Patent Publication Number: US-9884414-B2

Title: Reservoir cap socket

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a socket. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal socket for reservoir caps, such as oil fill or radiator caps of automobiles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Reservoir caps are prevalent in many applications, for example, automobiles. Automobiles include reservoir caps on oil fill holes and radiators, to name a few examples. These reservoir caps removably seal the reservoir from outside debris and keep the internal contents of the reservoir from spilling outside of the reservoir. For example, the reservoir cap may include threads that engage corresponding threads in the reservoir to couple with the reservoir. 
     Reservoir caps are typically circular-shaped and have a handle extending across a diameter of the reservoir cap so that the user can grip the reservoir cap and rotate it to threadably couple the reservoir cap to the reservoir. However, the handle and reservoir cap geometry is different for different vehicle makes. Also, certain reservoir caps can become difficult to rotate or remove, and can benefit from a tool that grips the reservoir cap for removal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention broadly comprises a socket for gripping a reservoir cap and rotating the reservoir cap for easy removal. The socket can have geometry that allows the socket to grip a variety of differently shaped reservoir caps, for example, reservoir caps associated with reservoirs of different automobiles. The socket can be reinforced with glass fibers and be made of a nylon base so as to be lightweight and chemically resistant. 
     In an embodiment, the present invention includes a socket including a base extending from a first side and a working section extending from the base to a second side opposite the first side. The working section has a perimeter proximate the second side with a first gripping structure adapted to grip a first type of work piece, and a second gripping structure adapted to grip a second type of work piece different than the first type of work piece. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the socket illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of a socket as taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of a socket as taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a socket alongside various reservoir cap work pieces according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention and is instead a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only. 
     The present invention broadly comprises a socket for gripping and rotating a reservoir cap for easy removal. The socket can grip a variety of differently shaped reservoir caps, for example, reservoir caps associated with reservoirs of different automobiles. The socket can be made of nylon and can be glass-reinforced to be lightweight and chemically resistant. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a socket  100  can include a base  102  coupled to a working section  104 . The base  102  can extend from a first side of the socket  100  and the working section  104  can extend to a second side of the socket  100  opposite the first side. Surrounding the working section  104  can be a perimeter  106  upon which the socket  100  can include geometry for gripping a work piece, such as a reservoir cap. For example, the perimeter  106  can include gaps  108   a,b  separated by protrusions  110   a,b  to grip one or more types of work pieces, and indents  112   a,b  to grip other types of work pieces. The socket  100  can also include a ledge  114  located on a radially internal portion of the socket  100  to receive the work piece and facilitate its entry into the socket  100 . 
     As shown, the base  102  can be frustoconical. However, any shape base  102  can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, the perimeter  106  is shown as circular, but can be any shape. 
     The working section  104  is the part of the socket  100  that interacts with work pieces, such as reservoir caps. The working section  104  can include geometry disposed along the perimeter  106  of the socket  100  to engage various different types of work pieces with a single socket  100 . For example, the working section  104  includes gaps  108   a,b  separated by protrusions  110   a,b  to grip a particular type of reservoir cap. As shown, a first set of gaps  108   a  and a first protrusion  110   a  can be located across the socket  100  from a second set of gaps  108   b  and a second protrusion  110   b . The gaps  108   a,b  can extend over a work piece during use and, when the socket is rotated  100 , the protrusions  110   a,b  can contact the work piece and rotate it. Similarly, a first indent  112   a  can be located across the socket  100  from a second indent  112   b , where the side walls of the indent contact the work piece when the socket is rotated. According to this geometry, the socket  100  can grip various sizes and shapes of work pieces (for example, in a work shop servicing multiple, different types of automobiles) with a single socket  100 , rather than requiring multiple sockets to perform the same function. The gaps  108   a,b  and protrusions  110   a,b  can collectively be referred to as a “first gripping structure,” while the indents  112   a,b  can collectively be referred to as a “second gripping structure.” 
     The gaps  108   a,b  and protrusions  110   a,b  can be disposed perpendicular to the indents  112   a,b , as shown, so multiple types of work pieces can be gripped by the socket  100 . Alternately, the gaps  108   a,b  and protrusions  110   a,b  c an be disposed at a different angle relative to the indents  112   a,b , for example 45 degrees, and other gripping structures can be implemented to grip even more work pieces with a single socket  100 . Any other orientation of gripping structures can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The ledge  114  allows easy insertion of the work piece into the socket  100 . For example, the ledge  114  can be chamfered, rounded, or any other geometry that reduces the sharpness of the radially-internal edge of the working section  104 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the socket  100  can include a cavity  116  with indents  118  in a receiving portion  120 . The combination of the cavity  116 , indents  118 , and receiving portion  120  allow a drive tool, such as a ratchet wrench, to be used to drive the socket  100  in a rotatable manner. For example, the drive tool can include a drive lug with ball detents that are spring loaded to push into the drive lug when the drive lug is inserted into the cavity  116 , and push out of the drive lug to engage the indents  118  of the socket  100  when positioned proximate the indents  118 . In this manner, the drive tool can couple to the socket  100  and remove or tighten the work piece. 
     In an embodiment, the cavity  116  can be formed within a receiving portion  120  that is a separate component from the base  102  and working section  104 . For example, the receiving portion  120  can be made of a different material than the base  102  and working section  104 , so that the receiving portion  120  can better receive the drive lug of the drive tool and be rotated by the drive tool. In an embodiment, the receiving portion  120  is made of a material that is stiffer than the material of the base  102  and working section  104 . For example, the receiving section can be made of steel or other suitable metal, and the base  102  and working section  104  can be made of glass-reinforced nylon. In this manner, the receiving portion  120  can be stiffer to better receive the drive lug, and the base  102  and working section  104  can be softer to not harm the work piece. At the same time, the base  102  and working section  104  can be durable, chemical resistant, and light weight, compared to conventional sockets  100  made entirely of steel. 
     As discussed herein, the present invention can typically be used for gripping and rotating reservoir caps. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , the socket  100  can be used to grip first  502 , second  504 , third  506 , fourth  508 , fifth  510 , and sixth  512  reservoir caps commonly associated with Honda®, Toyota®, Volkswagon®, Audi®, Chevrolet®, Jeep® and Ford® automobiles. However, the work piece need not be a reservoir cap, and the present invention can be used to grip and remove, or engage in any way, any work piece. 
     As used herein, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. “Coupled” is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.