Patent Abstract:
A tourque transmitting tool set has a set of drivers having similarly sized male member portions and differently sized driver portions, and a single female member with a hole sized to receive each respective male member portion and a torque wrench receiving exterior where with a driver received in the female member a plane bisects the female member wrench receiving exterior and the male member portion so that each respective driver with the female member transmits torque in a limited access space.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to torque transmitting tools; and, more particularly, it relates to torque transmitting tools that allow for the interchangeability of male bits for the application of torque to fasteners and bolts in difficult to reach locations. Recently, there has been a growing trend in the automotive industry to decrease the size of automobiles. The decrease in the size of automobiles has resulted in the miniaturization of engines and components thereof. All of these developments have produced a need to create a variety of smaller and/or adaptable torque transmitting tools permitting the servicing of these smaller engines and components thereof. 
     The rapid storage, retrieval and insertion of a predetermined tool during an engine repair project that includes an obstruction limiting the accessibility of a fastener or a bolt, is also a very desirable goal. However, this goal is not easily achieved. Devices created to assist in the transmission of torque to fasteners and bolts are generally large and bulky, (see prior art illustrated in FIG. 19) and new engine compartments and engine components only offer a limited amount of vertical or horizontal clearance for the application of torque to fasteners and bolts. In particular, single piece Torx® tools, a trademark of the Camcar Division of Textron Corporation, a U.S.A. company, cannot clear obstructions and be inserted in cramped areas. Hence, there exists a need for a torque transmitting tool and kit that can store, organize and retain a desired tool that fits easily into the limited vertical and horizontal space constraints of an engine compartment. It is an object of the present invention to solve the variety of problems that exist in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a torque transmitting tool, tool kit and method of applying torque to a fastener or bolt. The kit comprises in combination, a plurality of interchangeable male bits, a female bit retaining member having a polygonally shaped exterior portion having at least a pair of opposing parallel substantially flat surfaces for engaging a wrench and a female bit retaining pocket thereon for interchangeably engaging and temporarily retaining a desired bit. 
     Each male bit has a male bit retaining portion substantially congruent to the bit retaining pocket and a different sized male engaging portion extending beyond the bit retaining pocket compatible with a fastener to which torque is applied. The kit includes means for interchangeably retaining a desired male bit in the bit retaining pocket. The manipulation of screws or bolts located in hard to reach places is greatly facilitated and the problems associated with permanently attached torque transmitting bits are alleviated since the torque transmitting tool kit provides for a multitude of sizes to satisfy substantially any sized fastener utilizing an economical, light weight, single female bit retaining member. 
     The objects and features of the present invention, other than those specifically set forth above, will become apparent in the detailed description of the invention set forth below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a torque transmitting kit having a female bit retaining member and a plurality of male Torx® bits; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a female bit retaining member assembly having the female bit retaining member and a desired male Torx® bit of FIG. 1 prior to interaction with a fastener; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a torque transmitting kit having female bit retaining member and a plurality of male socket engaging bits; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a female bit retaining member assembly having the female bit retaining member and a desired male socket engaging bit of FIG. 3 prior to interaction with a socket; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a female bit retaining member assembly having the female bit retaining member and a desired male socket engaging bit of FIG. 3 having torque applied thereto by a socket drive device; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a variant of the female bit retaining member assembly having the female bit retaining member and a desired male socket engaging bit of FIG. 1 having an optional spinned, substantially circular flange permanently connected to the female bit retaining member to form a female bit retaining member assembly for positioning said wrench at a predetermined location thereon and a monkey wrench applying torque thereto; 
     FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the female bit retaining member assembly for positioning said wrench at a predetermined location of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the female bit retaining member of FIG. 1 along phantom line  8 ; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view showing a variant of a desired socket engaging bit of FIG. 3 having recesses thereon; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the female bit retaining member of FIG. 8 partially exposed to show the interior of the bit retaining pocket, an annular groove and spring; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the desired socket engaging bit of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a side cross sectional view of the female bit retaining member assembly of FIG. 4 along phantom line  12 ; 
     FIG. 13 is a side cross sectional view of a variant of the female bit retaining member of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the step of inserting a male bit into a fastener according to the invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the male bit of FIG. 14 inserted into the fastener of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the female bit retaining member of FIG. 1 being mounted on the exposed portion of the male bit of FIG. 15 to obtain a female bit retaining member assembly; 
     FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the female bit retaining member assembly of FIG. 16 having torque applied thereto with a tool; 
     FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the use of a female bit retaining member assembly of the present invention where an obstruction exists; and 
     FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 3 are perspective views of torque transmitting tool kits or sets  100 ,  300  that include in combination, a plurality of interchangeable male bits  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  301 ,  302 ,  303 , respectively. The kits  100 ,  300  also include female bit retaining member  200  having a polygonally shaped exterior portion having at least a pair of opposing parallel substantially flat surfaces  201 ,  202  for engaging wrench  400  (FIGS. 6 and 17) or a socket wrench tool  500  (FIG.  5 ). It is appreciated that female bit retaining portion  200  is actuated externally and has torque applied thereto at said polygonally shaped exterior portion in contrast to an internal actuation and the application of torque to an interior area of the female bit retaining portion  200 . Female bit retaining member  200  includes a female bit retaining pocket  203  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  and  13 ) thereon for interchangeably engaging and temporarily retaining a desired bit of interchangeable male bits  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  301 ,  302 , and  303  as illustrated in FIGS. 2,  4 ,  5 ,  12 , and  13 ). Pocket  203  can be generally of any polygonal geometric shape, but is preferably of a hexagonal shape. 
     Each respective male bit  101 - 103  and male bit  301 - 303  has a male bit retaining portion  600  (FIGS. 1,  3 ,  9 ,  12 , and  13 - 16 ) substantially congruent to female bit retaining pocket  203 . Preferably, each of male bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  have a different sized male engaging portion  601 - 606  (FIGS. 1-5,  9 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 ) that extends beyond the bit retaining pocket  203  and is compatible with a fastener  700  (FIG. 2, and  14 - 17 ), a socket tool  800  (FIG. 4) to which torque is applied, or a bolt. In yet another variant, different sized male engaging portions of male bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  extend beyond bit retaining pocket  203  and are substantially rectangular in shape and accommodate both metric and SAE size sockets having a width selected from the group of widths in the range of about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch. In yet a further variant, different sized male engaging portions extend beyond the bit retaining pocket  203  that are substantially in the shape of Torx® bits having decreasing diameters. This allows for the torque transmitting tool kit  100 ,  300  to universally accommodate a wide variety of sockets, fasteners and bolts. 
     The female bit retaining member  200  includes means for interchangeably retaining a desired male bit  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  in bit retaining pocket  203 . It is appreciated that the manipulation of screws or bolts located in hard to reach places is greatly facilitated through the use of the single, light weight, removable and interchangeable female bit retaining member  200  and a respective male bit  101 - 103 , and  301 - 303 . The problems associated with permanently attached torque transmitting bits are alleviated since the torque transmitting tool kit  100  provides for a multitude of sizes of bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  to satisfy substantially any sized fastener  700 , socket tool  800  or bolt utilizing an economical, light weight, single female bit retaining member  200 . Optionally, the female bit retaining member  200  has an elongated length no greater than the male bit retaining portion  600 . 
     The means for interchangeably retaining a desired male bit  101 - 103 , and  301 - 303  also include an internal annular groove  204  (FIGS. 7,  8 ,  10 , and  12 ) substantially disposed in the interior of bit retaining pocket  203  in one variant. A resilient bit retaining spring  205  (FIGS. 7,  8 ,  10 , and  12 ) is permanently seated within internal annular groove  204  for retaining a desired male bit  101 - 103 , and  301 - 303  upon insertion thereof into bit retaining pocket  203  as illustrated in FIGS. 2,  4 , and  12 . 
