Screwdriver

Abstract

 A screwdriver has a front portion (1) and a handle portion (2), the front portion accommodating a holder (3) into which one of a plurality of interchangeable screwdriv­er heads (4) is releasably mounted for use. A light (7) operable by a switch (13) is arranged to illuminate an area around the mounted screwdriver head. The interior of the handle portion (2) is partitioned to form a central com­partment (12) for accommodating a battery for supplying power to the light (7) and a plurality of other compart­ments (15) around the central compartment (12) for storing the interchangeable heads (4) when not mounted in the holder (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to screwdrivers. According to the present invention, there is provided a screwdriver having a plurality of inter­changeable screwdriver heads and including a holder for releasably mounting one of said interchangeable heads for use, a light arranged to illuminate an area around the mounted screwdriver head, and a handle portion within which the interchangeable heads can be stored when not mounted in the holder.

[0002] In a preferred embodiment, the holder includes a ratchet mechanism and the screwdriver includes switch means for changing the direction of rotation of the mechanism. The holder may be provided with a grip­ping portion, for example a knurled portion, to enable the holder to be manually rotated whilst the handle portion is held still.

[0003] The interior of the handle portion may be parti­tioned to provide a compartment for accommodating a battery power supply for supplying power to the light and the screwdriver also may include switch means for turning the light on and off.

[0004] Preferably, the compartment for accommodating the battery power supply is located centrally within the handle portion and a plurality of further compart­ments are provided around the centrally-located compartment for accommodating the interchangeable screwdriver heads.

[0005] The end of the handle portion remote from the holder may be closed by a cover. The cover may be removable to gain access to the screwdriver heads accommodated within the handle portion. Additionally or alternatively, the cover may be rotatable relative to the handle portion and be provided with an aper­ture through which the screwdriver heads can pass to enable them to be inserted into or removed from the handle portion.

[0006] The cover preferably has a central aperture through which the battery power supply may be inserted into and removed from its compartment within the handle portion. The central aperture may be closed by a plug to retain the battery power supply within the compartment.

[0007] The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with sections partially cut away to show internal features, and

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

[0008] Referring to the drawings, the screwdriver has a front portion 1 and a cylindrical handle portion 2. The front portion accommodates a holder 3 into which one of a plurality of interchangeable screwdriver heads, such as that shown at 4, is releasably mounted for use.

[0009] The mounted screwdriver head (not shown) is retained within the holder by a latch (also not shown). The holder 3 is provided with a ratchet mechanism (not shown) to enable the holder to be rotated relative to the rest of the screwdriver and the rotational direction of the ratchet mechanism can be changed by a sliding switch 5 on the exterior of the front portion 1. The sliding switch 5 also has a central position in which the ratchet mechanism is locked to prevent it turning in either direction. The holder 3 also has a knurled portion 6 to facili­tate manual rotation of the holder, in order to turn the screwdriver head mounted therein, whilst the front and handle portions 1,2 of the screwdriver are held still.

[0010] Located at the front end of the screwdriver adjacent the holder 3 is a light 7 which is arranged to illuminate an area around the mounted screwdriver head. The light 7 consists of a light bulb holder 8 retaining a small light bulb 9 which is positioned within a curved reflector 10. The light is closed by a lens 11. The light is powered by a battery power supply (not shown) which is accommodated within a central cylindrical compartment 12 formed axially within the handle portion 2. The light 7 is turned on and off by a sliding switch 13 which is arranged to open and close three contact plates 14 to connect the battery power supply to the light bulbs 9.

[0011] The interchangeable screwdriver heads 4, which are not mounted in the holder 1, are stored within a plurality of compartments 15 formed within the handle portion 2 around the central battery compartment 12. Each of the compartments 15 is intended to accommo­date a single screwdriver head.

[0012] The handle portion 2 is closed at its end remote from the holder 3 by a cover or end cap 16 which can rotate relative to the handle portion 2. The end cap 16 has a central aperture 17 which is in alignment with the opening into the battery compartment 12. The aperture 17 is closed by a plug 18 which can be removed by inserting an object such as a coin, into a slot 19 in the end of the cap and turning the object. The inserted plug 18 compresses two springs 20,21 and retains an annular conductor 22 within the end of the handle portion 2 which retains the battery power supply in electrical contact with the contact plates 14. When the plug 18 is removed, the springs 20,21 are released as shown in Figure 1, and the battery power supply can be removed from the battery compart­ment 12.

[0013] The end cap 16 is also provided with another smaller aperture 23 which, by rotation of the end cap relative to the handle portion 2, may be brought into alignment with the opening into any one of the com­partments 15. In this way, a spare screwdriver head 4 can be inserted into or removed from the compartment 15 by passing through the aperture 23. By further rotation of the end cap 16, the aperture 23 can be positioned in disalignment with all of the compartment openings or in alignment with an empty compartment opening so that any screwdriver heads stored within the handle portion 2 cannot fall out.

[0014] The screwdriver, in accordance with the described embodiment of the present invention, is compact and readily adaptable to different screwing operations due to the interchangeable heads. As the holder can be rotated independently of the main body of the screwdriver, it is easy to use in confined spaces where little maneouvrability is possible. Further­more, the provision of the light facilitates screwing operations in dark conditions.

[0015] Whilst a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described, various modifications will be envisaged without departure from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A screwdriver having a plurality of interchangeable screwdriver heads (4) and including a holder (3) for re­leasably mounting one of said interchangeable heads (4) for use, a light (7) arranged to illuminate an area around the mounted screwdriver head, and a handle portion (2) within which the interchangeable heads (4) can be stored when not mounted in the holder (3).

2. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder (3) includes a ratchet mechanism and the screwdriver includes switch means (5) for changing the direction of rotation of the mechanism.

3. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder (3) is provided with a gripping portion (6) to enable the holder (3) to be manually rotated whilst the handle portion (2) is held still.

4. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the interior of the handle portion (2) is partitioned to provide a compartment (12) for accommodating a battery power supply for supplying power to the light (7).

5. A screwdriver as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, including switch means (13) for turning the light (7) on and off.

6. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 4, wherein the compartment (12) for accommodating the battery power supply is located centrally within the handle portion (2) and a plurality of further compartments (15) are provided around the centrally-located compartment (12) for accommodating the interchangeable screwdriver heads (4).

7. A screwdriver as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end of the handle portion (2) remote from the holder (3) is closed by a cover (16).

8. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover (16) is removable to gain access to the screwdriver heads accommodated within the handle portion (2)

9. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the cover (16) is rotatable relative to the handle portion (2) and is provided with an aperture (23) through which the screwdriver heads (4) can pass to enable them to be insert­ed into or removed from the handle portion (2).

10. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the interior of the handle portion (2) is parti­tioned to provide a compartment (12) for accommodating a battery power supply for supplying power to the light (7), and the cover (16) has a central aperture (17) through which the battery power supply may be inserted into and removed from its compartment (12).

11. A screwdriver as claimed in claim 10, wherein the central aperture (17) is closed by a plug (18) to retain the battery power supply within the compartment (12).

Drawing