Abstract:
A socket disc tool having a handle and a socket disc comprising a central aperture to receive a fastener, such as a bolt or nut. The socket disc includes a body and is defined by plurality of members extending from the body and away from the central aperture. The members include a concave notch which operatively engages a handle which is used to apply leverage to the socket disc which in turn produces torque to loosen or tighten a fastener. The handle includes at least one slot that is designed to engage the notched members on the socket disc and thereby providing a means to exert torque on a fastener. The configuration of the socket disc and the handle with respect to a fastener permits continuous engagement with a fastener and same direction turning by a simple back and forth motion of the handle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to socket tools that engage fasteners, and more particularly, a socket disc and a handle that is uniquely configured to loosen or tighten a bolt or nut. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current socket tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a variety of uses with some uses being somewhat generic and other uses being directed to a more specific task in a specific environment. Many socket tools are not compact in size as a whole, nor are their individual components compact. 
     Conventional socket wrenches comprise a socket and a handle in its most basic configuration. The socket has a body of a sufficient length with an aperture on one end configured to receive a fastener and a square hole on the other end of the body to receive a handle. The handle typically has a cubic shaped stud extending from one end to engage a socket and can provide a ratcheting motion once engaged with the socket. In order to use such a conventional socket wrench there must be sufficient space available to allow both the socket and its attached ratchet drive handle to engage the intended fastener and then sufficient space must be available to permit the ratchet drive handle to turn its attached socket. As such, the size characteristics of conventional socket tools create obstacles regarding how and where such tools can be used, how such tools can be transported to a job site, as well as how such tools can be stored when not in use. Another factor that is often related to the size of many socket tools is the weight of such tools. Like size, the weight of most socket tools can create obstacles regarding such tools use, transportation, and storage. As can be appreciated by any user of tools in general, these kinds of tools typically cannot be used in confined spaces which is often a necessity when attempting repairs or maintenance on certain kinds of equipment. 
     Other types of common tools also present certain limitations regarding their use, transportation, and storage. Conventional boxed-end and open-end wrenches are typically manufactured as a specific sized wrench for a specific sized fastener. Under such physical constraints multiple fasteners will require multiple wrenches since a single wrench will fit only a specific sized fastener. The necessity of such multiple wrenches creates the need for more space regarding the storage of these tools when not in use. Additionally, it will be necessary to transport a variety of different sized wrenches to a job site for use. Another factor that must be taken into consideration with conventional boxed-end and open-end wrenches, as well as socket tools with ratchet driver handles, is length of the handle and the amount of torque that can be exerted on the tool itself as well as the fastener upon which the work is being conducted. The application of too much torque can damage not only the fastener, but it may also cause to the tool itself to fail. The length of the wrench must be compatible with the anticipated amount of torque exerted on a fastener by the wrench. Additionally, boxed-end and open-end wrenches do not provide for a continuous engagement between the wrench and a fastener. The wrench must be removed from the fastener and repositioned on the fastener to continue the tightening or loosening of the fastener. Such discontinuous engagement between the wrench and a fastener can often make tightening or loosening the fastener more difficult. 
     Accordingly, there remains room for improvement and variation within the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is at least one aspect of the present embodiments to provide a socket disc tool comprising a plurality of socket discs with each socket disc including a body and a handle which work together to loosen or tighten a fastener. The body of the socket disc has a central aperture that is designed to receive and engage a fastener. It also has a plurality of members that extend outward and away from the body and the central aperture. Each member has a first side that includes a concave notch and a second side having a linear slope. Additionally, each member lies in the same plane as the body of the socket disk. The handle of the socket disc tool has a first slot and a second slot. The first slot is larger than the second slot and both said slots are large enough to accept one of the socket discs. A pair of pins pass through the each slot and are designed and configured to engage a pair of the concave notches located on the socket discs. 
     It is a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a socket disc that has six equally spaced members. 
     It is still a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a group of socket discs having a diameter of 2½ inches and a another group of socket discs having a diameter of 2 inches such that the apertures of one group of the socket discs are configured to engage fasteners having diameters ranging from 20 mm to 40 mm and another group of socket discs also configured to engage fasteners having diameters ranging from 10 mm to 25 mm. 
     It is a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a plurality of socket discs with central apertures configured to receive different kinds of fasteners, such as bolts, lag bolts, nuts or a combination thereof. 
