Patent Abstract:
A tool for receiving adapters and sockets of various sizes. One embodiment includes a first receiving end having outer and inner cavities being substantially rectangular with the inner cavity having a smaller diameter than the outer cavity. A second extension end is positioned opposite the first receiving end and includes outer and inner extensions being substantially rectangular shaped with the outer extension having a smaller width than the inner extension. Another embodiment includes a first end having at least two receiving cavities axially aligned. A first receiving cavity is positioned proximate the first end and has a larger diameter than a second distal receiving cavity. A second end includes at least two receiving cavities axially aligned including a third receiving cavity positioned proximate the second end having a larger diameter than a fourth distal receiving cavity.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an adapter for receiving at least two separate sizes of tools and, more particularly, to an adapter having at least two sized cavities and/or extensions for mounting on a variety of different sized ratchets and other like tools.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Socket wrenches, including a drive tool and socket, are commonly used to turn fasteners, such as nuts and bolts. A first end of the socket is placed over the bolt and the drive tool is inserted into a second socket end. A user then applies force directly to the drive tool for rotating the bolt.  
           [0003]    A standard socket set includes a number of sockets each having different first end sizes for accommodating a variety of sizes of bolt heads and other like fasteners. Commonly, the sockets are dimensioned according to the common sizes of fasteners, such as the metric or English systems. The second socket end attaches to the drive tool and may have a variety of sizes, depending upon the manufacturer, year of manufacture, first socket end dimensions, and the like. Each of the second ends is substantially rectangular in shape, but there are no standardized sizes or dimensions.  
           [0004]    A problem occurs for persons that use a variety of different sockets and drive tools. When working on fasteners of unknown or varying size, the user is required to have a variety of sockets to accommodate the fasteners, and a variety of drive tools to accommodate the socket second ends. This gets extremely burdensome for the user requiring them to carry numerous extra tools that may or may not be necessary. Additionally, different sized sockets may get mixed together within a tool box thereby requiring the user to always bring different sized drive tools to ensure they can accommodate the sockets.  
           [0005]    Prior art designs have focused more on the first socket ends that accommodate the fasteners, and have largely ignored adapting to the socket second end. U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,094 to Macor discloses a multiple socket wrench having inner and outer members that are slidably engaged to accommodate a variety of fasteners. However, Macor does not provide for accommodating different sizes of drive tools. U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,379 to Gramera et. al. discloses a double-ended hollow core socket with a first end having a diameter sized to accommodate a first fastener size, and a second end having a different diameter. Again, the socket cannot accommodate various sizes of drive tools.  
           [0006]    There are many types of sockets for accommodating various fastener sizes. However, these sockets often overlook the necessity of attachment to the drive tool. Thus, there remains a need for an adapter to accommodate at least two separate sizes of drive tools and/or socket second ends.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention allows for a single tool to accommodate a number of different sizes of tools and different sizes of adapters. Existing tools currently on the market may be used and are interchangeable with the tools described in the present invention. In one embodiment, the invention is an adapter for receiving at least two separate sizes of tools. The adapter has a first adapter end having an inwardly extending cavity with at least two substantially rectangular cross-sectional areas including a distal cavity having a smaller diameter than a proximal cavity. A second adapter end is positioned opposite the first adapter end.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment, the invention includes a tool adapter having a first receiving end having substantially rectangular outer and inner cavities. A second extension end is positioned opposite the first receiving end and includes outer and inner extensions being substantially rectangularly shaped.  
           [0009]    In another embodiment, the adapter includes a first end having at least two axially aligned receiving cavities. A first receiving cavity is positioned proximate the first end and has a larger diameter than a second distal receiving cavity. A second end has at least two receiving cavities axially aligned. A third receiving cavity is positioned proximate the second end and has a larger diameter than a fourth distal receiving cavity.  
           [0010]    A drive tool embodiment is also disclosed having a handle, and a head positioned at one end of the handle. At least two extensions extend outward from the head including a first inner extension having a substantially rectangular shape, and an outer extension centered on the inner extension and having a substantially rectangular shape having smaller dimensions than said inner extension. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a side view with hidden lines of one embodiment of an adapter constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a socket constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a drive tool;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a side view with hidden lines of the drive tool with attached adapter and socket mounted together in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view with hidden lines illustrating an alternative tool adapter embodiment having a receiving end and a tool end;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of yet another alternate embodiment of an adapter and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings and general in FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As seen in FIG. 1, an adapter, generally designated  10 , is shown constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention. The adapter  10  includes a receiving end  20  having an outer cavity  22  and an inner cavity  24 . Positioned on the opposite end, extension end  30  includes an outer extension  32  and an inner extension  34 . The adapter  10  provides for mounting a variety of different sized sockets and other like tools onto a single drive tool  100  (FIG. 3).  
