A flip socket is disclosed. The flip socket including a socket body having a central section extending between a first socket positioned on a first end of the central section and a second socket positioned on a second end of the central section, wherein a centerline extends through a longitudinal axis of the socket body; and a coupler adapted to engage one of the first and second sockets, the coupler connecting the flip socket to a driving device to drive a fastener or device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a fastener driving tool, and more particularly to a flip socket for use by utility workers.

Utility workers (e.g., “linemen”) frequently carry out installation, maintenance, or repair on electrical transmission or distribution equipment in the field. This work involves removing and installing numerous shapes and sizes of fasteners and connections such as nuts, bolts, and threaded hooks and eyes.

There is a need for utility workers to have the appropriate tools available at hand while minimizing the number of separate tools to be transported and the likelihood of losing tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is addressed by the present invention, which provides a flip socket suitable for driving multiple sizes of fasteners and connections.

According to an aspect of the invention, a flip socket includes a socket body having a central section extending between a first socket positioned on a first end of the central section and a second socket positioned on a second end of the central section, wherein a centerline extends through a longitudinal axis of the socket body; and a coupler adapted to engage one of the first and second sockets, the coupler connecting the flip socket to a driving device to drive a fastener or device.

According to another aspect of the invention, a flip socket includes a socket body having a central section extending between a first socket positioned on a first end of the central section and a second socket positioned on a second end of the central section, wherein a centerline extends through a longitudinal axis of the socket body; and a coupler adapted to engage one of the first and second sockets, the coupler connecting the flip socket to a driving device to drive a fastener or device. The coupler including a first end having a cylindrical nose and a square drive section, the square drive section adapted to engage a drive recess of one of the first and second sockets; and a second end forming a drive shank, the drive shank having a circumferential locking groove near a distal end of thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,FIGS.1-3illustrate an exemplary flip socket10, comprising a double-ended socket body12and a coupler14.

The socket body12is a unitary element. It could be made by forging, casting, machining from solid stock or the like. It may be made from any material having suitable strength such as a metal alloy. Alternatively, plastics or composites could be employed depending on the specific end use.

The socket body12is elongated with a central section16extending between a first socket18and a second socket20. For reference, a centerline22extends through the longitudinal axis of the socket body12. In the illustrated example the central section16is hollow with a central through-bore24(FIG.4). Alternatively, it could be of solid construction. In this example the exterior surface is cylindrical. Other shapes such as polygons could be used.

The first socket18is bounded by a peripheral wall26that terminates at an end face28oriented normal to the centerline22. The interior of the first socket18includes numerous surfaces which define structural elements for driving different kinds of fasteners. These structures may be referred to as “driving elements”.

One driving element is an outer square drive recess30that is positioned adjacent the end face28. This is defined by four flat faces32arranged as two pairs of parallel faces. As will be described below, these faces32are intersected by numerous other structures, and thereby do not form a physically continuous square. An intermediate face34, oriented normal to the centerline22, is disposed at the bottom of the outer square drive recess30.

The outer square drive recess30is useful for driving fasteners such as nuts and bolts. In one example, the outer square drive recess30can be sized for engaging and driving square nuts having outside dimensions of approximately 25 mm (1 in.) to 29 mm (1-⅛ in.).

Another driving element is a pair of cross slots36that extend axially inward from the end face28and pass through the peripheral wall26, bisecting the peripheral wall26into two sections (and intersecting the outer square drive recess30). Each of the cross slots36is bounded by opposed, parallel side faces38which blend into a concave, arcuate bottom face40. The bottom faces40are “angled”. More specifically, the bottom faces40are oriented at an acute angle to the centerline22, such that the outboard edge42of each cross slot36is closer to the end face28than the inboard edge44of the cross slot36.

The cross slots36are useful for driving fasteners or objects extending in a transverse direction, such as T-handles. The angled orientation is also helpful in engaging rounded fasteners such as eye bolts and hooks.

Another driving element is a plurality of outer drive slots46that are arrayed around the outer square drive recess30. The outer drive slots46extend parallel to the centerline22, have a generally semi-circular cross-sectional shape, and are open to the outer square drive recess30. In the illustrated example, six outer drive slots46are provided, arranged as three opposing pairs. One pair is located in the center of one of the flat faces32, oriented 90 degrees to the cross slots36. Two of the pairs are located at the intersections (i.e. corners) of the flat faces32. This arrangement provides for engagement of two different diameters of fasteners.

The outer drive slots46are useful for driving fasteners such as hooks and eyes. In one example, the outer drive slots46can be sized for driving eyebolts, screw eyes, or nut eyes of 16 mm (⅝ inch) or 19 mm (¾ inch) nominal dimensions.

Another driving element is an inner square drive recess48, defined by four walls50which extend axially inward from the intermediate face34and terminate at a bottom floor52, The inner square drive recess48adjoins the through-bore24. The through-bore24has a circumferential lock groove54formed therein, a short distance from the drive recess floor52.

The inner square drive recess48is useful for driving fasteners such as nuts and bolts. In one example, the outer square drive recess30is sized for engaging in driving square nuts or fastener heads having outside dimensions of approximately 19 mm (¾ inch). It is also sized and shaped to engage a nose of the coupler14, described in more detail below.

