GB2275637A - Improvements in and relating to wrench and socket systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A socket 10 has a recess 12 at one end adapted for engaging a fastener to be tightened or loosened and a second recess 14 at the other end. The external surface of the socket 10 is adapted to be engaged by a wrench and the like, such as a ratchet 28 having a female drive 30 adapted to receive and engage the socket. The socket may be provided in combination with an extension and adaptor member 20 which has an external surface of similar dimensions to the socket 10, one end 24 of the member 20 being stepped downwardly to allow the end 24 to be located within and engage with the recess 14. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WRENCH AND SOCKET SYSTEMS This invention relates to improved wrench and socket systems.

Conventional socket systems, commonly referred to as socket sets, comprise a number of hexagonal sockets of various sizes, and wrenches provided with square drives for engaging corresponding square recesses in the sockets. Various forms of wrenches may be provided, one of the most frequently used being the ratchet. A socket and ratchet generally occupies a significant height and thus, for use in restricted spaces, it is often impossible to utilise such tools, necessitating the use of, for example, ring spanners or open-ended spanners, which are generally less convenient than a ratchet.

It is among the objects of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a socket having: a first recess adapted for engaging a fastener to be tightened or loosened; and an external surface adapted to be engaged by a wrench and the like.

The socket may thus be rotated by means of a conventional wrench or spanner. Conveniently, the socket has a hexagonal section external surface.

Preferably, the socket is provided in combination with a ratchet having a female drive adapted for engaging the external surface of the socket. This arrangement occupies considerably less height than a conventional socket and ratchet and thus may be utilised in more restricted spaces.

Preferably also, the sockets, and preferably the ratchet, are provided in combination with an elongate extension member adapted for engaging the socket and also having an external surface adapted to be engaged by a wrench and the like. Most preferably, the external surface of the extension member is adapted for engagement by a wrench and the like over at least a substantial portion of the length of the member. Thus, when the extension member is utilised, the wrench or ratchet may be located inwardly of the free end of the extension member, and as close to the socket as is convenient. This facilitates rotation of the socket and also, in certain circumstances, allows a user to brace the end of the extension with their free hand.

The socket member may include a second recess adapted for engaging a male drive on, for example, an extension member or ratchet provided with a male drive.

Conveniently, the second recess is hexagonal.

Preferably also, the socket member defines a central through passage, which allows use of the socket member on, for example, nuts located on long bolts.

Preferably also, a plurality of sockets with first recesses of different size are provided to allow tightening and loosening of fasteners of various sizes.

Conveniently, the external surfaces of the sockets are of similar dimensions. However, where sockets of a wide range of sizes are provided, two or more external surface dimensions may be utilised. For such applications, ratchets with matching female drives may be provided.

This and other aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la, ib and-lc show side and end views of a socket in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of an extension member for use with the socket of Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are views of a ratchet for use with the socket of Figure 1; Figures 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d illustrate various views of the socket, extension member and ratchet of Figures 1, 2 and 3 in use; Figures 5., 6 and 7 illustrates various sockets and extension and adapter members in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and Figure 8 shows various accessories-for inclusion in socket sets in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Reference is first made to Figures la, ib and ic of the drawings which illustrate a socket 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The socket 10 has a recess 12 at one end adapted for engaging a fastener to be tightened or loosened and a second recess 14 at the other end. Both the recesses 12, 14 are hexagonal as is the external surface of the socket 10, the first recess preferably being bi-hexagonal. The socket 10 is hollow, though a shoulder 18 separates the recesses 12, 14.

Reference is now also made to Figure 2 of the drawings which illustrates an extension and adapter member 20, also having a hexagonal external surface 22 of similar dimensions to the socket 10, one end 24 of the member 20 being stepped downwardly to allow the end 24 to be located within and engage with the recess 14. The member 20 is also hollow, with the other end 25 defining a hexagonal recess 26.

Reference is now also made to Figures 3a and 3b which illustrate a ratchet 28 provided with a female hexagonal drive 30 adapted to receive and engage the socket or member 10,20.

The socket 10, extension member 20 and ratchet 28 are illustrated in use Figures 4a, 4b and 4c of the drawings, Figure 4d also illustrating a longer extension member 32.

Reference is first made to Figure 4a which illustrates the socket 10 and ratchet 28 prior to fitting over a nut 34 mounted on a long bolt 36. It will be noted that the hollow socket 10 and the female drive 30 of the ratchet 28 allow the bolt 36 to pass through the socket and ratchet.

Reference is now made to Figure 4b which shows the socket 10 and ratchet 28 fitted together and prior to being used to remove a nut 38 from a bolt 40 in a restricted space between two surfaces 42, 44. It will be noted that the height occupied by the ratchet and socket is only the length of the socket 10.

Reference is now made to Figure 4c of the drawings, which illustrates a socket 10, extension member 20 and ratchet 28 being used to loosen a nut 46 from a bolt 48.

The socket and member 10, 20 are fitted together to define a continuous hexagonal external surface. This permits the ratchet 28 to be positioned at a convenient location on the member 20 or socket 10, to suit the space available.

