Abstract:
An adjustable socket has a number of selectable socket size openings available. It includes a drive member, an indexing collar positioned within the drive member, and an axially moveable drive core positioned within the drive member that is manually rotatable to different positions corresponding to the selected socket size openings. There are a series of teeth on the drive core and the drive core has a cam surface with guide elements. Jaw members mounted to the drive member to move laterally between fixed lateral positions upon rotation of the drive core, each fixed lateral position corresponding to a selected socket size opening. Each jaw member has a cam that engages one of the guide elements in the cam surface, so that with the drive core in a first axial position it is enabled to be rotated, thereby causing the jaw members to move laterally to a selected socket size, and in a second axial position the teeth of the drive core and the teeth of the indexing collar interlocked to be maintained the selected socket size.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a utility patent application based on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/103,664, filed Oct. 9, 1998, entitled &#34;Adjustable Socket,&#34; which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,634, there is disclosed a socket which is manually adjustable to enable the socket to grip nuts or bolts with hexagonal heads of different sizes. In this socket there are a plurality of jaws which are adjustably spaced apart to grip a hexagonal bolt head of a selected size. Although this socket allows a user to make the necessary adjustments, it includes many parts that add to the cost of manufacturing this socket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention has several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled, &#34;DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS,&#34; one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits, which include, but are not limited to: convenience of use, minimum number of parts, compactness enabling its use in limited working spaces, and when storing, especially for the handyman or sports enthusiast who may not wish to carry an entire set of individual sockets around, improved torque strength, a visual selector for selecting one of several available size adjustments and providing a numeric indication of size to the user. and an overall length (1.560 inches) that remains constant when adjusting to any hex sizes. 
     The first feature of the adjustable socket of this invention is that it provides a number of selectable socket size openings available. It includes a drive member having a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the drive member is a hallow cylinder having a top end, closed at least partially by a wall with a plurality of slots therein, and an open bottom end. 
     The second feature is an indexing collar, preferably ring shaped. It is positioned within the drive member near the bottom end of the drive member. This indexing collar has a central opening with an inner circular surface with a series of teeth thereon. 
     The third feature is an axially moveable drive core positioned within the drive member beneath the closed wall of the drive member. It is also manually rotatable to different positions corresponding to the selected socket size openings, and it has a lower wall portion extending into the central opening of the indexing collar and a head portion that fits snugly within the drive member. The head portion has a substantially flat cam surface that is substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis. There are guide elements on the cam surface, preferably slots arranged in a spiral configuration. The lower wall portion of the drive core has a series of teeth adapted to disengage the teeth on the inner circular surface when the drive core is in a first axial position and to engage the teeth on the inner circular surface when the drive core is in a second axial position. 
     The fourth feature is that there are plurality of jaw members mounted to the top end of the drive member to move laterally between fixed lateral positions upon rotation of the drive core. Each fixed lateral position corresponds to a selected socket size opening. Each jaw member having a cam follower extending therefrom that engages one of the guide elements in the cam surface. With the drive core in the first axial position it is enabled to be rotated, thereby causing the jaw members to move laterally to a selected socket size. In the second axial position, the teeth of the drive core and the teeth of the indexing collar are interlocked to maintain the selected socket size. 
     The fifth feature is that there is a spring member that normally forces the drive core and the collar member into a position where the teeth of the drive core and the teeth of the indexing collar engage. 
     The sixth feature is that there are visible indicia associated with each selectable position to indicate the selected socket size openings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious socket of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (FIGS.), with like numerals indicating like parts: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2a is the top plan view of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention showing a three jaw configuration in the process of gripping a standard hexagonal bolt head. 
     FIG. 2b is a cross sectional view taken along 2b--2b of FIG. 1 with jaws removed partially exposing the cam slots 2a, 2b, and 2c through three equally spaced T-slots formed at the top of barrel 
     FIG. 3 is the bottom view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention showing the 3/8 inch square drive slot within the core 2 and the serrated index collar 4. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention attached to a standard ratchet for turning the socket. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, with sections broken away, showing the interior of the barrel 1 of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing all of the major components of the first embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6a is a perspective view, with sections broken away, of the drive core shown in the locked position. 
