Patent Publication Number: US-6668686-B1

Title: Inner periphery of a driving member for driving nut with different specifications

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved inner periphery for a wrench wherein two protrusions are located between adjacent recesses in the inner periphery of the driving member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional driving member for driving but or bolt bead with hexagonal periphery generally includes a six surfaces and six concavities are located between the adjacent surfaces such that the six sides of the nut are matched with the six surfaces and can be rotated. However, there are two different systems for the specifications of the nuts, for example, a {fraction (11/16)} inch nut is slightly different from a 17-mm nut. There is 0.28 mm in difference for the two nuts so that when the driving member is used to tighten or loosen the two nuts, there will be a gap defined between the inner periphery of the driving member and the nut Several efforts are developed for overcoming the problems such as the disclosures shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,211, 3,903,764, 5,388,486, and 5,219,392. Most of the efforts use a protrusion at a specific position of the inner periphery of the driving member so that the nuts with different specifications can be secured by the driving member. Nevertheless, the protrusion tends to be worn out because it protrudes along and bears a huge stress frequently. The tool has to be removed from the nut and turned to the other side to match the nut again when using the tool in opposite direction. 
     The present invention intends to provide a driving member that has an improved inner periphery to accommodate the nuts with different specifications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving member which includes a ring-shaped body having a hole defined therethrough and six concavities are defined equiangularly in an inner periphery of the ring-shaped body. Six engaging portions are located between the six concavities alternatively and each engaging portion includes a first engaging surface and a second engaging surface on two ends of the engaging portion. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the driving member of the present invention and a tool; 
     FIG. 2 shows the driving member be accommodated in the tool; 
     FIG. 3 shows a nut is accommodated in the hole of the driving member; 
     FIG. 4 shows the driving member is rotated counter clockwise to drive the nut; 
     FIG. 5 shows the driving member is rotated clockwise to drive the nut; and 
     FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the inner periphery of the driving member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  3 , the driving member of the present invention comprises a ring-shaped body which is received in a box-end wrench  1  and teeth are defined in an outer periphery of the ring-shaped body. A hole  2  is defined through the body and six concavities  21  are defined equiangularly in an inner periphery of the ring-shaped body. Six engaging portions are located between the six concavities  21  alternatively and each engaging portion includes a first protrusion  22  and a second protrusion  22 ′. A recess  23  is defined between the first protrusion  22  and the second protrusion  22 ′. 
     A nut  3  is accommodated in the hole  2  of the body and either one of the first protrusion  22  or the second protrusion  22 ′ contacts a side of the nut  3 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, when the wrench  1  is to be rotated counter clockwise, the six second protrusions  22 ′ respectively contact respective one of the six sides of the nut  3  so that when the wrench  1  is rotated counter clockwise, the nut  3  is rotated. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, when the wrench  1  is to be rotated clockwise, the body is adjusted to let six first protrusions  22  respectively contact respective one of the six sides of the nut  3  so that when the wrench  1  is rotated clockwise, the nut  3  is rotated. 
     The concavities  21  allow the nuts with different specifications to be accommodated in the hole  2  of the driving member so that the driving member can be used to rotate the nuts  3  with two specifications. Referring to FIG. 4, the distance “A” is short so that the user may adjust the wrench  1  quickly to match the nuts  3 . 
     FIG. 6 shows that some of the engaging portions can be simply a rectangular protrusion  24  which includes a first engaging surface  220  and a second engaging surface  220 ′ on two ends thereof. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that farther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.