GB2295979A

GB2295979A - Socket

Info

Publication number: GB2295979A
Application number: GB9425252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Mccann
Original assignee: Chiro Tool Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Chiro Tool Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1994-12-14
Filing date: 1994-12-14
Publication date: 1996-06-19
Also published as: GB9425252D0

Abstract

A socket has a longitudinal groove 23 extending inwardly from an end 201 of the socket. An annular groove 22 is formed in the external face of the socket and a generally U-shaped resilient member 30 is clipped detachably to the end 201 of the socket. The U-shaped resilient member 30 has a first leg 31 which extends into the longitudinal groove 23 and a second leg 32 which abuts the external face of the socket. The first leg 31 is curved so that at least part of the first leg projects out of the longitudinal groove 23. The second leg 32 has a bent free end 34 which engages the annular groove 22. The resilient member 30 retains a fastener within the socket. <IMAGE>

Description

SOCKET FOR USE WITH A SOCKET WRENCH This invention relates to a socket for use with a socket wrench, and more particularly to a socket having a resilient member clipped to its end in order to retain detachably the screw nut in the socket.

2.Description of the Related Art The socket wrench has become a widely-used tool in industry, particularly in the field of automotive repair. In its simplest form, the socket wrench is a elongated drive having a stud at one end for mounting a socket. The socket is usually used to grip and turn a screw nut in a deep, narrow space. However, the unthreaded screw nut is easily separated from the socket and left in the deep, narrow space. At this time, it is difficult to take the screw nut from the deep, narrow space.

It is therefore a main object of this invention to provide a socket which has a resilient member for retaining releasably the screw nut in the socket.

Accordingly, the socket for use with a socket wrench of this invention comprises a longitudinal opening of polygonal configuration formed at one end of the socket, and a plurality of wall faces defining the longitudinal opening. One of the wall faces has a longitudinal groove extending inwardly from the end of the socket. The socket further has an annular groove formed in the external face of the socket, and a generally U-shaped resilient member clipped detachably to the end of the socket. The U-shaped resilient member has a first leg which extends into the longitudinal groove of the socket and a second leg which abuts the external face of the socket. The first leg is curved so that at least part of the first leg projects out of the longitudinal groove of the socket.

The second leg has a bent free end which engages the annular groove of the socket.

Therefore, the first leg of the resilient member can detachably retain a screw nut when and after the screw nut is unthreaded by the socket in association with the socket wrench. Whereby, the screw nut can be taken from a deep, narrow space.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a socket of this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the socket of this invention; Figure 3 is a partially sectional side view of the socket of Figure 2 with a screw nut retained therein; and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 1 is shown to include a preferred embodiment of a socket 20 of this invention. The socket 20 has a longitudinal opening 21 of polygonal configuration which is formed at one end 210 of the socket 20, and a plurality of wall faces 24 defining the longitudinal opening 21. One of the wall faces 24 has a longitudinal groove 23 extending inwardly from the end 201 of the socket 20. The socket 20 further has an annular groove 22 formed in the external face of the socket 20. A generally U-shaped resilient member 30 is clipped detachably to the end 201 of the socket 20, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, the U-shaped resilient member 30 has a first leg 31 which extends into the longitudinal groove 23 of the socket 20 and a second leg 32 which abuts the external face of the socket 20, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The bridge portion 33 of the resilient member 30 abuts the end face of the end 201 of the socket 20. The first leg 31 is curved so that at least part of the first leg 31 projects out of the longitudinal groove 23 into the longitudinal opening 21 of the socket 20. The second leg has a bent free end 34 which engages the annular groove of the socket 20 in order to clip the resilient member 30 to the socket 20.In addition, the width between the first and second legs 31 and 32 is slightly smaller than the wall thickness of the socket 20 adjacent the end 201 of the socket 20, thereby facilitating the attachment of the resilient member 30 to the socket 20.

The length of the first leg 31 of the resilient member 30 is smaller than that of the longitudinal groove 23 of the socket 20. Therefore, the free end of the first leg 31 can freely extend in the longitudinal groove 23 when it is depressed, which will be described below.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, when the screw nut 40 to be rotated is received within the longitudinal opening 21 of the socket 20, the part of the first leg 31 which projects into the longitudinal opening 21 biases the external face of the screw nut 40 by its spring' force, facilitating the retaining of the screw nut 40 in the socket 20. When the screw nut 40 is unthreaded from a bolt (not shown) which may be in a deep, narrow space, the screw nut 40 in association with the socket 20 can be taken from a deep, narrow space by means of a socket wrench (not shown) due to the retaining force of the resilient member 30.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A socket for use with a socket wrench having an end with a longitudinal opening of polygonal configuration, a plurality of wall faces defining said longitudinal opening, the improvements comprising one of said wall faces having a longitudinal groove extending inwardly from said end of said socket, said socket having an annular groove formed in an external face of said socket, a generally U-shaped resilient member clipped detachably to said end of said socket, said U-shaped resilient member having a first leg which extends into said longitudinal groove of said socket and a second leg which abuts said external face of said socket, said first leg being curved, at least part of said first leg projecting out of said longitudinal groove of said socket, said second leg having a bent free end which engages said annular groove of said socket.

2. A socket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompany drawings.