Abstract:
A holder of wrench sockets that has a carrying handle ( 40 ), and a main member ( 56 ). The main member ( 56 ) extends from the handle ( 40 ) and passes through the existing drive hole ( 62 ) in the sockets ( 58 ) to form a chain of sockets ( 60 ) that are retained in place by a stop ( 68 ). The handle ( 40 ) is easily removable so the sockets can be laid out on a tray ( 120 ) for easy access and deployment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a holder and particularly to a ratchet wrench, socket holder.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    There has been a need for a socket holder that is spill-proof. A spill-proof holder is useful if the user carries his tool boxes around from place to place and handles them roughly from job site to job site and in and out of a vehicle. The sockets inside a tool box handled in this way become a mixed mass of confusion if the socket holders are not spill-proof.  
           [0006]    Spilt sockets take time and effort to reorganize and, in the case of a spill outside of the tool box, may become lost or may become a tripping hazard.  
           [0007]    Presently the successful spill-resistant socket holders and those that are being newly marketed are shown in the Sears special catalog, “Craftsmans Power and Hand Tools” through May 31, 2002 (hereafter referred to as CPHT) pages 20, 30, 47, and 149. Two of these holders are under patent protection.  
           [0008]    These devices all have a forcible lock for each socket. The forcible lock is either magnet based see CPHT page 20 item B, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,181 (1994) to Negus; spring and ball based see CPHT page 20 item K; or is mechanically applied through friction. The friction is either applied directly see CPHT page 30 item S, page 47 item K, page 149 item Q, or by a lever actuator see CPHT page 20 item L, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,107 (1998) to Dembicks.  
           [0009]    The lever actuated type of holder is too awkward to be considered spill-proof under adverse conditions such as rolling a tool box down a set of stairs. The holders and levers will bump against each other and other items in the tool box and shift into the unlocked position. This type of holder is expensive, fragile, and overly complicated.  
           [0010]    The direct friction type of holder is two weak to be considered spill-proof under the adverse conditions previously described or the constant vibrations inside a moving car. The sockets will bump and slowly be forced free of their friction hold. This type of holder has sharp metal edges that will do damage to other items in the tool box.  
           [0011]    Negus&#39;s magnetic type of holder is heavy. If more than one of this type of holder were put into the same tool box, they will cling together in one large, heavy mass. They will also cling to other ferrous metal tools inside the tool box, and to the box itself if ferrous. This holder has a fixed number of socket compartments and if the user did not have all these compartments occupied by owning a full set of sockets, he would not know at a glance a socket was missing and perhaps lying on the floor as a potential tripping hazard.  
           [0012]    The spring and ball based holder requires more force to operate than the others making it more spill-resistant, but harder to use.  
           [0013]    Most weekend mechanics purchase socket sets as the need arises. This leads to having a lot of socket sets spread about in different holders. And unfortunately, the holders are the low quality socket holders the sockets were originally purchased in.  
           [0014]    Many user would like to put all their socket sets into one uniform type of serviceable, good looking, compact, holder and put all the holders into one open structured tool box with the other ratchet wrench accessories.  
           [0015]    It would be hard to make any of the fore-mentioned holders compact in respect to a tailor made overall length, since they are made to accommodate the maximum number of sockets in a set lengthwise.  
           [0016]    The fore-mentioned socket holders were created for the professional mechanic that uses them on a constant basis.  
           [0017]    These socket holders are rigid and will not conform to the odd spaces found in a small carry along tool box.  
           [0018]    Prior art was not found for a socket holder that is, itself, run through the drive receptacle of an aligned series of ratchet wrench sockets.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0019]    In accordance to the present invention a ratchet wrench socket holder comprising a handle, a flexible main member, a stop and a connection means between the handle and the main member thereby; allowing the sockets to be strung like the pearls on a necklace, releasable for use and collectable for storage.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0020]    The invention herein described was created for the weekend mechanic who uses his or her tools intermittently, and who likes to find tools organized, intact, ready for use, and who because of a certain amount of unfamiliarity would like tools and tool holders as friendly as possible (no sharp edges) to cut himself or herself on or mark belongings.  
           [0021]    The tools in this case are ratchet wrench sockets that can be grouped by impalement on socket holders that can be tailor made to fit all the different socket sets that he or she may own into one good looking uniform group of socket holders. Socket holders that are easily individually identified because of their open construction (not incased in their own group container).  
           [0022]    Ratchet wrench socket holders that are compact, flexible, and rugged allowing them to be packed into odd spaces so that more of them can be put into one place at a time, preferably a small carry along tool box.  
           [0023]    Socket holders that do not release their contents under adverse conditions such as rolling the tool box down a set of stairs.  
