Fiefd of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to screw holding and driving devices and screws for use therewith.

Background of the Invention

[002] The number and variety of screw holding and driving systems is relatively large.

However, in respect of use with installation of metal fencing and/or metal roofing applications, there has been a need for a system that is suited to the issues and requirements for metal roofs and fences.

(003] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention

[004] The present invention provides a screw holding and driving tool having a driving end and a screw holding end, the screw holding end includes a screw holder having a shaped recess to receive the head of a screw, the shaped recess being shaped so that the screw can enter the shaped recess and once therein can be rotated in and relative to the screw holding end to at least one location where the screw cannot axially exit the shaped recess.

[005] At least one alignment means can be provided which enables an operator to determine if a screw head is correctly rotationaUy aligned in the shaped recess.

[006] The alignment means can be one or more than one of the following: a detent to prevent the screw head from rotating past a predetermined alignment; a texture! or tactile referencing which operates between the screw head and the shaped recess; a mating of part of the screw head with a formation associated with the shaped recess; a visual indication on the screw head which can be aligned with a visual indicator associated with the shaped recess.

[007] The alignment means can be a detent means which engages at least one projection or formation on the screw head. [008] Once the detent prevents further rotation of the screw, the combined screw and holder can be able to drive the screw.

[009] Once the screw head and the screw holder are in an appropriate alignment, a drive formation on the screw can be aligned with a drive shaft in the tool, and the drive shaft can engage the drive formation.

[010] A bearing surface located on an under surface of the screw head can be located outside of the screw holding end.

[011] The screw holding end can include an expansion means to expand a portion of the screw holder to release the screw from the screw holder.

[012] the shaped recess and the detent means can be formed in an expandable collar or jaws arranged on the screw holding end, whereby the collar or Jaws can move from a closed to an open condition.

[013] The collar or jaws can be an assembly of collar or jaw segments, which are pivotally arranged on the screw holding end.

[014] The expansion means can include said collar or Jaws cooperating with a sleeve slidably mounted in said screw holding end and which projects therefrom, so that as said sleeve contacts a surface receiving a screw, said colar or jaw segments are able to move from a closed to an open condition.

[015] The screw holding end can be arranged so as to be slidable and or rotatable on a drive shaft or drive shaft housing associated with the driving end.

[0161 The drive shaft or drive shaft housing and the screw holder cooperate to direct the sliding of one relative to the other and or direct the rotation of one relative to the other.

[017] Directing of sliding, and or rotation of the drive shaft or drive shaft housing and the screw holder can be controlled by means of a channel and a follower travelling in the channel.

[018] The follower can be at least part spherical and the channel includes deeper portions so that when the follower is In the deeper portions, a greater force can be required to move the follower out of the deeper portions.

[019] The directing of sliding and or rotation of the drive shaft or drive shaft housing and the screw holder causes ^' the drive shaft to move out of a drive formation in the screw head, and once clear thereof to rotate the screw holder relative to the screw to thereby enable the screw to axially move relative to the shaped recess.

[020] The shaped recess can be of a multiple lobed or multiple apexed shape.

[021] The shaped recess can be one of the following: a two lobed shape; a three lobed shape; a four lobed shape; a five lobed shape; a six lobe shape; a two apex shape; a three apex shape; a four apex shape; a five apex shape; a six apex shape.

[022] The at least one projection or formation on the screw can be one or more lobes or apexes formed on the screw head periphery.

[023] Where a drive shaft Is provided to engage a drive formation in the screw head, adjustment means can be provided to enable said drive shaft to have its angular alignment with said shaped recess adjusted. The adjustment means can be provided between the screw holding end and the drive shaft housing or between the drive shaft housing and the drive shaft.

[024] The shaped recess can be helically arranged, and the screw can have a lobe which is helical or part helical.

[025] A screw holding and driving tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the screw can be a screw as described below.

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[026] A screw having a threaded shank and a screw head, the screw head having an upper portion and an underneath portion which can act as a bearing surface, wherein the screw head, when viewed from above, has a multiple lobe or apex profile at an outer periphery.

[027] The screw head can have 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 lobes or apexes.

[028] The lobes or apexes can include a flanged portion.

[029] · Each lobe or apex and the portion of the head between each lobe or apex can have between them a periphery which forms a portion of the periphery of the screw head, which can be curved or straight.

[030] The bearing surface can be generally round with the lobes or apexes projecting away from the head.

[031] The bearing surface can be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank.

[032] The screw head can have an upper surface having a periphery which can be tapered or converging with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shank. [033] In a central location on the screw head, there can be located a drive formation.

[034] At the end of the shank opposite to the screw head can be a drill bit formation.

P>35] The drill bit formation includes two portions having different diameters.

(036] The diameter of the drill bit at the extremity of the shank can be less than the next adjacent drill bit formation on the shank.

[037] The two portions can be each straight sided.

[038] A transition between the two portions can be a tapered section.

[03Θ] The present invention also provides a screw having a threaded shank and a screw thread, the screw head having an upper portion and an underneath portion which acts as a bearing surface, wherein at the end of the shank opposite to the screw head can be a drill bit .formation which includes two portions having different diameters.

[040] The diameter of the drill bit at the extremity of the shank can be (ess than the next adjacent drili bit formation on the shank.

[041 ] The two portions can each be straight sided.

[042] A transition between the two portions can be a tapered section.

