EP1681139A1

EP1681139A1 - Socket suspension assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1681139A1
Application number: EP05000353A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hsien-Chung Tuan Mu; Sammy Tsai
Original assignee: Lea Way Hand Tool Corp
Current assignee: Lea Way Hand Tool Corp
Priority date: 2005-01-10
Filing date: 2005-01-10
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-10
Also published as: DE602005000929D1; ATE359899T1; EP1681139B1; DE602005000929T2

Abstract

A socket suspension assembly includes a suspension rack (10) and at least one socket rack (20) slidably and rotatably mounted to the suspension rack (10). The suspension rack (10) includes a post-like structure and has at least one groove (11) longitudinally defined in an outer periphery of the suspension rack (10). The socket rack (20) includes a loop (21) rotatably and slidably sleeved on the suspension rack (10) and a stub (22) radially extending from an outer periphery of the loop (21). The stub (22) is adapted to be connected to a socket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suspension assembly, and more particularly to a socket suspension assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional socket suspension assembly in accordance with the prior art usually comprises a suspension rack and multiple socket slidably mounted on the suspension rack by dove-tail structure. As a result, the socket rack only can be linearly moved relative to the suspension rack. Consequently, to detach the socket from the suspension rack is an inconvenient operation when the sockets are arranged on the suspension rack side by side. In addition, some sockets have standards close to one another such that the user may take a socket having the standard that is wrong.
Furthermore, the socket is attached to the socket rack due to a friction force between the socket and the socket rack. Consequently, the connection between the socket and the socket rack may be weakened and extremely, the socket may be detached from the socket rack when the socket rack is worn out.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional socket suspension assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved socket suspension assembly for user to easily and correctly take the socket from the present invention.
To achieve the objective, the socket suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a suspension rack and at least one socket rack slidably and rotatably mounted to the suspension rack. The suspension rack includes a post-like structure and has at least one groove longitudinally defined in an outer periphery of the suspension rack. The socket rack includes a loop rotatably and slidably sleeved on the suspension rack and a stub radially extending from an outer periphery of the loop. The stub is adapted to be connected to a socket.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a socket suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a socket rack of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a partially side cross-sectional view of socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1 when detaching the socket from the socket rack;
Fig. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1 when rotating the socket rack relative to the suspension rack;
Fig. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 1 when finishing rotating the socket rack;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the socket suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the socket suspension assembly in Fig. 8; and
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional of a second embodiment of the socket rack in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2, a socket suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a suspension rack (10) and at least one socket rack (20) slidably mounted to the suspension rack (10). In addition, the socket rack (20) is rotatable relative to the suspension rack (10).
The suspension rack (10) includes a post-like structure and has at least one groove (11) longitudinally defined in an outer periphery of the suspension rack (10). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are eight grooves defined in the outer periphery of the suspension rack (10) for user to easily rotate the socket rack (20) relative to the suspension rack (10).
Further with reference to Fig. 3, the socket rack (20) includes a loop (21) rotatably and slidably sleeved on the suspension rack (10) and a stub (22) radially extending from an outer periphery of the loop (21). The stub (22) is adapted to be connected to a socket.
The loop (21) has at least one rib (211) longitudinally formed on an inner periphery thereof. The rib (211) is received in the multiple grooves (11) in the suspension rack (10) and has a shape complementally corresponding to that of the grooves (11) in the suspension rack (10). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the loop (21) has three ribs (211) for promoting the connection between the socket rack (20) and the suspension rack (10) without influence on the rotation between the socket rack (20) and the suspension rack (10). At least one indicating zone (212) is formed on the outer periphery of the loop (21) for indicating the standard of the socket that is connected to the socket rack (20).
Reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the stub (22) has a hollow structure and a resilient stick (221) formed on one side of the stub (22). The resilient stick (221) has a boss (222) formed on a free end thereof opposite to the loop (21). A spring (223) is formed within the stub (22). The spring (223) has one end connected to an inner periphery of the stub (22) and abuts a back of the resilient stick (221). At least one side of the stub (22) adjacent to the resilient stick (221) has a teethed structure (224) formed thereon for promoting the friction between the socket and the stub (22).
When mounting the socket to the stub (22) of the present invention, the inner periphery of a cubic hole (30), which is defined in one end of the socket, inward pushes the resilient stick (221) to compress the spring (223) due to the boss (222). The boss (222) is received in an indentation (31) that is defined in the inner periphery of the cubic hole (30) of the socket to hold the socket in place when the socket is moved to the specific location. The restitution force of the spring (223) provides a thrust to the resilient stick (221) for connecting the socket when the boss (222) of the resilient stick (221) is worn out.
With reference to Figs. 5-7, the rib (211) of the loop (21) is transformed due to the outer periphery of the suspension rack (10) when the socket rack (20) is rotated relative to the suspension rack (10). The rib (211) is received in the adjacent groove (11) and the socket rack (20) is positioned again due to the restitution force of the rib (211) when the rib (211) is moved to the adjacent groove (11) for achieving the purpose of rotating the socket rack (20) relative to the suspension rack (10). Consequently, the sockets on the socket suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention can be moved and arranged in an interlaced condition for easily detaching from the stub (33). In addition, the user can take the socket with a correct standard because the standard of the socket is indicated on the indicating zone (212) of the loop (21).
In fact, the groove (11) in the suspension rack (10) can be defined in the inner periphery of the loop (21) and the rib (211) of the loop (21) can be formed on the outer periphery of the suspension rack (10). Similarly, the socket rack (20) can be rotated relative to the suspension rack (10).
With reference to Figs. 8 and 9 that show a second embodiment of the present invention, the suspension rack (40) has a polygonal cross-section, and the loop (51) of the socket rack (50) has a polygonal hole (not numbered) defined within the loop (51) and corresponding to the cross-section of the suspension rack (40). Similarly, the socket rack (50) can be rotated relative to the suspension rack (40) step by step due to a tenacity of the material forming the socket rack (50). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the suspension rack (40) is octagonal. Accordingly, the hole in the loop (51) is octagonal.
With reference to Fig. 10 that show a second embodiment of the socket rack of the present invention, the loop (61) of the socket rack (60) has a width greater than a diameter of the socket that is mounted to the socket rack (60). Consequently, a distance (W) is formed between two adjacent sockets and the distance (W) is greater than a thickness of the user's thumb and forefinger for user to easily detaching the socket.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

