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US3713356A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Socket release mechanism for wrenches and the like

Assignee: Snap On Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-18
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-01-18
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Abstract

Abstract The invention concerns itself with an improvement in release mechanisms for wrench sockets which are detachably connected to a turning shank such as but not limited to a ratchet driven shank by a spring impelled detent. The spring impelled detent is readily adapted to frictionally hold and retain wrench sockets to a turning shank, but it usually involves the use of two hands to remove such sockets from turning shanks equipped with spring impelled detents, and to obviate this requirement and to afford the ready release of the sockets from their turning shanks with one hand manipulation, and elongated displaceable and combined detent positioning and release member is provided in the turning shank that is simple and serves as a detent camming element cooperating with the detent to displace it relative to the socket recess responsive to finger longitudinal displacement thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Knudsen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 10:13
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/0007; B25B23/0035

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 252 words
A wrench locking and release mechanism in combination with a turning tool having a geometric turning shank thereon, there being a longitudinal bore extending axially in said turning shank , a locking detent loosely mounted in a lateral aperture in a wall of said geometric turning shank to communicate with said longitudinal bore therein, a shaft in said longitudinal bore reciprocally mounted therein, there being an elongated groove in said shaft in the region of said locking detent, said longitudinal shaft groove being peripheral around the entire shaft to define circumferential camming shoulders for said locking detent to effect the locking engagement between said turning shank and said socket responsive to the displacement of said shaft in said shank bore in either direction, a spring enveloping said shaft in said longitudinal bore to retain said camming shoulder against said detent in one direction of displacement to normally lock the wrench socket to said geometric turning shank, a finger displaceable button head on said shaft extending beyond said longitudinal bore in said turning shank to release said locking pin detent against the urge of said spring irrespective of the relative radial relation between said shaft and locking detent within the full circumferential sweep of said peripheral shaft groove, and a yieldable seal cover over said button head and anchored to said longitudinal shaft bore in the region of said button head to yield within the reciprocal range of said enveloping shaft spring to preclude the entrance of foreign matter into said longitudinal bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 252 words
A wrench locking and release mechanism in combination with a turning tool having a geometric turning shank thereon, there being a longitudinal bore extending axially in said turning shank , a locking detent loosely mounted in a lateral aperture in a wall of said geometric turning shank to communicate with said longitudinal bore therein, a shaft in said longitudinal bore reciprocally mounted therein, there being an elongated groove in said shaft in the region of said locking detent, said longitudinal shaft groove being peripheral around the entire shaft to define circumferential camming shoulders for said locking detent to effect the locking engagement between said turning shank and said socket responsive to the displacement of said shaft in said shank bore in either direction, a spring enveloping said shaft in said longitudinal bore to retain said camming shoulder against said detent in one direction of displacement to normally lock the wrench socket to said geometric turning shank, a finger displaceable button head on said shaft extending beyond said longitudinal bore in said turning shank to release said locking pin detent against the urge of said spring irrespective of the relative radial relation between said shaft and locking detent within the full circumferential sweep of said peripheral shaft groove, and a yieldable seal cover over said button head and anchored to said longitudinal shaft bore in the region of said button head to yield within the reciprocal range of said enveloping shaft spring to preclude the entrance of foreign matter into said longitudinal bore.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3068737A Cited
US3117484A Cited
US3393587A Cited
US3438291A Cited
US3532013A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-01-30 1976-07-31 1977-01-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-01-30 1980-07-31 1981-01-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-01-30 1984-07-31 1985-01-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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