Tool bit holder

Abstract

A tool bit holder includes an inner sleeve in which a longitudinal bore is defined in which a tool bit is receivable and a detent is engageable with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore. An outer sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve and is movable relative to the inner sleeve between a locking position, in which the detent is engaged with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore, and a release position, in which the detent may be disengaged from the tool bit to permit removal of the tool bit from the longitudinal bore. A spring is positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. The spring biases the outer sleeve toward the locking position

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool bit holder comprising:
 an inner sleeve in which a longitudinal bore is defined in which a tool bit is receivable;   a shank received in the longitudinal bore of the inner sleeve;   a first detent engageable with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore;   a second detent received in a circumferential groove of the shank; and   an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve and movable relative to the inner sleeve between a locking position, in which the first detent is engaged with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore, and a release position, in which the first detent may be disengaged from the tool bit to permit removal of the tool bit from the longitudinal bore, wherein the second detent is maintained in the circumferential groove in the locking position and the release position by the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal bore includes a hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and wherein the shank includes a hexagonal outer periphery slidably received in the longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , wherein the second detent limits axial displacement of the inner sleeve relative to the shank. 
     
     
         4 . The tool bit holder of  claim 3 , further comprising first and second radial bores each extending through the inner sleeve, between an outer periphery of the inner sleeve and the longitudinal bore, in which the first and second detents are received, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential groove is a notch. 
     
     
         6 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, wherein the spring biases the outer sleeve toward the locking position. 
     
     
         7 . The tool bit holder of  claim 6 , wherein the spring surrounds the shank. 
     
     
         8 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a radial bore extending through the inner sleeve, between an outer periphery of the inner sleeve and the longitudinal bore, and wherein the first detent is received in the radial bore. 
     
     
         9 . The tool bit holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a shank received in the longitudinal bore of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . A tool bit holder comprising:
 an inner sleeve in which a longitudinal bore is defined in which a tool bit is receivable;   a shank received in the longitudinal bore of the inner sleeve;   a first detent engageable with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore;   a second detent received in a circumferential groove of the shank;   an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve and movable relative to the inner sleeve between a locking position, in which the first detent is engaged with the tool bit for locking the tool bit within the longitudinal bore, and a release position, in which the first detent may be disengaged from the tool bit to permit removal of the tool bit from the longitudinal bore; and   a retaining ring secured to the shank, wherein the outer sleeve is abuttable against the retaining ring to limit axial displacement of the outer sleeve relative to the shank.   
     
     
         11 . The tool bit holder of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal bore includes a hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and wherein the shank includes a hexagonal outer periphery slidably received in the longitudinal bore along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The tool bit holder of  claim 10 , wherein the second detent limits axial displacement of the inner sleeve relative to the shank. 
     
     
         13 . The tool bit holder of  claim 12 , further comprising first and second radial bores each extending through the inner sleeve, between an outer periphery of the inner sleeve and the longitudinal bore, in which the first and second detents are received, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The tool bit holder of  claim 10 , wherein the circumferential groove is a notch. 
     
     
         15 . The tool bit holder of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, wherein the spring biases the outer sleeve toward the locking position. 
     
     
         16 . The tool bit holder of  claim 15 , wherein the spring surrounds the shank. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a tool bit holder, the method comprising:
 inserting a tool bit into a longitudinal bore of an inner sleeve until a rear of the tool bit abuts a first detent positioned within a radial bore through the inner sleeve;   sliding the inner sleeve in a rearward direction relative to an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, thereby pushing a second detent in the rearward direction along a circumferential groove of a shank;   pushing the first detent with the rear of the tool bit radially outward into a channel in the outer sleeve, permitting continued insertion of the tool bit into the longitudinal bore; and   pushing the inner sleeve in a forward direction toward a locked position in which the outer sleeve displaces the first detent at least partially into the longitudinal bore to prevent removal of the tool bit therefrom and pushing the second detent in the forward direction along the circumferential groove of the shank.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising compressing a spring into a retracted position with the sliding inner sleeve while the outer sleeve remains stationary. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising releasing the spring in response to the first detent disengaging the rear of the tool but, permitting the spring to rebound to an extended position and pushing the inner sleeve in the forward direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 pulling the outer sleeve in a forward direction towards an opening of the longitudinal bore, with the inner sleeve remaining stationary, against the bias of the spring;   aligning the channel in the outer sleeve with the first detent; and   removing tool bit from the longitudinal bore, thereby pushing the first detent radially outward into the channel and out of the longitudinal bore.