A socket suspension assembly comprising:
a suspension rack; and

at least one socket rack rotatably and slidably sleeved on the suspension rack, the socket rack including a loop rotatably and slidably sleeved on the suspension rack and a stub radially extending from an outer periphery of the loop, the stub adapted to be connected to a socket.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspension rack has a post-like structure and at least one groove defined in an outer periphery of the suspension rack, and the loop of the socket rack has at least one rib longitudinally formed on an inner periphery of the loop, the socket rack being positioned when the at least one rib is received in the at least one groove.
The socket suspension rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rib is transformed and engaged to the next groove in the suspension rack to hold the socket rack in place due to a restitution force of the rib.
The socket suspension rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspension rack has a polygonal cross-section and a polygonal hole is defined within the loop for rotatably and slidably receiving the suspension rack.
The socket suspension rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stub has a hollow structure and a resilient stick formed on one side of the stub, the resilient stick having a boss formed on a free end thereof opposite to the loop adapted for engaging to an indentation that is defined in an inner periphery of a cubic hole defined in one end of the socket, a spring formed within the stub, the spring having one end connected to an inner periphery of the stub and abuts a back of the resilient stick for lengthening the use life of the resilient stick.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop has at least one indicating zone is formed on the outer periphery of the loop for indicating the standard of the socket that is connected to the socket rack.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stub has a hollow structure and a resilient stick formed on one side of the stub, the resilient stick having a boss formed on a free end thereof opposite to the loop adapted for engaging to an indentation that is defined in an inner periphery of a cubic hole defined in one end of the socket, a spring formed within the stub, the spring having one end connected to an inner periphery of the stub and abuts a back of the resilient stick for lengthening the use life of the resilient stick.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stub has a hollow structure and a resilient stick formed on one side of the stub, the resilient stick having a boss formed on a free end thereof opposite to the loop adapted for engaging to an indentation that is defined in an inner periphery of a cubic hole defined in one end of the socket, a spring formed within the stub, the spring having one end connected to an inner periphery of the stub and abuts a back of the resilient stick for lengthening the use life of the resilient stick.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one side adjacent to the resilient stick forming a teethed structure thereon and adapted for promoting the friction between the socket and the stub.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stub has a hollow structure and a resilient stick formed on one side of the stub, the resilient stick having a boss formed on a free end thereof opposite to the loop adapted for engaging to an indentation that is defined in an inner periphery of a cubic hole defined in one end of the socket, a spring formed within the stub, the spring having one end connected to an inner periphery of the stub and abuts a back of the resilient stick for lengthening the use life of the resilient stick.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one side adjacent to the resilient stick forming a teethed structure thereon and adapted for promoting the friction between the socket and the stub.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one side adjacent to the resilient stick forming a teethed structure thereon and adapted for promoting the friction between the socket and the stub.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one side adjacent to the resilient stick forming a teethed structure thereon and adapted for promoting the friction between the socket and the stub.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop of the socket rack has a width greater than a diameter of the socket that is mounted to the socket rack, thereby a distance is formed between two adjacent sockets and the distance is greater than a thickness of the user's thumb and forefinger for user to easily detaching the socket.
The socket suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspension rack has a post-like structure and at least one rib longitudinally formed on an outer periphery of the suspension rack, and the loop has at least one groove longitudinally defined in an inner periphery of the loop for receiving the at least one rib of the suspension rack to position the socket rack.
The socket suspension rack as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rib is transformed and engaged to the next groove in the loop to hold the socket rack in place due to a restitution force of the rib.