Retaining device of socket spanner

Abstract: A socket spanner is provided with a retaining device consisting of a socket and an elastic body. The socket has a fitting end with a hexagonal hole which is provided in one of six inner side walls thereof with a receiving portion. The elastic body is securely fitted into the fitting end such that a retaining side of the elastic body is securely retained in the receiving portion of the hexagonal hole of the fining end so as to prevent the elastic body from slipping out of the fitting end, and that a protruded edge of the retaining side of the elastic body is capable of holding securely a nut which is engaged with the fitting end of the socket.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a socket spanner provided with a retaining device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG.1, the U.S. Patent US-A-5 724 872 filed by this inventor of the present invention discloses a socket 20 having a fitting end 22 which is provided in the inner wall thereof with two grooves 221 corresponding in location to each other. The fitting end 22 is further provided in proximity of one end thereof with a circular slot 222. An elastic wire 24 is fitted into the fitting end 22 of the socket 20 such that a retaining side 241 of the elastic wire 24 is retained in the grooves 221 of the fitting end 22, and that an end portion 244 of the elastic wire 24 urges the circular slot 222 of the fitting end 22. As a result, a protruded edge 242 of the retaining side 241 of the elastic wire 24 is capable of retaining a nut which is engaged with the fitting end 22 of the socket 20. In the meantime, the retaining side 241 is capable of preventing the elastic wire 24 from slipping out of the socket 20 at the time when the nut is taken out of the socket 20. As shown in FIG.2,the structural integrity of the socket 20 can be undermined by the grooves 221 in the process of making the socket 20 by forging. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of the present invention is therefore to provided a socket spanner with a retaining means free from the structural deficiency of the prior art described above. In keeping with the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a socket spanner as defined by claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims. The foregoing objective, features, function, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 shows an exploded view of the prior art. FIG.2 shows a schematic view of a fitting end of a socket spanner of the prior art. FIG.3 shows a schematic view of a fitting end of a socket spanner of the present invention. FIG.4 shows an exploded view of the fitting end of the socket spanner of the present invention. FIG.5 shows a sectional schematic view of the present invention. FIG.6 shows a schematic view of the present invention at work. FIG.7 shows another schematic view of the present invention at work. FIG.8 show an exploded view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIH.3, a socket spanner 20 of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with a fitting end 22 having a hexagonal hole. One of the six inner side walls 224 of the hexagonal hole of the fitting end 22 is provided with a receiving portion 225. As shown in FIGS.4 and 5, the fitting end 22 of the socket spanner 20 of the present invention is provided with an elastic body 30 which is composed of a press ring 301 and a retaining side 302 extending from the press ring 301 and having a protruded edge 303. The press ring 301 has an outer diameter, d1, which is slightly greater than an inner diameter, d2, of the hexagonal hole of the fitting end 22. In combination, the elastic body 30 is forced into the fitting end 22 by pressing such that the retaining side 302 of the elastic body 30 is retained in the receiving portion 225 of the hexagonal hole of the fitting end 22. As illustrated in FIG.6, a nut 25 is retained in the fitting end 22 of the socket spanner 20 such that the nut 25 is urged and held securely by the protruded edge 303 of the elastic body 30. As illustrated in FIG.7, the nut 25 can be taken out of the fitting end 22 without causing the elastic body 30 to become disengaged with the fitting end 22. As shown in FIG.8, the socket spanner 20 of the present invention may be modified in such a way that the elastic body 30 is composed of a semicircular press ring 301 and the retaining side 302. The working mechanism of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is identical with that of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. It must be noted here that the press portion 301 of the elastic body 30 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is of a closed ring construction, and that the press portion 301 of the elastic body 30 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is of a semicircular construction. The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be deemed in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended claims .

Claims: A socket spanner (20) provided with a retaining device consisting of a socket and an elastic body (30), wherein said socket has a fitting end (22) with a hexagonal hole which is provided in one (224) of six inner side walls thereof with a receiving portion (225), and wherein said elastic body (30) is composed of a press portion and a retaining side (302) extending from said press portion and having a protruded edge (303), said protruded edge (303) of said retaining side (302) of said elastic body (30) being capable of holding securely a nut (25) which is engaged with said fitting end (22) of said socket, characterized in that said press portion has an outer diameter (d 1 ) greater than an inner diameter (d 2 ) of said hexagonal hole of said fitting end (22) of said socket so as to allow said elastic body (30) to be fitted securely into said fitting end (22) of said socket such that said retaining side of said elastic body (30) is retained in said receiving portion (225) of said hexagonal hole (302) of said fitting end (22) and to prevent said elastic body (30) from slipping out of said fitting end (22) of socket. The socket spanner (20) as defined in claim 1, wherein said press portion of said elastic body (30) is of a closed ring construction. The socket spanner (20) as defined in claim 1, wherein said press portion of said elastic body (30) is of a semicircular construction.

Inventors: SHIH LEO, SHIH, LEO
Applicants: SHIH LEO, SHIH, LEO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B25B23
IPC codes: B25B13, B25B23