Abstract:
An extension member for use with a socket wrench having a first end portion, a shaft portion connected to the first end portion, and a second end portion connected to the shaft portion opposite of the first end portion. The second end portion has a bore for receiving said socket wrench and an exterior surface shaped to matingly receive a second wrench that can provide alternate torque delivery. The extension member further has at least one bolster located on the second end portion of the extension member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to sockets, extensions, and adaptors for socket wrenches and ratcheting wrenches. More particularly, the present invention relates to extensions that can an incorporate an external wrench, such as an open end wrench, box wrench, or an adjustable wrench, for extra or alternative torque delivery. 
         [0002]    Prior art extensions are designed to have a female end mounted on the drive end of the wrench. The outside of the female end of the extension is cylindrical in shape. However, in many situations, space is an issue and it is not always possible to get an extension or a socket into an area along with the socket wrench, which prevents using the extension in tight areas. 
         [0003]    Extensions have been designed to address such situations. For example, Pearce (U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,894), discloses a socket wrench extension in which a first end portion of the wrench has a hexagonal outside perimeter and a square inner perimeter. The hexagonal outside perimeter allows for a second wrench to provide extra torque to the extension. The extension further provides a lip near the hexagonal outside diameter to prevent a wrench from slipping down over the shank of the socket wrench when an external wrench is being used. Another example, Lewis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,757), also provides a socket wrench adapter having a hexagonal end having a square inner diameter. The adapter also has a lip that allows for a wrench to rest against. 
         [0004]    While these extensions provide advantages over the prior art, there are still possible improvements. For example, the area that receives an external wrench to deliver extra torque may not always be the easiest to grab with a wrench, especially in tight situations, or when the user has to reach above his head to reach the extension member. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an improved extension member that would assist in the user grabbing the extension member with an external or second wrench, with the wrench being adaptable to be grabbed in alternate placements and locations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is for an extension member for use with a wrench having a first end portion, a shaft portion connected to the first end portion, and a second end portion connected to the shaft portion opposite of the first end portion. The second end portion has a bore for receiving a socket wrench and an exterior surface shaped to matingly receive a second wrench that can provide alternate torque delivery. The extension member further has at least one bolster located on the second end portion of the extension member. 
         [0006]    The bolsters are designed to provide an extra structure for the second end portion that will assist in aligning a second wrench on the second end portion. The bolsters are preferably removable from the extension member, which allows adaptability for the second wrench in that the bolster can potentially be moved or rearranged, depending on the angle for which the extension member is being used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a socket wrench extension according to the present invention, with a bolster located on the extension. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a socket wrench extension according to the present invention, having a pair of bolsters located on the extension. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , with the bolsters shown in  FIG. 2  being removed from the extension. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts various bolsters used in combination with a socket wrench extension according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a further embodiment of a socket extension according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows the extension member of  FIG. 5  having an alternate bolster arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an extension member  10  according to the present invention. The extension member  10  generally comprises a first end portion  12 , a second end portion  14 , and a shaft or extension portion  16  located between the first end portion  12  and the second end portion  14 . The first end portion  12  is shown as being square and including a detent  18  provided thereon the first end portion  12  for retaining a socket (not shown). Other polygonal shapes are possible at the first end portion  12 , but the customary shape is a square. The customary detent or ball retention is a small ball with a hidden spring compressed against it. Such detent devices are quite common, though other means of providing releasable attachment of a socket into a socket wrench may be used. 
         [0015]    The second end portion  14  comprises a square bore  19 , so that the extension member  10  can be attached to a standard socket wrench, ratchet, or other torque delivering device (not shown) to be attached to the extension member  10 . The second end portion  14  has a perimeter  20 , preferably hexagonal in shape, which allows a secondary device to provide additional torque to the extension member  10 . That is, the outer surface of the second end portion  14  is configured so that it can receive a second or alternate wrench, such as an open ended wrench, a box end wrench, an adjustable wrench, or other similar wrench. This is advantageous in situations or arrangements where the use of the extension member  10  does not permit attachment to a socket wrench. For instance, often when working on and around the engine block of a vehicle, it is not possible to actually attach a socket wrench to the extension member, as there may not be enough space or length to attach the socket wrench. An example of a situation where the present invention is particularly useful is the attachment and removal of spark plugs. Current engines are designed to minimize the use of space. Spark plugs generally tend to be inset to minimize space and, possibly, at an awkward angle. Because of the angle that the extension member may be attached to a socket, it may not be possible to deliver the necessary torque through the extension member  10 . In such instances, a secondary, external, removable wrench can be used on the perimeter  20  to deliver the necessary torque to the extension member  10 . The present invention provides a gripping surface for such a second wrench. 
