Abstract:
An adjustable socket including a housing designed on a longitudinal axis, with a series of grooves extending longitudinally along the interior wall. A disc with guide slots intruding obliquely off-center from the perimeter is locked into position within the housing. Jaw members with bottom stems and cams are mounted in the disc guide slots, free to move laterally along fixed paths. An axially rotatable drive core with a cam surface is positioned within the housing, engaging the cam of each jaw. Rotation of the drive core forces the jaws to travel inwardly along the disc guide slots as dictated by the spiraling guide elements of the cam surface, to be forced against a fastener within the jaws. A locking mechanism holds the jaws in position on the fastener. Release of the locking mechanism allows rotation of the drive core in the opposite direction to release the fastener.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a utility patent application based on U.S. provisional patent application No. 61692996, filed on Aug. 24, 2012, entitled “Adjustable Socket”, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An adjustable socket that can fit varying sizes of fasteners (nuts, bolts, etc.) can replace several fixed-size sockets, reducing the components of a socket set into a minimal number of tools. An adjustable socket allows for streamlining of workflow, as time is no longer spent finding and selecting the correct fixed-size socket from a set. An adjustable socket may also more tightly grip a damaged or worn fastener than a fixed-size socket. 
         [0003]    Several adjustable sockets exist in the prior art which are manually adjustable to fit varying sizes of fasteners, by means of a plurality of jaws which are moveable along a fixed path. However, despite the basic functionality of these devices, they are susceptible to inherent design restrictions that limit their effectiveness and range of operation. 
         [0004]    The operating range of an adjustable socket with jaws whose pathways travel in a direct radial path toward the fastener is inherently limited. To allow for direct radial contraction of jaws on the head of a fastener, these devices must either have a limited number of jaws, or jaws much narrower than the faces they are intended to grip. These conditions result in less shared surface area between the sockets and fasteners, which results in reduced force potential and increased slippage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An adjustable socket with jaws that travel along paths oblique to the center of the socket can overcome the limitations presented by adjustable sockets with radially-moveable jaws. These oblique pathways can be longer than a corresponding radial pathway, thereby increasing the operable range of the socket. Jaws that travel along oblique pathways may slide past one another rather than contract together, allowing for a jaw of maximum possible width. This in turn creates more shared surface area between socket and fastener, increasing force potential and reducing slippage. Furthermore, jaws that slide past one another provide additional resistance against undesired rotation or tilting of the jaws by buttressing one another at the points of greatest pressure. 
         [0006]    A well-designed adjustable socket is a simple, convenient, cost-effective alternative to a socket set, allowing for a wide range of adjustable sizes, providing the ability to apply and maintain significant force to a fastener without slipping or failing, while maintaining a sleek, aesthetic design. These qualities are included in the embodiments of the adjustable socket described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The preferred embodiments of the adjustable socket are illustrated by the following figures of the drawings. These figures and the illustrated embodiments therein are intended to be exemplary and not restrictive. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded oblique view of an adjustable socket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is an oblique top front view of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view taken with respect to line  2 C- 2 C shown in  FIG. 2B . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2D  is a quarter-sectional oblique top side view of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket, with a fastener shown schematically. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are respectively front transparent elevation, oblique top front, and oblique bottom front views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s housing. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3D ,  3 E,  3 F, and  3 G are cross-sectional oblique top front views taken with respect to lines  3 D- 3 D,  3 E- 3 E,  3 F- 3 F, and  3 G- 3 G respectively shown in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D are respectively front elevation, top plan, oblique top front, and oblique bottom front views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s disc. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C,  5 D, and  5 E are respectively front elevation, bottom plan, oblique top front, oblique bottom front, and oblique bottom rear views of one of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s jaws. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C are respectively front elevation, oblique top front, and oblique bottom front views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive core. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6D ,  6 E,  6 F, and  6 G are cross-sectional oblique bottom front views taken with respect to lines  6 D- 6 D,  6 E- 6 E,  6 F- 6 F, and  6 G- 6 G respectively shown in  FIG. 6A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  is an oblique top front view of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism with jaws fully opened, and an arrow depicting the motion of the drive core. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7B ,  7 C, and  7 D are oblique top front views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism, illustrating the varying positions of the tightening jaws as the drive core is rotated. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8A  is a top semi-transparent view of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism with jaws fully opened, with an arrow depicting the motion of the drive core and arrows depicting the motion of the jaws.  