           [0024]    The invention was created for someone like the landlord who does a lot of his own building repairs and must handle his tools roughly and is constantly shuffling tools around from one job site or rental property to another. Or for anyone who likes everything of one kind (multiple socket sets) in one place, in one neat, good looking, easy to handle, easy to store, easy to color code, easy to recognize, and secure package. 
       
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0025]    In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.  
         [0026]    The sections are best sections. Only that which will clarify the configuration is given section lines.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the socket holder as if it where ready for use.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the socket holder as if it where taken apart in logical order.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a continuation of FIG. 2 at point  46 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 4 and 4A are sections on line  4 ,  4 A of FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 is a section on line  5  of FIG. 1 and FIG. 12.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 shows the thumb slide.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is an enlarged section on line  7  of FIG. 4.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is an enlarged section on line  8  of FIG. 4.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on line  9  of FIG. 4.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 shows the alignment tray.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 and  11 A shows the alignment tray in use.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 12 shows an additional embodiment of the socket holder as if it where ready for use.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 13 shows an additional embodiment of the socket holder as if it where taken apart in logical order. FIG. 13 is continued on FIG. 3 at point  136 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 14 and 14A are sections on line  14 ,  14 A of FIG. 12.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 15 is an enlarged section on line  15  of FIG. 14.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 16 is an enlarged section on line  16  of FIG. 14.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 17 shows a loop embodiment with a hook.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 18 shows a loop embodiment with a weld.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 19 shows a loop embodiment with a plug. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0046]    Preferred Embodiment:  
         [0047]    A holder of wrench sockets including sub-assemblies  40  and  41  will be described according to the preferred embodiment with reference to FIGS.  1 - 11 A. The handle sub-assembly  40  is removable from the bougie sub-assembly  41  as shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0048]    Shown in FIG. 1 is the complete socket holder assembly with the two sub-assemblies  40  and  41  locked together. Markings  36  FIG. 1 are used to indicate the kind of sockets that are contained on this particular holder. The M mark stands for metric, {fraction (3/8)} for size, D for drive, 12 point for the number of teeth in the sockets.  
         [0049]    This identification of the holder could also be done by color coding different parts of the holder such as handle  30  could be light gray for metric system of measurement, thumb slide  42  could be black for 12 points of teeth, and stop  68  could be white for a {fraction (3/8)} inch drive size.  
         [0050]    The exploded drawing FIG. 2 shows how the different parts are put together to form the handle sub-assembly  40 .  
         [0051]    The complete handle sub-assembly  40  is made up by inserting thumb slide  42  into the free fit of slot  38 , then inserting spring  44  into the open interior and free fit of the handle  30  and finally by pressing pin  34  into hole  32 . The pressing of pin  34  into hole  32  locks all four parts together as shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0052]    Corrosion resistant metal would be a suitable material for spring  44  and pin  34 ; rigid plastic for thumb slide  42  and casing handle  30 . The spring  44  is a rectangular strip bent to the configuration shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0053]    Continuation of the projection line at  46  FIG. 2 takes the exploded assembly to FIG. 3 and the bougie sub-assembly  41 .  
         [0054]    Stiffener rod  50  is forced into the internal diameter  54  of the flexible and elastic main member  56  until the reference lines  48  and  52  are flush with each other forming a stiff end portion of member  56  that can be moved easily through the drive receptacle of a series of aligned sockets  58 . The assembled positional relationship of rod  50  and tube  56  is shown in FIG. 4A.  
         [0055]    The flexible main member  56  is similar to the black plastic vinyl tubing used for sprinkler systems available at most large hardware stores but some alternatives are rope, chain, and flexible monolithic (one piece) plastic ball and rod chain. And because different materials often require different joining methods, the stop and stiffener rod for each alternative may be slightly different from their counterparts used in the presently preferred embodiments, but are functionally the same.  
         [0056]    A substantially rigid resilient material such as brass is suitable for the stiffener rod  50 . Another suitable material is rigid plastic. Ridges projecting transversely from the outside diameter of the stiffener rod to make it easier to force into the main member is applicable to the fore-mentioned materials and other materials.  
         [0057]    To further put together the sub-assembly  41  FIG. 3, the tube end (line  64 ) of main member  56  is run through the free fit of hole  66  of stop  68 . Then the small end of the tapered plug  72  is forced into the internal diameter  54  of the main member  56  forming a plugged end. Finally the plugged end is forced into stop  68  until reference lines  74 ,  70 , and  64  are flush with one another. With reference to FIG. 5, this action creates a wedge lock between the plugged end of the main member  56  and the tapered length  100  of stop  68  forming an obstruction to the movement of sockets  58 . The complete bougie assembly  41  is shown in FIG. 11.  
