Patent Publication Number: US-7913590-B2

Title: Socket apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a socket apparatus and, more particularly, to a socket apparatus for firm connection to a pneumatic or electrical tool. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     Disclosed in Taiwanese Patent M346494 is a socket for connection to a pneumatic or electrical tool. The socket includes a first section for receiving a mandrel of the pneumatic or electrical tool and a second section for receiving a bit. The first section of the socket includes a vent for releasing pressurized air when the socket is used together with a pneumatic tool. In this case, a detent is provided on the mandrel of the pneumatic tool. The detent is inserted in the vent to keep the socket on the mandrel, and this is however inadequate. 
     Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a socket apparatus for firm connection to a pneumatic or electrical tool. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the socket apparatus includes a socket, at least one detent and an elastic element. The socket includes a bit-receiving recess in an end, a mandrel-receiving recess in an opposite end, at least one vent in communication with the mandrel-receiving recess and at least one aperture in communication with the mandrel-receiving recess. The detent is inserted in the aperture so that the detent includes a portion disposed in the mandrel-receiving recess. The elastic element is used to bias and keep the detent in the aperture. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a socket apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial view of the pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus in another position than shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is another cross-sectional view of the pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial view of the pneumatic tool and the socket apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a socket apparatus  100  includes a socket  10 , detents  20  and an elastic element  30  according to the preferred embodiment. The socket  10  includes a bit-receiving recess  12  defined in an end, a mandrel-receiving recess  13  defined in an opposite end and a space  11  in communication with both of the recesses  12  and  13 . The mandrel-receiving recess  13  includes a substantially square section  132  and a circular section  131 . 
     A groove  14  is annularly defined in the periphery of the socket  10 . At least one vent  141  is defined in the periphery of the socket  10 . The vent  141  is in communication with the groove  14  on one hand and in communication with the square section  132  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13  on the other hand. 
     A groove  15  is annularly defined in the periphery of the socket  10 . The groove  15  is defined by two walls  151  and a floor  16 . Apertures  152  are defined in the periphery of the socket  10  so that they are in communication with the groove  15  on one hand and in communication with the circular section  131  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13  on the other hand. Each of the apertures  152  includes a reduced end near the circular section  131  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13 . 
     The elastic element  30  is preferably an elastic ring. Alternatively, the elastic element  30  may be a C-clip or a rubber band. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , each of the detents  20  is disposed in a related one of the apertures  152 . The elastic element  30  is disposed in the groove  15  to bias the detents  20 . In detail, the elastic element  30  is in contact with a portion of each of the detents  20  while an opposite portion of the same detent  20  is inserted in the circular section  131  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13 . The reduced end of each of the apertures  152  prevents the related detent  20  from completely entering the circular section  131  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13 . 
     A pneumatic tool  200  includes a mandrel consisting of a substantially square section  210  and a circular section  220 . A detent  211  is provided on the square section  210  of the mandrel. The mandrel is not inserted in the mandrel-receiving recess  13 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , the mandrel is inserted in the mandrel-receiving recess  13 . The square section  210  of the mandrel is inserted in the square section  132  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13 , and the detent  211  is partially inserted in the vent  141 . The circular section  220  of the mandrel is inserted in the circular section  131  of the mandrel-receiving recess  13 , and the detents  20  are in contact with the circular section  220  of the mandrel. The socket  10  is kept on the mandrel due to the detent  211  partially inserted in the vent  141  and the detents  20  in contact with the circular section  220  of the mandrel. 
     Moreover, the length of the mandrel-receiving recess  13  is preferably at least one third of that of the socket  10 . Thus, the connection of the socket  10  to the mandrel is firm. 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.