Patent Publication Number: US-2021170556-A1

Title: Screw clamping tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to tools, and more particularly, to a screw clamping tool for stably clamping a screw. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Common hand tools, such as a wrench or a sleeve, are applied for wrenching a screw member, so as to fasten or loosen the screw member. However, the driving portion of the wrench or sleeve is not provided with an engagement structure. As a result, the screw member is easily detached from the wrench or sleeve and falls on the ground or the workpiece, causing inconvenience of user. 
     Therefore, for improving the issue above, a tool using magnetism or metal engagement ring is developed in the market for preventing the screw member form accidentally detachment from the tool. A magnetic tool, which has a magnetic embedded into the tool body, uses magnetism to attract the screw member. However, the magnet is substantially fragile, unfavorable for firm engagement, only applicable to iron component, and not usable for non-iron screw members. Also, in a high-temperature environment, the magnetism of the magnet is easily affected. Alternatively, regarding the tool applying a metal engagement ring, the clamping force of the metal ring is not easily controlled, and a corresponding groove on the screw member is a must for proper positioning, failing to meet the convenience of usage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For improving the issues above, a screw clamping member is disclosed, which applies a structurally simple, efficiently assembled, and non-metal elastic clamping member for clamping the periphery of the screw member, thereby achieving a stable clamping effect. 
     For achieving the aforementioned objectives, screw clamping tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided, comprising a main body and an elastic clamping member. The main body comprises a driving portion having a driving bore, which rotates about a rotation center for driving the screw member. The driving bore has a plurality of contact faces and a positioning groove concavely formed on the driving bore. The elastic clamping member is formed of a non-metal material and disposed in the positioning and protrudes from the inner edge of the driving bore corresponding with respect to the contact faces. Therefore, when the driving bore receives the screw member, the elastic clamping member stably clamps the screw member. 
     With such configuration, the present invention applies a non-metal elastic clamping member for elastically clamping the screw member, so as to be applicable to screw members formed of iron and non-iron material, improving the application scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being in a form of an anti-slip sleeve. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment, illustrating the main body receiving a screw member, with the elastic clamping member contacting two corners of the screw member. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being a hexagonal sleeve, with the elastic clamping member contacting the periphery of the screw member. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being an open end wrench, with the elastic clamping member contacting the periphery of the screw member. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being a box wrench, with the elastic clamping member contacting the periphery of the screw member. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being a ratchet wrench, with the elastic clamping member contacting the periphery of the screw member. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the main body being an anti-slip sleeve, with the elastic clamping member mounted around the whole periphery of the driving bore. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 , illustrating the elastic clamping member contacting the periphery of the screw member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion. 
     As used herein, when a component is described as “disposed on” or “placed on” another component, the component is allowed to be “directly” disposed or placed on the other component or “indirectly” disposed or placed on the other component through an “intermediate member”. On the other hand, when a component is described as “directly disposed on” or “directly placed on” another component, there is no intermediate elements. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention, a screw clamping tool  100  for stably clamping a screw is disclosed, comprising a main body  10  and an elastic clamping member  20 . In the embodiment, the main body  10  is an anti-slip sleeve driven by a wrench for fastening or loosening a screw member  1 . 
     The main body  10  comprises a driving portion  11  having a driving bore  12 . The driving bore  12  is applied for receiving a screw member  1 , so as to drive the screw member  1  to rotate about a rotation center C. A plurality of contact faces  13  are disposed on an inner side of the driving bore  12 . A positioning groove  14  is concavely formed on the inner side of the driving bore  12 . In an embodiment of the present invention, two positioning grooves  14  are provided and symmetrically spaced by the rotation center C. Therein, a spacing groove  15  is disposed between each two neighboring contact faces  13  for containing a corner  2  of the screw member  1 , thereby avoiding corner collision during the screwing operation. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a positioning groove  14  is disposed between each two contact faces  13  on the same position wherein the spacing groove  15  is disposed. Also, the positioning groove  14  is disposed in a direction in parallel to the direction of the rotation center C. 
     The elastic clamping member  20  is formed of a non-metal material, such as chosen from a group consisting of rubber, natural leather, and artificial leather. Therein, the material, such as rubber and artificial leather can be formed by mix or separate foam forming. The elastic clamping member  20  is disposed in the positioning groove  14  and protrudes on the inner edge of the driving bore  12  with respect to the contact face  13 . In an embodiment of the present invention, two elastic clamping member  20  are disposed on two corresponding sides of the driving bore  12 . The elastic clamping member  20  comprises a fixing face  21  and an abutting face  22  in opposite to the fixing face  21 . The fixing face  21  is adhered to the positioning groove  14  through an adhesive  23 , so that the elastic clamping member  20  is fixed to the inner edge of the driving bore  12 , and the abutting face  22  is applied for abutting against the periphery of the screw member  1 . 
     Furthermore, the distance between the abutting face  22  and the contact face  13  is smaller than the distance between the fixing face  21  to the contact  13 , such that the elastic clamping member  20  slightly protrudes on the inner edge of the driving bore  12  with respect to the contact face  13 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic clamping face  20  has a rectangular-shape sectional face. The abutting face  22  of the elastic clamping member  20  is colored. Different colors represent different size of the tool  100 , facilitating the identification convenience for the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , when the tool  100  receives the screw member  1 , two opposite corners  2  of the screw member  1  are disposed on the abutting face  22  of the elastic clamping member  20 , and the contact face  13  of the driving bore  12  corresponds to the six peripheries  3  of the screw member  1 . Therefore, when removing the wrench together with the tool  100  after loosening the screw member  1 , the screw member  1  is still stably clamped by the main body  10  and the elastic clamping member  20 , so as to be removed from the installation place as well, thereby preventing the screw member  1  form detaching from the main body  10  or falling on the ground or into the workpiece, achieving a stably clamping effect on the screw member  1 . 
     Accordingly, the present invention improves the issue of conventional magnet or metal engagement ring, so as to be applicable to both iron and non-iron screw member  1 . Also, the present invention is structurally simple, without the necessity of additionally processing an engagement recess or groove for cooperation with the elastic clamping member  20 , thereby lowering the manufacturing cost. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same reference numbers in the second embodiment and the first embodiment represent identical components, structures, and function, so that relative descriptions are omitted. In the second embodiment, the main body  10  is a hexagonal sleeve having six inner corners. Therein, the driving bore  12  of the main body  10  has a shape identical to the shape of the screw member  1 , and the positioning groove  14  is concavely formed on the contact face  13 , so that when the screw member  1  is received in the driving bore  12 , the elastic clamping member  20  abuts against the periphery  3  of the screw member  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same reference numbers in the third embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments represent identical components, structures, and function, so that relative descriptions are omitted. In the third embodiment, the main body  10  is an open end wrench, whose driving portion  11  includes two opposite jaws which form the driving bore  12  formed on the inner edge of the jaws. The driving bore  12  has the contact face  13 , with the positioning groove  14  concavely formed on the contact face  13 , so that when the screw member  1  is received by the driving bore  12 , the elastic clamping member  20  abuts against the periphery  3  of the screw member  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same reference numbers in the fourth embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments represent identical components, structures, and function, so that relative descriptions are omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the main body  10  is a box wrench, with the positioning groove  14  also concavely formed on the contact face  13 , so that when the screw member  1  is received in the driving bore  12 , the elastic clamping member  20  abuts against the periphery  3  of the screw member  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same reference numbers in the fifth embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments represent identical components, structures, and function, so that relative descriptions are omitted. In the fifth embodiment, the main body  10  is a ratchet wrench, whose driving portion  11  is a ratchet ring, with the elastic clamping member  20  disposed on the inner edge of the ratchet ring, so that when the screw member  1  is received in the driving bore  12 , the elastic clamping member  20  abuts against the periphery  3  of the screw member  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The same reference numbers in the sixth embodiment and the aforementioned embodiments represent identical components, structures, and function, so that relative descriptions are omitted. In the sixth embodiment, the main body  10  is an anti-slip sleeve, which has the positioning groove  14  disposed along a direction perpendicular to the rotation center C. In other words, the positioning groove  14  is radially disposed on the driving bore  12 , such that the elastic clamping member  20  is mounted on the whole periphery of the driving bore  12 . Therefore, when the screw member  1  is received in the driving bore  12 , the elastic clamping member  20  abuts against the sixth peripheries  3  of the screw member  1 , achieving the identical functions aforementioned. 
     With the foregoing configuration, the present invention achieves following technical effects. 
     The present invention has a non-metal elastic clamping member  20  disposed on the inner edge of the driving bore  12  of the main body  10 . By stably clamping the screw member  1  with the elastic force of the clamping member  20 , the screw member  1  is prevented from accidentally detaching from the main body  10  and causing inconvenience of operation. 
     The non-metal elastic clamping member  20  allows the present invention to be applicable to both iron and non-iron screw member  1 , so as to enlarge the application scope. 
     The screw member  1  is stably clamped by the elastic clamping member  20  without the need of being provided with an engagement recess or groove. Therefore, the present invention is structurally simple, easily assembled, and effectively lowers the manufacture cost. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.