         [0019]    Receiving end  20  includes at least two cavities for mounting to at least two different sized drive tools or adapters. Preferably, both the outer cavity  22  and inner cavity  24  are aligned along the center line CL as illustrated in FIG. 1. The outer cavity  22  has a larger diameter than inner cavity  24  such that a smaller drive tool that does not mount within the outer cavity  22  can extend into the inner cavity  24 . For example, the outer cavity  22  could have an effective diameter of ⅜″ and the inner cavity  24  have an effective diameter of ¼″. Larger or smaller variations on this are possible, with the limiting criterion being that the inner cavity  24  have a smaller effective diameter than the outer cavity  22 . In one embodiment, both inner and outer cavities  22 ,  24  have substantially rectangular shapes to conform to the drive tool or adapter extensions. The depth of the cavities  22 ,  24  may vary depending upon the specific embodiments. Ball detent receivers (not illustrated) may also be positioned within the cavities  22 ,  24  for receiving a ball detent from the drive tool. Additionally, square shapes are specifically contemplated as being included in the rectangular shapes described.  
         [0020]    Body section  40  extends between the receiving end  20  and extension end  30 . Again, the body may have a variety of dimensions and sizes depending upon the desired usage of the adapter  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, body  40  has an elongated shape which has substantially the same diameter throughout the length. Body  40  may be substantially solid or may be hollow to reduce the amount of material necessary during manufacturing.  
         [0021]    Extension end  30  includes extensions  32 ,  34  for mounting into sockets or other like tools. Inner extension  34  has a larger cross-sectional span than outer extension  32 . This configuration allows for the outer extension  32  to mount into smaller sized receptacles such as a complementary inner cavity  24  on a second adapter  10  without being blocked by the larger outer cavity  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, both inner and outer extensions  34 ,  32  are substantially rectangular-shaped for mounting into the different sizes of sockets. The length of the inner and outer extensions  34 ,  32  may vary depending upon the specific embodiment. For example, the outer extension  32  may have an effective span of ¼″ and the inner extension  34  have an effective span of ⅜″, each with a depth of ¼″. As with the receiving end, the inner and outer extensions  34 ,  32  are preferably coaxially aligned on the centerline CL. A ball detent (not illustrated) may be positioned along the extensions  32 ,  34  for maintaining the socket or tool adapter. The length of the extensions  32 ,  34  may vary depending upon the specific environment in which the tool is used. This variance may be from the exemplary ¼″ described for both depths, or the depths may vary independently of one another.  
         [0022]    It is possible that the adapter  10  of FIG. 1 may include only one cavity  22  and two extensions  32 ,  34  or two cavities  22 ,  24 , and only one extension  32 . The variety of combinations possible is one of the things that makes the present invention versatile and desirable to those who use these sorts of tools as they may mix and match as they need to to accommodate their needs.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates another adapter  80  of the present invention having two receiving ends each of different sizes. By way of example, a first side  84   a ,  86   a  may be sized for a drive tool size produced by a first manufacturer, and the second side  84   b ,  86   b  sized in accordance with another manufacturer. Alternatively, the two sides may be equipped for the same manufacturer and each be of a different size to increase the likelihood of mounting to the drive tool. In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the inner receiving cavities  86   a ,  86   b  may extend through the length of the adapter  80  and connect forming a substantially hollow interior. The inner receiving cavities  86   a ,  86   b  may be of the same size, or may be of differing sizes. The adapter  80  illustrated in FIG. 2 allows for a single adapter  80  to be used on a variety of drive tools  100  (FIG. 3) to reduce the amount of tools necessary for the user to handle and purchase.  
         [0024]    Adapter  80  may further include one or more socket adapters  82   a ,  82   b  positioned along an exterior edge of end. Each socket adapter  82   a ,  82   b  is sized to mount over a fastener  55  (FIG. 4). In one embodiment, socket adapters  82   a ,  82   b  are centered about the adapter center and are hexagonal to mate with a standard multi-sided bolt head. Additionally, more than one different sized adapter may be mounted on each end. Thus, a first end socket adapter  82   a  may be sized to accommodate ½″ fasteners and the second end socket adapter  82   b  may be sized to accommodate a 12 mm fastener.  
