Patent Publication Number: US-7584686-B2

Title: Quick release mechanism for socket wrench

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a socket wrench, and more particularly to a socket wrench including a quick release mechanism for detachably or quickly and effectively attaching or securing a socket member to the driving stem of the socket wrench. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Typical socket wrenches comprise an aperture formed through the driving head for slidably receiving a detent which may be used to lock a socket to the driving head, and a push bar attached or coupled to the detent and movable to allow retraction of the detent and release of the socket. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,747 to Pawlow, U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,127 to D&#39;Oporto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,043 to Dempsey et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,227 to Stasiek disclose four of the typical quick release mechanisms or reversible ratchet mechanisms for attaching or coupling to the socket wrenches, and a push bar or release shaft slidably received or engaged in a driving head of the socket wrench for detachably attaching or securing a socket member to the socket wrench. 
   However, the push bar or release shaft of the typical quick release mechanisms or reversible ratchet mechanisms may only be moved for a limited distance and may not be used to effectively actuate or operate the detent. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,245 to Smyers et al. discloses another typical quick release mechanism or quick release and speeder for attaching or coupling to the socket wrenches, and also including a push bar or release shaft slidably received or engaged in a driving head of the socket wrench for detachably attaching or securing a socket member to the socket wrench. 
   However, the push bar or release shaft of the typical quick release mechanism also may only be moved for a limited distance and may not be used to effectively or quickly actuate or operate the detent. 
   The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional quick release mechanisms or reversible ratchet mechanisms for the socket wrenches. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a socket wrench including a quick release mechanism for detachably or quickly and effectively attaching or securing a socket member to the driving stem of the socket wrench. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a socket wrench comprising a driving head including a chamber formed therein, a housing disposed in the chamber of the driving head, and including a compartment formed in the housing, and including a central hole formed therein and communicating with the compartment of the housing, and including an upper portion, and including a curved surface formed in the upper portion of the housing and having at least one protruded portion and at least one recessed portion, a gear rotatably received in the compartment of the housing for being selectively rotated by the housing and the driving head, and including a driving stem extended therefrom, and including a bore formed in the driving stem, and including an orifice formed in the driving stem and communicating with the bore of the gear, a detent slidably received in the orifice of the driving stem and extendible selectively into and out of the driving stem, a shaft slidably and rotatably received in the bore of the gear, and including an actuating end for engaging with the detent and for selectively moving the detent into and out of the driving stem, and including a driven end provided thereon, a spring biasing device for biasing the actuating end of the shaft to engage with the detent, and a follower attached to the shaft and to be rotated relative to the housing by the shaft, and including a curved surface formed in the follower and having at least one protruded portion and at least one recessed portion for engaging with the protruded portion and the recessed portion of the housing respectively, the protruded portion of the follower is engageable with the recessed portion of the housing, and the recessed portion of the follower is engageable with the protruded portion of the housing for allowing the actuating end of the shaft to be biased to engage with the detent and to move the detent out of the driving stem, and the protruded portion of the follower is engageable with the protruded portion of the housing when the follower is rotated relative to the housing by the shaft, for allowing the actuating end of the shaft to be disengaged from the detent and to be selectively moved into the driving stem. 
   The housing includes a swelling extended upwardly from the upper portion of the housing, and the curved surface of the housing is formed in the swelling. The housing includes a central hole formed therein and located in the swelling, and communicating with the compartment of the housing for slidably and rotatably receiving the shaft. 
   The detent includes a cavity formed therein for receiving and engaging with the actuating end of the shaft. The cavity of the detent and the actuating end of the shaft include a cone-shape, or a frustum-shape or the like. 
   The shaft includes an anchor pin engaged through the driven end of the shaft and engaged with the follower for anchoring and positioning the follower to the shaft. The follower includes a depression formed therein for engaging with the anchor pin. 
   The driving head includes a knob rotatably attached to the driving head and attached to the driven end of the shaft for rotating the shaft relative to the housing and the driving head. The knob includes a stud extended therein and having a recess formed therein for slidably receiving the driven end of the shaft. 
   The driving head includes a casing attached to the driving head and having a peripheral flange extended radially and inwardly therefrom, and the knob includes a peripheral groove formed therein for engaging with the peripheral flange of the casing and for allowing the knob to be rotatably attached to the driving head. The driving head includes an upwardly extended barrel, and the casing is secured to the barrel of the driving head. 
   Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a socket wrench in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the operation of the socket wrench; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a quick release mechanism for the socket wrench; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the operation of the socket wrench; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating the other arrangement of the socket wrench. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-2 , a socket wrench  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a driving head  10  formed or provided on one end portion of a handle member (not shown), and the driving head  10  includes a chamber  11  formed therein for slidably receiving a ratchet mechanism  2  therein, for example, the ratchet mechanism  2  includes a cartridge or housing  20  ( FIGS. 1-5 ) disposed or engaged in the chamber  11  of the driving head  10 , and having a compartment  21  formed in the housing  20 , and having an internal gear  22  formed or provided in the compartment  21  or in the inner portion of the housing  20 , and a gear  30  rotatably received or engaged in the compartment  21  of the housing  20  and arranged for allowing the gear  30  to be rotated or driven by the housing  20  and the driving head  10  and the handle member (not shown). 
   The gear  30  includes an extension  31  extended downwardly therefrom, and a driving stem  32  extended downwardly from the extension  31  and having a non-circular cross section for engaging with the typical socket members (not shown) and for rotating or driving the typical socket members, and includes a bore  33  formed in the central portion of the gear  30  and/or the extension  31 , and includes a narrowed or diameter reduced passage  34  formed in the central portion of the extension  31  and/or the driving stem  32  and communicating with the bore  33  of the gear  30  for forming an annular or peripheral shoulder  35  between the bore  33  and the passage  34  of the gear  30 , and includes an orifice  36  laterally formed in the driving stem  32  and communicating with the bore  33  or the passage  34  of the extension  31  of the gear  30  for slidably receiving a rounded detent  37 . 
   The detent  37  is arranged to be selectively moved or extended out of the driving stem  32  for engaging with the socket members to be driven and for detachably attaching or securing the socket members to the driving stem  32  of the socket wrench  1 , and is also arranged to be selectively retracted or engaged into the orifice  36  of the driving stem  32  for being disengaged from the socket members and thus for allowing the socket members to be engaged onto or disengaged from the driving stem  32 . The detent  37  includes a cavity  38  formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof for aligning with or directing toward or communicating with the passage  34  of the extension  31  of the gear  30 , and the cavity  38  of the detent  37  includes a cone-shape or frustum-shape having a peripheral or inclined surface formed therein ( FIGS. 1-2 ,  5 ). The above-described structure is typical and will not be described in further details. 
   The housing  20  includes a central hole  23  formed therein and communicating with the compartment  21  of the housing  20  for slidably and rotatably receiving a release or elongate shaft  40 , in which the shaft  40  includes a circular cross section for being slidably and rotatably received and engaged in the central hole  23  of the housing  20  and the passage  34  of the extension  31  of the gear  30 , and the shaft  40  includes an enlarged block  41  formed or provided on the middle portion of the shaft  40  and also having a circular cross section for being slidably and rotatably received and engaged in the bore  33  of the gear  30  for engaging with the shoulder  35  of the gear  30  and for limiting the block  41  and the shaft  40  to slide relative to the gear  30  and the detent  37 . The shaft  40  includes a bar or driven end  42  extended upwardly from the shaft  40  or provided on the upper portion of the shaft  40  and having a non-circular or square or rectangular cross section. 
   The shaft  40  includes a tapered or inclined or cone-shaped or frustum-shaped lower or actuating end  43  for engaging with the cavity  38  of the detent  37  and for selectively moving the detent  37  out to engage with the socket members or for selectively retracting or engaging the detent  37  into the orifice  36  of the driving stem  32  and disengaged from the socket members. A spring biasing means or member  44  is engaged onto the outer peripheral portion of the shaft  40  and engaged between the housing  20  and the block  41  of the shaft  40  for forcing or biasing the actuating end  43  of the shaft  40  to engage with the detent  37  and for selectively moving the detent  37  into or out of the orifice  36  of the driving stem  32 , and preferably for forcing the actuating end  43  of the shaft  40  to move the detent  37  out of the driving stem  32  and to engage with the socket members. 
   The housing  20  includes a bulge or swelling  24  extended upwardly from the upper portion  25  of the housing  20  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ), and preferably formed or provided above the central hole  23  of the housing  20 , or having the central hole  23  formed or located in the center portion of the swelling  24  of the housing  20  ( FIGS. 1-2 ,  5 ), and includes a wave-shaped or curved surface  26  formed or provided in the upper portion of the swelling  24  and having one or more (such as two) upper or higher or protruded portions  27  and one or more (such as two) lower or recessed portions  28 . A follower  50  includes a non-circular aperture  51  formed therein for slidably receiving the non-circular bar or driven end  42  of the shaft  40  and for allowing the follower  50  to be attached to the shaft  40  and to be rotated or driven relative to the housing  20  by the shaft  40 . 