         [0058]    A substantially rigid plastic would be suitable for the stop  68  and plug  72  FIG. 3.  
         [0059]    A way to market the socket holder will be to pre-assemble only the rod  50  and the tube  56  in the making of bougie assembly  41 . The flexible main member  56  will then be supplied to a pre-determined length long enough to be cut down by the user to fit a particular group of his or her sockets. The user will then assemble the main member  56 , stop  68  and plug  72  to complete the bougie  41  in a tailor made fashion.  
         [0060]    With reference to FIG. 1, a full description of assemblies  40 ,  41  includes friction ridges  114  on thumb slide  42  FIG. 8 to prevent slippage between the thumb and the thumb slide top. Ferrules  73  around the diameter of taper plug  72  FIG. 5 to insure the plug will stay in place.  
         [0061]    To operate the socket holder the user lays out the sockets  58  in an organized fashion on elongated tray  120  FIG. 11. The elongated tray  120  FIG. 10 has a longitudinal vee groove  116  in its top surface  117  to allow easy alignment and positioning of the sockets  58 . A secondary ridge restraint  118  at each outboard longitudinal edge of the top surface  117  of the tray  120  is included to prevent the aligned sockets (not shown) from being swept from the tray by a careless hand.  
         [0062]    To further operate the socket holder the user moves the end  86  FIG. 11 of the main member  56  through the sockets  58  aligned on the tray  120  until the stop  68  is butted against the drive receptacle  62  FIG. 5 of the largest socket. This running through action forms the socket chain  60  as shown in FIG. 11A.  
         [0063]    With reference to point  121  FIG. 11A, and a view of FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A mirrored 180 degrees horizontally for the left hand, the user grips, between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, the point  121  of the main member  56  and inserts end  86  into the open end of handle assembly  40  FIG. 4A in the left hand. Handle assembly  40  is in open position as indicated by direction arrow  88  of the thumb slide  42 .  
         [0064]    When end  86  FIG. 4 is all the way into assembly  40 , thumb slide  42  is moved with the users left thumb to the closed position indicated by direction arrow  82 .  
         [0065]    The sockets are now secure and may be put into a tool box. To use the sockets the preceding operation is reversed except for organizing the sockets on the tray. The sockets should stay organized on the tray in normal use.  
         [0066]    A full description of the operation of the socket holder includes the details of moving thumb slide  42  to the closed position shown in FIG. 4. First note in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 that the thumb slide is held in place by a top  112 , neck  108  and flange  106 . These features limit the direction of motion of the thumb slide  42  to a back and forth axial motion in line with the main member  56  FIG. 4. A back and forth motion that ends at spring tab  90  FIG. 4A in the inboard direction, and the handle casing  30  at the end of slot  38  in the outboard direction. This motion is made possible by a free fit between thumb slide  42  FIG. 9, slot  38  and handle casing  30 . The axial stroke forward that butts thumb slide  42  FIG. 4A against spring tab  90  moves incline  102  of wedge  110  against a lobule projection  94  of spring  44  producing a downward thrust that is transferred through spring  44  to a lobule projection  92 . Lobe  92  FIG. 4 is then forced downward into the elastic main member  56  creating a pinch between the lobe  92  and a lobe  96  at point  84 . The stiffening rod  50  is rigid and can not pass the pinch between lobes  92  and  96 ; thereby, forming a connection and an axial positive lock between main member  56  and handle  40 . At this time an axial forcible lock is also created between the thumb slide  42  and spring lobe  94  by depression  104 . A predetermined amount of force is required to unlock thumb slide  42  with a reverse motion as indicated by arrow  88 . The force requirement is determined by the stiffness of spring  44 , the size of depression  104  and friction factors within the handle assembly  40 .  
         [0067]    An Additional Embodiment:  
         [0068]    A holder of wrench sockets according to an additional embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and FIGS.  10 - 16 .  
         [0069]    The configuration and operations of bougie assembly  41  FIG. 3 has been previously described in the preferred embodiment and is cross-referenced from continuation point  136  to the same point on FIG. 13 of the additional embodiment.  
         [0070]    Shown in FIG. 12 is the complete socket holder assembly with sub-assemblies  130  and  41  locked together. Markings  36  FIG. 12 are used to indicate the kind of sockets that are contained on this particular holder. The M mark stands for metric, {fraction (3/8)} for size, D for drive, 12PT for the number of teeth points in the sockets.  
