Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Sabbaghian et al.
`
`US005918511A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,918,511
`Jul. 6, 1999
`
`[54] ADJUSTABLE SOCKET WRENCH
`
`[75] Inventors; Mehdy Sabbaghian, Baton Rouge, La_;
`Bryan Hivnor, Beaumont, TeX.;
`Gerard Soignet; Brian Mayeaux, both
`of Houston’ Tex‘; Wyndham Payne’
`Nashville, Tenn.
`
`[73] Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana
`State University an d Agricultural an d
`Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, La.
`
`Appl. No.: 08/919,995
`
`l
`l
`l
`l
`Aug‘ 28’ 1997
`Filed:
`Int. Cl.6 .................................................... .. B25B 13/12
`[51]
`[5 ] US Cl_ ________________ __
`81/128; 81/129
`[
`]
`Field of Search
`~~~~ n 87/128 129
`’
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1/1872 Neames '
`6/1907 Zanto _
`3/1925 Clarke _
`1/1946 Lundeen _
`1/1952 Lucht ...................................... .. 81/128
`5/1959 Bruhn ...................................... .. 81/128
`
`122 638
`857j220
`175317377
`2,392,931
`2,582,444
`2,884,826
`
`5/1972 Anati .
`3,664,213
`4/1973 Nelson .................................... .. 81/128
`3,724,299
`1/1983 Colvin ..................................... .. 81/128
`4,366,733
`475467678 10/1985 Smokey -
`13;
`2062x6011‘ '
`572617263 11/1993 Whitesell .
`’
`’
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9034 9/1879 Germany ............................... .. 81/128
`Primary Examiner—James G. Smith
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Roy, Kiesel & Tucker
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides an adjustable socket for a
`Socket Wrench- In a Preferred emb0diment> the adjustable
`socket comprises a base plate and a collar plate rotatably
`attached to the base plate. The collar plate has a central
`opening formed by a plurality of internal sidewalls and there
`are movably positioned inside the central opening a plurality
`of gripping members. Each of the gripping members has a
`contacting surface Which cumulatively de?ne a gripping
`region. Furthermore, each of the gripping members is con
`nected to the base plate and has a ?rst end adapted to engage
`one of the internal sidewalls such that relative rotation of the
`base plate and the collar plate adjusts the gripping region.
`
`21 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`1
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`Page 1 of 11
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`EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES EX. 1113
`Edwards Lifesciences v. Boston Scientific Scimed
`U.S. Patent No. 6,915,560
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of5
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`5,918,511
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`FIGURE 1
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 1999
`Jul. 6, 1999
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`Sheet 2 of 5
`Sheet 2 0f 5
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`5,918,511
`5,918,511
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`Page 3 of 11
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`Page 3 of 11
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 1999
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`Sheet 3 of5
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`5,918,511
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`FIGURE 4
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`FIGURE 5
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`Page 4 of 11
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 1999
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`Sheet 4 0f 5
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`5,918,511
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`58
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`52
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`FIGURE 7
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`Page 5 of 11
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`U.S. Patent
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`5,918,511
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`FIGURE 8
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`FIGURE 10
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`FIGURE 9
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`Page 6 of 11
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`
`1
`ADJUSTABLE SOCKET WRENCH
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to socket
`Wrenches, and more particularly to a socket for these types
`of Wrenches Where the socket is capable of adjustably
`adapting to different siZes of polygonal bolt heads, nuts or
`similar fastening hardWare.
`2. Background of Invention
`There presently exists a large variety of Wrenches used to
`tighten and loosen fastening devices such as a conventional
`bolt having a polygonal (typically hexagonal) bolt head and
`threaded nut. One popular type of Wrench is the conven
`tional socket Wrench Which grips the bolt head or nut With
`a cylindrically shaped socket having an interior surface
`formed to mate With the particular siZe and polygonal shape
`of the bolt head or nut. These socket Wrenches are especially
`useful since they are usually employed With a ratcheting
`mechanism that alloWs continuous turning of the bolt head
`or nut Without repositioning the Wrench as required by
`convention crescent or open faced Wrenches.
`HoWever, a common draWback of socket type Wrenches is
`the necessity of having a separate socket for each of the
`standard siZed bolt heads or nuts commonly found in the
`environment in Which the Wrench is used. It is common
`experience that considerable time is Wasted sWitching from
`one socket to another When tightening or loosening bolts of
`different siZes. Often the user of the socket Wrench must
`attempt placing tWo or three sockets on a bolt before
`determining Which socket is actually the correct siZe.
`Furthermore, to accommodate the siZe range of bolts typi
`cally encountered requires carrying a large number or a full
`“set” of variously siZed sockets. Generally this set of sockets
`is must be carried in some sort of case and the set is ruined
`if a single socket is lost.
`It Would be a signi?cant advance in the art to provide a
`single a Wrench socket that Would be able to accommodate
`a large range of bolt siZes and thereby eliminate the many
`disadvantages discussed above. It Would also be advanta
`geous if the Wrench socket Were easily adjusted to the
`required bolt siZe and if the Wrench socket facilitated
`making this adjustment With only one hand rather than
`requiring both hands.