Brief description of the drawings

[043] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[044] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a screw holder and driver device;

[045] Figure 2 Rlustrates an exploded view of the screw holder and driver of Figure 1;

[046] Figure 3 is illustrates a detaifed perspective view of the screw holding end of the device of Figure 1;

[047] Figure 4 illustrates a sub-assembly of one of the components of Figure 2;

[048] Figure 5 illustrates a cross section through the device of Figure 1 with a screw located in the shaped recess; [049] Figures 6 to Figure 10 illustrate perspective views and cut away perspective views of the device of Figure 1,with parts removed showing the operation of the device of Figure 1;

[050] Figure 12 illustrates a perspective view of a screw holding and driving device similar to that of Figure 1 with a different screw holding end;

[051] Figure 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 12;

[052] Figure 14 illustrates in detail a perspective view of one of the jaws of the apparatus of Figure 12;

[053] Figure 15 illustrates a plan view of the component of Figure 14;

[054] Figure 16 illustrates a rear view of the component of Figure 14;

[055] Figure 17 illustrates a rear perspective view of the component of Figure 14;

Figure 18 illustrates an exploded perspective view with hidden detail of the screw holding portion of the device of Figure 12;

[057] Figure 19 illustrates the screw holding device in an open condition;

[058] Figure 20 illustrates the screw holding device In a closed condition;

[059] Figure 21 Illustrates a cross section through the screw holding device of Figure 12 In a closed condition with a screw In place;

[060] Figure 22 illustrates a cross section similar to Figure 21 with the jaws of the screw holding device in an open condition;

[061] Figure 23 illustrates a cross section similar to that of Figure 21 except that the section plane Is taken through a different diametral plane to that of Figure 21;

[062] Figure 24 illustrates a cross section similar to that of Figure 23 with the jaws being; in an open condition;

[063] Figure 25 is a perspective view of a screw;

[064] , Figure 26 is an underneath perspective view of the screw of Figure 25;

[065) Figure 27 is a plan view of the screw of Figure 25; [066] Figure 28 is an upper perspective view of another screw for use with the device previously described;

[067] Figure 29 is an underneath perspective view of the screw of Figure 28;

[068] Figure 30 is a plan view of the screw of Figure 28;

[069] Figure 31 illustrates an upper perspective view of a screw for use with the device described above;

[070] Figure 32 is an underneath perspective view of the screw of Figure 31 ;

[071] Figure 33 is a plan view of the screw of Figure 31 ;

[072] Figure 34 illustrates an upper perspective view of a screw for use with the device of previous Figures;

[073] Figure 35 is an underneath perspective view of the screw of Figure 34;

[074] Figure 36 is a plan view of the screw of Figure 34;

[075] Figure 37 is a side view of the screw holder of the device of Figure 1 showing the position of the screw of Figure 25 mounted therein;

[076] Figure 38 illustrates a side view of a screw having a stepped drill portion;

[077] Figure 39 illustrates an upper perspective view of the screw of Figure 40;

[078] Figure 40 illustrates an underneath perspective view of the screw of Figure 38;

[079] Figure 41 illustrates a plan view of the screw of Figure 38;

[080] Figure 42 illustrates a cross section through a screw holder and driving device simila to Figure 1 also with a screw head located in the shaped recess ;

[081] Figure 43 illustrates a rear perspective view of screw holder portion having six engagement slots;

[082] Figure 44 illustrates a rear perspective view of a screw holder and driving device having indexed adjustment of alignment of between screw holder and outer housing;

[083] Figure 45 illustrates a rear perspective view of a screw holder and driving device having adjustment of alignment between the screw holder and outer housing; [084] Figure 46 illustrates a front perepectlve view of a portion of a screw holder and shaped recess;

[0851 Figure 47 illustrates an alternative screw holder and shaped recess formation;

{086] Figure 48 illustrates a further screw holder and shaped recess formation;

[087] Figure 49 illustrates a close up front view df the shaped recess and screw holder of F¾ure 1;

[088] Figure 50 illustrates a front view of the shaped recess and screw holder of Figure 46 and 47;

[089] Figure 51 illustrates a front view of the shaped recess and screw holder of Figure 48;

[090] Figure 52 illustrates a perspective view of a screw having helically shaped lobes or formations on its screw head periphery; and

[091] Figure 53 illustrates a cross section through part of a screw holder having a helical channel to receive the screw of Figure 52.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[092] While the description below and the figures illustratively use screws and driving devices having an internal or female hexagonal drive formation in the screw head and a driver having a male end to engage the female hexagonal drive formation, it wW be understood that the embodiments can be applied to any appropriate shape of drive formation on a screw head and the appropriate driver to drive that- screw including the following: external types namely a male form on the screw and female socket on the driver, such as square, hex, pentagon, thumbscrew; Blotted types such as slot, cross; cruciform types such as Phillips, Frearson, French recess, JIS B 1012, ortorq, Pozidriv, Supadriv; Robertson; Hex socket; Hexalobular socket such as TTAP; combination drives such as Phillips/square; tamper-resistant types such as breakaway head, Bristol, dutch, double hex, line, one-way, pentalobe, polydrive, Torx, spanner, spline, Torq-set, TP3, tri-wing, triple square, and protruding obstacle such as Torx- Post.

[093] Illustrated in Figure 1 is a perspective view of a screw holder and driving device 10 which has a screw holder 12 at one end into which can be received a screw 14 and at the other end, being the driving end 16, a hex drive shaft 18. [094] As is illustrated in the exploded view of Figure 2, the hex drive shaft 18 is mounted in a housing 20 and is mechanically connected with respect thereto by welding or other means. The other end of the housing 20 has a -hexagonal aperture 22 into which can be received a magnet 24 and a hex drive shaft 26 as is best illustrated in Figure Z The magnet 24 helps to keep the screw engaging drive shaft 26 connected to the drive shaft 18 so that when in a vertical condition the shaft 26 does not fall from the housing 20. The magnetic force of the magnet 24 has to be overcome before the shaft 26 can move out of the housing 20. This is done by an operator pulling with sufficient force on the shaft 26. This might be necessary so as to replace the shaft 26 whose drive shaft end 28 may wear because of use.