     FIG. 6b is a perspective view, with sections broken away, of the drive core shown in the indexing or unlocked position. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view showing in phantom the jaw members 3 set in cam slots 2c, 2d and 2e at 3/4 inch opening. 
     FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 7, except when the jaw members 3 are adjusted to a 3/8 inch opening. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8 showing the attached jaw members 3 (3/8 inch opening), barrel 1, core 2, index spring 5 and index collar 4 when disengaged (unlocked position) with wrench attached. 
     FIG. 10 is cross sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 7 showing the attached jaw members (3/4 inch opening), barrel 1, core 2, index spring 5 and index collar 4 when engaged (locked position). 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom view taken along line 11--11 of FIG. 9 showing the serrated index teeth of socket core 2 disengaged from the serrated teeth of index collar 4 as shown in FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 10 showing the serrated index teeth of core 2 and index teeth of collar 4 engaged as shown in FIG. 10. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the second embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14a is the top plan view of the second embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention taken along line 14a of FIG. 13 showing a three jaw configuration in the process of gripping a standard hexagonal bolt head. 
     FIG. 14b is a cross sectional view taken along 14b of FIG. 13 with jaws removed, partially exposing the cam slots 112c, 112d, and 112b through three equally spaced slots formed at the top surface of barrel 111. 
     FIG. 15 is the bottom view taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 13 of the second embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention showing the 3/8 inch square drive slot 128 within core 112 and its serrated teeth engaged with the serrated teeth of index collar 114 and the retaining snap-ring 116. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the adjustable socket of the present invention attached to standard ratchet for turning the socket. 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view, looking upwards, at the barrel 111 cutaway showing its interior, core 112, index collar 114 and snap-ring 116. 
     FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view, looking downwards, illustrating all of the components of the present socket invention. 
     FIG. 19a is a perspective view, with sections broken away, showing the drive core 112 in the locked position (wavy spring 115 not shown). 
     FIG. 19b is a perspective view, with section broken away, showing the drive core 112 in neutral or unlocked position (wavy spring 115 not shown). 
     FIG. 20 is a top view illustrating in phantom the jaw members 113a set in cam slots 112c, 112d, 112b at 3/4 opening. 
     FIG. 21 is a top view illustrating in phantom the jaw members 3a set in cam slots 112c, 112d, 112b at 3/8 opening. 
     FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 22--22 of FIG. 21 showing the socket components in a locked position when the jaws 113 are adjusted to 3/8 inch opening. 
     FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 23--23 of FIG. 20 showing the socket components in a neutral or index position when the jaws 113 are adjusted to 3/4 inch opening. 
     FIG. 24 is a side view of the socket barrel 111 and attached jaws 113. 
     FIG. 25 is the underside view taken along line 25--25 of FIG. 24 looking up into the barrel interior showing the jaw neck portions 113c and follower pins 113d. 
     FIG. 26 is a top view illustrating in phantom the orientation of the serrated teeth 44 relative to the radial of the cam surfaces 112b, 112c and 112d of core 112 when adjusted to 7/16 inch opening. 
     FIG. 27 is the same view as FIG. 26 except when core 112 is indexed to 11/16 inch opening. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     As best show in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first embodiment of this invention, the adjustable socket 10, includes a hollow drive barrel 1, three gripping jaws 3 carried by the drive barrel, a drive core 2 having a top flat cam surface 2a with spirally arranged slots 2c, 2d, 2e therein, and an index collar 4 engaging the drive core in a locked mode and disengaging the drive core in an unlocked mode. Each gripping jaw 3 has pins or cam followers 3b with nipple ends 3c extending downward from the followers 3b of the gripping jaws. 
