Abstract:
A socket holding device has a plurality of posts extending from a base. The base may be arranged so that shallow wells are linearly arranged in front of deeper wells with the posts extending from the center of the wells. The posts have arms with a radial bead connected thereto receivable within receivers in the shafts of sockets. A socket may be securely retained to the base thereby preventing undesired disengagement from the well if inverted or “knocked over”, while preferably allowing free rotation of an installed socket thus enabling one to read the sizing information on the exterior surface of the socket. This design is believed to provide an ability to be installed and uninstalled from the post multiple times without a loss of grip function and also preferably requires no secondary motion to remove or release the socket, and can consist of a one-piece design.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/792,302 filed Jun. 2, 2010 now abandoned, which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/186,021 filed Jun. 11, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a socket storage device in the form of a holder fixture which {1} after the socket is installed allows socket rotation, {2} is held preferably with a sufficient force that the socket cannot detach by itself when the fixture is inverted or “knocked over”, {3} allows the socket to be installed and uninstalled multiple times without losing the function of grip, {4} requires no secondary motion to remove or release the socket apart from pulling the socket off the holder, {5} consists primarily of a one-piece or integrally molded design and preferably such a device configured to accommodate a plurality of various sizes and shapes of sockets and/or accessories that can be used to install and/or extract bolts, nuts or screws. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The applicant is aware of socket holding devices which provide a plurality of wells into which a socket can be placed. However, most of these prior art devices provide wells which receive sockets. However, when the socket holder is turned upside down, the sockets would normally then fall out of the wells. 
     Some prior art designs provide a round pin in the center of the well which does not grab a socket but instead guides the socket into the well. When these designs are inverted, the sockets fall out. Others provide a square pin in the center of the well which does not grab a socket but instead guides the socket into the well. When these designs are inverted, the sockets fall out. Furthermore, these square pin designs require the user to orient the sockets  1  in a desired position when installing as the sockets  1  cannot be turned after installing if one desires to read the sizing information on the exterior surface of the sockets because the socket shaft  14  is square and usually of similar perimeter dimensions as the pin thereby preventing rotation. 
     Some prior art designs incorporates a round or square post that uses an interference fit with the side walls of the socket shaft  14  and are primarily used in the packaging and security of the socket in the retail store. These designs are typically broken when the socket is removed. {1} Rotation of the round post designs might be achieved but it is difficult due to the force of the interference fit. Other such round post design {such as Dembicks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,951 is believed to provide} relies on a cam action to provide the interference fit necessary to hold the socket with the side walls of the socket shaft  30  and not the socket grooves  2  but this design limits the rotation of the socket in the lock position {4} and a secondary motion for the cam other than pulling the socket from the post must be imputed by the user to lock the socket in place. Square post designs {such as Stanton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,230} do not allow of such rotation because the socket shaft  14  is square. {3} Also these post designs are not believed to work well because when the socket is removed from the post, the post either breaks the hiding features and with each attach and detach of the socket causes a reduction in its interference function until such point the post cannot retain the socket. 
     Some prior art designs {such as Stanton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,230} incorporates a round or square post that grips (by use of a snap-fit design) the socket by the back face  200  of the socket. Again these designs are believed to be primarily used in the packaging and security of the socket in the retail store and are typically not used again once the socket is removed. {1} Rotation of the socket can be achieved with the round post but not with the square post designs because the socket shaft  14  is square. {3} These designs are not believed to work satisfactorily because when the socket is removed from the post, the post breaks the holding features. The normal way to remove the socket from the holding feature is to use a tool (screwdriver or pliers) to pry the holding feature away from the back face of the socket. Also, this design is believed to be limited to socket sizes that have a socket head-nut or bolt size  201  that is smaller than the effective diameter of the socket shaft  14 . In this case, a different size or design of the post is necessary. 
     Another prior art design {as disclosed in Mu, U.S. Patent Application No. U.S. 2006/0254940} incorporates a square post that grips the socket by the socket grooves  2 . The periphery grooves  2  located in the socket shaft  14  are used to hold the socket on to the ratchet or extension to install and/or extract bolts, nuts or screws. {1} Again, rotation of the socket cannot be achieved because the socket shaft  14  and post are square and of similar dimensions. {5} also the design is considered a two piece design with the socket retaining feature as one piece and the base or tray to which the socket will rest being the secondary piece. This design would be a concern for manufacturing and assembly costs because of the two-piece design. 