Another driving element is a plurality of inner drive slots56that are arrayed around the inner square drive recess48. The inner drive slots56extend parallel to the centerline22, have a generally semi-secular cross-sectional shape, and are open to the inner square drive recess48. In the illustrated example, four inner drive slots56are provided, arranged as two opposing pairs. The pairs are located at the intersections of the walls50.

The inner drive slots56are useful for driving fasteners such as hooks and eyes. In one example, the inner drive slots56are sized for driving eyebolts, screw eyes, or nut eyes of 13 mm (½ inch) or 16 mm (⅝ inch) nominal dimensions.

Referring toFIG.5, the second socket20is bounded by a peripheral wall126that terminates at an end face128oriented normal to the centerline22. The interior of the second socket20includes numerous surfaces which define structural elements for driving different kinds of fasteners. These structures may be referred to as “driving elements”.

One driving element is a square drive recess130positioned adjacent the end face128. This is defined by four flat faces132arranged in two pairs of parallel faces. As will be described below, these faces132are intersected by other structures, and thereby do not form a physically continuous square. A bottom face134, oriented normal to the centerline22, is disposed at the bottom of the square drive recess130.

The square drive recess130adjoins the through-bore24. The through-bore24has a circumferential lock groove154formed therein, a short distance from the drive recess bottom face134.

The square drive recess130is useful for driving fasteners such as nuts and bolts. In one example, the square drive recess130can be sized for engaging in driving square nuts having outside dimensions of approximately 19 mm (¾ inch), or similarly sized bolts or lag screws. It is also sized and shaped to engage a nose of the coupler14, described in more detail below.

Another drive element is a pair of cross slots136that extends axially inward from the end face128and passes through the peripheral wall126, bisecting the peripheral wall126into two sections (and intersecting the square drive recess130). Each of the cross slots136is bounded by opposed, parallel side faces138which blend into a concave, arcuate bottom face140. The bottom faces141are “angled”. More specifically, the bottom faces140are oriented at an acute angle to the centerline22, such that the outboard edge142of each cross slot136is closer to the end face128than the inboard edge144of the cross slot136.

The cross slots136are useful for driving fasteners or objects extending in a transverse direction, such as T-handles. The angled orientation is also helpful in engaging rounded fasteners such as eye bolts and hooks.

Another drive element is a plurality of drive slots146arrayed around the square drive recess130. The drive slots146extend parallel to the centerline22, have a generally semi-secular cross-sectional shape, and are open to the square drive recess130. In the illustrated example, four drive slots146are provided, arranged as two opposing pairs. The pairs are located at the intersections of the faces132.

The drive slots146are useful for driving fasteners such as hooks and eyes. In one example, the drive slots146are sized for driving eyebolts, screw eyes, or nut eyes of 13 mm (½ in.) or 16 mm (⅝ in.) nominal dimensions.

FIGS.6-8illustrate the coupler14in more detail. The coupler14has a body160extending between a first end162and a second end164. The first end162is formed into a cylindrical nose166and a square drive section168. The square drive section168is shaped and sized to fit into the square drive recesses48,130described above.

The second end164is formed into a drive shank170. In the illustrated example this is hexagonal and includes a circumferential locking groove172near a distal end thereof.

A lock pin174with a hemispherical end extends through an opening in the nose166. The lock pin174contacts a plunger176which slides in a central bore178of the body160. The plunger176has a first end179with a tapered section180and a second end182. The plunger176is retained in the body160by a retainer pin184which passes through the plunger176, a slot185in the body160, and into a handle186. A spring188is trapped between the plunger176and the body160.

In a first or locked position, the spring188forces the plunger176axially towards the nose166, forcing the lock pin174to an outboard position. Pulling the handle186in the opposite direction compresses the spring188, retracts the plunger176so that the tapered section180clears the lock pin174, and allows the lock pin174to move inboard, retracting flush or below the surface of the nose166.

The flip socket10is used by connecting the socket body12to the coupler14. InFIG.2, the coupler14is connected to the first socket18by engaging the square drive section168of the coupler14with the inner square drive recess48of the first socket18. The lock pin174will engage the circumferential lock groove54, preventing accidental disconnection. When assembled in this configuration, the drive shank170can be coupled to a driving device such as a ratchet handle, drill-driver, or impact driver (not shown). The second socket20is open to engage and drive one or more fasteners or devices as described above.

InFIG.3, the coupler14is connected to the second socket20by engaging the square drive section168of the coupler14with the square drive recess130of the second socket20. The lock pin174will engage the circumferential groove154, preventing accidental disconnection. When assembled in this configuration, the drive shank170can be coupled to a driving device such as a ratchet handle, drill-driver, or impact driver (not shown). The first socket18is open to engage and drive one or more fasteners or devices as described above.

The flip socket as described herein as the advantage of providing a portable, compact driving tool for multiple sizes of fasteners all in one tool. This is more convenient than carrying multiple tools and greatly reduces the chances of one or more tools being lost.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.