FIGS. 8B ,  8 C, and  8 D are top transparent views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism, illustrating the varying positions of the drive core cam surface and tightening jaws as the drive core is rotated. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and  9 C, are respectively top plan, oblique top front, and oblique top side views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s locking lever and torsion spring assembly.  FIG. 9D  is an oblique bottom rear view of the locking lever. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 10A ,  10 B,  10 C, and  10 D are respectively front elevation, bottom plan, oblique top front, and oblique bottom front views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s threaded plug. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are respectively oblique side exploded and oblique side views showing the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket coupling with a half-inch ratcheting socket-driving tool.  FIGS. 11C ,  11 D, and  11 E are oblique side views depicting the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s jaws tightening on a schematically-shown fastener, as the ratcheting socket-driving tool is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 11B . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 13A ,  13 B,  13 C, and  13 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket, showing the jaws in a first partially closed position. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 14A ,  14 B,  14 C, and  14 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket, showing the jaws in a second partially closed position. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 15A ,  15 B,  15 C, and  15 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 16A ,  16 B,  16 C, and  16 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ¼ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 17A ,  17 B,  17 C, and  17 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ¼ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 18A ,  18 B,  18 C, and  18 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for standard fasteners and ¼ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 19A ,  19 B,  19 C, and  19 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for standard fasteners and ¼ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 20A ,  20 B,  20 C, and  20 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ⅜ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 21A ,  21 B,  21 C, and  21 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ⅜ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 22A ,  22 B,  22 C, and  22 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for standard fasteners and ⅜ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 23A ,  23 B,  23 C, and  23 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for standard fasteners and ⅜ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 24A ,  24 B,  24 C, and  24 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ½ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully open position. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 25A ,  25 B,  25 C, and  25 D are respectively oblique top front breakout, oblique bottom front breakout, top plan, and bottom plan views of an adjustable socket having sizing for metric fasteners and ½ inch ratcheting socket-driving tools, showing the jaws in a fully closed position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 26  is an exploded oblique top front view of an alternate embodiment of the adjustable socket, with a locking mechanism comprised of a biased indexing collar. 
           [0040]      FIG. 27  is an exploded oblique bottom front view of an alternate embodiment of the adjustable socket, with a locking mechanism comprised of a biased indexing collar. 
           [0041]      FIGS. 28A ,  28 B,  28 C, and  28 D are respectively top plan, oblique top front, front elevation, and oblique bottom front views of the  FIG. 26  adjustable socket&#39;s indexing collar. 
           [0042]      FIGS. 29A and 29B  are front elevation views of the  FIG. 26  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism, with indexing collar in a locked and released position, respectively. 
           [0043]      FIGS. 29C and 29D  are oblique top front views of the  FIG. 26  adjustable socket, with indexing collar in a locked and released position, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]    The following description contains concise, exact details to provide any person skilled in the art a clear and thorough understanding of the instrument described herein. Well-known elements may not be described in detail, however, to avoid unnecessary complication of the description and associated illustrations. Furthermore, the described embodiments and associated illustrations are intended to be exemplary and not restrictive, as modifications or refinements to the preferred embodiments may occur. 
         [0045]    FIGS.  1  and  2 A- 2 D depict an adjustable socket  10  comprising a housing  1 , a disc  2 , a plurality of jaws  3 , a drive core  4 , a locking lever  5  with biasing torsion spring  6  and pin  7 , a washer  8 , and a threaded plug  9 . 
         [0046]    Housing  1  (also shown separately in  FIGS. 3A-3C ) is generally circular in cross-section, and possesses a generally cylindrical shape aligned along a longitudinal axis X. Three locking grooves  11 , sized and shaped to couple with disc  2 , extend longitudinally along an interior housing wall  12 , terminating at a distance from a top housing lip  13 . Female threads  14  are installed in the interior housing wall  12 , extending from a bottom housing lip  15  and sized and shaped to couple with male threads  90  of the threaded plug  9 . An aperture  16  in an exterior housing wall  17  is adapted to accept a locking lever  5  and torsion spring  6 . A pin hole  18  extends from the bottom housing lip  15  through the aperture  16 , adapted to couple with pin  7 . Pin  7  holds the lever  5  and spring  6  assembly within the aperture, while allowing for swiveling motion of the locking assembly. 
