Socket

Details Socket Socket

2000-04-04

2001-09-04

Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3723)

Tools

Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor

Rigid jaws

Reexamination Certificate

active

06282994

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket, and more particularly to a socket having a contact surface for increasing friction on the outer periphery of the socket.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional socket
10
in accordance with the prior art shown in
FIG. 17
has a hexagonal recess
11
defined in one end thereof, and has thickest portion
12
and a thinnest portion
13
. In use, the socket
10
can be fitted on a workpiece such as a nut, a bolt or the like. A user can then hold the outer periphery of the socket
10
to rotate the socket
10
around a number of turns so as to slightly tighten the workpiece manually. Then, the socket
10
is operated in conjunction with a socket wrench so as to tighten the workpiece. However, the outer periphery of the socket
10
is often made round with a smooth surface so that the use cannot securely hold the outer periphery of the socket, thereby causing easily inconvenience when the user rotates the socket
10
.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional socket.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a socket having an outer periphery formed with a contact surface for increasing friction on the outer periphery of the socket.
By such an arrangement, when a small torsion is required to operate a workpiece such as a nut and the like, the socket can be fitted on the workpiece so as to directly operate the workpiece such that a user can use the contact surface to enhance the friction between the socket and the user's hand, thereby facilitating the user gripping the outer periphery of the socket to rotate the socket so as to slightly tighten or loosen the workpiece without a need to use an additional tool such as a socket wrench.
The contact surface longitudinally extends through the length of the outer periphery of the socket. Alternatively, the contact surface longitudinally extends through one half of the length of the outer periphery of the socket.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface includes a plurality of lengthwise semi-circular ribs adjacently arranged with each other.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface includes a plurality of lengthwise ribs spaced from each other.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface has a star-like configuration.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface includes a plurality of lengthwise inclined planes spaced from each other, and a plurality of lengthwise flat planes each located between two adjacent inclined planes.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface includes a plurality of lengthwise inclined planes spaced from each other, and a plurality of lengthwise ribs each located between two adjacent inclined planes.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the contact surface includes a plurality of lengthwise inclined planes spaced from each other, and a plurality of lengthwise arcuate recesses each located between two adjacent inclined planes.
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.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1658886 (1928-02-01), Dickey
patent: 3121355 (1964-02-01), Morel et al.
patent: 3678789 (1972-07-01), Wilson
patent: 4602534 (1986-07-01), Moetteli
patent: 4825732 (1989-05-01), Arnold
patent: 4867017 (1989-09-01), Holman
patent: 5079978 (1992-01-01), Kupfer
patent: 5199331 (1993-04-01), Tsukamoto
patent: 5271299 (1993-12-01), Wadsworth
patent: 5287775 (1994-02-01), Moore
patent: 5367925 (1994-11-01), Gasparre
patent: 5692419 (1997-12-01), Binns

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