IP Library Granted Patent US 11,123,807
Granted Patent B2
US 11,123,807 · App. 16/982,742 · Granted Sep 21, 2021

Chuck multi-mode jaw movement

Inventors: Tingwei Zeng (Suzhou, CN); Jinping He (Suzhou, CN); Jie Zhang (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B23B31/1238B23B31/123B23B2231/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,123,807
App. No.
16/982,742
Granted
Sep 21, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chuck for use with a power driver having a rotatable drive spindle is provided. The chuck may include a clamping assembly comprising a clamping member that operably couples the sleeve to a nut. The clamping assembly may be configured to transition the chuck between a rapid jaw adjustment mode and a clamping mode. In the rapid jaw adjustment mode, a sleeve may be configured to rotate the clamping member with the nut to cause rotational movement of the nut relative to jaws and a chuck body, which may cause translational movement of the jaws relative to the chuck body. In the clamping mode, the nut may be rotationally fixed with the jaws and the clamping member may rotate relative to the nut to cause the nut to move axially relative to a center axis of the chuck which causes the jaws to translate relative to the body and clamp onto a working bit.

Claims (37)

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 body, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to rotate with the body about a center axis of the chuck;

a sleeve;

a nut having nut teeth, the nut teeth being operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth in a helically threaded coupling;

a clamping assembly comprising a clamping member that operably couples the sleeve to the nut, the clamping assembly being configured to transition the chuck between a rapid jaw adjustment mode and a clamping mode; and

a retainer configured to rotate with the body, the retainer having retainer teeth;

wherein, in the rapid jaw adjustment mode, the sleeve is configured to rotate the clamping member with the nut to cause rotational movement of the nut relative to the jaws and the body, which causes translational movement of the jaws relative to the body;

wherein, in the clamping mode, the nut is rotationally fixed with the jaws and the clamping member rotates relative to the nut to cause the nut to move axially relative to the center axis which causes the jaws to translate relative to the body;

wherein the clamping assembly further comprises a clutch member including clutch teeth, the clutch member being operably coupled to the nut such that the clutch member rotates with the nut;

wherein, as the clamping assembly transitions the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve causes the clutch teeth to operably couple with the retainer teeth to rotationally couple the nut to the body and prevent further rotational movement of the nut relative to the body and the jaws.

2. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly is configured to transition the chuck between the rapid jaw adjustment mode and the clamping mode in response to a torque required to turn the sleeve exceeding a threshold torque.

3. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clutch member further comprises a spring arm and a clutch protrusion, wherein the clutch teeth and the clutch protrusion are disposed on the spring arm;

wherein, to transition the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve deflects the spring arm in response to engagement between the clutch protrusion and the clamping member to cause the operable coupling of the clutch teeth with the retainer teeth.

4. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clamping member further comprises a ramp and the clutch member further comprises a ramped recess;

wherein, to transition the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve forces the ramp of the clamping member to slide out of the ramp recess of the clutch member, which causes the clutch member to move axially and causes the operable coupling of the clutch teeth with the retainer teeth.

5. The chuck of claim 1 , wherein the clamping member includes clamping member teeth configured to rotate with the sleeve to cause, in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve to transition the chuck into the clamping mode, the nut to move axially via a helical threaded coupling between the clamping member teeth and clamping nut teeth disposed on the nut.

6. The chuck of claim 5 , wherein a slope of the helical threaded coupling between the nut teeth and the jaw teeth is larger than a slope of the helical threaded coupling between the clamping member teeth and the clamping nut teeth.

7. 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 body, wherein the plurality of jaws are configured to rotate with the body about a center axis of the chuck;

a sleeve;

a nut having nut teeth, the nut teeth being operably coupled with at least some of the jaw teeth in a helically threaded coupling;

a clamping assembly comprising a clamping member that operably couples the sleeve to the nut, the clamping assembly being configured to transition the chuck between a rapid jaw adjustment mode and a clamping mode; and

a retainer that rotates with the body, the retainer having retainer teeth;

wherein, in the rapid jaw adjustment mode, the sleeve is configured to rotate the clamping member with the nut to cause rotational movement of the nut relative to the jaws and the body, which causes translational movement of the jaws relative to the body at a first jaw opening diameter change to sleeve turn ratio;

wherein, in the clamping mode, the nut is rotationally fixed with the jaws and the sleeve is configured to rotate the clamping member relative to the nut to cause the nut to move axially relative to the center axis which causes the jaws to translate relative to the body at a second jaw opening diameter change to sleeve turn ratio;

wherein the first jaw opening diameter change to sleeve turn ratio is greater than the second jaw opening diameter change to sleeve turn ratio;

wherein the clamping assembly further comprises a clutch member including clutch teeth, the clutch member being operably coupled to the nut such that the clutch member rotates with the nut;

wherein, as clamping assembly transitions the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve causes the clutch teeth to operably couple with the retainer teeth to rotationally couple the nut to the body and prevent rotational movement of the nut relative to the body and the jaws.

8. The chuck of claim 7 , wherein the clamping assembly is configured to transition the chuck between the rapid jaw adjustment mode and the clamping mode in response to a torque required to turn the sleeve exceeding a threshold torque.

9. The chuck of claim 7 , wherein the clutch member further comprises a spring arm and a clutch protrusion, wherein the clutch teeth and the clutch protrusion are disposed on the spring arm;

wherein, to transition the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve deflects the spring arm in response to engagement between the clutch protrusion and the clamping member to cause the operable coupling of the clutch teeth with the retainer teeth.

10. The chuck of claim 7 , wherein the clamping member further comprises a ramp and the clutch member further comprises a ramped recess;

wherein, to transition the chuck into the clamping mode in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve, further rotation of the sleeve forces the ramp of the clamping member to slide out of the ramp recess of the clutch member, which causes the clutch member to move axially and causes the operable coupling of the clutch teeth with the retainer teeth.

11. The chuck of claim 7 , wherein the clamping member includes clamping member teeth configured to rotate with the sleeve to cause, in response to a threshold torque being required to turn the sleeve to transition the chuck into the clamping mode, the nut to move axially via a helical threaded coupling between the clamping member teeth and clamping nut teeth disposed on the nut.

12. The chuck of claim 11 , wherein a slope of the helical threaded coupling between the nut teeth and the jaw teeth is larger than a slope of the helical threaded coupling between the clamping member teeth and the clamping nut teeth.

Assignments (17)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0150 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075612/0935 →
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 →
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 May 7, 2021
From: ZENG, TINGWEI; HE, JINPING; ZHANG, JIE
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056169/0531 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: ZENG, TINGWEI; HE, JINPING; ZHANG, JIE
To: JACOBS CHUCK MANUFACTURING (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055189/0860 →
Continuity (1)
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