Abstract:
A socket device with an off-center slot for loosening and tightening connectors positioned in confined locations. The socket includes a socket body, a slot to allow a tube or pipe to pass there through and a nut retaining region. The nut retaining region positioned adjacent to a first face of the socket has a centerline that is offset from the centerline of the socket body. A socket driver port located in the opposing second face of the socket has a centerline that is offset from the centerline of the socket body but remains within the dimensions of the socket body. That arrangement allows socket rotation within a confined area with maximum possible mechanical advantage. The socket may have different receiving region configurations to accommodate different nut connector designs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to sockets. More particularly, the present invention relates to sockets for use in loosening and tightening nuts and washers in difficult to reach locations. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to devices for loosening and tightening nuts and washers used to connect pipes and tubing to basin faucet connections. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In a variety of situations, it is a common problem for individuals seeking to connect or disconnect a coupling to gain access to such a coupling in a manner that enables reasonable loosening or tightening of the coupling. The coupling may be in a remote location or movement may be restricted by the particular surroundings. For example, a fitting associated with an engine may be in an awkward location with little lateral movement possible, or it may be adjacent to other relatively immovable objects. The individual must therefore have a very specialized tool to contact the fitting and rotate it. More often, the individual must use a relatively standard tool, such as a wrench, and go through a series of contortions to access the fitting and rotate it in a limited manner such as by making very short movements and resetting the tool on the fitting. 
     The situations in which an individual can find himself or herself in need of a specialized tool to gain access to a fitting, coupling or connection may be endless. One such situation that generated the conception of the present invention relates to the connection of supply and return pipes and tubes to the faucet of a basin or sink. That connection comprises one or more coupling nuts that removably join the supply and return pipes/tubes to the faucet mechanism. The connection is ordinarily located on the underside of the basin, where the space is confined and the tubes and pipes restrict the ability to move laterally. That confinement and restriction on lateral movement make difficult the use of a standard open-ended or box-end wrench to loosen or tighten the coupling nut. Moreover, the tube/pipe is substantially aligned on center with the center of the connecting device. That alignment prevents use of any inline device, such as a close-ended socket on a ratchet with extension, because the pipe/tube restricts access as well as rotational movement. 
     There are several limitations associated with devices that would otherwise be used for loosening and tightening connections in confined areas and with tube/pipe alignment restrictions. One such limitation is having the opening used to contact and retain the connector being centered on the body of the device. A device with an opening that is centered on the device body, such as an open-ended socket, will be adversely restricted by the alignment of the tube or pipe with the connecting nut. Another limitation is having the component of the device used to cause device rotation—such as a socket driver—centered on the body of the device. A device with such a restriction may also be adversely affected by the alignment of the tube or pipe with the connecting nut. Yet another limitation is having the component of the device used to cause rotation positioned adjacent to the body of the device. Placing the driver substantially away from the center of the body significantly reduces the mechanical advantage required to force connector rotation. A further undesired limitation is having a substantially long device body relative to the height of the connector. That limitation may cause binding of the device on the connector under any misalignment condition. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a device for loosening and tightening connections located in confined spaces. The device must include a body member for retaining the connector and designed to allow its rotation by a rotation-causing element such as a socket driver. The opening of the body member for retaining the connector is preferably not centered on the body. What is also needed is such a device designed to position the component that causes rotation of the body member off center from the center of the body member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a socket for loosening and tightening connectors located in confined spaces. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a socket having a body member with an off-center connector retention space and an off-center port for receiving a socket driver. It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable leveraged movement of a confined connector element with reduced impedance to that element caused by the positioning of tubes or pipes connected therewith. 
