Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1895
I, ROBERT DOWNHAM of Calder Vale Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Screw Key Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to box keys or spanners and is designed to render them
interchangeable, whereby they are adaptable to a great variety of sizes of nuts or
screw heads instead of merely to one or a couple of sizes as is the case with box
keys already existing. For this purpose, I form the sockets or spanners of the
box key loose and detachable from their shaft, being preferably cast separate in
metal, so that a number of them may be used in conjunction with one box key,
while the sockets may be formed single, or both ends thereof may serve the
purpose of spanners, the sockets (in different sizes) being also applicable to both
ends of the shaft.
The shaft is formed at the ends, square, hexagonal or otherwise, but tapers
considerably at its extremities. The double-headed socket, formed at each end
into spanners, tapers towards the centre from each end, so as to fit on the tapering
ends of the shaft. Instead of being hammered on the tapering ends of the shaft,
the sockets may in some cases be secured thereto by a set screw or pin.
The sockets in the middle of their exterior surfaces are shaped square,
hexagonal, octagonal or other shape that may be convenient to be operated upon
by a key or wrench. The sockets are also drilled across at one or both ends for
the introduction of a tommy bar.
It will be obvious that my improved detachable form of box key sockets may be
readily fitted on to ordinary screw keys adapted for the purpose, or wrenches or
similar implements may be formed with tapering ends for the addition thereto of
my improved detachable box key socket, either double or single.
Dated this 29th day of January 1895.
I, ROBERT DOWNHAM of Calder Vale Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Screw Key Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, an
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to box keys or spanners, and is designed to render the.n

page_text: interchangeable, whereby they are adaptable to a great variety of sizes of nuts or
screw heads instead of merely to one or a couple of sizes as is the case with box
keys already existing. For this purpose, I form the sockets or spanners of the
box key loose and detachable from their shaft, being preferably cast separate in
metal, so that a number of them may be used in conjunction with one box key,
while the sockets may be formed single, or both ends thereof may serve the purpose
of spanners, the sockets (in different sizes) being also applicable to both ends of the
shaft.
The shaft is formed at the end square, hexagonal, or otherwise, but tapers
considerably at its extremities. The double headed socket, formed at each end
into spanners, tapers towards the centre from each end, so as to fit on the tapering
ends of the shaft. Instead of being hammered on the tapering ends of the shaft,
the sockets may in some cases be secured thereto by a set screw or pin.
The sockets in the middle of their exterior surfaces are shaped square,
hexagonal, octagonal, or other shape that may be convenient to be operated upon
by a key or wrench. The sockets are also drilled across at one or both ends for
the introduction of a tommy bar.
It will be obvious that my improved detachable form of box key sockets may be
readily fitted on to ordinary screw keys adapted for the purpose, or wrenches or
similar implements may be formed with tapering ends for the addition thereto
of my improved detachable box key socket, either double or single.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a box key or spanner, constructed in accordance with
my invention.
A is the shaft formed with tapering or conical ends, as seen in dotted lines,"
which enter tapering or conical holes in the detachable box key sockets B, which
constitute the essential feature of my invention. Those illustrated in Fig. 1 are
double headed so as to reversibly fit the ends of the shaft, which is a distinct
advantage.
About midway of their exterior surfaces, the detachable sockets are formed.
square, hexagonal, or other shape so as to be capable of being operated upon by a
key or wrench. They are also bored with holes at divers parts of their
circumference for the introduction of a tommy bar C, by which the key or spanner
is readily manipulated.
Fig. 2 is a view of the shaft A, shewing it provided with tapering ends D, while
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are plan views of the ends of the sockets. A pin or screw may,
if desired, be employed to further secure the shaft in position.
In Fig. 7 is shewn a modification of my invention, the detachable sockets being
used separate from the shaft, and operated by tommy bar C.
Fig. 8 represents a single headed detachable box key socket, constructed in
accordance with my invention. The upper part is for the introduction of the
tapering shaft, the lower part being used as a key. These single sockets may like-
wise be used separately with tommy bars, as in Fig. 7, or the tommy bar may be
bent at right angles at the end, which is tapered to fit into end of socket, as shewn
in Fig. 8.
As previously pointed out my improved detachable box key sockets, may be in
some cases readily applied to ordinary screw keys adapted for the purpose, or
wrenches screw drivers, or similar implements may be formed with tapering ends
for the addition thereto of my improved detachable box key socket, either double
or single.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is :-
1. Forming box key sockets detachable from their shafts, so that the same
may be reversible, or substituted for others, substantially as described and.

page_text: 2. The improved construction of a separate box key socket, i.e. independent of its
shaft, in combination with a tommy bar, to be manipulated as illustrated in
Figs. 7 and 8.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
F. RICHMOND,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicant.