GB2432805A

GB2432805A - Tool socket

Info

Publication number: GB2432805A
Application number: GB0612883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu-Hui Yeh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-02
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Also published as: TWM290451U; FR2894174B3; GB0612883D0; FR2894174A3

Abstract

A tool socket includes a socket head (40), a locking ball (60), and an elastic mounting ring (50). The socket head has an end portion formed with a mounting hole (41) and a periphery formed with a receiving hole (42). The locking ball is movably mounted in the receiving hole and elastically pressed by the elastic mounting ring to partially extend into the mounting hole. The elastic mounting ring may be made of plastic or rubber material integrally formed by an injection molding process so that the elastic mounting ring has a predetermined elastic feature after the injection molding process and can be used directly without needing a further working process, thereby simplifying the working process and decreasing the cost of fabrication.

Description

TOOL SOCKET

The present invention relates to a tool socket and, more particularly, to a tool socket for connecting a tool (such as a screwdriver) to tips of different

sizes and specifications.

A conventional tool socket in accordance with the prior art shown in Figs. 7-9 comprises a socket head 10 having an end portion formed with a mounting hole 11 and a periphery formed with a receiving hole 12, a locking ball 30 movably mounted in the receiving hole 12 of the socket head 10, and a C-shaped elastic snapping plate 20 snapped onto an outer wall of the socket JO head 10 and having a through hole 21 to partially receive the locking ball 30.

The outer wall of the socket head 10 is formed with a mounting groove 13 for mounting the elastic snapping plate 20. The locking ball 30 is elastically pressed by the elastic snapping plate 20 to partially extend into the mounting hole 11 of the socket head 10 as shown in Fig. 9.

In fabrication, the elastic snapping plate 20 is made of a metallic material which is worked by a working process. The elastic snapping plate 20 loses its elasticity after the working process, so that the elastic snapping plate has to perform a heat treatment after the working process to restore its elasticity.

In assembly, when an insertion portion (not shown) of a tool tip (not shown) is inserted into the mounting hole 11 of the socket head 10, the locking baIl 30 is pushed outwardly to press the elastic snapping plate 20 so that the elastic snapping plate 20 is deformed elastically to limit the locking ball 30.

After the insertion portion of the tool tip is inserted into the mounting hole 11 of the socket head 10, the locking ball 30 is elastically pressed by the restoring force of the elastic snapping plate 20 to partially extend into the mounting hole 11 of the socket head 10 so that the locking ball 30 is inserted into a retaining groove (not shown) of the insertion portion to lock the insertion portion of the tool tip onto the socket head 10.

However, the elastic snapping plate 20 is made of a metallic material, thereby greatly increasing costs of fabrication. In addition, the elastic snapping plate 20 is made of a metallic material which is worked by a working process and has to perform a heat treatment after the working process to restore its elasticity, thereby complicating the working process and increasing the cost of fabrication.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tool socket having an inexpensive price.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a tool socket, wherein the elastic mounting ring is made of plastic or rubber material integrally formed by an injection molding process so that the elastic mounting ring has a predetermined elastic feature after the injection molding process and can be used directly without needing other further working process, thereby simplifying the working process and decreasing the cost of fabrication.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a tool socket, wherein the elastic mounting ring is made of plastic or rubber material without having to provide a metallic material, thereby greatly decreasing costs of fabrication.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a tool socket, wherein the elastic mounting ring presses the locking ball closely so that the insertion portion of the tool tip is mounted on the socket head rigidly and stably.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tool socket in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tool socket as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the tool socket as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tool socket for a tool tip in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the tool socket as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of a tool socket in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional tool socket in

accordance with the prior art.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional tool socket as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the conventional tool socket as shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-3, a tool socket in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a socket head 40, a locking ball 60 movably mounted on the socket head 40, and an elastic mounting ring 50 mounted on an outer wall of the socket head 40 and rested on the locking ball 60.

The socket head 40 has an end portion formed with a mounting hole 41 and a periphery formed with a receiving hole 42 connected to the mounting hole 41. The mounting hole 41 of the socket head 40 is preferably hexagonal.

The outer wall of the socket head 40 is formed with a mounting groove 43 for mounting the elastic mounting ring 50. The receiving hole 42 of the socket head 40 is connected to the mounting groove 43.

The locking ball 60 is movably mounted in the receiving hole 42 of the socket head 40 and elastically pressed by an inner wall of the elastic mounting ring 50 to partially extend into the rn9unting hole 41 of the socket

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head4O as shown inFig. 3. . The elastic mounting ring 50 is nade o pastic or rubber material' I I,, , integrally formed by an injection mldin proess o that the elastic mounting ring 50 has a predetermined elastic feature after'the injection molding process.

