Abstract:
A one-piece socket having a hole therethrough with a rear recess for receiving the shaft of a driver tool, and a front recess for receiving the head of the workpiece (bolt) to be worked on. The hole includes a small segment for securing a key therein, the key being adjustable to extend into the front recess, and therebeyond to the exterior, selectively. The front recess engages convex surfaces on the workpiece and the key engages concave surfaces thereon. In an alternate form, the key is fixed and extends only into the recess.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention resides in the field of socket wrenches, or socket wrench sets. Such sets, broadly, are known. A set may include one or more sockets, and in certain cases it may include other elements to be used in, or with, or in conjunction with the socket. 
     Socket wrenches are ordinarily produced in sets, having for example a plurality of socket members proper, of different sizes, or a single socket member with other elements of different sizes or other characteristics. 
     1. Cross References 
     My prior patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,242,932 dated Jan. 6, 1981 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,632 dated Jan. 8, 1991 
     2. Objects of the Invention 
     The principal object of the invention is to produce a socket for use with a wrench as in a set, having the following features and advantages: 
     1. The device is a simple tool for engaging a workpiece (bolt) selectively on an external surface, or internal surface, or both. 
     2. The device is simple, not only in its use, but in its production and is correspondingly inexpensive. 
     3. The device is used with presently known socket wrench sets for use with standard workpieces. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the socket having the features of the invention, shown in conjunction with a driver and a workpiece. 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to the right-hand portion of FIG. 1 with the workpiece in position in the socket. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to the right-hand portion of FIG. 1 but showing the key, or drive element, in an inwardly adjusted position. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the key in outwardly extended position. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the right-hand portion of the socket but with the key removed and the two-level head of a workpiece inserted in the socket. 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the work piece in FIG. 5 oriented according to the arrow 6 of the latter figure. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a different shaped workpiece. 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing still a different shaped workpiece. 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 6-8 of still another workpiece. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the head of a workpiece of another form. 
     FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of socket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the invention in general, it is pointed out that the socket of the invention is particularly adapted for engaging external surfaces of a workpiece, and internal surfaces, selectively, this being accomplished by a single socket of extremely simple construction. 
     Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the socket of the invention together with a driver and a workpiece. The socket itself is shown at 14, the driver indicated at 16 and the workpiece shown at 18. The socket includes a socket member 20 usually referred to in the trade simply as a socket, and it is so referred to herein at times. The socket member 20 is elongated, and may have a cylindrical outer surface, the central longitudinal axis of the socket member being indicated at 22. The socket member has a longitudinal main hole 24 therethrough which is made up of a series of segments (four) as will be referred to again hereinbelow. 
     The socket member 20 is a one-piece, integral member, of hardened steel, or cast alloy, having a body referred to for convenience as a shell. The socket, for convenience, is referred to as having a front end 28 and a rear end 30. 
     The shell 26 includes a body portion 32 extending radially inwardly to form a small hole 34 as a segment of the main hole. The main hole also includes a segment forming a front recess 36 having an inner polygonal surface 38, e.g. hexagonal, forming a forwardly-facing shoulder 40. 
     Rearwardly of the body portion 32 is another segment 42 of the main hole, located generally centrally of the socket. The body portion 32 forms a rearwardly facing shoulder 44. 
     Rearwardly of the hole segment 42 and constituting another segment of the main hole is a rear recess 46 of polygonal cross-sectional shape, such as square, for receiving the driving shaft 48 of a drive tool 16. The segment 46 of the hole has at least portions larger than the segment 42, forming a rearwardly facing shoulder 50. A conventional means indicated at 52 is provided for releasably holding the drive shaft 48 in the recess. 
     Positioned in the small hole 34 is a key or pin or inner drive element 54 which is held in place, in this case (FIG. 1), by a set screw 56 in a transverse hole in the body portion 32, engaging the key for releasably holding the key in adjusted position. The small hole 34 and the key 54 are of the same polygonal shape and size for producing a turning movement on the key. 
     The workpiece 18 may be any of a plurality of different members, in the present case being a bolt having a threaded shank 56 and a head 58. The head has a polygonal external surface, in this case hexagonal, of the same size as the front recess 36. In the present case the head 58 is provided with a cavity 60 in its end surface, which is polygonal in shape also, hexagonal, dimensioned to fit the polygonal key 54. The bolt may also be referred to as a fastener which broadly includes bolts, screws, etc. 
     In the use of the socket with the workpiece 18 as just described, the socket is operable for engaging both external and internal surfaces on the workpiece, namely, the external polygonal surface of the head and the internal polygonal surface of the cavity. The key 54 is adjustable longitudinally in the socket member and held in adjusted position by the set screw 56, as noted above, and for using the socket on a workpiece 18 of the kind just referred to, the key is adjusted to the position shown in FIG. 1 where the front end thereof extends a short way into the front recess 36. When the socket is applied to the workpiece, the head 58 is telescoped into the front recess, and the front end of the key into the cavity 60. The dimensions are such that preferably the head 58 engages the shoulder 40 providing additional stability in this step. 