`
`OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an
`adjustable Wrench socket that can be adjusted to accommo
`date a Wide range of conventional bolt siZes.
`It is also an object of this invention to provide a Wrench
`socket that facilitates making the adjustment Without ocup
`pying both hands of the user.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide an
`adjustable Wrench socket that Will grip polygonal bolt head
`or nut on multiple sides of the polygon.
`These and other objects and advantages of the present
`invention Will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in
`the art after having read the folloWing description of the
`preferred embodiment Which are contained in and illustrated
`by the various draWing ?gures.
`Therefore, the present invention provides an adjustable
`socket for a socket Wrench. In a preferred embodiment, the
`adjustable socket comprises a base plate and a collar plate
`rotatably attached to the base plate. The collar plate has a
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`central opening formed by a plurality of internal sideWalls
`and there are movably positioned inside the central opening
`a plurality of gripping members. Each of the gripping
`members has a contacting surface Which cumulatively de?ne
`a gripping region. Furthermore, each of the gripping mem
`bers is connected to the base plate and has a ?rst end adapted
`to engage one of the internal sideWalls such that relative
`rotation of the base plate and the collar plate constricts the
`gripping region.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a is a perspective vieW of the present invention
`illustrating its use With a conventional socket Wrench and
`bolt.
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective vieW of the present
`invention shoWing its various components.
`FIG. 3 is a plane vieW from the bottom orientation of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a side vieW of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a plane vieW from the top orientation of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a side vieW of a gripping member employed by
`the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a side vieW of a double socket con?guration.
`FIG. 8 is a plane vieW from the bottom orientation
`illustating the invention in the fully open position.
`FIG. 9 is a plane vieW from the bottom orientation
`illustrating the present invention in the fully closed position.
`FIG. 10 is a plane vieW from the bottom orientation
`illustrating the gripping members in a reverse orientation
`from that seen in FIG. 3.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`In the draWings, many details pertaining to fabrication
`and maintenance utility Well established in the machine
`construction art and not bearing upon points of novelty are
`omitted in the interest of descriptive clarity and ef?ciency.
`Such details may include threaded connections, lockrings,
`shear pins, Weld lines and the like. The spreading use of
`electron beam Welding eliminates many such features and
`leaves no visible distinctive lines. These types of details
`Which are Well knoWn in the art may be necessary to the
`overall function of the invention, but are matters of design
`er’s choice, are not claimed and, hence, not shoWn.
`FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present
`invention, adjustable socket 1. Adjustable socket 1 is shoWn
`detached from a conventional socket 5 of socket Wrench 2.
`Conventional socket 5 engages a socket spur 7 as is Well
`knoWn in the art. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 and as also
`explained in greater detail beloW, a bolt head 26 is ?xed on
`adjustable socket 1 such that torque may be transferred from
`conventional socket 5 to adjustable socket 1. While
`explained in greater detail herein, it generally can be seen in
`FIG. 1 hoW adjustable socket 1 operates by matingly engag
`ing hexagonal head 61 of conventional bolt 60 Within the
`gripping region 14. While the adjustable socket 1 is shoWn
`engaging a conventional bolt head, adjustable socket 1 is
`also designed to engage the bolt nut that connects to the
`threaded end of a conventional bolt. Where adjustable socket
`1 is described herein as engaging a bolt head, it Will be
`understood that the same description applies to bolt nuts or
`any other type of polygonal fastening device.
`The various components comprising adjustable socket 1
`are better seen in FIGS. 2—6. FIG. 2 illustrates hoW this
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`3
`embodiment of adjustable socket 1 is formed by a base plate
`3 and a collar plate 4. Collar plate 4 has a central opening
`12 formed by a plurality of internal sideWalls 8. The
`embodiment shoWn in the ?gures comprises six internal
`sideWalls 8 Which form a hexagonal central opening 12. The
`sideWalls 8 Will extend above the exterior surface 46 of
`collar plate 4 in order to form guide ridges 28. The interior
`surface (hidden from vieW in FIG. 2) of collar plate 4 Will
`also have a collar shoulder 24, Which matingly engages a
`perimeter Wall 23 de?ning a recess 22 Within base plate 3.
`While the embodiment illustrated in the ?gures provides six
`sideWalls 8, the scope of the invention includes any number
`of sideWalls 8 Which Will alloW adjustable socket 1 to
`function as intended. For example, alternate embodiments of
`the invention might comprise three or four sideWalls 8. The
`four sideWall 8 embodiment may be particularly suited for
`four-sided bolt heads.