     It is still a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a socket disc tool having a handle with a first slot that has a distal pin extending perpendicularly from a top surface to a bottom surface of the handle on a distal end of the first slot and a proximal pin extending perpendicularly from the top surface to the bottom surface of the handle on a proximal end of the first slot. The handle also includes a second slot with a distal pin extending perpendicularly from the top surface to the bottom surface of the handle on a distal end of the second slot and a proximal pin extending perpendicularly from the top surface to the bottom surface of the handle on a proximal end of the second slot. 
     It is a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a handle with its first slot being operationally designed to engage a socket disc having a diameter of 2½ inches and its second slot being operationally designed to engage a socket disc having a diameter of 2 inches. 
     It is a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide a socket disc tool that is durable, but lightweight and provides for compact storage. 
     It is still a further aspect of at least one of the present embodiments to provide for a method of using a socket disk tool comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of socket discs, each socket disc including a body which has a central aperture designed to receive and engage a fastener selected from the group consisting of bolts, lag bolts, nuts or a combination thereof; a plurality of members extending from the body and away from the aperture, each said member being coplanar to said body and having a first side which is defined by a concave notch and a second side having a linear slope; and a handle including a first end, a second end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first receiving side, and a second side; a first slot located at the first end of the handle and a second slot located at the second end of the handle, each slot extending through the handle from the first receiving side to the second side, said first slot being larger than said second slot and both said slots being large enough to accept one of said socket discs; said first slot having a pair of pins which pass through said first slot extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, said pair of pins being designed to engage a pair of said concave notches on said socket discs; and said second slot having a pair of pins which pass through said second slot extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, said pair of pins being designed to engage a pair of said concave notches on said socket discs; mating a socket disc to said fastener; engaging said socket disc with said first slot or said second slot of said handle; and applying torque to said fastener to loosen or tighten said fastener. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a socket disc. 
         FIG. 2  is an inverted perspective view of the socket disc depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a socket disc. 
         FIG. 4  is an inverted top plan view of the socket disc depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a handle. 
         FIG. 6  is an inverted perspective view of the handle depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an operational plan view in partial cross section of a larger diameter socket disc engaging a handle. 
         FIG. 8  is an operational plan view in partial cross section of a smaller diameter socket disc engaging a handle. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a socket disc tool engaging a fastener. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, Which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions. 
     In describing the various figures herein, the same reference numbers are used throughout to describe the same material, apparatus, or process pathway. To avoid redundancy, detailed descriptions of much of the apparatus once described in relation to a figure is not repeated in the descriptions of subsequent figures, although such apparatus or process is labeled with the same reference numbers. 
     As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , a socket disc tool  10  is provided. In accordance with the present invention, a socket disc tool comprises a plurality of socket discs  11  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 . Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , each socket disc  11  includes a body  12  that has a central aperture  13 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the central aperture  13  is designed to receive and engage a fastener  50  when using the present invention to loosen or tighten a fastener. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the central aperture  13  is designed to receive and engage a fastener selected from the group consisting of bolts, lag bolts, nuts or a combination thereof. Various sizes of fasteners may be adjusted using other embodiments of the present invention by altering the shape and size of the central aperture  13 . One embodiment of the present invention includes a first group of socket discs  11  configured to engage fasteners having a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 40 mm and a second group of socket discs  11  being configured to engage fasteners having a diameter in the range of 10 mm to 25 mm. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first group of socket discs being configured to engage 32 mm, 27 mm, and 24 mm hexagonal bolts and a second group of socket discs being configured to engage 22 mm, 19 mm, and 17 mm hexagonal bolts. Now referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the socket disc  11  includes a plurality of members  14  that extend from the body  12  of the socket disc  11  and away from the socket disc&#39;s central aperture  13 . Each member  14  of a socket disc  11  being coplanar to the socket disc&#39;s body  12 . Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , each member  14  of a socket disc  11  has a first side  15  that is defined by a concave notch  16  and a second side  17  having a linear slope. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 , the present invention comprises a handle  21  having a first end  31 , a second end  41 , a top surface  22 , a bottom surface  23 , a first receiving side  24 , and a second side  25 . The handle  21  also includes a first slot  32  located at the first end  31  of the handle and a second slot  42  located at the second end  41  of the handle. The first slot  32  and the second slot  42  extend through the handle  21  from the first receiving side  24  to the second side  25  with the first slot  32  being larger than the second slot  42 , and both slots being large enough to accept one of the socket discs  11 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the first slot  32  and the second slot  42  are substantially the same size and both slots being large enough to accept one of the socket discs  11 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the first slot  32  and the second slot  42  are different sizes and both slots being large enough to accept one of the socket discs  11 . In yet two other embodiments of the present invention, the handle  21  includes only a first slot  32  located at the first end  31  or only a second slot  42  located at the second end  41  of the handle  21 . 
     Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 , the first slot  32  includes a distal end  34  and a distal pin  33 . The first slot also includes a proximal end  36  and a proximal pin  35 . The distal pin  33  being at the distal end  34  of the first slot  32  extends perpendicularly from the top surface  22  of the handle to the bottom surface  23  of the handle  21 . The proximal pin  35  being at the proximal end  36  of the first slot  32  extends perpendicularly from the top surface  22  of the handle  21  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle. The first slot&#39;s pins  33 ,  35  being designed to engage the concave notches  16  on socket discs  11  having larger diameters when the present invention is being used to tighten or loosen a fastener. Embodiments of the present invention include socket discs having various diameters as may be needed to accommodate various sized fasteners. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first slot  32  is operationally designed so that its pair of pins  33 ,  35  engage the notches  16  of a socket disc having a 2½ inch diameter. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 , the second slot  42  includes a distal end  44  and a distal pin  43 . The second slot also includes a proximal end  46  and a proximal pin  45 . The distal pin  43  being at the distal end  44  of the second slot  42  extends perpendicularly from the top surface  22  of the handle  21  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle. The proximal pin  45  being at the proximal end  46  of the second slot  42  extends perpendicularly from the top surface  22  of the handle  21  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle. The second slot&#39;s pins  43 ,  45  being designed to engage the concave notches  16  on socket discs  11  having smaller diameters when the socket disc tool  10  is being used to tighten or loosen a fastener. Embodiments of the present invention include socket discs having various diameters as may be needed to accommodate various sized fasteners. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the second slot  42  is operationally designed so that its pair of pins  43 ,  45  engage the notches  16  of a socket disc having a 2 inch diameter. In one embodiment of the present invention the socket disc  11  includes six equally spaced members  14  extending from the body  12  of the socket disc and away from the socket disc&#39;s central aperture  13 . 
     Another embodiment of the present invention includes a first group of three socket discs having a diameter of 2½ inches and a second group of three socket discs having a diameter of 2 inches. The first group of socket discs being configured to engage 32 mm, 27 mm, and 24 mm hexagonal bolts. The second group of socket discs being configured to engage 22 mm, 19 mm, and 17 mm hexagonal bolts. Embodiments of the present invention include both metric and standard sized fasteners. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed towards use in the motorcycle industry on bolts and fasteners used therein. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention the socket discs  11  and the handle  21  of the socket disc tool  10  are manufactured from tempered aluminum and the pins  33 ,  35 ,  43 ,  45  which engage the notched members of the socket discs are made from hardened steel. Other embodiments may include other types of metals and alloys possessing the characteristics and strengths needed when the socket disc tool is used to apply torque to loosen or tighten a fastener. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may include handles having various lengths. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a handle being 12 inches in length. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , the present invention also includes a method of using a socket disc tool  10  depicted in  FIG. 9  comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of socket discs  11 , each socket disc  11  including a body  12  which has a central aperture  13  designed to receive and engage a fastener selected from the group consisting of bolts, lag bolts, nuts or a combination thereof; a plurality of members  14  extending from the body  12  and away from the aperture  13 , each said member  14  being coplanar to said body  12  and having a first side  15  which is defined by a concave notch  16  and a second side  17  having a linear slope; and a handle  21  including a first end  31 , a second end  41 , a top surface  22 , a bottom surface  23 , a first receiving side  24 , and a second side  25 ; a first slot  32  located at the first end  31  of the handle  21  and a second slot  42  located at the second end  41  of the handle  21 , each slot  32 ,  42  extending through the handle  21  from the first receiving side  24  to the second side  25 , said first slot  32  being larger than said second slot  42  and both said slots  32 ,  42  being large enough to accept one of said socket discs  11 ; said first slot  32  having a pair of pins  33 ,  35  which pass through said first slot extending from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23 , said pair of pins  33 ,  35  being designed to engage a pair of said concave notches  16  on said socket disc  11 ; and said second slot  42  having a pair of pins  43 ,  45  which pass through said second slot extending from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23 , said pair of pins  43 ,  45  being designed to engage a pair of said concave notches  16  on said socket discs  11 ; mating a socket disc  11  to said fastener, with the central aperture  13  having a shape and diameter complimentary to that of the fastener and allowing the fastener to be received within the central aperture  13  when the socket disc  11  is placed onto the fastener, such that the concave notches  16  are pointing to the direction in which the socket disc  11  is to be turned; engaging said socket disc  11  with said first slot  32  or said second slot  42  of said handle  21  as specifically shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  such that a pair of concave notches  16  on the socket disc  11  engage pins  33 ,  35  of the first slot  32  or pins  43 ,  45  of the second slot  42  as appropriate; and applying torque to said fastener by pulling or pushing the handle  21  to urge the pins  33 ,  35  of the first slot  32 , or the pins  43 ,  45  of the second slot  42 , against the concave notches  16  to loosen or tighten said fastener. 