     Optionally, each male bit  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  includes recess  607  compatible with resilient bit retaining spring  205 , and in one variant is substantially congruent therewith. The resilient bit retaining spring  205  partially rests in recess  607  and partially rests in internal annular groove  204  upon insertion of a desired male bit  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  into bit retaining pocket  203  for temporarily retaining the desired male bit and permitting for the rapid exchange of one desired male bit for another desired male bit. 
     In yet a further variant, the means for interchangeably retaining a desired male bit  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  also include a ball bearing  680  (FIG. 13) made of a suitable material such as steel or plastic. Bearing or projection  680  is resident in an aperture  682  disposed on female bit retaining member  200 , and is biased toward a desired male bit  101  by spring  684 . Spring  684  is retaining in aperture  682  at distal end  688  by end plug  686  which is threaded or otherwise permanently or temporarily secured in the aperture  682 . Spring  684  is retained in aperture  682  at proximal end  690  by end wall  692 . 
     In yet another variant, the means for interchangeably retaining desired male bit  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  in the female bit retaining pocket  203  includes a magnetically attracting member for magnetically retaining a desired male bit in pocket  203 . It is understood that male bits  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  are magnetized in one variant and female member is made of a magnetically attacting material such as a metal and the like. In yet another variant, pocket  203  is magnetized and male bits are made from a magnetically attracted material such as a metal and the like. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5 ,  12  and  13 , male engaging portions  604  and  605  extend beyond bit retaining pocket  203  and are substantially rectangular in shape in one variant of the invention. Preferably, male engaging portions  604 - 606  are of a size and shape to universally accommodate both metric and SAE size socket extensions  800  (FIG.  4 ). It is appreciated that male engaging portions of male bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  can be of any geometric size or shape to accommodate slots in various types of fasteners, bolts and the like. These include, by way of example, phillips types of slots, triangular types of slots, and the like. Where there is limited vertical or horizontal clearance space (FIGS.  14 - 17 ), male bits  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  have a height in the range of {fraction (5/16)} of an inch to 1¼ of an inch. It is understood that the height of length or male bits  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  can be much greater than that described where fasteners  700  or bolts are disposed within a deep well recess (FIG.  18 ), e.g. several inches or even several feet long. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5,  10 ,  16  and  17 , the polygonally shaped exterior portion of female bit retaining member  200  has at least three pairs of opposing parallel substantially flat surfaces  201 - 202 ,  211 - 212 , and  221 - 222  for engaging wrench  400 . Optionally, female bit retaining member  200  further includes a substantially circular flange  220  (FIGS. 6-7) permanently connected to female bit retaining member  200  to form a female bit retaining member assembly  222  (FIGS. 6-7) for positioning wrench  400  at a predetermined location thereon. The substantially circular flange  220  has an aperture  225  thereon forming an opening communicating with bit retaining pocket  203  providing for entry of a desired male bit  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  into bit retaining pocket  203 . Flange  220  is generally constructed of a plastic or metal and can be intergral or removably connected to female bit retaining member  200 . 
     FIGS. 14-17 illustrate that different steps utilized in the application of the method of the present invention. In particular, the invention provides for a method of applying torque to a fastener  700  or a bolt  900  (FIG. 18) having an axis parallel to the axis of pocket  203  and generally perpendicular to tool  400 . The fastener  700  or bolt  900  is generally disposed in a limited clearance area with an obstruction  1000  along the parallel axis and spaced from the fastener  700 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 14, a desired male bit  101  having male bit engaging portion  602  and having male bit retaining portion  600  is inserted into fastener recess  701  of fastener  700 . Fastener recess  701  is substantially congruent to portion  602 . The desired male bit  101  is selected from a plurality of generally short interchangeable male bits  101 - 103 ,  301 - 303  in one variant. In another variant (FIG.  18 ), male bits are relatively long allowing for the application of torque to fasteners  700  or bolts  900  that are diposed deep within wells of engine assemblies and the like. 