         [0047]    Disc  2  (also shown separately in  FIGS. 4A-4D ) is generally circular in cross-section with a series of six oblique guide slots  20 , open to the perimeter and angled at approximately a  60  degree differential from the adjacent guide slots, each terminating with a tapered face  21 . Locking tabs  22  extend out radially from the perimeter of disc  2 , to allow for coupling with housing  1 . 
         [0048]    Each jaw  3  (one of which is shown separately in  FIGS. 5A-5E ) has a flat inward face  30 , a flat top face  31 , a convex outward face  32 , two flat side faces  33 , and a flat bottom face  34 . For the purpose of this description, “inward” means facing toward axis X, and “outward” means facing away from axis X as shown in  FIG. 1 . Extending downward from flat bottom face  34  is a stem  35 , with two beveled faces  36 . Two locking tabs  37  extend laterally from the base of stem  35 . A cam  38  extends downward below stem  35 , with a chamfered bumper  39  along the interface between cam  38  and grooved stem  35 . 
         [0049]    Stem  35  is sized and shaped to fit snugly within the slots  20  of disc  2 , and to prevent rotation of jaw  3  within slot  20  relative to axis X. Locking tabs  37  and bottom face  34  are sized and shaped to prevent vertical motion or tilting of jaw  3  within slot  20  relative to axis X. The aforementioned motion restrictions allow jaw  3  to move laterally through slot  20  from a position where convex outward face  34  rests against interior housing wall  12 , to a position where beveled face  36  meets tapered face  21 , and any position in between, while not tilting or rotating relative to axis X. 
         [0050]    Drive core  4  (also shown separately in  FIGS. 6A-6C ) is generally circular in cross-section with a top cam surface  40  at a right angle to axis X, comprising six spiraling slotted guide elements  41  each sized and shaped to accept a cam  38  of jaw  3 . Extending downward from cam surface  40  is a series of teeth  42  sized and shaped to be couple with locking lever  5 . Extending downward from teeth  42  is a generally cylindrical drive shaft  43 , within the bottom of which is drive aperture  44 , sized and shaped to accept a ratcheting socket-driving tool  71  with ½ inch drive element  72  (shown in  FIGS. 11A-11E ). 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7A-7D  illustrate the partial assembly of adjustable socket  10 , comprising disc  2 , six jaws  3 , and drive core  4 . Inserting one jaw  3  into each slot  20  of disc  2  results in three pairs of diametrically-opposed jaws  3 , which create in their center a hexagonal shape to allow for acceptance of a standard hexagonal fastener  70  as depicted in  FIG. 2D . Drive core  4  is coupled with jaws  3 , so that each cam  38  is inserted into a separate guide element  41  of cam surface  40 . 
         [0052]    It is understood that for the purposes of clearly illustrating the drive action of the partial assembly depicted in  FIGS. 7A-7D  that housing  1  is not depicted, but that its presence would hold disc  2  in the fixed position shown. It is also understood that the partial assembly depicted in  FIGS. 7A-7D  would be held together by the coupling of housing  1  to threaded plug  9 , which is also not depicted for the sake of clarity. 