     These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, which is an improved socket. The socket is a socket body having a slot running its length and, in one face, a driver port for receiving a socket driver. The driver port is offset from the centerline of the socket body. The opposing face of the socket body and that portion of the slot adjacent to that face are configured to grab a connector nut to be loosened or tightened. Having a slot through the length of the socket allows a user to comfortably fit the socket around any tubing or piping that terminates in or passes through the nut to be loosened or tightened. Having the driver port off center of the body but still part of the socket body allows the user to comfortably manipulate the socket at a distance and with leverage. The opposing face of the socket may also include face slots spaced to accommodate the wings of a plastic nut should one have to be loosened or tightened. 
     A single socket body of the present invention may be configured to accept connector nuts of varied sizes. That capability may be achieved by forming a portion of the slotted space of the socket body with a plurality of stepped regions varying in dimensions that comform to the dimensions of connector nut sizes in use. Alternatively, the socket body may be configured with only one nut-retaining space configuration. A plurality of socket bodies each with a different slot space configuration may be assembled in a kit to allow a user to employ separate sockets for differing nut dimensions. 
     The nut-receiving space is established by forming in the socket body an annulus, the center of which is off the centerline of the socket body. The socket body may be cylindrical or polygonal. A portion of the circumference of the wall of the annulus is removed through the entire length and through the thinner portion of the annulus wall to form a slot therein. The width of the slot is selectable but of a size sufficient to allow a pipe or tube to pass there through. A nut capturing region is established adjacent to a first face of the socket body. The nut capturing region is formed in the thicker portion of the annulus wall adjacent to that first face. The opposing face of the socket body includes a driver port for receiving a socket driver. The driver port is located in the thicker portion of the annulus wall. 
     The present invention is a socket with an off-center slot at one end thereof and an off-center socket driver port in an opposing end thereof. That design enables the user to loosen and tighten connectors in confined spaces by permitting access and maintaining mechanical leverage. These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cut away view of the underside of a basin showing the socket of the present invention in side view as a device to loosen and tighten the nuts employed to secure faucet stems and supply tubes to the underside of the basin. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the socket of the present invention as shown FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the socket of the present invention showing the off-driver center socket driver port. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the second embodiment of the socket of the present invention as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the third embodiment of the socket of the present invention as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the socket of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the fourth embodiment of the socket of the present invention as shown in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is an improved socket  10  having a first face  11  and an opposing second face  12 . In the figure, the socket  10  is shown in use as a device to loosen and tighten nuts employed to secure supply water to the faucets of a basin. However, it is to be understood that the socket  10  may be employed to loosen and tighten connectors in non-plumbing applications. With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the socket  10  is shown in position on the underside of a basin enclosure  13 . The socket  10  may be rotated by a socket driver, such as a ratchet  14 . An extension  15  may be used to space the ratchet  14  from the socket  10 . The socket  10  includes a socket driver port  16  in the opposing second face  12  for receiving and removably retaining therein the extension  15  or the ratchet  14 . 
     The socket  10  includes a socket body with a receiving slot  17  through the socket body. The receiving slot  17  permits a supply tube  18  to pass there through without inhibiting the interior of the socket body adjacent to the first face  11  from contacting one or more nuts associated with securing the supply tube  18  to a faucet stem  19  of a faucet  20  at the underside of the basin enclosure  13 . In particular and as to be described with respect to the other figures, the interior of the socket body is configured to: 1) capture and rotate a supply tube nut  21  associated with securing the supply tube  18  to the faucet stem  19 ; 2) capture and rotate a faucet stem retaining nut  22  associated with securing the faucet  20  to the underside of the basin enclosure  13 ; or 3) a combination of the two. Thus, the socket  10  may be employed to cause rotation of the faucet stem retaining nut  22  and/or the supply tube nut  21  without interference from the supply tube  18  and within the confined space associated with an area such as the basin enclosure  13 . The arrangement of the interior of the socket  10  including the receiving slot  17  and the position of the socket driver port  16  as described herein enable that capability. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a socket  30  of the present invention includes first face  31 , an opposing second face  32 , a receiving slot  33 , a receiving region  34  for receiving and capturing therein a nut to be loosened or tightened, and a plurality of wing slots  35 . The opposing second face  32  includes a socket driver port that is designed substantially the same way for all of the socket embodiments described with respect to FIGS. 2-3 and  5 - 10 , and will be described with reference to FIG.  4 . The receiving slot  33  extends from the first face  31  through to the second face  32 . It includes an entry  37  through which a supply tube may pass when setting the socket  30  in position, and a tube positioning region  38  in which the tube remains while the socket  30  is being rotated. Of course, the socket  30  may be rotated without a tube in place under the basin. For example, when only the faucet stem retention nut  22  is being rotated. 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving region  34  is adjacent to the first face  31  of the socket  30  and includes a step  36  that acts as a stop against which the face of the nut rests during socket rotation. The receiving region  34  is configured in a polygonal configuration for retaining therein nuts of polygonal shape. The receiving region  34  includes a receiving region centerline  39  that is offset from a socket body centerline  40 . In that way, the nut may be retained in the receiving region  34  while the socket driver port remains within the dimensions of the socket body. That ensures maximum mechanical advantage when using the socket  30  without compromising device flexibility in confined spaces. In effect, the socket  30  is an offset annulus, with the relatively thinner portion of the wall of the socket body being the location for the receiving slot  33  and the receiving region  34 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first face  31  includes the plurality of wing slots  35  for retaining therein the wings of a nut that may be a plastic faucet stem retention nut of the type having wings for ease of rotation. A multipurpose version of the socket of the present invention would include such wing slots  35  in the event the user must loosen or tighten such plastic nuts. Alternatively, a version of the socket as shown herein does not include such wing slots  35 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, the opposing second face  12  includes the socket driver port  16  for receiving a socket driver or other device suitable for causing rotation of any of the opposing face socket configurations of the present invention. The port  16  includes a port centerline  41  that is offline from the socket body centerline  40 . That positioning permits formation and positioning of the slot  17  for retaining a supply tube and for location of the nut receiving region without placing the socket driver port  16  outside of the dimensions or footprint of the socket body itself. That allows nut retention within the socket body without reducing significantly the mechanical advantage otherwise achieved by positioning the rotational device directly inline with the socket body centerline  40 . Prior socketed wrench devices having the rotational component outside of the dimensions or footprint of the socket suffer loss of rotational leverage. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a socket  50  of the present invention includes first face  51 , an opposing second face  52 , a receiving slot  53 , a receiving region  54  for receiving and capturing therein a nut to be loosened or tightened, and a plurality of wing slots  55 . The opposing second face  52  includes a socket driver port that is designed substantially the same way as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The receiving slot  53  extends from the first face  51  through to the second face  52 . It includes an entry  56  through which a supply tube may pass when setting the socket  50  in position, and a tube positioning region  57  in which the tube remains while the socket  50  is being rotated. Of course, the socket  50  may be rotated without a tube in place under the basin. For example, when only the faucet stem retention nut  22  is being rotated. 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiving region  54  is adjacent to the first face  51  of the socket  50  and includes a first step  58  that acts as a stop against which the face of a nut of first dimensions rests during socket rotation. The receiving region  54  includes a second step  59  that acts as a stop against which the face of a nut of second dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the nut associated with the first step  58  rests during socket rotation. In this way, the socket  50  alone may be employed to loosen or tighten a plurality of nuts of differing dimensions. Of course, additional steps may be added if additional nut dimensions are to be covered. The receiving region  54  is configured in a polygonal configuration for retaining therein nuts of polygonal shape. Alternatively, the first step  58  may be of a rounded configuration to retain thereon the head of a rounded plastic nut having wings. The receiving region  54  includes a receiving region centerline  60  that is offset from a socket body centerline  61 . In that way, the nut may be retained in the receiving region  54  while the socket driver port remains within the dimensions of the socket body. That ensures maximum mechanical advantage when using the socket  50  