         [0071]    The identification of the holder could also be done by color coding different parts of the holder similar to that done in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0072]    The exploded assembly FIG. 13 shows how the different parts are put together to form the assembled holder in FIG. 12.  
         [0073]    Handle assembly  130  FIG. 14A is removable from bougie assembly  41 .  
         [0074]    For clarity, FIG. 13 is shown in three parts: handle extrusion  122 , guide block  122 A, and retention bracket  122 B. In actual practice these parts may be incorporated into a one piece molding of substantially rigid plastic. This one piece molding can be shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 14A without sacrificing drawing clarity.  
         [0075]    A further description of handle  130  as if it were one piece.  
         [0076]    Handle  130  has a longitudinal entry slot  128  FIG. 16 that is open on top and open on the left end as shown in FIG. 14. The left end of which is also partially obstructed by projections from the near and far side that form, from top to bottom respectfully: a lead-in notch  134 , a radial retention aperture  146 , and an axial retention aperture  148  that communicate with each other. The right end of the slot is closed to form a tip guide  126  and a tip pocket  124 .  
         [0077]    To operate the socket holder of the additional embodiment in reference to point  121  FIG. 11A, and a view of FIG. 14 and FIG. 14A mirrored 180 degrees horizontally for the left hand, the user grips, between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, point  121  FIG. 11A of the main member  56  and grips in the left hand assembly  130  FIG. 14A. The user then inserts main member end  86 , through entry slot  128 , down tip guide  126 , and into tip pocket  124  as indicated by arrow  142 . The user then continues with the right hand to push point  140  FIG. 14, through lead-in notch  134 , down radial retention aperture  146 , and into axial retention aperture  148  as indicated by arrow  144  FIG. 14A.  
         [0078]    The sockets are now secure and may be put into a tool box. To use the sockets the preceding operation is reversed except for organizing the sockets on the tray. The sockets should stay organized on the tray in normal use.  
         [0079]    A full description of the operation of the socket holder includes the details of moving the main member  56  FIG. 14A at gripping point  121  into the axial retention aperture  148 .  
         [0080]    After end  86  is inserted into tip pocket  124 , point  140  is guided as indicated by direction arrow  144  to the radial retention aperture  146  by entry slot  128  and the vee shaped lead-in notch  134  FIG. 15. Because main member  56  is elastic it is allowed to pass through the smaller aperture  146  and into the larger axial retention aperture  148 . Aperture  148  is larger than aperture  146 , but it is smaller than the outside diameter of the main member  56  and creates a pinch in the main member at point  140  FIG. 14 which prevents the rigid, non-compressible, stiffening rod  50  from passing through the aperture  148 ; thereby, forming a connection and an axial positive lock between main member  56  and handle  130 . In this position end  86  of the main member is also held in place by tip pocket  124 . The smaller radial retention aperture  146  prevents transverse movement of the main member at point pinch  140  unless a force of a predetermined amount is applied to point  121  in a direction opposite to arrow  144 ; thereby, forming a radial forcible lock between main member  56  and handle  130 .  
         [0081]    If compared equally to all open type socket holders with carrying handles, yet another advantage of the herein described invention is that it is the most compact of all these socket holders. The fact that it is flexible and can fit into odd spaces, that 90 percent of the socket holder itself is inside the sockets themselves, taking up no additional space outside of the sockets, and the fact that it can be easily tailor made to length, make this possible.  
         [0082]    The tailor made holder of the herein described invention shows at a glance if a socket is missing.  
         [0083]    Under a jarring and bumping type of adverse condition, it is the most spill-resistant of the open type holders. This is so because it has a no pass positive lock in addition to a forcible lock, as was described with the axial retention aperture  148  FIG. 13 and radial retention aperture  146  respectively.  
         [0084]    The present invention is not limited to the holding of the ratchet wrench sockets illustrated in the above embodiments, but is applicable as a holder of other objects as well.  
         [0085]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of two of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example the plug could be brass instead of plastic. The stiffening rod could be glued into place instead of forced into place. The main member could be a flexible loop instead of a flexible straight drop. The loop could be formed by using a standard eye  150  FIG. 17 and a standard hook  152  between the stop and handle of the presently preferred embodiments. A loop embodiment is shown in FIG. 18 that has a single obstruction in the main member  56  created by simply joining the stop  68  and handle  40  or  130  of the presently preferred embodiments by a weld at point  156 . Another loop embodiment is formed if a connector plug  154  and the ends of the main member  56  are joined as shown in FIG. 19. If all parts of the looped preferred embodiments are made small enough to pass through a group of axially aligned wrench sockets, yet other embodiments (not shown) of the herein described invention are formed.  
         [0086]    Although certain embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.