         [0025]    The drive tool  100  is illustrated in FIG. 3. Drive tool  100  includes a handle  102  and a head  104  having a plurality of extensions  132 ,  134  extending outwardly therefrom. The extensions  132 ,  134  are of different sizes to accommodate a variety of sockets or adapters, and are substantially identical to the extensions  32 ,  34  on the adapter  10 . However, the extensions  132 ,  134  are mounted on a ratchet mechanism that mounts within the head  104  for rotation in a clockwise and counter-clockwise directions as is well known to one skilled in the art. Extensions  132 ,  134  are preferably substantially rectangular shaped to conform to the sockets and adapters.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 illustrates the drive tool  100  with a first adapter  10  and second adapter  80 . The drive tool inner extension  134  is sized, within this embodiment, to be received by the outer cavity  22  of the first adapter  10 . The first adapter outer extension  132  is sized to fit within the inner receiving end  86   b  of the second adapter  80  and not interfere with the mounting. As the drive tool  100  and attached first adapter  10  are moved in the direction of arrow  9 , the outer extension  32  is sized to mount into the inner cavity  86   b  of the second adapter  80 . The second adapter outer receiving end  84   b  and socket adapter  82   b  are of a large enough size so as not to interfere. The second adapter socket  82   a  is sized to accommodate the fastener  55 . Rotation of the drive tool  100  is transferred through the first and second adapters  10 ,  80  for rotating the fastener  55 . It should be appreciated that while one mating arrangement between the elements are shown, other permutations are contemplated wherein the drive tool  100  fully mates with the first adapter  10  and the first adapter  10  only partially mates with the second adapter  80 .  
         [0027]    It should be noted that the second adapter socket  82   a  may not be sized to accommodate the fastener  55 , thereby requiring the second adapter  80  to be reversed such that the second socket  82   b  may accommodate the fastener  55 , or another second adapter may be placed on the first adapter  10  as necessary. Additionally, the second adapter  80  may be sized to be mounted directly to the drive tool  100 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a tool adapter  200 . Tool adapter  200  includes a first receiving end  201  having at least two cavities  222 ,  224  for receiving extensions  32 ,  34 ,  132 , or  134  similar to the adapter  10  or drive tool  100 . A second tool end  202  features a tool fixedly mounted to the body  240 . This design allows for the drive tool  100  to be used as a rotational tool. Tools that may be positioned on the second tool end  202  include a screwdriver, universal joint, hex driver, spark plug socket, open-ended wrench, posi-drive wrench, ALLEN wrench, TORX wrench, and the like. One skilled in the art will understand that there are other numerous other tools that may be mounted to the tool adapter  200 . The body  240  may have a variety of orientations depending upon the desired positioning of the tool.  
         [0029]    In addition to using a tool adapter  200  so that the drive tool may be converted into a different rotational tool, it is possible to modify the cavities and extensions of any of the adapters  10 ,  80  or tools  100 ,  200 . In particular, any outer extension  32  may be modified such that it is in fact a tool end comparable to tool end  202 , and any interior cavity  24 ,  84   a ,  84   b ,  86   a ,  86   b , or  224  may be modified to receive such a tool end type extension. Thus, for example as shown in FIG. 6, an adapter  300  includes an outer rectangularly shaped cavity  302  and an inner ALLEN wrench shaped cavity  304 . Further, the adapter  300  includes a rectangularly shaped inner extension  306  and an ALLEN wrench shaped outer extension  308 . Variations of the tool shaped extension cavity  304  and extension  308  are possible both in size and in type of tool end. Thus, as listed above a screwdriver, universal joint, hex driver, spark plug socket, open-ended wrench, posi-drive wrench, ALLEN wrench, TORX wrench, and the like may all be used. Further, it is possible that the outer cavity  302  and inner extension  306  could also be shaped to correspond to a tool end. However, care must be taken that a small tool end is still able to pass through the outer cavity  302  to reach inner cavity  304  and that there are no obstructions. Further, a large cavity must still fit over outer extension  308  to fit properly on inner extension  306 . As long as these criteria are met, the tool end type cavities and extensions may be mixed and matched with rectangularly shaped and other tool type cavities and extensions as needed or desired.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention having a first end with a pair of receiving cavities  702 ,  704 , and a second end  706  sized to mount about a fastener  55 . This embodiment may be mounted directly to the extensions of a drive tool, and does not require any intermediate device for making a connection.  
         [0031]    The elements of present invention are both preferably constructed of a unitary construction. Preferably, they are constructed of a durable material that resists bending or deformation. In one embodiment, the pieces are constructed of a forged steel.  
         [0032]    In the foregoing description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward”, “rearward”, “left”, “right”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1