[095] An outer cylindrical housing 30 receives the housing 20 therein via a cylindrical aperture 32. Once located therein, ball bearings 36 and 38 are positioned in radial bores 40 into a circumferential channel 34, and then held in place by a shaped clip 42 which hes bearing holders 44 and 46 thereon to hold, the bearings 36 and 38 h position in the apertures 40 so that they will engage. Once located therein, a spring clip 48 is positioned in the grove 34 so that the opposed termini of the spring clip 48 overlap with the termini of the clip 42.

[096] The clip 42 can be formed from a spring or may be a nylon or low friction type plastic material to hold the bearings 36 and 38 in place with the spring force only coming from metallic spring 48. By using a low friction material, the balls 36 & 38 can roll along respective a shaped grooves or channels 50 (of which only one Is visible in the figures), but slide over or against the surface of clip 42. Once the balls 36 and 38 are positioned in their respective bores 40 and the retainers and springs located on the external housing 30, the external housing 30 can be rotated relative to the housing 20 so that the radially inward portion of the balls 36 and 38 can find their location into the shaped groove or channel 50 which is located on the circumference of housing 20. It will be seen that the channel 50 has a deep portion 52 located at an intermediate location on a straight segment 54, another deep portion 53 at the end of straight segment 51, and a further deep portion 56 which is located at the end of a helically formed portion 58. The distance 60 from the middle of the deep portion 52 to the end of the straight segment 54 which joins the start of the helix shaped portion 58, is fractionally larger than the depth 62 on the driving end 28 of the bit 26 that is Inserted into the head of a screw. As will be explained later this distance 60 ensures that the housing 20 must first extract the tool 26 from the screw head before relative rotation between the outer housing 30 and thus screw holder 12 begins to occur.

[097] To Join the outer housing 30 to the screw holder 12 the screw holder 12 is attached by mating axially extending grooves 64 and aligning them with radial projections 68 which are angularly equi-spaced around a reduced diameter portion 70 of the external housing 30. Once located In that position, with the radial projections 68 sitting in the regions 72 of slot 64, a spring steel ring 74 is located in circumferential channel 76 to thereby hold the screw holder 12 to the external housing 30. Preferably, the ring 74 is of a spring steel so that it can flex enough to be assembled and also be strong enough to bear the axially compressive forces which may result from the bearing relationship between the groove 76 and 64 relative to the projection 68 on the outer housing 30. Once the ring 74 is in place relative axial movement of the screw holder 12 relative to the external housing 30 is prevented as is relative rotation between the two.

[098] The angular positioning, spacing or alignment about the central longitudinal axis of the device 10 of the grooves 64, projection 68, groove 50, and hexagonal aperture 22 are aligned or arranged so that a tri-lobal shaped recess 80 on the screw holder 12 at its terminus, and with the hexagonal drive formation or recess 111 (seen In figures 25 to 36) on the screw 14 and its tri-lobal shape being correspondingly aligned, once the screw head has been located in shaped recess 80 and rotated until it cannot rotate any further, the hexagonal formation in the head will be In alignment with the hexagonal bit 28 once the balls 36 and 38 are located in the deepest portion 52 of channel 50. By the housing 20 thus moving relative to the external housing 30 by the distance 60 the screw head drive formation wBI be properly engaged by the drive bit 28 in an axial direction.

[099] The portion 51 of groove 50, being that straight section between the deep portion

52 and 53is provided so that if required, by relative translation between the housing 20 and outer housing 30, to position the balls 36 and 38 in the deep portion 53 at the end of this section 51, will ensure that the tip 28 protrudes past the terminus of the screw holder 12 as illustrated in Figure 10. In circumstances where a screw needs to be driven further or a screw needs to be unscrewed the screw holder and drive bit 28 are preferably in this location so that the operator is able to view the tip 28 and engage ^' it easily with drive recess 111 or screw 14, without being obscured by the screw holder 12. In this case the screw 14 is already held in the material receiving the screw and is thus already stable.

[0100] As IHustrated in Figure 3, the shaped recess 80 is not a circular shaped recess but rather Is a drcumferentially arranged shaped recess to receive a tri-lobal headed screw, having three full depth sections 82, 84 and 86 which are at 120 degrees with respect to each other; The shaped recess 80 has no moving parts and Is integrally moulded or formed in the end of the screw holder 12. Sections 82, 84 and 86 to allow axial engagement of a screw head such as those illustrated in Figures 25 through to 38 into the shaped recess 80. Three outer shoulder regions 83, 85 and 87 are also provided which have an undercut or lip, or channel 90, visible only with respect to the section 87 in figure 3, but has corresponding lips, undercuts or channels adjacent or formed as part of the sections 83 and 85 as Is visible in Figure 4Θ. These lips, undercuts or channels will prevent the relative axial movement between the screw holder 12 and a screw positioned and rotated, so that its projecting lobes are located in the channel 90. A|so, the lips, undercuts or channels 90, by being of matching depth to the thickness or depth of the lobes 102, then by interaction of a screw head 108 and or lobes 102 with the rear channel wall or annular surface 81 and the outboard or forward rim or sides of the channel 90, this will prevent adverse rotation of the screw head from a couple or moment applied to the screw about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the shank of the screw 14. It will be understood that if the channel 90 is sized or of a width to receive a lobe of figure 28 for example, then while lobe 102 of figure 25 may be held by the shape recess 80, the previously described interactions between the lobes and the walls of the recess 80 will not be evident. The thickness of the channel 90 must be matched to the thickness or depth of the lobes or screw head otherwise buckling may be experienced. Preferably the shaped recess 80 and the thickness of the channels 90 is provided for one screw arrangement only.