     Each bit  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  has a different sized male engaging portion  602  for easy entry into tight spaces. The bit  101  is inserted into female fastener recess  701  which is compatible with desired male engaging portion  602  to substantially enclose the male engaging portion  602  in the female fastener recess  701  to obtain an exposed male bit retaining portion  600 ′ as illustrated in FIG.  15 . 
     Female bit retaining member  200  is introduced between obstruction  1000  and the top  650  of exposed male bit retaining portion  600 ′ onto the exposed male bit retaining portion  600 ′ as illustrated in FIG. 16 to obtain a female bit retaining member assembly  675  as illustrated in FIG.  17 . It is appreciated that since portion  602  is inserted deep within recess  701  distance D between top  650  and obstruction  1000  is increased thereby providing for increase clearance space between the obstruction  1000  and top  650 . The increased clearance space allows for the insertion of female bit retaining member  200  into the clearance space between top  650  and obstruction  1000 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 17, a torque is applied with tool  400  to female bit retaining member assembly  675  to rotate fastener  700 . The maximum height D (FIG. 15) required to insert and utilize tool  400  that applies torque to fastener  700  in a limited clearance area A (FIG. 14) is less than the maximum height required to insert and utilize conventional devices that combine a hex head permanently mounted to a male bit. Hence, limited access problems associated with permanently mounted male bits are substantially alleviated. 
     Preferably, the steps of inserting, mounting and applying are conducted sequentially in the order referenced herein. Optionally, the step of positioning tool  400  onto female retaining member assembly  675  includes the use of substantially circular flange guide  220  as described above (FIGS. 6-7) connected to female retaining member assembly  675  or female tool retaining member  200 . In this variant, the step of manually rotating the female retaining member assembly  675  is executed prior to the step of applying a torque with tool  400 . 
     FIG. 18 illustrates a variant of the method of the present invention in which male bit  295  is substantially longer than male bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303 . Substantially longer male bit  295  has a length in the range of 1.5 inches to 48 inches in length although different lengths are also contemplated herein. This type of bit is used to access fastener  700  or bolt  715  disposed in cavity  717 . As illustrated by the phantom lines in FIG. 18, bit  295  is first positioned past obstructions  1002  and  1003  into cavity or well  717  into bolt recess  777 . It is appreciated that the male bit  295  readily clears the obstructions  1002  and  1003  since the male bit retaining portion  600  is free of large permanently fixed perpendicular protuberances extending from the male bit  295  that would catch on obstructions  1002  and  1003 . As in the method described above, once the male bit  295  is positioned in bolt recess  777 , female bit retaining member  200  is then positioned onto the male bit  295  and the method steps as described above are executed. By way of example, large protuberances are generally larger than 10% of the maximum width of the male retaining portion  600 . In this connection, see illustration of FIG. 19 representing the prior art where tool bit  4000  with hex head  4002  and hex shank  4004  is impeded at sides or edges  1006  and  1007  by the obstructions  1002  and  1003 , respectively of cavity  717  in the apparatus being worked on. 
     The female member  200  and the male bits  101 - 103  and  301 - 303  of the present invention have a hardness range of from about 53 to about 57 Rockwell C scale, and are made from an alloy steel having properties of desired strength and toughness, as well as requisite flexibility. A more preferred hardness range, on the other hand, is from about 54 to about 55 Rockwell C scale, using an oil-hardening alloy spring steel having relatively higher amounts of silicon and manganese than other plain carbon tools or alloy tool steels. 
     While only a few, preferred embodiments of the invention have been described hereinabove, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiment may be modified and altered without departing from the central spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the preferred embodiment described hereinabove is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8