IP Library Granted Patent US 11,364,606
Granted Patent B2
US 11,364,606 · App. 17/368,489 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Radial band wedge impact driving device

Inventors: Adam D. Fairchild (Lexington, SC); Kyle M. Neubauer (Lexington, SC)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC
B25B23/1405B25B21/02B25B23/0035B25B23/14B23B45/005B25B21/007B25B23/00F16D3/74
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,364,606
App. No.
17/368,489
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A torque transfer assembly for a bit holder includes an axial movement limiting subassembly and a rotation limiting subassembly. The axial movement limiting subassembly is configured to retain a drive body of the bit holder in proximity to a driven body of the bit holder. The rotation limiting subassembly is configured to cause torque applied to the drive body to be transferred to the driven body. The rotation limiting subassembly includes a first cam body at a distal end of the drive body and a second cam body at a distal end of the driven body. The first and second cam bodies are configured to transfer a majority of the torque between the drive body and the driven body indirectly via the torque transfer assembly by limiting rotation of the first cam body relative to the second cam body.

Claims (42)

1. An impact bit holder comprising:

a drive body having a drive end configured to interface with a powered driver, the drive body comprising a first cam body at a distal end thereof relative to the drive end;

a driven body having a driven end configured to interface with a bit, the driven body comprising a second cam body at a distal end thereof relative to the driven end, the drive body and the first cam body being configured to rotate relative to the driven body and the second cam body; and

a torque transfer assembly disposed proximate to the first and second cam bodies and configured to transfer a majority of a torque between the drive body and the driven body, the torque transfer assembly comprising a first radial member, a second radial member, and an elastic member;

wherein the first and second radial members combine to enclose the first cam body and the second cam body within a wedge channel formed between the first and second radial members;

wherein the first and second radial members define cam surfaces proximate to the wedge channel;

wherein, in response to the torque, the first cam body or the second cam body interfaces with the cam surfaces of the first and second radial members to cause a relative movement between the first and second radial members against a resistance of the elastic member to absorb at least some of the torque.

2. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is disposed to retain the first and second radial members proximate to each other and resist radial outward movement of the first and second radial members responsive to rotation of the first cam body or the second cam body.

3. The impact bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the elastic member comprises a split dowel disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

4. The impact bit holder of claim 3 , wherein the elastic member further comprises a pair of limiter bands disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the split dowel.

5. The impact bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the elastic member comprises a plurality of rings disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

6. The impact bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the elastic member comprises a shell disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

7. The impact bit holder of claim 6 , wherein the shell is configured to engage the drive member and the driven member to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

8. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the drive body comprises a first axial retainer disposed at a proximal end of the first cam body relative to the drive end, and the driven body comprises a second axial retainer disposed at a proximal end of the second cam body relative to the driven end, and

wherein the first and second axial retainers interface with the first and second radial members to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

9. The impact bit holder of claim 8 , wherein the first and second radial members each include an annular projection configured to be inserted into an annular groove disposed at each of the first and second axial retainers of each of the drive body and the driven body, respectively.

10. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cam bodies comprise first and second wedges, respectively.

11. The impact bit holder of claim 10 , wherein the first wedge comprises a projection at the distal end of the drive body relative to the drive end,

wherein the second wedge comprises a recess disposed at the distal end of the driven body relative to the driven end, and

wherein the projection is received in the recess to axially align the drive body and the driven body and enable rotation of the drive body relative to the driven body.

12. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the majority of the torque comprises about 80% to about 100% of the torque.

13. A torque transfer assembly for a bit holder, the torque transfer assembly comprising:

an axial movement limiting subassembly configured to retain a drive body of the bit holder in proximity to a driven body of the bit holder; and

a rotation limiting subassembly configured to cause a majority of torque applied to the drive body to be transferred to the driven body,

wherein the rotation limiting subassembly comprises a first cam body at a distal end of the drive body relative to the drive end, and a second cam body at a distal end of the driven body relative to the driven end,

wherein the first and second cam bodies are configured to only transfer the majority of the torque between the drive body and the driven body by limiting rotation of the first cam body relative to the second cam body,

wherein the rotation limiting subassembly further comprises a radial member and an elastic member,

wherein the radial member defines a cam surface proximate to the radial member,

wherein, in response to the torque, the first cam body or the second cam body interfaces with the cam surface of the radial member to cause radial movement of the radial member against a bias of the elastic member to absorb at least some of the torque.

14. The torque transfer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the radial member is a first radial member;

wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises the first radial member and a second radial member,

wherein the first and second radial members combine to form a substantially cylindrical shape and define a wedge channel therebetween, and

wherein the first and second radial members form part of the rotation limiting subassembly and define cam surfaces proximate to the wedge channel, the cam surfaces interfacing with the first and second cam bodies to transfer torque from the first cam body to the second cam body via the cam surfaces.

15. The torque transfer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the elastic member comprises a split dowel disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members, and the elastic member further comprises a pair of limiter bands disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the split dowel, or

wherein the elastic member comprises a plurality of rings disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members, or

wherein the elastic member comprises a shell disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members, the shell being configured to engage the drive member and the driven member to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

16. The torque transfer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the drive body comprises a first axial retainer disposed at a proximal end of the first cam body relative to the drive end, and the driven body comprises a second axial retainer disposed at a proximal end of the second cam body relative to the driven end, the first and second axial retainers each being part of the axial movement limiting subassembly,

wherein the first and second axial retainers interface with the first and second radial members to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other, wherein the first and second radial members each include an annular projection configured to be inserted into an annular groove disposed at each of the first and second axial retainers of each of the drive body and the driven body, respectively, and wherein the first and second cam bodies comprise first and second wedges, respectively.

17. The torque transfer assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first wedge comprises a projection at the distal end of the drive body relative to the drive end,

wherein the second wedge comprises a recess disposed at the distal end of the driven body relative to the driven end, and

wherein the projection is received in the recess to axially align the drive body and the driven body and enable rotation of the drive body relative to the driven body.

18. The torque transfer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the majority of the torque comprises about 80% to about 100% of the torque.

Assignments (15)
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: 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 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 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 8, 2021
From: FAIRCHILD, ADAM; NEUBAUER, KYLE M.
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056792/0764 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,690,875