     As best shown in FIG. 6, the drive barrel 1, the drive core 2, an index spring 5, and the index collar 4 are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis X of the socket 10, and the gripping jaws 3 are radially displaced from the longitudinal axis X. There is a counter bore portion if inside the barrel 1 into which the index collar is press fitted, and two notches 1g in the side wall of the barrel 1 are aligned so that they interlock with a pair of ears 4b of index collar 4 to prevent slippage due to torque between the collar 4 and the drive barrel 1. The distance from the longitudinal axis X of these gripping jaws 3 is varied depending on the size of the hexagonal head of the nut or bolt being grasped by the socket 10. The exterior surface 2f of the drive core 2 is knurled to improve gripping. The drive core 2 has serrated teeth 36 that engage the serrated teeth 4c of the collar 4 when the drive core 2 is in the locked mode. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2b, the drive barrel 1 has three equally spaced, wedge shaped fingers 14 at its upper end, with one jaw 3 being positioned within a T-channel T between adjacent fingers. Upon assembly, the central bored out portion 1e of barrel 1 houses the drive core 2, index spring 5, and index collar 4. As shown in FIG. 1, there is a rectangular window 12 near the base 1b of the drive barrel 1 and a knurled rim 1a near the top of the drive barrel 1. The central portion of barrel 1 is bored out to a depth that provides for sufficient thickness of an end wall 1b to maintain structural integrity of barrel 1. The end wall 1b of barrel 1 has three through slots 1d which are equally and radially spaced. The inside of each of the jaws 3 is formed into a 120 degree V-notch 40 in order to accommodate hexagonally configured bolts. The intermediate portion 3a of each jaw 3 is configured into a block shape which corresponds to and rides laterally within the T-channels T formed at the top of barrel 1. Each of the T-channels has the slot id through wall 1b. These slots 1d are sized to allow each aligned follower 3b of the jaw members 3 to extend through an individual slot id and ride within individual cam grooves 2c, 2d or 2e of drive core 2. 
     The drive core 2 has on the upper exterior of its side 2c a series of numbers N in a row which correspond to the different size hexagonal heads of bolts the socket 10 is designed to grip. By pulling the knurled portion 2f of core 2 downwards while simultaneously gripping the knurled rim 1a of the barrel 1 and rotating the core 2, the series of numbers N move sequentially past the window 12. The number N appearing in window 12 indicates to the user that the jaws 3 are positioned to grasp a hexagonal bolt head of the same size as the number N which appears in the window. For example, if the number 3/4 appears in the window 12, the jaws 3a are positioned to grasp a hexagonal head having a diameter of 3/4 inch across the flat of the hex nut. The setting of the jaws 3 is such that hexagonal heads sized in both English and Metric units may be grasped by the socket 10. For example, the socket may accommodate head sizes ranging between 3/8 to 3/4 inch and 10 to 19 millimeters (mm) in integrated sequential order. The numbers N appear as graduations stamped in sequential order as follows: 3/8 inch, 10 mm, (11 mm/7/16 inch), 12 mm, 13 mm, 1/2 inch, 14 mm, 9/16 inch, 15 mm, (16 mm/5/8 inch), 17 mm, 11/16 inch, 18 mm and (19 mm/3/4 inch). Because the (11 mm/7/16 inch), (16 mm/5/8 inch), and (19 mm/3/4 inch) are radially within ANSI specifications, they are incorporated into one size setting. These noted sizes are visible through the rectangular slotted window 12 upon rotating the core 2. 
     When the user pulls the core 2 downwards using the knurled exterior surface 2f of the drive core 2, the serrated male teeth 36 of core 2 disengage from the female teeth 4c of index collar 4. That is the socket 10 changes from a locked mode, as best shown in FIG. 6a, to an indexing or unlocked mode, as best shown in FIG. 6b. In the unlocked mode, the drive core 2 is free to b e manually rotated within barrel 1 and a counterbore 4d of the index collar 4. The counterbore 4d of the index collar 4 maintains constant alignment of the core 2 with the longitudinal X axis of socket 10. The nipple ends 3c of the cam followers 3b of each of the jaw members 3 is in constant engagement with the spirally configured cam grooves 2c, 2d and 2e of the core 2. The radial configuration of the cam grooves 2c, 2d and 2e become smaller when the drive core 2 rotated in a clockwise manner, which draws the jaw members 3 laterally inward to a smaller hexagonally configured opening to accept smaller bolt sizes as depicted in FIG. 8. Counterclockwise rotation increases the radial position of the cam grooves 2c, 2d and 2e. This expands the jaw members 3 laterally outwards for larger bolt sizes as depicted in FIG. 7. 
