GB2324260A

GB2324260A - Socket

Info

Publication number: GB2324260A
Application number: GB9707908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jin-Chai Cho
Original assignee: CHO JIN CHAI
Current assignee: CHO JIN CHAI
Priority date: 1997-04-17
Filing date: 1997-04-18
Publication date: 1998-10-21
Also published as: AU1892397A; GB9707908D0; DE29707449U1

Abstract

A socket includes a socket body 1 defining a receiving chamber 12, a plurality of actuating plates 13 longitudinally slidably fitted into the receiving chamber 12 of the socket body, and a holder plate 15 fixedly mounted inside the receiving chamber of the socket body. A plurality of springs 14 are connected between the actuating plates 13 and the holder plate 15, guide tubes and guide rods (131,151, Figs. 2-4) being provided to guide the springs. When the socket is attached to the fastener 3 to be turned some of the springs 14 are compressed by the corresponding actuating plates which are pushed against the head of the fastener, and the actuating plates 13 which surround the head of the fastener engage its periphery, enabling the fastener to be rotated.

Description

SOCKET ADAPTED FOR TURNING BOLTS AND NUTS OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES The present invention relates to sockets for turning bolts and nuts, and more particularly to such a socket which is for turning bolts and nuts of different shapes and sizes.

A variety of socket wrenches have been disclosed for turning different bolts and nuts, and have appeared on the market.

For turning bolts and nuts of different shapes or sizes, different sockets shall be used with a socket wrench. Therefore, a worker shall have to prepare a full set of sockets. It is inconvenient to carry a full set of sockets. Further, when turning a bolt or nut of a particular shape or size, one shall have to pick up the corresponding socket from the prepared full set of sockets.

The present invention has been accomplished to provide a socket which eliminates the aforesaid problems. According to one aspect of the present invention, the socket comprises socket body defining a receiving chamber, a bunch of actuating plates longitudinally slidably fitted into the receiving chamber of the socket body, a holder plate fixedly mounted inside the receiving chamber of the socket body, a plurality of springs respectively connected between the actuating plates and the holder plate, guide tubes and guide rods respectively formed at the holder plate and the actuating plate to guide the springs when the socket is attached to the bolt or nut to be turned and the springs are compressed by the corresponding actuating plates which are stopped against the head of the bolt or nut. According to another aspect of the present invention, a socket driver is provided for turning the socket, having one end terminating in a handle grip for the holding of the hand, and an opposite end terminating in a polygonal driving bit adapted to be fit into the polygonal coupling hole of the socket body for turning it.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an applied view in section of the present invention, showing the socket attached to the workpiece, a socket driver attached to the socket; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the present invention, showing the spring connected between the corresponding actuating plate and a corresponding guide tube at one side of the holder plate; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of an alternate form of the present invention, showing the spring connected between a guide tube at one end of the corresponding actuating plate and a corresponding guide rod at one side of the holder plate; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of another alternate form of the present invention, showing the spring connected between a guide rod at one end of the corresponding actuating plate and a corresponding guide tube at one side of the holder plate.

Referring to Figure 1, a socket in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a socket body 1 having a polygonal coupling hole 11 at one end and a receiving chamber 12 at an opposite end, a plurality of actuating plates 13 arranged into a bunch and longitudinally slidably fitted into the receiving chamber 12, holder means for example a flat holder plate 15 fixedly mounted inside the receiving chamber 12 adjacent to the coupling hole 11, and a plurality of springy elements for example springs 14 respectively connected between the flat holder plate 15 and the actuating plates 13.

Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 1 again, each spring 14 has one end connected to one actuating plate 13, and an opposite end inserted into a respective stub guide tube 131 at one side of the flat holder plate 15 and then connected the flat holder plate 15.

When the springs 14 are compressed by the respective actuating plates 13, they are forced into the inside of the corresponding stub guide tubes 131, therefore the springs 14 will not be tangled when they are compressed.

Figure 3 shows an alternate form of the present invention.

According to this alternate, each spring 14 has one end inserted into a guide tube 131 at one end of the corresponding actuating plate 13 and then connected to the corresponding actuating plate 13, and an opposite end sleeved onto a respective guide rod 151 raised from one side of the flat holder plate 15.

Figure 4 shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, each spring 14 has one end sleeved onto a guide rod 151 at one end of the corresponding actuating plate 13, and an opposite end inserted into a stub guide tube 131 raised from one side of the flat holder plate 15.

Referring to Figure 1 again, the socket driver, referenced by 2, comprises a handle grip 21 at one end, and a polygonal driving bit 22 at an opposite end fitted into the polygonal coupling hole 11 of the socket 1. When the socket 1 is attached to for example a bolt 3 and pressed down, the actuating plates 13 which are disposed in contact with the top side of the head of the bolt 3 are pushed upwards to compress the corresponding springs 14, and the actuating plates 13 which surround the bolt 3 are forced into engagement with the periphery of the head of the bolt 3, therefore the bolt 3 is turned with the socket 1 when the socket driver 2 is operated to turn the socket 1. Because the springs 14 are guided by the respective guide rods 151 and/or guide tubes 131, the are not tangled when they are compressed.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

1. A socket comprising: a socket body having a polygonal coupling hole at one end and a receiving chamber at an opposite end; a plurality of actuating plates arranged into a bunch and longitudinally slidably fitted into the receiving chamber of said socket body; holder means fixedly mounted inside the receiving chamber of said socket body adjacent to said coupling hole; a plurality of springy elements respectively connected between said actuating plates and said holder means; and guide means adapted to guide said springy elements in a respective path when said actuating plates are forced inwards to compress said springy elements.

2. The socket of claim 1 wherein said springy elements are springs.

3. The socket of claim 1 wherein said holder means is a flat holder plate fixedly mounted inside the receiving chamber of said socket body.

4. The socket of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of guide tubes perpendicularly raised from said holder means and respectively sleeved onto one end of each of said springy elements.

5. The socket of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of guide tubes respectively formed at one end of each of said actuating plates and sleeved onto one end of each of said springy elements, and a plurality of guide rods respectively raised from said holder means to hold and guide one end of each of said springy elements.

6. The socket of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of guide tubes respectively raised from said holder means and sleeved onto one end of each of said springy elements, and a plurality of guide rods respectively formed at one end of each of said actuating plate to hold and guide one end of each of said springy elements.

7. The socket of claim 1 wherein said socket body is coupled with a driving device, said driving device comprising a handle grip at one end , and a polygonal driving bit fitted into the polygonal coupling hole of said socket body.

8. A socket substantially as herein described with references to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.