the jaws relative to the front body.

Claims (45)

1. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle, the chuck comprising:

a plurality of jaws, each jaw including jaw teeth;

a front body, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to rotate with the front body about a center axis of the chuck, wherein the plurality of jaws are also configured to move relative to the front body in an opening or closing direction;

a nut operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth of the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the front body moves the jaws relative to the front body;

a rear body configured to rotate with a drive spindle of the power driver; and

a clutch operably coupled to the front body such that the clutch rotates with the front body in at least one of a working position and a jaw actuating position, wherein the clutch is configured to move between the working position and the jaw actuating position;

wherein, in the working position, the clutch and rear body are configured such that rotation of the drive spindle rotates the front body and the jaws, and

wherein, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch and the rear body are configured such that rotation of the drive spindle rotates the nut relative to the front body to move the jaws relative to the front body;

wherein the chuck further comprises an intermediate gear, wherein, in at least one of the working position and the jaw actuating position, rotation of the rear body causes rotation of the intermediate gear, and the intermediate gear is configured to operably couple the rear body to turn the nut.

2. The chuck of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve that is disposed about the front body, wherein the sleeve does not rotate with the front body or the rear body.

3. The chuck of claim 1 further comprising a spring plunger assembly configured to maintain the clutch in the working position or the jaw actuating position.

4. The chuck of claim 3 , wherein the spring plunger assembly comprises a spring biased ball that engages with the cavities of the clutch.

5. The chuck of claim 3 , wherein the spring plunger assembly comprises a movable ball that rolls into and out of respective recesses to maintain the clutch in either the working position or the jaw actuation position.

6. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is configured to move parallel to the center axis and relative to the front body.

7. The chuck of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve that is disposed about the front body, wherein the sleeve is configured to move with the clutch into the working position or the jaw actuation position, and wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate about the center axis relative to the clutch.

8. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clutch or a sleeve operably coupled to the clutch is moveable to operably couple with a static member that is rotationally stationary relative to the drive spindle, wherein the clutch or the sleeve operably couples with the static member to prevent rotation of the clutch with the drive spindle.

9. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle, the chuck comprising:

a plurality of jaws, each jaw including jaw teeth;

a front body, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to rotate with the front body about a center axis of the chuck, wherein the plurality of jaws are also configured to move relative to the front body in an opening or closing direction;

a nut operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth of the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the front body moves the jaws relative to the front body;

a rear body configured to rotate with a drive spindle of the power driver; and

a clutch operably coupled to the front body such that the clutch rotates with the front body in at least one of a working position and a jaw actuating position, wherein the clutch is configured to move between the working position and the jaw actuating position;

wherein, in the working position, the clutch and rear body are configured such that rotation of the drive spindle rotates the front body and the jaws;

wherein, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch and the rear body are configured such that rotation of the drive spindle rotates the nut relative to the front body to move the jaws relative to the front body;

wherein the chuck further comprises a sleeve, a spring, and a lock ring, wherein the sleeve is configured to move the clutch, against a bias of the spring, into the working position or the jaw actuation position in response to a positioning lug of the sleeve engaging with the lock ring.

10. A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle, the chuck comprising:

a plurality of jaws, each jaw including jaw teeth;

a front body, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to rotate with the front body about a center axis of the chuck, wherein the plurality of jaws are also configured to move relative to the front body in an opening or closing direction;

a nut operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth of the jaws such that rotation of the nut relative to the front body moves the jaws relative to the front body;

a rear body including rear body teeth, the rear body being configured to rotate with a drive spindle of the power driver, wherein the rear body teeth extend axially from the rear body and are rearward-facing away from the plurality of jaws; and

a clutch including clutch teeth, the clutch being operably coupled to the front body such that the clutch rotates with the front body, wherein the clutch is configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position, wherein the clutch teeth extend axially from the clutch and are forward-facing toward the plurality of jaws;

wherein, in the working position, the clutch teeth are engaged with the rear body teeth such that rotation of the rear body by the drive spindle rotates the clutch, the front body, and the jaws, and

wherein, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth are not engaged with the rear body teeth and the rear body rotates the nut relative to the front body, and the clutch to move the jaws relative to the front body.

11. The chuck of claim 10 , wherein the nut is affixed to or integrated with the rear body and wherein the jaw teeth are disposed on an internal facing surface of the jaws.

12. The chuck of claim 10 , further comprising a rear sleeve operably coupled to the clutch to rotate with the clutch and move axially with the clutch, wherein the front body comprises one or more pins that operably couple with the rear sleeve to permit relative axial movement of the rear sleeve relative to the front body.

13. The chuck of claim 10 further comprising an intermediate gear;

wherein the rear body comprises a rear body gear;

wherein the nut is affixed to an inner gear;

wherein the intermediate gear is configured to operably couple the rear body gear to the inner gear to turn the nut.

14. The chuck of claim 10 further comprising a spring plunger assembly configured to maintain the clutch in the working position or the jaw actuating position.

15. The chuck of claim 14 , wherein the spring plunger assembly comprises a spring biased ball that engages with the cavities of the clutch.

16. The chuck of claim 14 , wherein the spring plunger assembly comprises a movable ball that rolls into and out of respective recesses to maintain the clutch in either the working position or the jaw actuation position.

17. The chuck of claim 10 , wherein the clutch is configured to move parallel to the center axis and relative to the front body.

18. The chuck of claim 10 , further comprising a rear sleeve, a spring, and a lock ring, wherein the rear sleeve is configured to move the clutch, against a bias of the spring, into the working position or the jaw actuation position in response to a positioning lug of the rear sleeve engaging with the lock ring.

19. The chuck of claim 10 , further comprising a sleeve configured to move with the clutch into the working position or the jaw actuation position, and wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate about the center axis relative to the clutch.

Assignments (16)
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 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 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 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 Jun 6, 2021
From: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056449/0126 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: ZHOU, JICHUN; HE, JINPING; ZENG, TINGWEI
To: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054157/0605 →