         [0053]    As drive core  4  is rotated in the direction shown by arrow  80  ( FIG. 7A ), the guide elements  41  of cam surface  40  engage the cams  38  of jaws  3 , contracting them into the center of drive core  4  toward axis X (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The jaws  3  are forced to travel along the path prescribed by disc slots  20 , due to being locked into the pathway by stem  35 , locking tabs  37 , and bottom face  34 , which prevent vertical motion or tilting of jaw  3  within slot  20  relative to axis X. The angles of side faces  33  are sized and shaped to allow jaws  3  to slide past one another during operation of the mechanism without touching or dragging, while holding interior faces  38  in fixed position to one another and parallel to the corresponding faces of a fastener within jaws  3 . Bumpers  39  allow for minimal mating surface area between jaws  3  and drive core  4 , reducing friction and allowing for ease of motion. A jaw  3  may travel inwardly along slot  20  until beveled face  36  meets tapered face  21 , at which point the smallest possible hexagonal shape is achieved. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 8A-8D  are top semi-transparent views of the  FIG. 1  adjustable socket&#39;s drive mechanism, corresponding to the positions of the drive mechanism as depicted in  FIGS. 7A-7D , illustrating the combined motions of jaws  3  in relation to slots  20  of disc  2  and guide elements  41  of drive core  4 . It is understood that for the purposes of clearly illustrating the drive action of the partial assembly depicted in  FIGS. 8A-8D  that housing  1  is not depicted, but that its presence would hold disc  2  in the fixed position shown. It is also understood that the partial assembly depicted in  FIGS. 8A-8D  would be held together by the mating of housing  1  to threaded plug  9 , which is also not depicted for the sake of clarity. 
         [0055]    As drive core  4  is rotated in the direction shown by arrow  80  ( FIG. 8A ), the guide elements  41  of cam surface  40  engage the cams  38  of jaws  3 , contracting them into the center of drive core  4  toward axis X (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The jaws  3  are forced to travel along the paths prescribed by disc slots  20 , indicated in  FIG. 8A  by arrows  81 . Guide element  41 A is indicated in  FIGS. 8A-8D  in order to illustrate the movement of drive core  4  as it is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow  80 . 
         [0056]    A locking mechanism comprising lever  5  and torsion spring  6  is shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C . Lever  5  comprises a pin hole  50  sized and shaped to accept pin  7  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), in order to lock in place within aperture  16  (best shown in  FIG. 3B ). An exterior face  51  is sized and shaped to meet flush with the exterior housing wall  17  (best shown in  FIG. 2B ). An interior face  52  terminates with a tooth  53 , which is sized and shaped to couple with the female elements of teeth  42  of drive core  4  (best shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C ). A spring hole  54  and spring groove  55  ( FIG. 9D ) are located at the interface between the interior face  52  and tooth  53 , which accept and hold a locking arm  60  of torsion spring  6 . Torsion spring  6  consists of locking arm  60  that is inserted into the spring hole  54  of lever  5 , a torsion element  61  that biases the spring in an open position, and a biasing arm  62  sized and shaped to meet flush against the housing interior wall  12  and bias the tooth  53  into the female elements of teeth  42  of drive core  4 . 
         [0057]    Threaded plug  9  ( FIGS. 10A-10D ) is generally cylindrical in shape, with a series of male threads  90  extending between a top face  91  and outer lip  92 , sized and shaped to couple with the female threads  14  of housing  1 . A series of sizing indicators  93  are etched into a bottom face  94 , skirting the edge of an interior face  95 . When threaded plug  9  is completely threaded into housing  1 , outer lip  92  is sized to enter into housing  1  so that bottom face  94  couples flush with bottom housing lip  15  and a lower drive core lip  45  ( FIG. 6C ). Washer  8  ( FIG. 1 ) provides slip movement between the fixed position of threaded plug  9  and drive core  4 , which is provided freedom of rotation on axis X within housing  1  (best shown in  FIG. 2C ). As drive core  4  is rotated in direction  80 , a sizing notch  46  ( FIG. 6C ) moves along sizing indicators  93 , indicating the size of fastener that jaws  3  are currently in position to accept. This process is best illustrated by  FIGS. 12D ,  13 D,  14 D, and  15 D. 