     To turn the workpiece, the power tool 16 is operated, turning the socket, and the engagement with the workpiece is both external and internal, providing great torque effect and eliminating or greatly minimizing tendency to misshape the head of the workpiece. FIG. 2 clearly brings out this relationship. 
     The adjustability of the key in longitudinal direction, provides greater flexibility in the use of the tool. In the case of a workpiece having a head (58) without a cavity, the key is retracted to an inner position shown in FIG. 3 where the front end is backed off from the front recess, as indicated at 61, enabling the head of the workpiece to engage the shoulder 40. In this case, the key is held in the retracted position by the set screw, and thereby stored. The key may be placed further back than the position indicated, if desired. The same effect is produced by even removing the key, if that should be desired. The key 54 may be provided with a head on its inner or rear end to prevent its accidentally falling out in forward direction. 
     FIG. 4 represents the use of the tool for engaging an internal surface of the workpiece, in this case the key 54 being extended forwardly through the front recess and to an appropriate extent forwardly. The key can then be inserted into a cavity in the workpiece which may otherwise be inaccessible. In this instance only the internal surface of the workpiece is engaged, but this represents the selectivity of the use of the tool relative to both external and internal surfaces. 
     FIG. 5 shows another adaptation of the use of the device. In this case a workpiece is shown at 62, which has a threaded shank 64 and a head 66. This head is of two-level kind, having a large element 68 forming a lower level, and a small element 70 forming an upper level, referred to also for convenience as lower and upper elements, both of which have polygonal, such as hexagonal, external surfaces. In applying the tool to this workpiece, the key 54 is removed, and the head is telescoped into the recess with the lower large element in the recess proper, and the upper small element 70 extended into the small hole 34. Both of the external surfaces on the head, i.e. large and small elements, are engaged, providing greater gripping effect in the turning operation. It is within the scope of the invention, that instead of removing the key in this case (FIG. 5), it can be retracted to a position farther back, as noted, to enable the small element of the head to enter fully into the small hole. The hole for the set screw 56 may be positioned farther back than that shown (FIG. 1) if desired. As used herein, the terms retracted and removed may be considered equivalent as concerns the key 54 in its relation to the front recess. 
     Many bolts, constituting the workpieces, are provided with hex heads, and the cavity 60 and key 54 are of that same shape. FIG. 6 shows the workpiece 62 having the hex head referred to. In this shape of head, it is usually desirable that the large and small elements be relatively angularly displaced, with a corner of one in register with a flat side of the other. 
     FIGS. 7-9 show other shapes of workpiece heads. In FIG. 7 the head 72 is triangular in shape, with the lower large portion 74 and the upper small portion 76 angularly displaced as referred to in connection with FIG. 6. In FIG. 8 the head has square lower and upper elements and in FIG. 9 the head 80 is star-shaped, this form being known as the &#34;Torx&#34; head. While the head of FIG. 9 is generally star-shaped, it may be considered polygonal, in a broad sense, in that it is non-circular and the elements thereof engage corresponding elements in the socket, for turning the workpiece, and the term polygonal, as used herein, is intended to cover this form also. 
     The tool is adapted for use with other forms of workpieces, such as one having a head shown in FIG. 10. In this instance the head 82 has a lower large element and an upper small element as in the case of FIG. 5, but it includes a washer 84 as a part of the lower element. In applying the tool to this kind of workpiece, the socket engages the washer, thus limiting the extent of the movement of the head into the recess. 
     The form of workpiece 18, shown in FIG. 1, is often utilized in great numbers, and in such case, it may be convenient to have a socket with the key therein in fixed position. FIG. 11 shows a modified form, of this kind including a socket member 88 of one-piece construction. It has a radially inwardly extending body portion 90 forming a front recess 92 and a rear recess 94. Formed in the body portion 90 is a small hole 96 in which a key 98 is press fitted, the key having a head 100 engaging the shoulder in the rear recess for limiting its forward movement. The elements are so dimensioned that the key extends into the front recess 92 a short distance, and when the socket is applied to the workpiece 18, the head 58 fits into, and fills, the front recess while the key enters the cavity in the head. It is also within the scope of the invention to make the key and the socket member of one-piece construction. 
     In the case of both sockets, i.e. FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, the socket member is a one-piece, integral element and the key is fitted in a hole in the socket member, and the key engages the material making up the shell of the socket member. Thus the small hole in which the key is fitted, determines the position of the key, to the exclusion of any other mounting means. The key is held in its determined position in the case of FIG. 1 by the set screw, and in the case of FIG. 11 by friction.