[0101] This "bayonet" action, of the screw head or lobes 102 engaging the shaped recess 80 achieves three results. The first is that the operator can let go of the screw and it will not fall out of the holder 12. Secondly, it will align the drive formation of the screw, as mentioned above, so that axial movement of the drive tip 28 will be correctly aligned to enter into the hexagonal drive formation of the screw. Thirdly engagement of the screw in the shaped recess enables the screw to be driven without concern about buckling of the screw relative to the screw holder 12 and the surface receiving the screw.

[01 2] The channel 90 has a' detent or termination 92 whereby the depth of the channel is decreased as the channel approaches the formation 82, this decreasing in the channel depth ensures that the screw wiH not go past a predetermined location namely that point of alignment of the hexagonal drive formation 111 in the screw head 102, relative to or allowing it to receive the drive bit 28 via a combination of rotation and axial movement as directed by the grooves 50.

[0103] Illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 are various representations of the device 10. In Figures 7, 9 and 10 the outer housing 30 has been removed for the purposes of illustration. Figure 7 has the components in the same position as those of Figure 6 with the outer housing 30 removed. Whereas Figure 9 has the same arrangement of components with the differences between Figures 7 and 9 showing the relative rotation and translation which results from the groove 50 on housing 20 which causes relative translation and rotation with respect to the external housing 30 and the ball bearings 38 and 38.

[0104] In the representation of Figure 7, with a screw actually located within the shaped recess 80, this would position the tip 28 to be within the hexagonal drive formation 111 on the screw, whereas in Figure 9 by the screw holder 12 being located on the head of the screw and axiafly locked with respect thereto, the operator needs simply to pull back _, on the drill in the direction of arrow 94 as iDustrated in Figure 7, as this wil firstly cause the tip 28 to be withdrawn axialy and if the operator does not rotate the drill when exerting the force in the direction of 94, this will cause the screw holder 12 to rotate relative to the screw, so es to relatively move the lobe from the region 92 to the region 86 thus allowing the drill and device 10 to be axially removed off the screw and reloaded. Once this is achieved, the screw holder 12 and the bit 28 are in an arrangement ready for another screw to be loaded into the shaped recess 80, the screw holder 12 and thus the outer housing 30 pushed towards the drill end causing the bit 28 to rotate and then axially be received in the hex formation 111 on the screw. To put it simply, pulling back on the drM end, via the drill, undoes the "bayonet" engaging action and therefore releases the screw head. pi 05] Illustrated in Figure 10, it can be seen that when the ball bearings 36 and 38 are pushed into the region 51 on channel 50, the bit 28 protrudes past the terminus of the screw holder 12.

[0106] The above described embodiment utilises hexagonal bits 26 and corresponding hexagonal formations 111 in the heads of screws. However, it will be readily understood that the arrangements described above could be applied to a whole myriad of screw and driver formations whether they be simple diametral slots for flat head screwdrivers, torx screws or any shaped arrangements. It will also be understood also that the general alignment and/or orientation of such drive formations on the screw head 106 with respect to the lobes and the lobes of the*haped recess 80, with respect to the driver such as driver 26, and in turn with the aperture 22 and the channel 50 and the outer housing 30 must have their angular spacing or alignment predetermined to ensure that the system functions.

[0107] The angular arrangement of the components of this system lends itself to not requiring a specified portion of the screw to be aligned with a specified portion of the shaped recess 80 in order for the driver bit 28 to enter into the drive formation on the screw head. Thus, a three-lobe shaped recess and correspondingly mating tnree-lobed screw specifically lends itself to a multiple of three number of sides on the driving bit 26. Whereas, if the number of sides of the driver 26 were not a multiple of or the same as the number of lobes on the screw and shaped recess, then some marking on the screw and/or screw holder so that the marking and alignment are moved into alignment when they are brought together may be required, h order to have the tool 26 enter into the drive formation In the screw.

[0108] The screw being placed into the shaped recess 80 requires, in view of the trilobal shape of the shaped recess and/or screw head, that the screw be rotated through 60 degrees (that is half of 120 degrees) from the formation 82 through to the formation .83 or 84 to 85 or 86 to 87. if a greater number of lobes were provided, the amount of rotation to lock the lobed screw into the correct position in the shaped recess 80 would have a corresponding decrease in the amount of angular rotation required

[0109] The helix or helical portion of the section 58 of the channel 50 is best expressed by two factors. The first is the number of full revolutions '.travelled" by the helix. For a trl-iobal configuration of the shaped recess 80 and screw head 108, the preferred number of helix revolutions would be half of one third - or one sixth of one revolution (or 60 degrees). Whereas for a quad-lobe or 4 lobe configuration of the shaped recess 80 and the screw head 106, the preferred revolution would be half of one quarter of a revolution - or one eighth of a revolution (or 45degrees).

[0110] The second factor the pitch of the helix or helical section 58. In the device illustrated in figure 2 the helix can be defined as having a pitch equal to approximately 6.9 diameters of the outer surface of the housing 20. This breaks down to 2.2 x π x (Diameter) which is 2.2 circumferences which corresponds to a tangent ratio of 2.2 which has the angle 65 degrees.

