Patent ID: 8590431

Claim:
A protective gear socket assembly comprising: a gear socket comprising: a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from a perimeter of the gear socket; a u-shaped channel formed through a thickness of the gear socket, the u-shaped channel of the gear socket defining an opening at an edge of the gear socket; a contact surface extending radially outward from an upper edge of the u-shaped channel of the gear socket; and at least one mounting hole formed in the contact surface; an insert positioned in the gear socket, the insert comprising: a u-shaped channel formed through a thickness of the insert, the u-shaped channel of the insert defining an opening at an edge of the insert; a mating surface extending radially outward from a lower edge of the u-shaped channel of the insert; and at least one mounting post extending from the mating surface, wherein when the insert is positioned on the gear socket, the u-shaped channel of the insert is aligned with the u-shaped channel of the gear socket, the mating surface of the insert engages the contact surface of the gear socket, and the at least one mounting hole of the gear socket receives the at least one mounting post of the insert.