   It is preferable that the follower  50  further includes a depression  52  formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof, and an anchor pin  45  is engaged through the bar or driven end  42  or the shaft  40  and engaged with the depression  52  of the follower  50  for anchoring or positioning the follower  50  to the bar or driven end  42  or the shaft  40  and for preventing the follower  50  from being disengaged from the shaft  40 , and the spring biasing member  44  may force or bias the follower  50  toward or to engage with the swelling  24  of the housing  20 . The follower  50  also includes a wave-shaped or curved surface  53  formed or provided in the lower portion thereof and having one or more (such as two) recessed portions  54  and one or more (such as two) protruded portions  55  for engaging with the protruded portions  27  and the recessed portions  28  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  respectively. 
   For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , when the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 , the follower  50  may be moved upwardly or away from the swelling  24  of the housing  20  for a distance that doubles the height “h” of the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  or of the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 . On the contrary, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , when the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the recessed portions  54  of the follower  50 , or when the recessed portions  28  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 , the follower  50  may be moved downwardly or toward the swelling  24  of the housing  20  for a distance that doubles the height “h” of the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  or of the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 . 
   In operation, when the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the recessed portions  54  of the follower  50 , or when the recessed portions  28  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , the shaft  40  may be forced or biased or moved downwardly by the spring biasing member  44 , and the actuating end  43  of the shaft  40  may be forced or actuated to engage with the detent  37  and to selectively move the detent  37  out of the driving stem  32  and to engage with the socket members. On the contrary, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , when the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  are engaged with the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 , the shaft  40  may be caused or forced to move upwardly against the spring biasing member  44  to move the actuating end  43  of the shaft  40  upwardly or away from the detent  37  and to allow the detent  37  to be moved into the driving stem  32  and to be disengaged from the socket members. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the driving head  10  includes a barrel  12  extended upwardly therefrom and preferably formed integral with the driving head  10 , and a casing  13  attached or secured in the barrel  12  or the driving head  10  with such as fasteners or latches (not shown), adhesive materials, or by welding processes, and includes an annular or peripheral flange  14  extended radially and inwardly therefrom, and a hand grip or button or knob  60  is rotatably attached or engaged onto the barrel  12  of the driving head  10 , and includes a stud  61  extended therein and having a non-circular or square or rectangular recess  62  formed therein for slidably receiving the non-circular bar or driven end  42  of the shaft  40  and for allowing the shaft  40  and the follower  50  to be rotated or driven by the knob  60  and for allowing the bar or driven end  42  of the shaft  40  to be slid or moved up and down along or relative to the recess  62  of the stud  61  or of the knob  60 . 
   The knob  60  includes an annular or peripheral groove  63  formed therein for receiving or engaging with the peripheral flange  14  of the driving head  10 , and for allowing the knob  60  to be rotatably attached or engaged onto the barrel  12  of the driving head  10 , and for allowing the bar or driven end  42  of the shaft  40  to be rotated or driven by the knob  60  and thus for allowing the bar or driven end  42  of the shaft  40  and the follower  50  to be forced to slide or to move up and down relative to the swelling  24  of the housing  20 . It is to be noted that the follower  50  may be moved upwardly or away from the swelling  24  of the housing  20 , or downwardly or toward the swelling  24  of the housing  20  for a distance that doubles the height “h” of the protruded portions  27  of the swelling  24  or of the housing  20  or of the protruded portions  55  of the follower  50 , and thus for allowing the shaft  40  to be easily rotated or driven by the knob  60 . 
   Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the driving head  101  may include a barrel  15  separated from the driving head  101  and attached or secured to the driving head  101  with such as fasteners or latches (not shown), adhesive materials, or by welding processes, and includes an annular or peripheral flange  16  extended radially and inwardly therefrom for receiving or engaging with the peripheral groove  63  of the knob  60  and for allowing the knob  60  to be rotatably attached or engaged onto the barrel  15  of the driving head  101 , and for allowing the shaft  40  to be rotated or driven by the knob  60  and thus for allowing the shaft  40  and the follower  50  to be forced to slide or to move up and down relative to the swelling  24  of the housing  20 . 
   Accordingly, the socket wrench in accordance with the present invention includes a quick release mechanism for detachably or quickly and effectively attaching or securing the socket member to the driving stem of the socket wrench. 
   Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.