     Referring to the method described above, in one embodiment, the socket disc may comprise six equally spaced members  14  extending from the body  12  of the socket disc  11  and away from the socket disc&#39;s central aperture  13 . 
     In one embodiment of the above method, the plurality of socket discs  11  includes a first group of socket discs having a diameter of 2½ inches and a second group of socket discs having a diameter of 2 inches, wherein the central apertures  13  of said first group of said socket disc being configured to engage fasteners having a diameter in the range of 20 mm to 40 mm and said second group of said socket discs being configured to engage fasteners having a diameter in the range of 10 mm to 25 mm. 
     In another embodiment of the above method, the first slot  32  has a distal pin  33  extending perpendicularly from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle  21  on a distal end  34  of said first slot and a proximal pin  35  extending perpendicularly from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle  21  on a proximal end  36  of said first slot, and wherein said second slot  42  has a distal pin  43  extending perpendicularly from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle  21  on a distal end  44  of said second slot  42  and a proximal pin  45  extending perpendicularly from the top surface  22  to the bottom surface  23  of the handle on a proximal end  46  of said second slot. 
     In another embodiment of the above method, the first slot  32  being operationally designed to engage a socket disc  11  having a diameter of 2½ inches; and wherein the second slot  42  being operationally designed to engage a socket disc having a diameter of 2 inches. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 9  specifically, and to  FIGS. 1 to 8  generally, to use the present invention to loosen or tighten a fastener a user selects a socket disc  11  with a central aperture  13  that compliments the shape and size of the subject fastener  50  so that the socket disc will fit securely onto the fastener. The socket disc  11  is placed onto the fastener  50  such that the concave notches  16  on the socket disc are pointing in the direction which the socket disc is to be turned, clockwise or counter clockwise. Next, the handle  21  of the socket disc tool  10  is aligned to receive the socket disc  11  so the par of pins  33 ,  35  or  43 ,  45  of the appropriate sized slot, either the first slot  32  or the second slot  42 , can engage a pair of notches  16  on the socket disc  11 . With the handle  21  engaging the socket disc  11 , the user either pushes or pulls on the handle  21  depending on the orientation of the handle with regard to the socket disc  11 , to urge the pair of pins  33 ,  35  or  43 ,  45  into the cooperating pair of concave notches  16  in order to exert the necessary torque to loosen or tighten the fastener  50 . The continued loosening or tightening of the fastener with successive engagements and disengagements of the handle pins  33 ,  35  or  43 ,  45  with the socket disc concave notches  16  is achieved by simply lifting the handle  21  such that the handle pins become disengaged from the concave notches and permitting the pins to travel in the opposite direction to engage the next pair of concave notches. In order to change from loosening a fastener to tightening a fastener, or from tightening a fastener to loosening a fastener, the socket disc  11  is simply removed and flipped over to its opposite side so that its concave notches  16  are pointed in the opposite direction when engaging the handle of the socket disc tool. Finally, the handle  21  can be completely disengaged from the socket disc  11  simply by moving the handle in the opposite direction from which the socket disc is being turned to tighten or loosen a fastener. 
     The socket disc tool of the present invention provides various advantages over conventional socket tools and socket tool sets, as well as conventional open-end wrenches and boxed-end wrenches. The flat design features of the socket discs and the handle permit compact storage these components when arranged on their flat sides. The flat design of the socket disc also permits it to be used in small spaces with little clearance. The manner in which the handle of the socket disc tool engages the socket disc also permits it to be used in small spaces with little clearance. The tightening or loosening of a fastener using the present invention can be reversed without the need of any additional tools by simply by removing the socket disc from the fastener and flipping the socket disc over to its opposite side and replacing the socket disc back onto the fastener. The central aperture can be manufactured in various shapes and sizes in order to accommodate numerous types of fasteners and bolts. The design of the socket disc and the handle permit continuous engagement and turning of the disc socket with the handle when tightening or loosening a fastener. This continuous engagement between the socket disc and the handle can also reduce both the effort and time required to remove, apply, loosen, or tighten a fastener. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such description if for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged, either in whole, or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.