     One improvement over this construction as is available on the market includes magnetic socket holders which have magnets along the sides or bottom of the wells. However, once the socket is placed into a well having a magnet, the socket still cannot be easily turned to view the information normally provided on the exterior surface of a socket such as its size and if the holder is inverted or “knocked over”/vibrated and the magnets are not believed to be strong enough to overcome the weight of the biggest sockets, the socket can “fall out”. {5} Also the design is considered by the applicant to be a two piece design with the socket retaining feature (magnet) as one piece and the base or tray to which the socket rests being the secondary piece. This design too would be a concern for manufacturing and assembly costs because of the two-piece design. 
     Accordingly, there is believed to be a need for improvement over prior art socket holding devices. A design that can simultaneously carry out at least some, if not all of, the functions of {1} an installed socket is allowed to freely rotate to see the sizing information on the exterior surface of the socket, {2} is held with such a sufficient force that the socket cannot detach by itself when the fixture is inverted or “knocked over/vibrated”, {3} allowed to be installed and uninstalled multiple times without losing the function of grip, {4} requires no secondary motion apart from pulling the socket of the holding device to remove or release the socket, and {5} consists of a one-piece design to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a present object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved socket holding device. 
     It is another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a socket holding device having a plurality of wells with each configured to have a post therein configured to retain an inserted socket. 
     It is another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a plurality of posts internal to wells in the socket holding device wherein the posts are resiliently biased to retain inserted sockets through engagement with the socket groove. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a socket holding device wherein the socket holding device can be inverted or “knocked over”/vibrated and still retain properly installed sockets. 
     It is yet another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a socket holding device wherein although the sockets are retained in various wells, the sockets can be relatively easily rotated such as for convenience in being able to read sizing information as is normally printed on exterior surfaces of the socket. 
     It is yet another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a socket holding device wherein the sockets can be installed and uninstalled multiple times and still provide an adequate gripping function through normal use. 
     It is yet another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a socket holding device that can be manufactured as a one-piece design. 
     Accordingly, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a socket holding device provides a plurality of posts such as extending the common direction from a base as can be arranged in trays in wells. The posts can extend one or more arms and with each arms a comprising of a bead so that when a shaft of a socket is placed thereon the beads deflect inwardly into the shaft until reaching a socket groove and then the arms and/or beads deflect outwardly into the socket groove thereby retaining the socket securely on the post while still allowing the rotation of the socket so a user could potentially read the sizing information normally printed on the exterior of the socket. Furthermore, the device can be inverted or “knocked over”/vibrated without the socket falling off the post. Although all advantages may not be experienced by all embodiments, these advantages and others relate to the embodied by the present embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross sectional view of a socket as taken along the center line; 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of internal parts shown in phantom of the socket shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of a post of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side plan view of a post shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammic representation of the post shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a socket storage device; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the portion of the storage device shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing the insertion of a socket into one of the wells of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the structure of  FIG. 7  with the socket installed and internal portions shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 8  shows cross sectional view of the present invention taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 8  of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric or top perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the collecting device in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the collecting device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 5  together with  FIG. 6  shows a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a socket holding device  100  which is comprised of first and second trays  7  and  8 . First row of tray  7  is shown without the sockets connected thereto in  FIG. 6  while  FIG. 5  shows sockets of various sizes occupying the various positions as will be described in further detail below. 