[0111] The pitch selected will be dependent upon several factors, but it is expected that and a minimum pitch would be of the order of 3.14 Diameters or (πXDiameter). 1.0 x π x (Diameter) is 1 circumference which corresponds to a tangent ratio of 1.0 which has the angle 45 degrees. Whereas a pitch greater than 9.4 Diameters (which is 3.0 x π x Diameter) which corresponds to 71.5 degrees, would probably not be required or useful.

[0112] If it were required, to shorten the housings 20 and 30 for example to decrease material, then the pitch of the section 58 can be altered. However, the pitch of this section, because it has to lead into the straight sections 54, if it is not of a constant helical pitch then preferably it starts it out with a pitch that is at its maximum closest to the section 54 and decreases in pitch as it moves away from this location, to thereby decrease the overall length of the channel section of the housing 20. The object of the helical portion of the section 58 is to produce, in the case of a trl-iobal screw Head 108 and tri-lobal shaped recess 80, is to produce approximately a one-sixth turn, namely, 60 degrees of rotation so that the screw head can be disengaged from the shaped recess 80. This helix would have to be altered, for example, if a differing amount of rotation had to be produced to disengage the screw head from the shaped recess 80. In the region of the end of the helix portion 58, in the approaches to the location 56, it is also deeirabla to have a helical pitch which is as large as possible, so that the followers, being balls 36 and 38, will travel relatively accurately and freely in this section. [0113] Whilst the embodiment described above has a three iobed arrangement with 120 degrees between the respective lobes and formation, other arrangements and screw head shapes can be provided such as a two-tobed arrangement, that is, where the screw head has an elliptical formation or other formation which provides an opposed lobal arrangement. Alternatively there might be four, five or six lobes provided on the screw. The difficulty of using a greater number of lobes, is that as the number of lobes increase the shape of the shaped recess and the screw head more closely approximates that of a circle and the depth of the channel 90 has to decrease if the outside periphery of the screw is to not increase.

[0114] Preferably, the steel from which the screw holder 12 is manufactured is of a strength preferably greater than the strength of the screw material and/or its hardness so mat the rate of wear of the screw holder by engagement with screws is of a useful magnitude.

[0115] In the circumstances where the drive bit 28 slips in the hex formation 111 of the screw head, then the drill end 16 will turn relative to the screw 14 and holder 12, which will then make holder 12 want to turn relative to the screw 14, which may then damage the screw holder 12 and in particular the shaped recess 80, because It has reached the limit of its relative rotation to the holder 12. This problem is avoided because the housing 20 will rotate relative to the housing 30 as the bail bearings 36 and 38 will pop out of their respective grooves 50 and rotate around the housing 20. Were this to happen, disengagement by the operator might be their course of action. In which case the operator will need to realign the grooves 50 with the ball bearings 36 and 38 to enable the screw holder to receive a new screw. Alternatively, once in the channel 50 the ball bearings 36 and 38 are moved to the section 53 of the groove 51 so that as in Figure 10, the driver bit 28 will protrude past the terminus of the screw holder 12 and thereby ^' allow the operator to see the driver in the screw and attempt to drive it further if necessary or to extract K and to find another location for that screw due to the previous Jamming. This overload protection will only function if the bit 28 rotates relative to the screw head. However, such things occur regularly with philNps head screws, for example, and so this built in protection can be a useful feature.

[0116] As is illustrated in Figures 25, 26, 27and 37, the screw head has a tri-lobal formation 102 which is formed on the outer periphery close to the top of the head. By means of the depth of the channel 80 with respect to the terminus of the screw holder is ^* such so that the bearing surface 104 underneath the head 106 will protrude a depth 108 as illustrated in Figure 37 past the terminus of the screw holder 12. This ensures that once the screw 14 has been tightened into a surface, particularly if it is of metal, the clearance 108 will still be present, allowing the relative rotation of the screw holder 12 with respect to the screw head 106, to thereby allow disengagement thereof, as described above. [0117] An advantage of the above arrangement is that once the tri-lobal screw 14 is located inside the screw holder 12, and the bit 28 is engaging the drive formation 111 in the head, a relatively rigid screw holder and driver is located on the dril making it relatively easy for an operator with a single hand to drive such a screw into position, particularly in sheet metal and/or fencing and Hke materials without the need to hold the screw or holder 12. In another embodiment, by ensuring that the ball bearings 36 and 38 are in a sufficiently deep enough into groove 50, then sufficient torque can be transmitted through the housing 20 to the housing 30 and thus to the screw holder 12, to drive the screw without the need of the drive bit 26. Alternatively a torque transmission mechanism between the housing 20 and housing 30 can be provided, which can be engaged as desired. In such an arrangements, the embodiment of Figure 42 which has the bit 26 removed can still be utilised to drive a screw and may be particularly suitable when driving through metal into a timber Axing. In which case the simple pulling back of the drill and thus housing 20, once the screw is secured, will cause the front of the screw holder 12 to rotate relative to the screw, and the screw to be released.

[0118] AB illustrated in Figure 12 to 24 is another embodiment in which a screw holder and driver is illustrated. The embodiment of Figure 12 which is somewhat similar to that of Figure 1. The difference being that the screw holder 12 is formed similarly with similar formations to receive a trMobal screw, however, these formations are formed in an openabte and closable jaw arrangement as will be described below.

[0119] As illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the right hand side of the device is similar to that as described previously, and like parts have been Dke numbered. It is the screw holder 12 which is substantially different.

[0120] The screw holder 12 Is shown in exploded view in Figure 13 and In a better arranged view In Figure 18. Both are provided in order to assist in the understanding of this portion of the device. The screw holder 12 has an outer body 121 which includes the grooves 64 and 76 as in the previous embodiment so as to engage the reduced diameter portion 70 and projections 68.

