Abstract:
A socket holder for providing increased holding power, rotational release, and biased position return. The socket holder including a base with a pin extending from the base. The pin has a conical section with an increasing diameter at the distal end of the pin. The conical section has a reduced curvature side and an increased curvature side such that a ball can be wedged between the increased curvature side and a socket base to hold the socket on the holder. The reduced curvature side allowing the ball to be rotated around the pin to reduce the wedge force between the ball and the socket to release the socket from the holder. A spring is used to both bias the ball against the pin and the socket base and to automatically return the holder to a state of readiness for holding a new socket once a socket is removed from the holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to convenient tool storage and more particularly, this invention pertains to a socket holder with a quick release feature.  
           [0002]    Several United States Patents are directed to various storage assistance devices for sockets. These include: U.S. Pat. No. 1,712,473, issued to McWethy on Aug. 18, 1927; U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,570, issued to Robinson on May 11, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,874, issued to Whitaker on Jan. 10, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,342, issued to Geibel on Jun. 26, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,797, issued to Kao on Feb. 26, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,745, issued to Dembicks on Jan. 21, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,655, issued to Ernst on May 10, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,018, issued to Ramsey et al. on Sep. 20, 1999. Each of these patents is hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,712,473 teaches a holder for a set of sockets comprising a bar to which a plurality of posts are attached. Each post has a transverse opening in which two balls and a spring are mounted such that the balls slightly protrude from each side of the opening. When a socket is forced over the post, the balls are forced inward slightly so that the expansion of the spring grips the socket firmly. The &#39;473 Patent does not address the problem of easily removing a socket from a post without exerting force.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,570 teaches an improved wrench socket storage rack which not only enables the organization of socket sets by dimensional graduations, but also includes means providing instantaneous socket release from the wrench socket storage rack with the touch of a fingertip on a release button. A ball locks into an indentation on the inside of a socket. The release button is on the underneath of the rack. When it is pushed, the ball retracts into a cavity in the pin and allows the socket to slide off the post. This requires that the underside of the rack be available to access the button.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,874 teaches an improved socket holder which provides a positive means of attachment and retention of all socket tools while allowing of a simple mechanical maneuver to readily release the socket from the holder. This device includes a ball and recess in the post. When rotated a quarter-turn, the ball retreats into the recess and allows a socket to slide on and off easily. The holding force is limited by the strength of the spring pressing against the ball.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,745 teaches a holder system for interchangeable sockets which prevents the sockets from being removed from a rack when the holder system is being used to display the sockets for sale. The system comprises a lock which is inserted in the cavity of the socket to hold it in place.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,655 teaches a wrench socket holder having a boss on a resilient member which holds sockets on a socket holder. The &#39;655 Patent does not teach a means of removing a socket other than by force.  
           [0008]    The remaining patents show alternative designs known in the art.  
           [0009]    What is needed, then, is a socket holder to provide improved strength holding power while providing an easy release action for the socket to holder connection.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The novelty of the invention is an improved apparatus and method to store sockets. The base of the invention comprises a head including an outer shell with an internal ball for holding the socket. When a socket is placed on the head, the ball maintains a snug grip on the socket by pressing against the sidewall or pressing into the indentation in the socket. To remove the socket, the head is rotated a quarter-turn, causing the ball to recess into the head and allowing the socket to slide easily off the head. This allows a user to remove a socket using only one hand.  
           [0011]    A major improvement of this invention is the increased holding power for maintaining a socket in position on the head when the head is inserted into the socket base. The head forms an outer shell with a vertical opening in which a ball is partially recessed and held in place against an internal pin by a spring. The internal pin has a cone shaped body. The ball is held in position between coils of the spring such that it is biased in an extended position in relation to the head. The cone shaped internal pin and the internal wall of the socket base form a wedge such that once the head is inserted into the socket base, the application of a removal force to the socket wedges the ball between the internal wall of the socket base and the internal pin of the socket holder increases the holding power as the removal force is increased.  
           [0012]    To overcome the improved holding force of the present invention, a flat or reduced curvature face is formed on the internal pin of the head to allow for the ball to recess within the head for removal of the socket. The ball is rotatably positioned between an increased diameter section and a reduced diameter section of the pin by rotation of the outer shell in relation to the internal pin. The rotation of the outer shell is improved in the present invention by biasing the relationship of the outer shell and the internal pin into a holding position such that it automatically returns to the holding position once the rotational force is removed.  