The elastic mounting ring 50 has a closed annular shape without being split. In the preferred embodiment ofthe present jnvention, the elastic mounting ring has a periphery formed with a through hole 51 to partially receive the locking ball 60 as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when an insertion portion 72 of a tool tip is inserted into the mounting hole 41 of the socket head 40, the locking ball is pushed outwardly to press the elastic mounting ring 50 so that the elastic mounting ring 50 is deformed elastically to limit the locking balI 60. After the insertion portion 72 of the tool tip 70 is inserted into the mounting hole 41 of the socket head 40, the locking ball 60 is elastically pressed by the restoring force of the elastic mounting ring 50 to partially extend into the mounting hole 41 of the socket head 40 so that the locking ball 60 is inserted into a retaining groove 71 of the insertion portion 72 to lock the insertion portion 72 of the tool tip 70 onto the socket head 40. In such a manner, the insertion portion 72 of the tool tip 70 is mounted on and detached from the socket head 40 easily and rapidly by the elastic deformation of the elastic mounting ring 50.

As shown in Fig. 6, the through hole 51 of the elastic mounting ring is undefined so that the locking balI 60 is directly pressed by the inner wall of the elastic mounting ring 50 to partially extend into the mounting hole 41 of the socket head 40.

Accordingly, the elastic mounting ring 50 is made of plastic or rubber material integrally formed by an injection molding process so that the elastic mounting ring 50 has a predetermined elastic feature after the injection molding process and can be used directly without needing other working process, thereby simplifying the working process and decreasing the cost of fabrication. In addition, the elastic mounting ring 50 is made of plastic or rubber material without having to provide a metallic material, thereby greatly decreasing costs of fabrication. Further, the elastic mounting ring 50 presses the locking baIl 60 closely so that the insertion portion 72 of the tool tip 70 is mounted on the socket head 40 rigidly and stably.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A tool socket, comprising a socket head, a locking ball movably mounted on the socket head, and an elastic mounting ring mounted on an outer wall of the socket head and rested on the locking ball, wherein: the socket head has an end portion formed with a mounting hole and a periphery formed with a receiving hole connected to the mounting hole; the locking ball is movably mounted in the receiving hole of the socket head and elastically pressed by an inner wall of the elastic mounting ring to partially extend into the mounting hole of the socket head.

2. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic mounting ring is made of plastic material integrally formed by an injection molding process so that the elastic mounting ring has a predetermined elastic feature after the injection molding process.

3. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic mounting ring is made of rubber material integrally formed by an injection molding process so that the elastic mounting ring has a predetermined elastic feature after the injection molding process.

4. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic mounting ring has a closed annular shape without being split.

5. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic mounting ring has a periphery formed with a through hole to partially receive the locking ball.

6. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the socket head is formed with a mounting groove for mounting the elastic mounting ring.

7. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receiving hole of the socket head is connected to the mounting groove.

8. The tool socket in accordance with claim 1, wherein when an insertion portion of a tool tip is inserted into the mounting hole of the socket head, the locking ball is pushed outwardly to press the elastic mounting ring so that the elastic mounting ring is deformed elastically to limit the locking ball.

9. The tool socket in accordance with claim 8, wherein after the insertion portion of the tool tip is inserted into the mounting hole of the socket head, the locking ball is elastically pressed by a restoring force of the elastic mounting ring to partially extend into the mounting hole of the socket head so that the locking ball is inserted into a retaining groove of the insertion portion to lock the insertion portion of the tool tip onto the socket head.

10. The tool socket in accordance with claim 8, wherein the insertion portion of the tool tip is mounted on and detached from the socket head by an elastic deformation of the elastic mounting ring.

11. A tool socket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN MADE AS FOLLOWS:- Claims:- 1. A tool socket comprising:-a socket head having an end portion formed with a mounting hole adapted to receive an insertion portion of a tool tip, the insertion portion being formed with a peripheral retaining groove, a locking ball movably mounted in a receiving hole formed in the end portion and communicating with the mounting hole, a mounting groove formed in the outer surface of the end portion of the socket head and communicating with the receiving hole, and an annular elastic mounting ring, which is formed as a one-piece moulding from a plastic or rubber material and is positioned in the mounting groove formed in the outer surface of the end portion of the socket head, the annular elastic mounting ring acting on the locking ball in such manner that, when the insertion portion of the tool tip is fitted in the mounting hole of the socket head, the locking ball is biased resiliently into the retaining groove of the insertion portion of the tool tip.

2. A tool socket constructed and arranged to function substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings. S..

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