Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for marking a socket. The method includes the steps of providing a socket, making at least one indented mark in the surface of the socket, executing a heat treatment on the surface of the socket, providing at least one colored layer in the indented mark, providing an electroplated layer on the surface of the socket except the colored layer, removing a portion of the electroplated layer from the surface of the socket to form an exposed portion of the surface of the socket, and providing a black-dyed layer on the exposed portion of the surface of the socket. The heat treatment can be executed after the colored layer is provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/211,297, and claims the domestic filing date of Aug. 16, 2011 filed by the applicant thereof. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a socket wrench and, more particularly, to a method for marking a socket of a socket wrench so that the socket bears a clear, durable and aesthetic mark. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    To drive a fastener such as a threaded bolt and a nut, an open-ended wrench, a box-ended wrench, a monkey wrench or a socket wrench may be used. A socket wrench kit includes a handle and a set of sockets of various sizes. In operation, the handle is connected to a selected one of the sockets for driving a fastener of a certain size. Thus, a socket wrench kit can be used to drive fasteners of various sizes. A socket wrench kit is lighter and less expensive than a set of open-ended wrenches or box-ended wrenches. The handle of a socket wrench kit often includes a selective one-way driving mechanism. Therefore, a socket wrench kit is more convenient than a monkey wrench. 
         [0004]    It is important to mark the sockets of a socket wrench kit to indicate the sizes of the sockets. There has been an attempt to provide plastic collars of different colors on sockets of different sizes. The plastic collars could easily be blurred, damaged or detached from the sockets so that the sockets would be poorly marked or not marked at all. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, indented marks may be made in the sockets by pressing. It however requires an expensive machine to execute the pressing. Moreover, the indented marks are unclear on the sockets. This problem will be even worse when the indented marks are filled with dirt and grease after some time of use. 
         [0006]    A socket is generally coated after the pressing. The electroplated layer is useful in protecting the socket from rust. The electroplated layer is provided on the socket in and outside the indented mark. That is, the color of the socket in the indented mark is identical to the color of the socket outside the indented mark. The electroplated layer makes the indented marks more unclear. 
         [0007]    There has been another attempt to provide manganese phosphate on a socket after the pressing. The manganese phosphate is useful in protecting the socket from rust. The manganese phosphate however makes the socket look black and blur the indented mark. 
         [0008]    More methods for providing tools with identification systems can be found in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 555626 and Taiwanese Patent Application Publication No. 200840683. However, only the colors of silver and black can be provided on the tools, and this is not satisfactory regarding the diversity of trademarks. 
         [0009]    Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a method for marking a socket. 
         [0011]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the method includes the steps of providing a socket, making at least one indented mark in the surface of the socket, executing a heat treatment on the surface of the socket, providing at least one colored layer in the indented mark, providing an electroplated layer on the surface of the socket except the colored layer, removing a portion of the electroplated layer from the surface of the socket to form an exposed portion of the surface of the socket, and providing a black-dyed layer on the exposed portion of the surface of the socket. 
         [0012]    In the method, the heat treatment can be executed after the colored layer is provided. 
         [0013]    Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a socket marked by a method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the method in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the socket before it is marked by the method shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the socket with an indented mark made therein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the socket with a color filled in the indented mark shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the socket with an electroplated layer provided on the socket shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the socket with some of the electroplated layer removed from the socket shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the socket shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart of a method for making a socket in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a method for marking a socket  10  shown in  FIG. 3  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the socket  10  is made of metal by casting and/or lathing for example. The socket  10  includes two sections  11  and  12 . The first section  11  of the socket  10  includes a substantially square cavity axially defined therein for receiving a square tongue of a handle of a wrench. The second section  12  of the socket  10  includes a substantially hexagonal cavity axially defined therein for receiving a nut or a head of a screw. The second section  12  of the socket  10  preferably includes two annular grooves  13  defined in the surface (or the “external side”) thereof. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , at least one indented mark  15  is made in the surface of the socket  10  by pressing, engraving or molding for example. The indented mark  15  is preferably made in the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . The indented mark  15  preferably includes a size, a trademark and/or a manufacturer&#39;s name. 
         [0026]    Then, a heat treatment is conducted on the socket  10  to increase the hardness. Thus, a portion of the socket  10  near the indented mark  15 , in particular, is not vulnerable to wearing. Therefore, the depth of the indented mark  15  is retained. 
         [0027]    Then, a surface treatment is conducted on the socket  10 . The surface treatment may be sand-blasting or grinding for example. Thus, the socket  10  and the indented mark  15  are clear of deckle edges. Furthermore, the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  is made rough to facilitate attachment of inks or dyes thereto. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , coloring is conducted on the socket  10  to form a colored layer  20  on the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15 . 
