CA3039989A1 - Improved magnetic socket - Google Patents

Description

Docket No. GYL-101pry IMPROVED MAGNETIC SOCKET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As anyone who performs a lot of mechanical work will attest, nothing beats having the proper tool for a job. The proper tool can save time, save money, produce a higher quality job, reduce damage to equipment, and provide for the increased safety of the worker. One tool that is found in many lines of work is that of the socket wrench.
These cylindrical shaped wrenches with a receiving cup are used on bolts to remove or tighten them.
Wrenches are hand tools that may be used by used by professionals and non-professionals to perform mechanical work projects such as tightening and loosening of nuts and bolts. Wrenches may come in manual and non-manual versions. These wrenches are used as levers that are fitted to attach to the item to be turned and pressure is exerted to form torque. The torque is used to rotate the item such as a nut or a bolt for example. Many times, wrenches may slip causing rounding of the head of a nut and the potential for injury to the hand of the operator.
Nuts and bolts are prone to falling out of wrenches when installing or removing them, especially in tight spots. This can be highly inconvenient, as people may not see where the nuts and bolts fall.
When this happens, the nuts and bolts can roll under furniture or vehicle and become lost or can scatter on the floor, causing the individual to spend time searching for and trying to locate them.
Additionally, over time, it can be costly to lose these pieces and have Docket No. GYL-101pry to constantly replace them. Productivity is minimized because of these conditions.

2 Docket No. GYL-101pry BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front, three-dimensional view of the improved magnetic socket, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded, three-dimensional view of the improved magnetic socket, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of the improved magnetic socket, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 4 is a side view of the socket for use with the improved magnetic socket, in accordance with the present invention.

3 Docket No. GYL-101pry DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While installing fasteners, it is often desirable to maintain the fastener with the tool until fastening is initially underway. Often it was necessary to hold the fastener relative to the tool with one hand while the tool was manipulated with the other hand. Because of limitations in space, access to the fastener by the hand holding the fastener and also by the tool itself was difficult if not impossible.
Furthermore, due to the proximity of the hand to the fastener and the tool, the hand initially holding the fastener to the tool was especially prone to accidental injury. Thus, there is a well-known need in the art for methods for temporarily holding the fastener to the tool until the fastening is initially underway.
The present invention relates generally to magnetic tools. The present invention relates generally to accessories for tools for initially holding fasteners thereto, and particularly to accessories for wrench sockets for initially holding fasteners captive therein. The improved magnetic socket 10 ratcheting socket wrench is the device within a hand tool in which a metal handle is attached to a ratcheting mechanism, which attaches to a socket.
The improved magnetic socket 10 is designed to alleviate the above problem. More particularly, the magnetic socket 10 relates to a magnetic device for holding fasteners 12 operatively positionable by a socket 14. Generally, the magnetic socket 10 relates to a ratcheting

4 Docket No. GYL-101pry socket wrench which a metal handle is attached to a ratcheting mechanism, which attaches to a socket.
The socket driver includes a magnetic mechanism in conjunction with the driving connection between the driver and socket 14 to hold a fastener 12 within the socket 14, as seen in Figure 2.
As seen in Figure 1, the magnetic socket 10 includes a generally elongate shaft 16 defining an axis and having a first end 16a and a second end 16b opposite the first end. The magnetic socket 10 also includes a handle assembly 18 that is attached to the shaft 16. The socket 14 is disposed on the second end 16b of the generally elongate shaft 16.
Nuts, bolts, polygonally headed screws 12 and the like are especially adapted to be held in the socket 14. Such fasteners 12 may be most readily applied if they can be inserted in the socket 14 and be retained therein until the fastener is applied and tightened in position.
Socket 14 can be any standard design generally including a well 18 having a multisided periphery sized to axially slideably receive the corresponding sized head of the fastener 12 without allowing rotation of burr relative thereto. Specifically, the outer ends of sides 20 forming well 18 intersect at corners 22 arranged at a diameter generally equal to the corners of the fastener 12 and the inner ends of sides 20 forming well 18 intersect at corners 22 arranged at a diameter less than the diameter of corners 20 or the corners of the fastener 12.

Docket No. GYL-101pry Opposite well 18, socket 14 includes a handle mounting end including a noncircular opening 14a for slideably receiving a complementary shaped shank 16a of the generally elongate shaft 16.
The magnetic socket 10 incorporates a magnet 15 that is fixedly positioned within the socket 14 to temporarily secure the nuts, bolts, etc. in place. In the present embodiment, the magnet 15 surrounds the interior of the socket 14, adjacent to the sides 20. As such, the magnet temporarily secures the fastener 12, as seen in Figure 3, when in use.
Alternatively, the magnet 15 may be mounted within the socket 14 to slide axially therein in order to accommodate the extension of the part to which the fastener is secured, as for example, the extension of the bolt past the nut as the latter is tightened into operative position.
Although the operation of magnetic socket 10 of the above invention was described with reference to a nut or burr 16, it can be appreciated that magnetic socket 10 can be utilized to capture the head of a bolt or other fasteners within well 18 of socket 14. Likewise, the operation of magnetic socket 10 can be utilized to capture the fastener when removing fastener from the fastening location.

Docket No. GYL-101pry The following are proposed merely as an indication of what the inventor(s) may be interested in pursuing by way of patent protection, without prejudice to any future patent right.
A magnetic socket incorporating a magnet that is fixedly positioned within the socket to temporarily secure the nuts, bolts, etc. in place.
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