[0121] At the forward end of the screw holder body 121 is a groove 123 and a series of three angularly equispaced apertures 124, whose purpose will be described below. The shape of the apertures 124 may be described as part rectangular at their sides and par curved intermediate their sides. Inside the body 121 an apertured sleeve 125 is positioned so that its three angularly equispaced apertures 126 wil align with the apertures 124. The apertures 126 are of a similar shape and alignment to the apertures 124. Inside the sleeve 125 are assembled three jaw or collar parts 127 which are identically shaped and illustrated in more detail in Figure 14 through to 17. The jaws 127 are circumferentlally shaped with radial tabs 128 at each end to be received into the rectangular portion 12Θ of the aperture 126. To assemble the screw holder 12, the projections 128 when in the apertures 126 will position the radially outward projection 130 inside apertures 131 as is best illustrated in Figure 12. During assembly, once the projections 128 on one jaw 127 has been located adjacent the projections 128 on another jaw 127, then by means of the aperture 124 being aligned with the aperture 126 a ball bearing 132 can be pushed between the projections 128 to suitably space them. However, because of the spacing of the respective holes provided by 126 and 124, all three jaws 127. must be in respective apertures 126 and apertures 131 before the ball bearing spacers 132 can be inserted. Once the ball bearing spacers 132 are inserted, as the projections 128 aleo have a part spherical portion, the balls 132 will not fall through into the centre of the screw holder 12. However, as the balls 132 could otherwise move radially outwardly from the holes 124 and 126, a cylindrical or part cylindrical retainer 134 is provided so as to prevent the balls 132 moving radially outwardly. While metal ball bearings or balls ^' 132 are used as spacers in this arrangement, other types of spacers could also be used, such as polymeric balls, or other shapes or materials.

[0122] Once assembled the jaws 127 as illustrated in Figure 15 have a pivot at approximately the location indicated by the line 128.1, which results from contact of a portion of the projections 128 with the body 121. In the plan view of figure 15, it can be seen that this line 128.1 passes through the projection 130. Forces are transmitted by the screw head to the jaws 127, and or from the jaws 127 to the screw head, via projection 130 and channel 90 and wall 81 which has the channel 90 therein. It will be seen that in the axial direction these forces are applied or transmitted very close to a plane which includes the projection 130 and pivot line 128.1. In this way the applied or transmitted forces tend to produce little or no moment about the axis 128.1. This results in relatively minimal forces which might otherwise act against the operation of the jaws 127

[0123] As Is illustrated in Figure 14, the jaws 127 on the Inside surface of the projections 130 have a channel portion 90 as in Figure 3, with a stop surface 92 formed at one end to prevent the lobes of a screw from rotating to past the formation 92. When the jaws 127are assembled and are in the closed condition of Figure 20, a triloba! shaped recess 80 Is presented which will open to release the screw as described below.

[0124] The balls 132 and projections 128 also serve to prevent the sleeve 125 tram railing out of the screw holder body 121. In the final assembly of the screw holder 12 a spring housing 138 is inserted into the inside periphery of the sleeve 125. The spring housing 138 has a rim or flange 139 which has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the sleeve 125 but less than the outside diameter of sleeve 125's. This allows the spring housing 138 to be received inside the bore of the screw holder housing 121. A compression spring 140 is then inserted into the spring housing 138 which is now inside the sleeve 125 and is prevented from leaving the screw holder body 121 by means of a circlip 141. The spring 141 and housing 138 bias the sleeve 125 forwardiy away from the body 121. This bias forces the inboard edge 143 of aperture 131 to be positioned in a shoulder 145 at the base, of the projection 130. As can be seen in Figure 21 this prevents the jaws 127 from moving radially outwardly and thus keeps the jaws 127 in the closed condition. This is best seen in Figure 21 where a cross section of a screw has been aiustrated with the jaws 127 engaging the screw head. Figure 22 shows the open condition.

[0125] As is illustrated in Figure 24 once the screw has been inserted into a surface 147 the outward end of the sleeve 125 will engage that surface 147 and will be retracted against the bias of spring 140 relative to the body 121. In so doing the edge or perimeter 143 Is moved off the shoulder 145 and by the centripetal force of rotation this then forces the jaws 127 to move, at their forward end, radially outwardly and into the aperture 131 whereby the projection 130 and the shoulder 145 will move wholly into the aperture 131. This opens the collar or jaws 127 whereby the screw is released. At which point the screw is continued to be driven, with the jaws 127 remaining open untD the sleeve 125 is biased back to the closed position thereby forcing the jaws 127 to move to the closed position, ready to receive another screw in the shaped recess 80 produced by the three collar parts 127.