         [0029]    The colored layer  20  includes various colors. For example, the trademark may be in red while the size may be in green. The colored layer  20  is firmly attached to the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  since the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  is made rough before the coloring. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , electroplating is conducted on the socket  10  to form an electroplated layer  30  on the surface and an internal side of the socket  10  except the colored layer  20 . The electroplated layer  30  is preferably a shining silver-like layer. The electroplated layer  30  cannot be provided on the colored layer  20  because the colored layer  20  is made of an isolating material. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , by grinding for example, a portion of the electroplated layer  30  and colorant are removed from a portion of the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10  located outside the indented mark  15  Thus, the surface of the socket  10  is made with an exposed portion  18 . Because of the exposed portion  18 , there is strong contrast between the colored layer  20  and the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , a black-dyed layer  40  is provided on the exposed portion  18  of the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . The black-dyed layer  40  may be provided by black-dyeing or manganese phosphate. 
         [0033]    The color of the black-dyed layer  40 , the color of the electroplated layer  30  and the color of the colored layer  20  are different from one another. That is, the socket  10  is provided with at least three colors. Thus, the indented mark  15  is in strong contrast against the electroplated layer  30  and the black-dyed layer  40  so that the indented mark  15  is clear and the identification of the socket  10  is clear and easy. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the socket  10  is made with the first and second sections  11  and  12 . A nut or a head of a screw can be inserted in the hexagonal cavity defined in the first section  11  of the socket  10 . A square tongue of a handle or a wrench can be inserted in the square cavity defined in the second section  12  of the socket  10 . The socket  10  further includes the annular grooves  13  and the indented mark  15 . The indented mark  15  may include a specification, a size and/or a trademark. A colored layer  20  is provided in the indented mark  15 . The colored layer  20  includes various colors. For example, the trademark may be in red while the size may be in green. The socket  10  further includes the electroplated layer  30  and the black-dyed layer  40 . The final product exhibits at least three colors to provide clear identification and an aesthetic look. 
         [0035]    The socket  10  exhibits at least four advantages. Firstly, the attachment of the colored layer  20  to the socket  10  is firm because the colored layer  20  is attached to the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  that is made rough beforehand. 
         [0036]    Secondly, the color of the black-dyed layer  40 , the color of the electroplated layer  30  and the color of the colored layer  20  are different from one another. Thus, the colored layer  20  filled in the indented mark  15  is in strong contrast against the electroplated layer  30  and the black-dyed layer  40 . Therefore, the colored layer  20  filled in the indented mark  15  looks clear amid the electroplated layer  30  and the black-dyed layer  40 . Accordingly, the identification of the socket  10  is clear and easy. 
         [0037]    Thirdly, the color of the black-dyed layer  40 , the color of the electroplated layer  30  and the color of the colored layer  20  are different from one another. Therefore, the socket  10  is colorful and could be aesthetically pleasant. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a method for marking a socket in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 3 , a socket  10  is provided. The socket  10  is made of metal by casting and/or lathing for example. The socket  10  includes two sections  11  and  12 . The first section  11  of the socket  10  includes a substantially square cavity axially defined therein for receiving a square tongue of a handle of a wrench. The second section  12  of the socket  10  includes a substantially hexagonal cavity axially defined therein for receiving a nut or a head of a screw. The second section  12  of the socket  10  preferably includes two annular grooves  13  defined in the surface (or the “external side”) thereof. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 4 , at least one indented mark  15  is made in the surface of the socket  10  by pressing, engraving or molding for example. The indented mark  15  is preferably made in the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . The indented mark  15  preferably includes a size, a trademark and/or a manufacturer&#39;s name. 
         [0040]    Then, a heat treatment is conducted on the socket  10  to increase the hardness. Thus, a portion of the socket  10  near the indented mark  15 , in particular, is not vulnerable to wearing. Therefore, the depth of the indented mark  15  is retained. 
         [0041]    Then, a surface treatment is conducted on the socket  10 . The surface treatment may be sand-blasting or grinding for example. Thus, the socket  10  and the indented mark  15  are clear of deckle edges. Furthermore, the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  is made rough to facilitate attachment of inks or dyes thereto. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 6 , electroplating is conducted on the socket  10  to form an electroplated layer  30  on the surface and an internal side of the socket  10 . The electroplated layer  30  is preferably a shining silver-like layer. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 5 , coloring is conducted on the socket  10  to form a colored layer  20  on the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15 . The colored layer  20  includes various colors. For example, the trademark may be in red while the size may be in green. The colored layer  20  is firmly attached to the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  since the surface of the socket  10  in the indented mark  15  is made rough before the coloring. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 7 , by grinding for example, a portion of the electroplated layer  30  and colorant are removed from a portion of the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10  located outside the indented mark  15 . Thus, the surface of the socket  10  is made with an exposed portion  18 . Because of the exposed portion  18 , there is strong contrast between the colored layer  20  and the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 8 , a black-dyed layer  40  is provided on the exposed portion  18  of the surface of the second section  12  of the socket  10 . The black-dyed layer  40  may be provided by black-dyeing or manganese phosphate. 
         [0046]    The color of the black-dyed layer  40 , the color of the electroplated layer  30  and the color of the colored layer  20  are different from one another. That is, the socket  10  is provided with at least three colors. Thus, the indented mark  15  is in strong contrast against the electroplated layer  30  and the black-dyed layer  40  so that the indented mark  15  is clear and the identification of the socket  10  is clear and easy. 
         [0047]    The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except the step of electroplating is executed before the step of coloring. 
         [0048]    The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.