Removable chuck

Claim 2

A removable chuck comprising: a sleeve for connecting with a rotating spindle; a chuck coupled with said sleeve; a locking mechanism coupled with said sleeve for retaining said sleeve on the rotating spindle, said locking mechanism comprising a locking member for coupling with the spindle, a first biasing member for holding said locking member with the spindle, said biasing member movable from a first position, applying a force on said locking member for holding the locking member with the spindle recess to a second position, where said locking member is decoupled from the spindle applying a force on said biasing member; a locking sleeve surrounding said biasing member, said locking sleeve in a first position prohibiting expansion of the biasing member and decoupling of said locking member from the spindle and said locking sleeve in a second position enabling said sleeve to be removed from the spindle.

Claim 3

The removable chuck according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for maintaining said locking sleeve in said second position enabling said sleeve to be readily replaced on the spindle.

Claim 4

The removable chuck according to claim 2, wherein said maintaining mechanism comprising a biasing member, at least one pin coupled with said biasing member and said pin in an aperture in the sleeve for contact with the spindle, and a latch coupled with the locking sleeve wherein in the locking sleeve first position said pin is on the spindle and in said locking sleeve second position, said pin moving further in said opening in turn latching said biasing member with said latch for maintaining said locking sleeve in said second position and upon replacing said sleeve on the spindle, said pin returning said biasing member from said latch enabling said locking sleeve to return to said first position.

Claim 5

The removable chuck according to claim 3, wherein a second biasing member is coupled with said locking sleeve for returning said locking sleeve from said second to first position.

Claim 6

The removable chuck according to claim 1, wherein said first biasing member is a spring ring.

Claim 7

A hand tool comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle, said spindle including a recess; and a removable chuck, said removable chuck comprising: a sleeve coupled with said rotating spindle; a chuck body coupled with said sleeve; a locking mechanism coupled with said sleeve for retaining said sleeve on the rotating spindle, said locking mechanism comprising a locking member for coupling with the spindle, a first biasing member for holding said locking member with said spindle, said biasing member movable from a first position, applying a force on said locking member for holding the locking member with said spindle to a second position, where said locking member is decoupled from the spindle applying a force on said biasing member; a locking sleeve surrounding said biasing member, said locking sleeve in a first position prohibiting expansion of the biasing member and decoupling of said locking member from the spindle and said locking sleeve in a second position enabling said sleeve to be removed from the spindle.

Claim 8

A hand tool comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle, said spindle including a recess; and a removable chuck, said removable chuck comprising: a sleeve coupled with said rotating spindle; a chuck body coupled with said sleeve; a locking mechanism coupled with said sleeve for retaining said sleeve on the rotating spindle, said locking mechanism comprising a locking member for coupling with the spindle, a first biasing member for holding said locking member with said spindle, said biasing member movable from a first position, applying a force on said locking member for holding the locking member with said spindle to a second position, where said locking member is decoupled from the spindle applying a force on said biasing member; a locking sleeve surrounding said biasing member, said locking sleeve in a first position prohibiting expansion of the biasing member and decoupling of said locking member from the spindle and said locking sleeve in a second position enabling said sleeve to be removed from the spindle.

Claim 9

The removable chuck according to claim 6, further comprising a mechanism for maintaining said locking sleeve in said second position enabling said sleeve to be readily replaced on the spindle.

Claim 10

The removable chuck according to claim 7, wherein said maintaining mechanism comprising a biasing member, at least one pin coupled with said biasing member and said pin in an aperture in the sleeve for contact with the spindle, and a latch coupled with the locking sleeve wherein in the locking sleeve first position said pin is on the spindle and in said locking sleeve second position, said pin moving further in said opening in turn latching said biasing member with said latch for maintaining said locking sleeve in said second position and upon replacing said sleeve on the spindle, said pin returning said biasing member from said latch enabling said locking sleeve to return to said first position.

Claim 11

The removable chuck according to claim 4, wherein a second biasing member is coupled with said locking sleeve for returning said locking sleeve from said second to first position.

Claim 12

The removable chuck according to claim 1, wherein said first biasing member is a spring ring.

Claim 13

The hand tool according to claim 6, wherein said spindle includes an aperture for receiving a tool bit.

Claim 14

The hand tool according to claim 11, wherein said spindle includes a locking member for retaining said tool bit in said spindle.