Reference is now made to Figure 4d of the drawings, this showing the socket 10, ratchet 28 and longer extension member 32 being utilised to remove a nut 50 from a bolt 52. Again, the ratchet 28 can be positioned at any convenient location on the member 32, and in this case, where the ratchet 28 is located inwardly of the end of the member 32, the user may brace the end of the member 32 with one hand, to facilitate turning of the nut 50.

The above description refers only to a socket 10 of one size, though of course a typical socket set will include sockets of a variety of sizes. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention described below a wide variety of socket recess sizes will be provided, though only four external hexagonal cross-sections are provided: 13 mm; 21 mm; 29 mm; and 37 mm. Various sockets and adapter members forming part of such socket sets will be described below with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. Reference is first made to Figure 5 of the drawings which illustrates three sockets 54, 56, 58 and two adapter members 60, 62. The socket 54 has a 32 mm hexagonal first recess 64, a 29 mm hexagonal second recess 66 and, at its second end, an 37 mm external hexagonal section. Thus, the socket 54 could be engaged by a ratchet provided with a 37 mm female hexagonal drive, or by a ratchet provided with a 29 mm male drive.

Alternatively, one of the adapters 60, 62, both of which have 29 mm external hexagonal surfaces, could be located in the second recess 66. This would permit the socket 54 to be turned using a smaller (29 mm) female drive or smaller (21 mm, 13 mm) male drive.

The socket 56 also has a 37 mm external hexagonal surface and a 29 mm hexagonal second recess 70, but has a 27 mm hexagonal first recess 68. The socket 58 has a 22 mm hexagonal first recess 72 and a second recess 74 of 29 mm hexagonal section. At its second end, the socket 58 has an external hexagonal cross-section of 37 mm.

However, the external section steps down to a smaller diameter circular cross-section around the first recess 72, to avoid difficulties where access to the nut or bolt to be tightened or loosened is restricted.

Figure 6 of the drawings illustrates various different sizes of sockets 76, 78 and adapter members 80, 82, 84. The sockets 76, 78 have first recesses adapted for engaging 21 mm and 17 mm nuts, respectively, and both have 29 mm external hexagonal surfaces. Both also have 21 mm second recesses.

The adapters 80, 82, 84 all have a 21 mm hexagonal external surface and 13 mm internal hexagonal surface.

One end of the adapter 80 is stepped downwardly to a 13 mm external hexagonal and this end is provided with a 10 mm internal bore 86.

Reference is now made to Figure 7 of the drawings which illustrates three sockets 90, 92, 94 and two adapter members 96, 98. All of the sockets 90, 92, 94 have 21 mm external hexagonal surfaces and have first recesses for engaging 16 mm, 14 mm and 10 mm nuts, respectively. All of the sockets 90, 92, 94 have 13 mm hexagonal second recesses.

The adapter 96 has a 21 mm hexagonal surface over most of its length, and also has an end portion 100 provided with a 13 mm external hexagonal surface. Within the 21 mm hexagonal portion of the adapter 96 there is provided a 13 mm internal hexagonal surface. The adapter 98 is of 13 mm external hexagonal section, and defines a 10 mm diameter bore.

Reference is now also made to Figure 8 of the drawings which illustrates two accessories for inclusion within a socket set as described above. A universal adapter 102 is provided having one part provided with a 13 mm recess 104 and a 21 mm external hexagonal section, the other part of the adapter being provided with a 13 mm hexagonal male drive 106.

To permit the sockets and adapters described above to be utilised with a conventional socket set, an adapter 110 may be provided, having a square section recess 112 to engage a conventional half inch square drive, while the other end of the adapter 110 is provided with a 13 mm hexagonal male drive 114.

Though not illustrated, the adapters and ratchets will be provided with spring balls to retain the sockets in place.

It will be clear from the above description the various sockets and adapters described above may be combined together, in various combinations, to allow tightening and loosening of fasteners in a wide variety of situations, many of which would not permit the use of a conventional male drive ratchet and socket.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various improvements and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. A socket having: a first recess adapted for engaging a fastener to be tightened or loosened; and an external surface adapted to be engaged by a wrench and the like.

2. The socket of claim 1 wherein the socket has a hexagonal section external surface.

3. The socket of claim 1 or claim 2 including a second recess adapted for engaging a male drive.

4. The socket of claim 3 wherein the second recess is hexagonal.

5. The socket of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the socket defines a central through passage of sufficient diameter to allow passage of a bolt the nut of which is to be turned by the socket.

6. The socket of any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of sockets with first recesses of different sizes are provided.

7. The sockets of claim 6 wherein the external surfaces of the sockets are of similar dimensions.

8. The socket of any one of the preceding claims in combination with a wrench or ratchet having a female drive adapted for engaging the external surface of the socket.

9. The socket of any one of claims 1 to 7, or the socket and wrench or ratchet of claim 8, in combination with an elongated extension member adapted for engaging the socket and having an external surface adapted to be engaged by a wrench and the like.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the external surface of the extension member is adapted for engagement by a wrench and the like over at least a substantial portion of the length of the member.

11. The combination of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the socket and the extension member each define a central through passage of sufficient diameter to allow passage of a bolt the nut of which is to be turned by the socket.

12. The combination of any one of claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein the extension member includes means for releasably retaining a socket thereon.