         [0058]      FIG. 11A  illustrates adjustable socket  10  being affixed to a ratcheting socket-driving tool  71  with ½ inch drive element  72 , via the direction indicated by arrow  82 .  FIGS. 11B-11E  illustrate the ratcheting socket-driving tool  71  being rotated in direction  80 , and the resultant action of adjustable socket  10  as it tightens down upon a 5/16 inch fastener  73 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 12A-12D  show adjustable socket  10  with jaws  3  in a fully open position, spaced to accept a 1 inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 12D . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 13A-13D  show adjustable socket  10  after partial rotation of drive core  4  in direction  80 , drawing jaws  3  inward into a first partially closed position, spaced to accept a ¾ inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 13D . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 14A-14D  show adjustable socket  10  after further rotation of drive core  4  in direction  80 , drawing jaws  3  inward into a second partially closed position, spaced to accept a ½ inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 14D . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 15A-15D  show adjustable socket  10  after further rotation of drive core  4  in direction  80 , drawing jaws  3  inward into a fully closed position, spaced to accept a 5/16 inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 15D . 
         [0063]      FIGS. 16A-16D  show an alternative adjustable socket  10 A, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ¼ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully open position, spaced to accept a 13 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 16D . 
         [0064]      FIGS. 17A-17D  show alternative adjustable socket  10 A, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ¼ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully closed position, spaced to accept a 4 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 17D . 
         [0065]      FIGS. 18A-18D  show an alternative adjustable socket  10 B, sized to fit standard fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ¼ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully open position, spaced to accept a ½ inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 18D . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 19A-19D  show alternative adjustable socket  10 B, sized to fit standard fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ¼ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully closed position, spaced to accept a 5/32 inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 19D . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 20A-20D  show an alternative adjustable socket  10 C, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ⅜ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully open position, spaced to accept a 20 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 20D . 
         [0068]      FIGS. 21A-21D  show alternative adjustable socket  10 C, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ⅜ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully closed position, spaced to accept a 6 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 21D . 
         [0069]      FIGS. 22A-22D  show an alternative adjustable socket  10 D, sized to fit standard fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ⅜ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully open position, spaced to accept a ¾ inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 22D . 
         [0070]      FIGS. 23A-23D  show alternative adjustable socket  10 D, sized to fit standard fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ⅜ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully closed position, spaced to accept a ¼ inch fastener as indicated in  FIG. 23D . 
         [0071]      FIGS. 24A-24D  show an alternative adjustable socket  10 E, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ½ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully open position, spaced to accept a 26 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 24D . 
         [0072]      FIGS. 25A-25D  show alternative socket  10 E, sized to fit metric fasteners and a ratcheting socket-driving tool with ½ inch drive element. Jaws  3  are in a fully closed position, spaced to accept an 8 millimeter fastener as indicated in  FIG. 25D . 
         [0073]      FIGS. 26-27  show an alternate embodiment  10 F of the adjustable socket, comprising a locking mechanism in the form of a ring-shaped indexing collar  23 , sized and shaped to fit into apertures in housing  1 F and couple with teeth  42  of drive core  4 F. A coil spring  27  is included within housing  1 F and held in place by threaded plug  9 F, to bias indexing collar  23  to a locked position yet allow manual release of drive core  4 F for operation of the adjustable socket  1 OF drive mechanism. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 28A-28D  depict the indexing collar  23  of adjustable socket  10 F, comprising a collar ring  24  with a series of teeth  25  along the interior ring wall sized and shaped to couple with drive core  4 F. Two asymmetrical tabs  26  are sized and shaped to allow insertion of indexing collar  23  into housing  1 F, and to maintain fixed axial position of the indexing collar while the locking mechanism is operated. 
         [0075]      FIGS. 29A-29B  depict the drive mechanism of adjustable socket  10 F, with jaws  3 F in a fully open position. It is understood that for the purposes of clearly illustrating the locking release action of the partial assembly depicted in  FIGS. 29A-29B  that housing  1 F is not depicted, but that its presence would hold disc  2 F and indexing collar  23  in the fixed axial positions shown.  FIG. 29A  demonstrates how coil spring  27 , held in position by threaded plug  9 F, biases indexing collar  23  into a position which couples with and locks drive core  4 F in a fixed position. Manual movement of indexing collar  23  in the direction shown by arrows  83  releases drive core  4 F, as shown in  FIG. 29B , permitting operation of the adjustable socket  1 OF drive mechanism. 
         [0076]      FIGS. 29C-29D  depicts adjustable socket  10 F, fully assembled with jaws  3 F in a fully open position, with indexing collar  23  shown in locked and unlocked positions, respectively.