     Sockets  1  are well known in the art. Sockets  1  are utilized to extract bolts, nuts or screws as well as inject or install bolts, nuts or screws as are known in the art. Sockets  1  have a first female end  11  which receives the top of a bolt or nut and even some screws. Sockets, also normally have a second female end  12  which is normally utilized to receive an extension from a ratchet, nut driver or other structure. The square ratchet or nut driver would often have a detent ball which is received in at least one of the four socket grooves  2  in the socket  1 . In other embodiments, instead of having multiple socket grooves  2 , a single socket groove  2  extending a radial distance beyond and about the square shaft  14  as is known in the art. These grooves  2  in the socket  1  are typically radial in nature and have a specific diameter to determine the depth of the groove  2  in all four shaft walls  30 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a typical socket in the prior art of socket  1  having socket grooves  2 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show detail of a holding feature also known as a post  3  which is preferably provided in a well such as deep well  15  as well as shallow well  17  collectively referred to as wells  15 , 17 . The holding features preferably provide at least one if not a plurality of arms  16  which are connected to one or more beads  4  contained on at least one if not each of the arms  16 . Three arms  16 , 18  and  19  are illustrated, each having bead portions forming beads  4  therein. The arms  16 , 18 , 19  preferably are spacedably one or more slots such as slots  20 , 21 , 22 . Slots  20 , 21 , 22  allow for the arms  16 , 18 , 19  to deflect towards one another as the shaft bore  14  is directed over the post  3 . The arms  16 , 18 , 19  may deflect towards one another such as is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The beads  4  can then engage into all of the socket grooves  2  as rotated and at least one when stationary. A plurality of arms  16 , 18 , 19  can be utilized whether it is three arms  16 , 18 , 19  as is shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B. Symmetric or non-symmetric dispositions of arms  16 , 18 , 19  about center line  26  may be utilized. Furthermore, bead portions  4  may be deflectable inwardly such as towards center line  26  independently of or together with arms  16 , 18 , 19 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the outer circumference around the body  23  of an arm  16 , 18 , 19  preferably defines an outer diameter which cooperates with the shaft  14  (i.e., is slightly or at least sufficiently smaller) whereas the bead  4  preferably has a slightly greater diameter. The diameter about the body  23  of an arm before insertion into shaft  14  is preferably smaller than an internal effective diameter of the shaft  14 . The bead  4  also preferably has a rounded and/or angled top edge  24  hereto referred as “beveled” so that when the top edge  24  contacts the bottom surface  25  of the socket  1  and/or sides  30  of shaft  14 , the bead  4  is then deflected inwardly toward center line  26  until it passes into and/or through the shaft  14  and the bead  4  can then extend outwardly into the socket grooves  2 . Shoulder  29  is also preferably similarly constructed as body  23  and may have an angled or arcuate surfaces  27  so as to facilitate the insertion and/or deflection of the arms  16 , 18 , 19  and/or bead  4  as are helpful. Bottom surface  25  of socket  1  can also rest on bottom  31  of base  90  and/or wells  15 , 17  when installed for at least some embodiments. 
     The arms  16 , 18 , 19  expand outward after bead  4  enters the socket groove  2 . Bead  4  is thus captured and encapsulated by groove  2  therefore preventing socket  1  from disengagement with arms  16 , 18 , 19  when tray  7 , 8  are moved, turned upside down, or any other various motions. Furthermore, it can be realized from  FIG. 10  after socket  1  is installed to post  3  and bead  4  engages groove  2  that socket  1  can normally easily rotate whilst not engaging from the lower surface  29  from grooves  2  of socket  1 . As may be seen from  FIG. 8 , the groove  2  preferably has a larger outer perimeter than the bead  4  so there is preferably not a friction fit. The groove  2  may also cooperate with shaft  14  to provide a perimeter about the bead  4  when installed as shown in  FIG. 8  keeping the bead  4  from passing through the shaft  14  unintentionally. The bead  4  whether continuous or discontinuous as shown can possibly engage multiple segments of the groove  2  as shown, and possibly all of them as sown, for at least some embodiments. 
     The lower surface  28  of the bead  4  preferably may provide an angled and/or curved lower surface  28  (hereinafter “beveled”) to facilitate the desired removal of a particular socket  1  such as by pulling so that the curved surface  28  acts against the socket groove  2  or elsewhere (including sides  30  of shaft  14 ) pushing inwardly until freed as at least some of the arms  16 , 18 , 19  are pulled toward one another until they pass through the shaft  14 . The socket  1  can preferably be removed from the post  3  once the bead  4  exits the grooves  2  and shaft  14 . The perimeter of the shaft  14  is normally configured so that bead(s)  4  are retained in the groove  2  once installed until the socket  1  is pulled off the post  3  by a user. 