[0126] In operating the embodiment of Figures 12 to 24 the operator has two means by which to release the screw from the screw holder 12. The first means is as the screw IB driven Into the surface and the sleeve 125 retracte into the screw holder body 121, the centripetal forces will allow the Jaws to move radially outwardly whereby once the sleeve 125 has reached the limits of its travel and abuts the circlip 141 with the flange 139 intervening, the balls 36 and 38 will move from the deep location 52 towards the terminus 53 of the straight section 51. As the tip 28 moves through the screw holder 12 pushing the screw away from the screw holder 12. The position of the screw head relative to the jaws 127 prevents the jaws 127 dosing. This process continues until the screw Is torqued home. Once this Is done and the sleeve 125 is pushed in to its fullest extent into the screw holder body 121, by taking pressure off the drill the screw holder will move outwardly to its rest position which will force the jaws 127 back to the closed position ready to receive another screw. However before this can happen the outer sleeve 30 has to be pushed away from the drill so that the balls 36 and 38 can move from the terminus 53 of the straight section 51 back into the deep channel portion 52, then on through the helix section 58 to deep portion 56. [0127] The second means, which is applicable to the device of figures 12 to 24, and is a means of disengagement for the device 10 of figures 1 to 11, is that the operator may, once the screw has been inserted to a desired depth and possibly not yet finished to its final depth or torque, may simply pull back on the drill which will cause the balls 36 and 38.to travel down the helical section 58 in relative terms, which will cause the screw holder 12 to rotate relative to the screw 14 and thereby moving the lobes out of respective channels Θ0 which will allow the full axial disengagement of the screw from the screw holder. Whereupon the operator can pull the outer sleeve 30 back towards the drill forcing the baH bearings 38 and 38 to move to the terminus 53 of the section 51 of the channel 50 thus exposing the tip of the drive bit 26 allowing the operator to simply torque the screw into its home or final location with the clutch control of the drill. This may be needed in a situation where the operator needs to see the screw head making contact with the final resting surface. In order to reload a screw into the shaped recess 80 on screw holder 12 or 121, the operator must push the outer housing 30 away from the drill, so that the ball bearings 36 and 38 move from the position at the end or the terminus 53 of the straight section 51 to the deep section 52 and then on through the helix section 58 to deep portion 56. Where upon the composite shaped recess 80 formed by Jaws 127 is ready to receive another screw therein.

[0128] Illustrated In Figures 28 to 30 is another screw similar to that illustrated in Figures 25 to 27. The screws of Figures 28 to 30 have a lobe formation 102 which is the full depth or thickness of the screw head 106.

[0129] Illustrated in Figures 31 to 33 is another screw variant where a trilobal screw head 106 with lobes 102 is produced and the side edges 313 of the head 108 are chamfered to provide a more secure shaped head which will not be able to be engaged by spanners or other tools.

[0130] Illustrated in Figures 34 to 36 is a further trilobal screw which has a counter sunk head 106 allowing the screw to be fully inserted. Whilst the screws of Figures 25 through to 36 are shown with a hexagonal drive formation 111 other drive formations and special shape arrangements can be utilised to prevent third parties being able to unscrew the screws.

[0131] Illustrated in Figures 38 to 41 is a screw having a head similar to that of Figures 31 to 33 with a hexagonal drive formation 111 illustrated as the drive mechanism. The screw 60 is of the TEK type (registered trade mark) or self-drilling and tapping screw. However screw 80 differs from prior art self driling and tapping screws in that a stepped drill Is provided having a first diameter 162 being of a pilot hole size and a larger final diameter drill portion 164 is provided. The drill portion 162 has a sharp point 166 to provide easy starting and biting of driH end 166. Between the straight sided drill sections 162 and 164 is a tapered drill portion 168 to altow the reaming out or counter-boring of the hole drilled by bit 162 by the bit portions 168 and 164. Once the two drill portions have drilled through the appropriate thickness of steel of a post or other material, the self-tapping thread formation 170 will readily cut a thread in the hole formed by the larger diameter portion 164 to be torqued as appropriate.

[0132] The length of the drill sections 162 and 164 are designed for the thickness of sheet metal into which the screw is to be inserted. The pilot section 162 must complete its bore wholly through the sheet metal before the tapered section 168 contact the pilot bora Further the large diameter section 164 must also be wholly through the sheet metal before the thread engages the larger diameter bore.

[0133] The stepped drill bit arrangement Is best utilised on larger diameter screws, say, of the order of 7mm to 10 mm, whereas such a step formation would not be required on the small diameter screws.

[0134] While the embodiments described above have the channel 50 located on the outside of the housing 20 to interact with balls 36 and 38 which protrude through the inner surface of the external housing 30, it will be readily understood that the ^" features can be reversed, whereby the channel Is located on the inner surface of the inside diameter of the housing 30, whereas the follower or balls could be on, or protrude through the outside surface of the housing 20.

[0135] Further while the embodiments described above utilise two channels 50 with two followers or balls 36 and 38, it will be understood that a same or slrntar result could be achieved by a single one of such grooves 50.

[0136] It will be noticed that in the plan view of Figure 41 that the hexagonal drive formation 111 1s oriented so that an apex 176 is aligned between the centre of the lobe 102 and the axis of rotation 177 of the screw 160. It will be noted that this is approximately 30 degrees out of alignment with respect to the arrangement of the hexagonal formations 111 in the screws of Figures 25 through to 36. The result being that a driver and holder 10 of the previous Figures configured to drive the screws of Figures 25 through to 36 would not be able, because of this 30 degree difference in orientation receive the screw of Figures 38 to 41 without, for example, the tip 28 being angularly offset relative to the hexagonal shape of the driver body 26.

[0137] Generally the orientation of the recess 111 can be designed into the head 106 so that alignment occurs between the shaped recess 80 and the driving end 28. However if there were to be variations in orientation between manufacturers or screw types then adjustability for this can be produced In the following ways. [0138] If desired, the same device 10 can be provided with additional slots 64 to effect a rotation or alignment of the tri-lobal shaped recess 80 with respect to the tool bit 28, to take into account different angular arrangements of the drive formations 111 on the screw heads with respect to the lobal locations. Other adjustment mechanisms, whether they produce a continuous adjustment or an indexed adjustment of the alignment of the screw holder 12 relative to the outer housing 30 can be provided to allow the device to be adapted to suit other screw configurations.

[0139] Illustrated In Figure 43 is a screw holder body 121 which can be utilised with either of the devices of Figures 1 or 12. The body 121 differs from the body 12 or 121 of Figures 2 and 12 in that in addition to three slots 84 which are 120 degrees spaced from each other, at a location of approximately 30 degree angular spacing are slots 65 which are also each spaced at 120 degrees with respect to each other. The slots 65 can be provided so that an operator, by removing the band 74 can change, the angular alignment of the body 121 relative to the outer housing 30, so that for example screws having a different angular alignment between the drive formation 111 and the screw head alignment can be utilised with the screw holding and driving device.