Claim 15

A removable chuck comprising: a chuck member, a retention member coupled with said chuck; and a release member for coupling with a spindle, said release member including a member for locking said retention member, independent of movement of said retention member upon coupling of said retention member within said release member.

Claim 16

A removable chuck comprising: a chuck member, a retention member coupled with said chuck; and a release member for coupling with a spindle, said release member including a member for locking said retention member, independent of movement of said retention member upon coupling of said retention member within said release member.

Claim 17

The removable chuck according to claim 13, wherein said retention member being a stud projecting from a rear surface of the chuck.

Claim 18

The removable chuck according to claim 14, wherein said locking member having an opening for retaining said stud.

Claim 19

The removable chuck according to claim 15, wherein said locking member including a flange coupling with said stud.

Claim 20

The removable chuck according to claim 16, wherein said release member is rotatable between a first second position for releasing said stud from said locking member.

Claim 21

The removable chuck according to claim 13, wherein said release member including a cut-out for receiving a locking member in the spindle for retaining a tool bit in the spindle.

Claim 22

A hand tool comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle; and a removable chuck comprising: a chuck body with a retention member coupled with said chuck body; and a release member coupled with said spindle, said release member including a member for locking said retention member, independent of movement of said retention member, upon coupling of said retention member within said release member.

Claim 23

A hand tool comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle; and a removable chuck comprising: a chuck body with a retention member coupled with said chuck body; and a release member coupled with said spindle, said release member including a member for locking said retention member, independent of movement of said retention member, upon coupling of said retention member within said release member.

Claim 24

The removable chuck according to claim 19, wherein said retention member being a stud projecting from a rear surface of the chuck body.

Claim 25

The removable chuck according to claim 20, wherein said locking member having an opening for retaining said stud.

Claim 26

The removable chuck according to claim 21, wherein said locking member including a flange coupling with said stud.

Claim 27

The removable chuck according to claim 22, wherein said release member is rotatable between a first and second position for releasing said stud from said locking member.

Claim 28

The removable chuck according to claim 19, wherein said release member including a cut-out for receiving a locking member in the spindle for retaining a tool bit in the spindle.

Claim 29

The removable chuck according to claim 19, said spindle including an aperture for receiving a tool bit.

Claim 30

The removable chuck according to claim 25, wherein a second aperture for receiving a locking means.

Claim 31

The removable chuck according to claim 19, wherein a biasing member is coupled with said hand tool and said release member for returning said release member to said first position.

Claim 32

A hand tool, comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle, said spindle having a bore for receiving a tool; a tool coupled in said bore; and a removable chuck coupled with said spindle such that when said chuck is removed, said tool in said spindle is exposed and said removable chuck actively coupling with said spindle as said spindle is inserted into said removable chuck.

Claim 33

A hand tool, comprising: a hand tool having a rotatable spindle, said spindle having a bore for receiving a tool; a tool coupled in said bore; and a removable chuck coupled with said spindle such that when said chuck is removed, said tool in said spindle is exposed and said removable chuck actively coupling with said spindle as said spindle is inserted into said removable chuck.

Claim 34

The hand tool according to claim 28, wherein said removable chuck includes a mechanism for receiving said tool on said spindle.

Claim 35

The hand tool according to claim 28, wherein said tool is removable from said spindle.

Claim 36

The hand tool according to claim 28, wherein said removable chuck having a mechanism for retaining said chuck on said spindle.

Claim 37

A hand-held tool, comprising: a hand-held tool having a rotatable spindle, said rotatable spindle having a bore adapted to receive a tool; and a removable chuck coupled with said spindle such that when said chuck is removed from said spindle, said spindle adapted to receive a tool and said removable chuck actively coupling with said spindle as said spindle is inserted into said removable chuck.

Claim 38

A hand-held tool, comprising: a hand-held tool having a rotatable spindle, said rotatable spindle having a bore adapted to receive a tool; and a removable chuck coupled with said spindle such that when said chuck is removed from said spindle, said spindle adapted to receive a tool and said removable chuck actively coupling with said spindle as said spindle is inserted into said removable chuck.

Claim 39

The hand-held tool according to claim 32, wherein said removable chuck includes a mechanism for receiving said tool on said spindle.

Claim 40

The hand-held tool according to claim 32, wherein said removable chuck having a mechanism for retaining said chuck on said spindle.

Claim 41

The hand-held tool according to claim 32, wherein said removable chuck, when positioned on said hand tool, surrounds said spindle and receiving bore.