     The posts  3  used with the trays  7  and  8  of the device  100  are preferably provided in parallel arrangement by and/or in a tray  7  or  8  or trays  7 , 8  in one embodiment. The posts  3  connect to base  90  which could be the trays  7 , 8  in various embodiments, planar arrangements such as from bottoms  31 , and/or other bases  90 . Other bases could be provided for various embodiments. One arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Posts  3  may also be installed relative to a bottom  31  of wells  15 , 17 . Although wells  15 , 17  are shown with  17  being a shallow well  17  and  15  being a deeper well, the well configurations can take a variety of shapes in various embodiments. In fact, the posts  3  could be supported from a planar or other structure without wells  15 , 17  or with well and/or wells  15  or  17 . By providing the posts  3  with the sockets  1  installed, the sockets  1  can be relatively easily turned to users to verify that the socket matches either an embossed identification  9 , if provided, and/or so the socket  1  can be read for the user to decide whether or not to utilize while still securely holding the socket  1 . Of course, in some embodiments, marking on exterior wall surfaces at the socket  1  could be at least partially obscured by wells  15  or  17 . 
     First wells  17  are illustrated with a substantially similar first depth  91  which is shallower than a second depth  92  of second wells  15  in this preferred embodiment. Second depth  92  is illustrated wells  15 , 17  have well walls  93  which can assist in retaining a socket  1  by cooperating with an exterior surface  94  received at least partially therein substantially similar for the second well  15 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a number of advantages. Specifically, many embodiments will hold the socket firmly by the socket groove illustrated as socket grooves  2  with posts  3 . Other products are only known to utilize magnets along the sides of wells to hold sockets  1 . However, the present invention allows for both holding socket  1  firmly, rotate freely when installed, the ability to be installed and uninstalled from the post  3  multiple times without a loss of grip function and to be manufactured as a one-piece design. A one piece design may be molded as a single piece with the posts  3  integral to the base(s)  90  and/or the device  100 . 
     The trays  7  and/or  8  which are utilized may be permanently and/or temporarily connected can together be provided together or independently and/or in other arrangements. The device  100  may be placed into a box or storage container either vertically or horizontally. Other products available in the prior art are generally designed to be located vertically or horizontally, but not both. 
     It is another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to securely retain sockets  1  even when carried and maintained in an inverted conditions and/or vibration. Most other designs which are subjected to vibration or turning upside down release the socket. 
     Correct socket positioning when installing in the device  100  is also not always required for all embodiments whereas some prior art designs have a square perimeter pin (which does not grip an inserted socket or does not allow rotation of the inserted socket) but does require specific positioning of the socket relative to the pin to install. 
     Holder  100  has posts  3  which hold the sockets  1  by the socket groove  2  of the sockets  1 . The device  100  provides a holding feature in the form of the bead  4  which can have a round circumference as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9  and  10 . Holder device  100  and/or post  3  can be made of plastic or other material. Any material which can deflect the bead  4  when installed and uninstalled could be satisfactory. 
     The device  100  can work with various sets of socket drives and can be utilized with deep well sockets, shallow well sockets included but not limited to ¼ inch, 5/16 inch, ⅜ inch, 7/16 inch, ½ inch, 9/16 inch, ⅝ inch, 11/16 inch, ¾ inch, 13/16 inch, ⅞ inch and other sizes both in English units as well as metric units as well as some accessories such as bends, extension members, etc. 
     The preferred embodiment may provide a plastic injected holder  100  having injection molded plastic trays  7 , 8  to hold sockets and possibly tools such as extensions which could be in standard and/or metric sizes. 
     The wells such as  15 , 17  are preferably molded into trays  7 , 8  and have a bottom  31  from which the posts  3  upwardly extend therefrom in the illustrated embodiment. Other embodiments may have a bottom oriented perpendicularly to bottoms illustrated and posts  3  disposed at an angle and/or sideways. Other embodiments may be provided with or without wells  15 , 17  such as in trays, slide rails, or other structures in various configurations. 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.