[0140] Illustrated in Figure 44 is an exploded perspective view of a screw holder body 121 and an outer housing 30 wherein the projections 68 of Figures 2 and 12 are replaced by a forward band of anally directed splines 681 and a rearward band of axially directed splines 682 which are separated by a circumferential channel 683. The splines 881 and 682 are the same in number and are aligned, so that troughs of one align with troughs in the other. The internal diameter of the body 121 has a series of mating splines 684 and an aperture 685 and grub screw 886 to go therein. Once the splines 684 are mated with splines 681 and 682 the aperture 685 wHI be located over the channel 683 thus allowing the grub screw 688 to be inserted into the aperture 885 and into the channel 683, in order to lock the body 121 and housing 30 together. In this manner an indexed adjustment of the body 121 relative to the housing 30 can be provided which will allow torque to be driven, if required, via the housing 30 through to the body 121. Further, rearward axial forces will be transmitted from the housing 30 to the body 121 via the grub screw 686 and channel 683. Axial forces in a forward direction will be transmitted through the shoulder 687 of the housing 30 and the rim 688 of the body 121.

[0141] Illustrated in Figure 45 is a rear perspective view of a body 121 and housing 30 which has a clamping system on the body 121 provided by means of two axial side, slots 889 and clamping screws 670 which damp the two halves of the rear of the body 121 to the reduced diameter portion 70 on the housing 30. By this mechanism minute changes in angular orientation of the body 121 relative to the housing 30 can be made. [0142] Illustrated in figure 46 is a perspective view of a screw 14 and a screw holder 12 which is similar to the screw holder of figure 2 with some differences. The first difference is that the channel 90 is a circular channel which does not include a detent 92 which is shown in the difference between Figures 49 and 50, and further explained below. That Is the lobes on the screw 14 are relatively free to rotate through 360 degrees in the channel 90. However, it wiH be noted also that a concave or convex dimple 91 is provided in the head of the screw (shown in hidden detail in Figure 46) which can engage a convex or concave dimple 93 located in the rearward wall adjacent the channel 90. By this mechanism an operator whilst being able to freely rotate the lobes of the screw 14 in the channel 90 in so rotating them will feel, and thus a textural or tactile indication is given, when the concave dimple 91 engages the convex dimple 93 thus aligning the hex drive 111 relative to the hex drive shaft 28. There could be three such dimples in this tri-lobal instance any one of three orientations will suffice. The height or depth of the dimple would need to be taken into account by an increase in the depth or thickness of the channel 90.

[0143] Illustrated in Figure 47 is another screw holder 12 and screw 14. This is similar in construction to that of Figure 46 except that the dimples 91 and 93 are not utilised. Similarly, the screw head 14, via the lobes is able to freely rotate inside the channel 90 once located therein. However, a groove or marking 141 on the side of the head of the screw 14 is provided so as to enable an operator to align this groove or marking 141 with a groove or marking 142 on the outer rim of the screw holder 12.

[0144] Illustrated in Figure 49 is a front view of the shaped recese 80 and detent 92 shown In hidden detail as well as channels 90 of the screw holder 12 of Figures 1 and 2. For comparison purposes, Figure 50 is provided which illustrates the circular nature of the channel 90 which does not have the detent 92 of the screw holder 12 of Figure 47 and Figure 46 (without the dimple 93 being visible).

[0145] Illustrated In Figures 48 and 51 is a four apex or vertex shaped recess 80 which has associated channel portions 90 into which the apexes or vertices of the screw 14 can be rotated. Detents 92 are provided so that the screw head will not be rotated past its alignment orientation. While only one multiple apex or vertex shaped recess 80 and screw 14 have been Illustrated it will be understood that other numbers of vertices or apexes, such as 2, 3, 5 or 6 or more, could be utilised.

[0146] An advantage of providing a three identical tobed shaped recess 80 with a ^' matching three identical lobed screw head 106 and a multiple of three (namely 8) sided drive recess 111 and drive bit 28 is that the screw can enter into the shaped recess 80 without any need to be cognisant of the orientation. That is, any of the three possible orientations will work and this Improves the user friendliness of the system. However in some cases it might be desirable to instead utilise a two sided driver bit 28 with a three lobed screw head and In this instance there is only one orientation which the three lobed screw head can enter into the matching shaped recess 80 and be rotated to be correctly aligned to receive the driver bit. In this case it would be necessary to provide the user with some means of knowing the correct orientation for the screw to enter the shaped recess. To this end one of the three lobes could be of a slightly different shape to the other two lobes, In such a way as to prevent entry to the shaped recess, unless presented In the correct orientation. Otherwise, or in addition thereto, a visual Indicator on the screw 14 and the screw holder 12 similar to that Illustrated in figure 47 could be employed to help the user achieve the correct orientation. It will be understood that there will also be other combinations of driver geometries and screw head shapes where the specific driver geometry may require the limiting of multiple possible orientations for the entry of the screw head into the shaped recess.

[0147] Illustrated in figure 52 is a perspective view of a Torx-Post drive screw having a helically shaped formation on a rounded head, which would engage a matching shaped thread formation on the screw holder 12 as Illustrated in figure 53, and effectively forms a helical channel thereby associated with an aperture on a screw holder 12.

[0148] Where ever it Is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood In its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of 'including", and thus not limited to Ks "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[0149] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0150] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present Invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.