     There are thirty-six (36) equally spaced serrated male teeth 36 in the core 2 and thirty-six (36) female teeth 4c in the index collar 4. Each of the teeth in core 2 represents a distinct size when rotated and interlocked within the teeth 4c of the mating index collar 4. The center-to-center spacing of the serrated teeth 36 of core 2 corresponds with the center-to-center spacing of the socket size numbers N around core 2b. Consequently, with each 10° of rotation of the core 2, a number N moves into the window 12 and the radial position of the jaw members 3 relative to the radial position of the spirally configured cam grooves 2c, 2d and 2e is automatically adjusted to correspond with the selected socket size, because, as depicted in FIG. 9, the nipple ends 3c of the cam followers 3b remain within the cam grooves 2c, 2d and 2e even when the core 2 is in the unlocked mode. For example, if the selected N is 3/8 inch, the movement of the core 2 to position this number in the window 12 also results in the jaw members being positioned to receive a 3/8 inch head of a nut or bolt. Once a desired size is set, the user then releases the knurled exterior surface 2f of the drive core 2 and the spring 5 returns the core 2 to its locked position within the barrel 1, interlocking the serrated male teeth 36 with the serrated female teeth 4c of index collar 4. The top cam surface 2a of core 2 is now seated flush against wall 1b of barrel 1 as shown in FIG. 10. This assures that the jaw members 3 and the core 2 are secured within index collar 4 and barrel 1 as a unit. The socket 10 can now be safely utilized with a 3/8 inch drive ratchet which fits into a 3/8 inch square slot 28 provided in the center of core 2 of socket 10. 
     Second Embodiment 
     The second embodiment is similar in many respects to the first embodiment. Its main differences are the use of a snap-ring to hold assembled components together and a wavy spring in place of the coiled spring 5, restructuring of the top end of the barrel, and the elimination of the numbers N and rectangular window 12. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the second embodiment of this invention, the adjustable socket 110, includes (1) a hollow drive barrel 111, (2) three gripping jaws 113 carried by the drive barrel 111, (3) a drive core 112 having a top flat cam surface 112a with three spaced apart spirally configured cam slots 112b, 112c and 112d therein, (4) a wavy index spring 115, and (5) an index collar 114. In a locked position, the index collar 114 engages the drive core 112 and, in an unlocked position, disengages the drive core. Each gripping jaw 113 has a cam follower pin 113d that extends into one of the cam slots 112b, 112c and 112d. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the drive barrel 111, the drive core 112, the wavy index spring 115, and the index collar 114 are axially aligned along the longitudinal axis X of socket 110, with this axis X intersecting the center of each of these components of the socket. The gripping jaws 3a are radially displaced from the longitudinal axis X. The distance from the longitudinal axis X of these gripping jaws 113 varies depending on the size of the hexagonal head of the nut or bolt being grasped by the socket 110. The exterior bottom edge 112f of the drive core 112 is knurled to assist in gripping the socket 110 during size adjustments when the socket 110 is not attached to a ratchet wrench 130 (FIG. 16). The drive core 112 has forty-four (44) equally spaced serrated teeth 144 that engage the equally spaced forty-four (44) serrated teeth 114c of the collar 114 when the drive core 112 is placed in a locked position. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 17, the central portion of barrel 111 is bored out in a manner that provides sufficient thickness of the end wall 111b to maintain structural integrity of barrel 111. Upon assembly, a bored out portion of barrel 111c houses the drive core 112 and wavy spring 115. The bored out portion of barrel 111c is counter-bored to provide a portion 111d having a diameter and depth adequate to house the index collar 114a. The counter-bore portion diameter 111d has two aligned notches 111e that interlock with two aligned ears 114b of the collar 114. The interlocking of the ears 114b in the slots 111e and a snap-ring 116 prevents slippage between the collar 114 and barrel 111 when the socket 110 is wrenched. At the end of the counter-bore portion 111d is a groove 111f that holds the snap-ring 116 that retains within the barrel 111 the core 112, the wavy spring 115, and the index collar 114. 