without compromising device flexibility in confined spaces. In effect, the socket  50  is an offset annulus, with the relatively thinner portion of the wall of the socket body being the location for the receiving slot  53  and the receiving region  54 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first face  51  includes the plurality of wing slots  55  for retaining therein the wings of a nut that may be a plastic faucet stem retention nut of the type having wings for ease of rotation. A multipurpose version of the socket of the present invention would include such wing slots  55  in the event the user must loosen or tighten such plastic nuts. Alternatively, a version of the socket as shown herein does not include such wing slots  55 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, a third embodiment of a socket  70  of the present invention includes first face  71 , an opposing second face  72 , a receiving slot  73  and a receiving region  74  for receiving and capturing therein a nut to be loosened or tightened. The opposing second face  72  includes a socket driver port that is designed substantially the same way as illustrated in FIG.  4 . The receiving slot  73  extends from the first face  71  through to the second face  72 . It includes an entry  75  through which a supply tube may pass when setting the socket  70  in position, and a tube positioning region  76  in which the tube remains while the socket  70  is being rotated. Of course, the socket  70  may be rotated without a tube in place under the basin. For example, when only the faucet stem retention nut  22  is being rotated. 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the receiving region  74  is adjacent to the first face  71  of the socket  70  and includes a first step  77  that acts as a stop against which the face of a nut of first dimensions rests during socket rotation. The receiving region  74  includes a second step  78  that acts as a stop against which the face of a nut of second dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the nut associated with the first step  77  rests during socket rotation. In this way, the socket  70  alone may be employed to loosen or tighten a plurality of nuts of differing dimensions. Of course, additional steps may be added if additional nut dimensions are to be covered. The receiving region  74  is configured in a polygonal configuration for retaining therein nuts of polygonal shape. The receiving region  74  includes a receiving region centerline  79  that is offset from a socket body centerline  80 . In that way, the nut may be retained in the receiving region  74  while the socket driver port remains within the dimensions of the socket body. That ensures maximum mechanical advantage when using the socket  70  without compromising device flexibility in confined spaces. In effect, the socket  70  is an offset annulus, with the relatively thinner portion of the wall of the socket body being the location for the receiving slot  73  and the receiving region  74 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a fourth embodiment of a socket  90  of the present invention includes first face  91 , an opposing second face  92 , a receiving slot  93 , a receiving region  94  for receiving and capturing therein a nut to be loosened or tightened, and a plurality of wing slots  95 . The opposing second face  92  includes a socket driver port that is designed substantially as described with respect to FIG.  4 . The receiving slot  93  extends from the first face  91  through to the second face  92 . It includes an entry  96  through which a supply tube may pass when setting the socket  90  in position, and a tube positioning region  97  in which the tube remains while the socket  90  is being rotated. Of course, the socket  90  may be rotated without a tube in place under the basin. For example, when only the faucet stem retention nut  22  is being rotated. 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the receiving region  94  is adjacent to the first face  91  of the socket  90  and includes a step  98  that acts as a stop against which the face of the nut rests during socket rotation. The receiving region  94  is configured in a rounded configuration for retaining therein nuts of rounded head shape—including, but not limited to, plastic nuts with rounded heads. The receiving region  94  includes a receiving region centerline  99  that is offset from a socket body centerline  100 . In that way, the nut may be retained in the receiving region  94  while the socket driver port remains within the dimensions of the socket body. That ensures maximum mechanical advantage when using the socket  90  without compromising device flexibility in confined spaces. In effect, the socket  90  is an offset annulus, with the relatively thinner portion of the wall of the socket body being the location for the receiving slot  93  and the receiving region  94 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first face  91  includes the plurality of wing slots  95  for retaining therein the wings of a nut that may be a plastic faucet stem retention nut of the type having wings for ease of rotation. A multipurpose version of the socket of the present invention would include such wing slots  95  in the event the user must loosen or tighten such plastic nuts. Alternatively, a version of the socket as shown herein does not include such wing slots  95 . 
     While the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain embodiments of the socket, it is to be understood that it includes all reasonable equivalents thereof as defined by the following appended claims.