Tool holder with coiled springs

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for holding devices, including tool holders and/or associated apparatus, that can be attached to various driving mechanisms. Various embodiments can include one or more canted, or slanted, coil springs that are capable of forming to various shapes by the application of a controlled force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool holder assembly for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver, the rotary tool including a shaft having a shaft end and a shaft diameter, the tool holder comprising:
 a body including a first end configured to connect to a rotary tool driver and a second end configured to receive the rotary tool, the body including a generally cylindrical bore and at least one opening extending through a lateral wall of the body;   a locking sleeve extending around at least a portion of the body, the locking sleeve slidable along a longitudinal axis of the body from a first position to a second position;   a first canted coil spring disposed within the generally cylindrical bore at a location proximate to the second end of the body, a portion of the first canted coil spring extending through the at least one opening;   wherein the portion of the first canted coil spring is not deformed by the locking sleeve when the locking sleeve in in the first position and the portion of the first canted coil spring is deformed by the locking sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the deformed portion of the first canted coil spring directly engages with and rotationally locks the shaft of the rotary tool within the generally cylindrical bore when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinally extending spring positioned between the body and the locking sleeve, the longitudinally extending spring biasing the locking sleeve towards the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of at least a first portion of the first canted coil spring is smaller than the shaft diameter of the rotary tool. 
     
     
         5 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of at least a portion of the first canted coil spring is smaller than the shaft diameter of the rotary tool when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second canted coil spring disposed within the generally cylindrical bore at a location distal from the second end of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 6 , wherein an inner diameter of at least a portion of the second canted coil spring is smaller than the shaft diameter of the rotary tool when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a longitudinally extending spring positioned between the body and the locking sleeve, the longitudinally extending spring biasing the locking sleeve towards the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a laterally extending inner surface within the generally cylindrical bore which engages with and rotationally drives a corresponding outer surface on the shaft of the rotary tool. 
     
     
         10 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the generally cylindrical bore has a non-circular cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . A collet for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver, the rotary tool including a shaft having a shaft end and a shaft diameter, the collet comprising:
 a body including a first end configured to connect to a rotary tool driver and a second end configured to receive the rotary tool, the body including a central bore and first and second lateral openings extending completely through a peripheral wall of the body, the first and second lateral openings longitudinally spaced apart from each other;   a sleeve extending around at least a portion of the body, the sleeve slidable on the body from a first position to a second position;   a first canted coil spring disposed within the central bore at a location proximate to the second end of the body, a portion of the first canted coil spring extending through the at least one opening; and   a second canted coil spring disposed within the central bore at a location distal from the second end of the body, a portion of the second canted coil spring extending through the second lateral opening.   
     
     
         12 . The collet of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the first canted coil spring is compressed by the sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The collet of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the second canted coil spring is compressed by the sleeve when the sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The collet of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the first canted coil spring and the portion of the second canted coil spring are each deformed by an inner surface of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The collet of  claim 14 , wherein the deformed portion of the first canted coil spring directly engages with and locks a portion of the shaft of the rotary tool within the central bore when the sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The collet of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft of the rotary tool further includes a reduced diameter portion proximate to the shaft end, and the portion of the second canted coil spring is compressed at least partially into the reduced diameter portion when the sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The collet of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the first canted coil spring contacts an inner surface of the sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The collet of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the first canted coil spring is elastically deformed by contact with the sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a transverse cross-section of at least a portion of the central bore is non-circular. 
     
     
         20 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an inner surface portion within the central bore which engages with and rotationally drives a corresponding outer surface of the shaft proximate to the shaft end of the rotary tool.