         [0016]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a lip or a protrusion  22  is located where the shaft portion  16  meets the second end portion  14 . The lip  22  provides an abutment  26 , which helps in aligning a secondary wrench around the perimeter  20  and prevents the secondary wrench from sliding down the shaft portion  16  when using the secondary wrench. The lip  22  can also assist in locating the second end portion  14  when a user is trying to secure the secondary wrench around the second end portion  14 , especially when the extension member  10  is not necessarily visible to the user. To further assist in properly aligning and attaching an external wrench, a bolster  24  is shown attached to the second end portion  14  near the abutment  26 . The bolster  24  is preferably removable, which allows the size or width of the bolster  24  to be adjusted if necessary. The bolster  24  can also be used as a shock absorber or cushioning device, which can make it easier for the user to properly position an external wrench on the second end portion  14  and helps to securely hold the secondary wrench onto the second end portion  14 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  refers to a second embodiment  110  of an extension member according to the present invention. The second embodiment  110  is similar to that of the first embodiment  10 , having a first end portion  112 , and a second end portion  114 , and a shaft portion or extension portion  116  located between the first end portion  112  and the second end portion  114 , with the general arrangement of each of the sections being the same as that of the first embodiment  10 . The shaft portion  116  also has a lip  122  that forms an abutment  126  where the second end portion  114  meets the shaft portion  116 . The second embodiment  110  differs from the first extension member  10  in that the second end portion  114  comprises a pair of bolsters  124   a  and  124   b , rather than a single bolster, as shown in the first embodiment. The bolsters  124   a  and  124   b  are spaced apart on the second end portion  114 , with the possibility of more bolsters being incorporated or attached to the second end portion  114 . The use of a pair of bolsters  124   a  and  124   b  further assists in properly aligning an external wrench onto the extension member  110 . For example, the bolsters  124   a ,  124   b  may be spaced apart so that an external wrench will rest on the second end portion  114  between the two bolsters  124   a ,  124   b . Also, depending on the length of the second end portion  114 , the bolsters  124   a ,  124   b  (and potentially other bolsters, not shown) can provide alternate placement options for the secondary wrench for delivering torque to the extension member  110 . This is a beneficial feature when using the extension member  110  in tight or awkward places or angles, such as when the extension member  110  is used in an upside-down position, or where the first end portion  112  is vertically above the second end portion  114  when in use. For example, when a user needs to attach a secondary wrench to the extension member  110  by sliding it up the shaft portion  116  onto the second end portion  114 , the bolster  124   b  provides a solid surface for the second wrench to be positioned against for proper torque delivery. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  provides an alternate view of the extension member  110 , with the bolsters  124   a  and  124   b  removed. A pair of grooves  144   a  and  144   b  are designed to receive the bolsters  124   a  and  124   b , respectively. Preferably, the grooves  144   a  and  144   b  are identical in size and shape, so that the same bolster could be used in either of the grooves  144   a  and  144   b . Thus, the extension member  110  could be arranged or rearranged as necessary, with a bolster located in either of the grooves, only one of the grooves, or in neither of the grooves. The arrangement and design allows flexibility and adjustability for the extension member  110 . It is also understood that the extension member  10  ( FIG. 1 ) preferably comprises a groove  44  that will support the bolster  26 , just as the grooves  144   a  and  144   b  support the bolsters  124   a  and  124   b.    