           [0013]    The holding position is also improved by allowing insertion of a socket onto the head while the head is in the holding position. This only requires a pressing force of the socket onto the head. The conical section of the internal pin allows the ball to be pressed down against the spring and recessed into the outer shell until the socket has sufficient clearance to be mounted on the head. This allows the easy connection of the socket onto the head by a pressing force against the head and allows for variations in the clearances of the socket recesses while still maintaining improved holding power for the socket holder. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the socket holder.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the socket holder.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3A, 3B, and  3 C show a cutaway view of the action of pressing a socket onto the socket holder head.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4A and 4B show a cutaway view of the action of the recessing of the ball on the flat portion of the internal pin and extending the ball on the conical portion of the pin.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5A, 5B, and  5 C show a cutaway view of the retraction of the ball following the shape of the internal pin when the outer shell is rotated.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the outer shell.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a top view of the outer shell.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a left side view of the outer shell.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a front view of the outer shell.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a right side view of the outer shell.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a back side view of the outer shell.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the outer shell.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a top view of the internal pin.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a left side view of the internal pin.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a front view of the internal pin.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a right side view of the internal pin.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a back side view of the internal pin.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the internal pin.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is an isometric view of the outer shell.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 20 is a top view of the rack base.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 21 is a left side view of the rack base.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 22 is a front view of the rack base.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 23 is a right side view of the rack base.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 24 is a back side view of the rack base.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the rack base.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    [0039]FIG. 1 of the drawing shows an assembled socket head  10  and FIG. 2 of the drawings shows and exploded view of the socket head  10 . The socket head  10  includes an outer shell  14  mounted by an internal pin  12  on a base  20 . The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings uses a rail base  20  for slideable engagement with a standard socket rail as is well known in the prior art. However, the base  20  may be of any type appropriate for the application.  
         [0040]    The base  20  is shown as a rail base  20  with rail ears  22  and a base platform  24  defining a base pin hole  26 , base spring hole  28 , and movement control slot  30 . The rail ears  22  are designed to engage a socket rail as is known in the art. A spring  16  is mounted on the rail base  20  by insertion into the base spring hole  28 . The spring  16  is a coil spring with coils  32  and a lower end  34  and an upper end  36 . The lower end  34  of the spring  16  is inserted into the base spring hole  28 . The ball  18  is placed between two coils  32  of the spring  16 . An outer shell  14  is then inserted over the spring  16  and ball  18  assembly.  
         [0041]    The internal pin  12  is then inserted into the pin hollow  44  in the outer shell  14  and extended through the pin opening in the rail base  20 . The pin is then fixed in position to the rail base  20  such that rotation of the outer shell  14  in relation to the rail base  20  also rotates the relative position of the outer shell  14  in relation to the internal pin  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the socket holder is constructed of steel and the pin is welded to the rail base  20  although any type of connection known in the art may be provided. The orientation of the flat portion  46  of the pin in relation to base  20  is important to achieve the advantages of the present invention and will be discussed further herein.  
         [0042]    The outer shell  14  defies a limiting finger  38  on the external portion of the shell  14  and an internal central pin hollow  44  with a shell spring hole  42  and a ball opening  40  that are both connected with the central pin hollow  44 . The ball opening  40  extends from the pin hollow  44  through the outer wall  45  of the outer shell  14  such that a portion of the ball  18  can extend outward from the outer shell  14 . This also allows the position of the ball opening  40  to control the position of the ball  18  in the pin hollow  44 . The ball opening  40  is sized such that the ball  18  cannot pass through the ball opening  40 .  
         [0043]    The spring  16  is inserted into the pin hollow  44  and the upper end  36  of the spring  16  is inserted into the shell spring hole  42  (shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B,  3 C, and FIG. 8). The limiting finger  38  of the outer shell  14  is inserted into the movement control slot  30  on the base  20 . In this manner the spring  16  biases the outer shell  14  in relation to the base  20  to a normal position where the ball  18  contacts the conical portion  46  of the internal pin  12 . The outer shell  14  can then be rotated in relation to the base  20  to a rotated position where the ball contacts the flat portion  48  of the internal pin  12 . The extent of the rotation is controlled by the limiting finger  38  and movement limiting slot  30  connection.  