     As best shown in FIG. 14b, the drive barrel 111 has at its top end three (3) equally spaced apart through T-shaped channels 117 in its top surface 111a. The wall 1b (FIG. 5) in the first embodiment has been eliminated in the second embodiment to improve the mounting and ease of lateral movement of the jaws, reduction in over all length of the second embodiment, and reduced manufacturing costs. The three jaws 113 are positioned within these T-channels 117 to move laterally. An inside recess portion of each jaw member 113 is formed into a 120 degree V-notch 140 to accommodate hexagonal configured nuts and bolts. The exterior surface 113a of each of the jaws 113 has a radius comparable to the cylindrical radius of the barrel 111, then tapering to a smaller diameter at its top to access nuts or bolts which may be fastened in a recessed area. An intermediate neck portion 113c of each jaw 113 has a T-shape that corresponds in shape to the T-shape of the channel 117 in which it rides laterally during adjustment. As best shown in FIG. 25, the neck portion 113c and the follower pin 113d of the jaws 113 extend through the inside end wall 111b of the barrel 111, and the follower pins 113d of jaws 113 extend and ride within one of the grooves 112b, 112c and 112d of core 112. 
     When a user pulls the core 112 downwards using the exterior bottom edge 112f of the drive core 112 to grasp the core, the serrated male teeth 144 of core 112 disengaged from the female teeth 114c of index collar 114 and the wavy spring 115 is compressed. The socket 110 is now changed from the locked mode (FIG. 19a) to an indexing or unlocked mode (FIG. 19b). In the unlocked mode, the drive core 112 is free to be manually rotated within barrel 111 and a counterbore 114d in the index collar 114. The counterbore 114d of the index collar 114 the maintains constant alignment of core 112 with the longitudinal axis X of socket 110. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 15, 22, and 23, the core 112 has a hollowed out 3/8 inch square receptacle 128 that accepts a standard 3/8 inch ratchet 130. If the socket 110 is mounted on a ratchet 130 and the user wants to make a size adjustment, he or she places the jaws 113 on the bolt head or nut, pulling the barrel 111 upwards while simultaneously rotating the ratchet handle so that the jaws 113 fit onto the particular size bolt being wrenched. As best shown in FIGS. 19b and 22, the spring 115 is thereby compressed and the teeth 114c of the collar 114 and the teeth 144 of the core 112 engage. This allows the user to turn the core 112 and move the relative positions of the pins 113d in the grooves 112b, 112c, and 112d to select the hex size. As depicted in FIGS. 21 and 26, the radial positions of the cam grooves 112b, 112c and 112d change when the drive core 112 is rotated in a clockwise manner to draw the jaw members 113 laterally inward to a smaller hex configured opening for accepting smaller hex sizes. As depicted in FIGS. 20 and 27, counterclockwise rotation changes the radial position of the cam grooves 112b, 112c and 112d to expand the jaw members 113 laterally outward for larger hex sizes. 
     After making this selection, the user then releases the barrel 111. This puts the socket 110 in the locked position, and the user is now ready to either tighten or loosen the bolt or nut safely. The wavy spring 115 is seated within barrel counter bore portion 111c, surrounding the serrated teeth 144 between the head of the core 112 and the index collar 114. As best shown in FIGS. 19a and 23, this spring 115, in its flexed or decompressed condition, provides a force that separates the teeth 144 of the core 112 and from the teeth 114c of the index collar 114, thereby holding the jaws 113 in the selected position. The pins 113d are in constant engagement with the spiral shaped cam slots 112b, 112c and 112d of core 2, even during the index mode. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, each of the serrated teeth 144 on the core 112 represents a distinct hex size when rotated, tooth-by-tooth, and interlocked with the teeth 114c of the mating index collar 114. The center-to-center spacing of the serrated teeth 144 on the core 112 and the serrated teeth 114c on the index collar 114 is the same ratio with the radial proportion of the cam slots 112b, 112c and 112d. Consequently, each 8.1818 degree of index rotation of the core 112, relative to the radial position of the cam slots 112b, 112c and 112d, corresponds to the radial opening of the jaw members 3a. The adjustable socket 110 has a range of seventeen discrete sizes in both English and Metric units from 3/8 inch to 3/4 and 10 mm (millimeter) to 19 mm in sequential order. Because some of the sizes are meet ANSI specifications, they have been incorporated into one size setting. The range is as follows: 3/8 inch, 10 mm, 11 mm/7/16 inch, 12 mm, 1/2 inch, 13 mm, 14 mm, 9/16 inch, 15 mm, 5/8 inch /16 mm, 17 mm, 11/16 inch, 18 mm and 19 mm/3/4 inch. 
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention: