Patent Publication Number: US-8113093-B2

Title: Combination wrench socket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102007056637.0, filed Nov. 24, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a tool and more specifically relates to a combination wrench socket. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand wrenches in the form of a combination hand tool, which are usable as screw drivers and as socket wrenches, are known, for example, from German published application DE 2 117 797. A hand tool is described here which, in addition to a screwdriver tip, has a socket wrench socket positively connected thereto, one being able to select which hand tool end is brought to use by axial displacement against the action of a coiled spring attached to the screwdriver shaft. 
     This combination known up to this point of differently dimensioned functional ends on a hand tool is already restricted in that it does not provide combining two functional ends for a machine-usable tool. In the present hand tool, a Phillips head screwdriver or a slotted screwdriver end or an outerly engaging functional end, such as a polygonal socket wrench end, may only be selected and brought to use manually. Furthermore, to use the screwdriver end, the socket wrench attachment must be displaced vertically each time manually against the coiled spring pushed onto the shaft for the friction lock between socket wrench end and screwdriver end, which on one hand represents a significant obstruction in normal use and on the other hand means that the socket wrench attachment always lies above the screw head as the tool is rotated, so that it is not possible to visually check the rotational movement and the snug fit of the tool. A machine-bound use is thus also not possible without further measures. 
     In view of the foregoing, at least one object of the invention is therefore to provide a combination attachment for machine screws which allows a combination of various socket-functional screw ends and is usable machine bound while concurrently improving the handling of the selected tool head. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
     SUMMARY 
     This at least one object, and other objects, desirable features, and characteristics, with a combination wrench socket is suggested according to the invention, comprising a one-piece outer part in the form of a wrench socket having an inner part situated therein, a first tool head molded on the inner part, and a second tool head, designed differently there from, molded onto the outer part, in which the outer part is designed in such a way that it has at least one retention element for the locking fastening of a tool head. 
     Using this configuration, advantageously, both a combination of various socket-functional tool heads may be provided and also the locking of the tool heads may be significantly improved by the design. The machine-bound use of the combination wrench socket is made possible by the selection of the various tool heads, which is no longer to be executed manually. In addition, a visual check is possible in machine use by the ability to lock the tool heads. Particularly for machine-driven manual screws, the combination wrench socket represents a significant simplification in the work sequence, because the present change of the unit functional wrench sockets is dispensed with, and/or a complete power screwdriver may be saved in large-scale use, because a manual change of wrench sockets is not typical therein for reasons of time. 
     The integrally designed outer part has devices for accommodation in a wrench system on its upper end. These may be implemented as a rectangle according to DIN 3121, for example. 
     In the combination wrench socket according an embodiment of the invention, the exterior side of the inner part and the interior side of the outer part may preferably be at least partially designed in such a way that a friction-locked connection may be produced. The torque transmission of the outer part to the inner part may be ensured by a hexagonal formfitting connection, for example. Using this advantageous embodiment, a reliable and long-lived torque transmission may be provided, which is connected with low production outlay. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first tool head may comprise a socket insert for Torx screws. 
     The second tool head may preferably alternatively or cumulatively comprise a socket insert for hex head screws. They may be implemented cylindrically for a specific size or also conically for a variable size of screws. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer part may have two lateral oblong holes. The oblong holes may advantageously be used as a guide for the horizontal displacement of the inner part in relation to the outer part in connection with an inserted guide pin 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the retention element may be implemented as a pin mechanism having a spring. The spring may preferably be a coiled spring. It retains the inner part in the starting position, while the pin secures and guides the inner part in relation to the outer part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic cross-section of a combination wrench socket according an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding summary or background or the following detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a combination wrench socket  10  according to an embodiment of the invention in a schematic cross-sectional view. The outer part  11  is formed in one piece and has a rectangular recess on its upper end and a peripheral groove for accommodation in a wrench system. The inner part  12  is seated integrated in the outer part  11  and has a molded-on first tool head  13  in the form of a head for Torx screws on one end. The outer part  11 , in contrast, has a molded-on second tool head  14  in the form of a hex wrench on its end. In the shaft area, the exterior side  17  of the inner part  12  and the interior side  18  of the outer part  11  may be designed in such a way that they form a formfitting connection. In this way, a long-lived and reliable torque transmission may be ensured. In the present case, this is achieved by a partially polygonal design of the particular sides  17  and  18 , which are adapted to one another. The combination wrench socket  10  additionally has a lockable retention element  16  in the form of a pin mechanism  20  having a spring  21  in the embodiment of the invention shown. The pin may be inserted into a recess of the inner part. In addition, it may be horizontally displaced in a lateral oblong hole  19  of the outer part  11 , so that an additional shift delimitation of the inner part  12  in relation to the outer part  11  results. 
     While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.