         [0044]    The installation of a socket  50  onto the holder is shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and  3 C. The internal pin  12  should be fixed in position on the base such that the conical portion  46  of the internal pin  12  presses against the ball  18  when the outer shell  14  is in its normal position. The normal position is also known as the holding position and will be discussed further herein.  
         [0045]    The sequence of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and  3 C show the installation of a socket  50  onto the holder  10  by using a pressing force  52  pushing the socket  50  onto the holder  10 . The ball  18  is designed to move along the sloping angle of the conical section  46  such that the ball  18  can controllably extend outward from the outer shell  14 . The conical section  48  is smaller in diameter towards the base and larger in diameter towards the top of the pin  12 . As the ball  18  moves upward to the larger diameter section along the conical shape  46  of the internal pin  12 , the distance that the ball  18  extends from the wall  45  of the outer shell  14  is increased. As the ball  18  is moved downward towards the small diameter section along the conical portion  46  of the internal pin  12 , the ball  18  is recessed further into the outer shell  14  to decrease the amount of extension of the ball  18  from the outer shell  14 .  
         [0046]    As can be seen in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and  3 C, the spring  16  biases the ball  18  in the upward direction to press against the top of the ball opening  40 . As a socket  50  is inserted onto the holder  10 , the socket  50  presses down on the ball  18  to compress the spring  16  until the ball  18  is sufficiently recessed to allow the socket  50  to be fully inserted onto the holder  10 . The ball  18  is then wedged by the spring  16  between the conical section  46  of the internal pin  12  and the internal wall  54  of the socket  50 . If an upward force is now applied to the socket  50  in an attempt to remove the socket  50  from the holder  10 , then the ball  18  will be further wedged between the pin  12  and the socket wall  54  such that an additional wedging force is created between the internal pin  12  and the socket wall  54 . In this manner, the socket  50  is secured onto the holder  10  with a design that increases holding power as the removal force is increased. This allows for the holder  10  to maintain the position of the socket  50  on the holder  10  with an improved retention ability over prior art designs. The ball may also extend into an internal depression  51  on the socket  50  for additional holding power.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIGS. 4A and 4B of the drawings show the removal of the socket  50  from the holder  10  using the flat portion  48  of the internal pin  12 . The flat portion  46  does not actually have be flat, but can be made with a reduced curvature to reduce the diameter of the pin  12  to the proper clearance. However, the preferred embodiment uses the flat portion  46  discussed herein. We viewed in a cross sectional view, the conical section  48  has an increased curvature when compared against the flat section  46 . Additional reference may be had to FIG. 5A which shows the outer shell  14  in the normal or holding position  60  in relation to the internal pin  12  such that the ball  18  is against the conical portion  46  of the internal pin  12 , FIG. 5B which shows a partial rotation of the outer shell  14  in relation to the internal pin  12 , and FIG. 5C which shows the rotated position  62  of the outer shell  14  with the ball  18  positioned against the flat portion  46  of the internal pin  12 . Thus, the ball  18  will be against the conical section  46  of the internal pin  12  when the socket holder  10  is in the normal holding position  60  and the ball  18  will be against the flat portion  48  of the pin when the socket holder  10  is in its rotated removal position  62 . This controls the ability of the ball  18  to be recessed into the pin hollow  44  for easy removal of the socket  50 . Note that the prior art teaches a sharp edge on the transition between a flat and arcuate section of a cam element. This invention provides a further improvement to that design by using a radius  64  between the flat portion  48  and the conical section  46  of the is preferred design of the socket holder  10  to improve the smoothness of the action of the holder  10  between the holding position  60  and the removal position  62 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 6 through 12 show the various views of the outer shell  14  of the socket holder  10 . The outer shell  14  is an elongated cube with an internal pin hollow  44  formed by drilling a bore from the bottom  70  of the elongated cube. A smaller top opening  72  is then formed by boring through the top  74  of the outer shell  14 . This construction provides for a pin hollow  44  while still allowing a top  74  that may be contacted by a shoulder  80  on the internal pin  12  to retain the outer shell  14 .  