         [0019]    The bolsters used in the present invention can be of any suitable design that would provide a load bearing shoulder and potentially assist in aligning an external wrench on the disclosed extension members. Bolsters according to the present invention extend outwardly from the second end portion of the socket extension, and are independent from lips or abutments, as discussed above. Furthermore, the bolster could be a soft or pliable bolster, possibly manufactured from a pliable rubber material, or a hard or rigid bolster, possibly manufactured from a hard plastic material.  FIG. 4  provides various possible bolsters that could be used with the present invention, namely in grooves  44 ,  144   a , and/or  144   b . As examples, the bolster could be an O-ring  24   a , a C-clip ( 24   b ,  24   c ), or an e-clip  24   d , or another similar device. The O-ring  24   a  would be an example of a soft bolster, while the C-clips ( 24   b ,  24   c ) or the e-clip  24   d  would be an example of a rigid bolster. The bolsters shown in  FIG. 4  are merely exemplary, and other similar bolster could be used, as well. Further different bolsters, such as the O-ring  23   a  and the e-clip  24   d , could be used in combination upon a single extension member  110 . 
         [0020]    While the previous embodiments have discussed bolsters that generally surround the extension members, with the bolsters potentially being removable from the extension members, the present invention encompasses other bolster designs as well. As examples,  FIGS. 5   6  provide further embodiments having alternate bolster arrangements.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show a perspective view of an extension member  210  generally comprising a first end portion  212 , a second end portion  214 , and a shaft or extension portion  216 , similar to the previous embodiments. Likewise, the first end portion  212  includes a ball retention  218  provided thereon the first end portion  212  for retaining a socket (not shown). The second end portion  214  preferably comprises a square bore  219 , so that the extension member  210  can be attached to a standard socket wrench, ratchet, or other torque delivering device (not shown) to be attached to the extension member  210 . The second end portion  214  has a perimeter  220 , preferably hexagonal in shape, which allows a secondary device to provide additional torque to the extension member  210 . Still referring to  FIG. 5 , a lip or a protrusion  222  provides an abutment  226 , which helps in aligning a secondary wrench around the perimeter. To further assist in properly aligning and attaching an external wrench, a bolster  224  is shown attached to the second end portion  214  near the abutment  226 . The bolster  224  works to align a second wrench as described with the previous embodiments. However, the bolster  224  is not removable from the extension member  210 , but rather comprises a depressible member. The depressible bolster could be designed similarly to the detent  218  or possibly another retractable push pin type device. The bolster  224  will provide an abutting surface for a second wrench just as the previous embodiments had done. 
         [0021]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 6 , the extension member  210  has a pair of bolsters,  224   a  and  224   b , compared to a single bolster  224  of  FIG. 5 . The bolsters  224   a  and  224   b  comprise depressible members that allow for a second wrench to be situated on the second end portion  214  of the extension member  210 . The pair of bolsters  224   a  and  224   b  provides an arrangement similar to the extension member  110  described and shown in  FIG. 2 . That is, the bolsters  224   a  and  224   b  are spaced apart on the second end portion  214  to allow for alternate placement of a second wrench and, also, allowing for a second wrench to sit between the bolsters  224   a  and  224   b.    
         [0022]    The present invention provides numerous advantages over previous extension sections or members. For example, the exterior surface of the second end portion would allow a person to finger tighten the extension member, which could be useful when working under a cramped area, such as under a dashboard. The shape of the second end allows for easy identification by feel or touch from other tools, and the polygonal shape prevents the extension member from rolling away from a user when set down on a surface. The present invention provides an improved extension member that will allow a user to more efficiently perform various jobs compared to prior art extension members. 
         [0023]    The lengths of the extensions of the present disclosure can vary over a wide range whether made in metric units, English units, ASCII units, or other units. The size of the square projection intended for operation by being inserted into a socket wrench can also vary over a very wide range. The size of the hexagonal wrench portion can vary over a wide range, and when the extension is being operated by an open-end wrench, crescent wrench, closed-end wrench, or different size socket wrench with ratchet, it need not be of the same units of measurement as the square projection on the other end of the extender, or of the square bore inside of it. 
         [0024]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.