         [0049]    The outer shell  14  also includes a shell spring hole  42  for connection of the upper end  36  of the spring  16 . The upper end  36  of the spring  16  is inserted into this shell spring hole  42  to bias the outer shell  14  in relation to the base  20 . The outer shell  14  also defines a limiting finger  38  on the external portion of the shell  14 . The limiting finger  38  of the outer shell  14  is inserted into the movement control slot  30  on the base  20 . This limits the rotational movement of the outer shell  14  in relation to the base  20  so that excessive rotation is not applied to the spring  16  and also provides a positive stop for the rotational movement to define both the rotated position  62  and the normal position  60 .  
         [0050]    As may be seen in FIG. 6 and as shown by the dashed outline of the ball opening  40  and ball  18  shown in FIG. 12, the ball opening  40  is provided with angled sides  41  such that the ball  18  may extend outward from the front wall  45  of the outer shell  14  while still maintaining an appropriate thickness for the remaining walls  45  of the outer shell  14 . This may also be partially achieved by reducing the distance between the bore of the pin hollow  44  and the edge of the outer shell  14  by either moving the bore of the pin hollow  44  off of center or increasing the size of the bore to reduce the wall  45  thickness. For the preferred embodiment, the relieved angled edges  41  of the ball opening  40  are used to maintain an appropriate wall  45  thickness.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 13 through 18 show the different views of the internal pin  12 . The internal pin  12  includes a top shoulder  80  and an upper bearing  82  adapted to mate with the top opening  72  of the outer shell  14 . The top shoulder  80  retains the outer shell  14  on the internal pin  12  and the upper bearing surface  82  allows the outer shell  14  to rotate around the internal pin  12 . The conical portion  48  angles in from the bearing surface  82  at approximately a two degree angle to form an upside down cone. The flat portion  46  is also formed at a two degree angle to provide the relief clearance necessary to allow for the ball  18  to recess. The edge  84  between the flat portion  46  and the conical portion  48  is radiused to provide for a smother action as the ball  18  travels around the surface of the internal pin  12 . A lower shoulder  86  is provided for a fixed insertion depth of the internal pin  12  into the rail base  20 . This allows a controlled amount of clearance for the outer shell  14  to rotate around the internal pin  12  once the pin  12  is fixed to the base  20 . Finally, the internal pin  12  includes a base extension  88  designed to fit into the rail base  20  where it may be welded or otherwise fixed to the rail base  20 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIGS. 19 through 25 show the various views of the rail base  20 . The rail base  20  defines the base pin hole  26 , base spring hole  28 , and movement control slot  30 . The base pin hole  26  allows the internal pin  12  to be inserted and fixed in position on the rail base  20 . It is envisioned that the base pin hole  26  can be constructed with a pattern to control the alignment of the internal pin  12  the rail base  20  to properly align the internal pin  12  onto the rail base  20 . The insertion of the outer shell  14  with the limiting finger  38  inserted into the movement control slot  30  will then properly align the outer shell  14  with the internal pin  12 . The base spring hole  26  is used to hold the lower end  34  of the spring  16  in position in relation to the rail base  20 .  
         [0053]    The spring  16  functions in two ways to provide biasing for the socket holder  10 . The connection of the spring  16  between the base spring hole  26  on the rail base  20  and the shell spring hole  42  on the outer shell  14  acts to bias the rotational movement of the outer shell  14  on the rail base  20  to the normal position  60 . The spring  16  biases the rotation of the outer shell  14  back to the normal position  60  when the outer shell  14  is rotated on the internal pin  12 . The extent of this movement is controlled by the limiting finger  38  in the movement control slot  30  on the rail base  20 .  
         [0054]    The spring  16  also acts to bias the ball  18  upward in the ball  18  slot to press the ball  18  against the socket  50  when it is installed to ensure proper positioning of the ball  18  for the wedge action of the socket holder  10 .  
         [0055]    The ball  18  is a simple spherical steel bearing of appropriate size for coordinated movement in the ball  18  slot with the cylindrical portion  48  and flat portion  46  of the internal pin  12 .  
         [0056]    Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful socket holder with wedge retention and rotational release, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.