`Positioned Within central opening 12 are a plurality of
`gripping members 6, Which are identi?ed individually in
`FIG. 3 as gripping members 6a—6f. While the illustrated
`embodiment provides six gripping members 6, the invention
`includes Within its scope adjustable sockets having a differ
`ent number of gripping members 6. Again such alternatives
`may include three or four gripping members 6 or any other
`number of gripping members 6 that alloW the invention to
`function as intended. HoWever, When dealing With a hex
`agonal bolt head, six gripping members 6 are preferred in
`order that torque Will be equally distributed to all sides of the
`bolt head. The structural details of the individual gripping
`members 6 are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6. Gripping
`members 6 have a ?rst end 9 Which is adapted to engage one
`of the internal sideWalls 8 of collar plate 4. This adaptation
`consists of shaping end 9 (best seen in FIG. 2) at an angle
`that Will maintain gripping members 6 parallel to an adjacent
`sideWall 8 and the sideWall 8 opposite the adjacent sideWall
`8 such as seen in FIG. 3. For example, gripping member 6a
`is oriented parallel to sideWalls 8b and 86. Since the corner
`angles 0t of the equilateral hexagon are 120°, gripping
`members 6 Will be oriented at an angle of [3, Which is 60° in
`the illustrated embodiment, in order to maintain them in
`parallel alignment With tWo sideWalls 8. As explained beloW,
`this Will maintain the gripping members 6 in the desired
`polygonal con?guration as they open and close. As seen in
`FIGS. 2 and 6, gripping members 6 Will further have a ?nger
`30 extending beyond end 9 With a channel 31 formed
`therein. Channel 31 Will be formed at the same angle as end
`9 and thus Will run parallel to end 9 as illustrated by FIG. 3.
`When gripping members 6 are positioned in central opening
`12, ?ngers 30, by Way of channel 31, Will slidably engage
`guide ridge 28 and assist in maintaining gripping members
`6 in the correct orientation While they move Within central
`opening 12 as described beloW. To aid in understanding the
`movement of gripping members 6 in central opening 12,
`reference is made to a hypothetical center point in central
`opening 12, center point 29.
`VieWing FIG. 3, each gripping member 6 Will further have
`a contacting surface 13 Which provides the surface of
`gripping members 6 actually engaging the bold head. The
`area of central opening 12 Which is surrounded by the
`contact surfaces 13 Will form a gripping region 14, Which as
`discussed beloW, Will be adjustable in order to ?t various
`siZes of bolt heads.
`Returning to FIG. 2, it can be seen that gripping members
`6 have a second end 10 Which is adapted to slidingly engage
`adjacent gripping members 6 as suggested in FIG. 3. Similar
`to the ?rst end 9, this adaptation is carried out by forming an
`angle on second end 10 such that gripping members 6 Will
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`from an angle y When engaging adjacent gripping members
`6. Like angle [3, angle y is 60° in the illustrated embodiment.
`The angles formed on ?rst end 9 and second end 10 Will
`maintain gripping members 6 in the orientation previously
`mentioned Where gripping members 6 remain parallel to an
`adjacent sideWall 8 and the sideWall 8 opposite the adjacent
`sideWall 8, as the gripping members move toWard and aWay
`from the center point 29. As seen in FIG. 6, each gripping
`member 6 Will also have a connecting shaft 16 ?xed to a
`bottom side 48 of gripping member 6. In the embodiment
`shoW, connecting shaft 16 has a threaded end 17. VieWing
`FIG. 2, it can be seen hoW gripping members 6 are secured
`Within collar plate 4 and hoW base plate 3 and collar plate 4
`are secured together by ?ngers 30 engaging guide ridge 28.
`A series of apertures 20 are formed through the thickness of
`base plate 3. Connecting shafts 16 Will pass through aper
`tures 20 such that threaded ends 17 may receive a nut 18 in
`order to hold gripping members 6 Within central opening 12.
`With ?ngers 30 engaging guide ridge 28 and connecting
`shaft 16 being secured to base plate 3, collar plate 4 may
`rotate relative to base plate 3, but is otherWise securely
`attached thereto. In the embodiment shoWn, apertures 20 are
`formed in a someWhat elliptical shape. This elliptically
`shape aperture 20 alloWs for some lateral movement of
`connecting shafts 16 during operation of adjustable socket 1,
`the signi?cance of Which Will be explained beloW. As seen
`in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, base plate 3 Will also have a Wrench
`connector 25 ?xed to the exterior surface 49 (seen in FIG.
`5) of base plate 3. As best seen in FIG. 2, Wrench connector
`25 comprises a convention bolt 27 With polygonal bolt head
`26. While the embodiment shoWn in the ?gures illustrates a
`conventional bolt 27 threadedly engaging base plate 3, any
`conventional means of ?xing a Wrench connector 25 to base
`plate 3 is intended to come Within the scope of this inven
`tion. Nor is it necessary that Wrench connector 25 be limited
`to external bolts heads. Rather connector 25 could also be an
`internal polygonal aperture for receiving the socket spur 7 of
`Wrench 2 (seen in FIG. 1).
`In operation, gripping members 6 Will close (i.e. move
`toWard center point 29) or open (i.e. move toWard sideWalls
`8) by the relative rotation betWeen base plate 3 and collar
`plate 4. VieWing FIG. 3, it Will be seen that movement of
`base plate 3 in a clockWise direction While collar plate 4 is
`held stationary Will cause gripping members 6 to open or to
`move toWard their respective adjacent sideWalls 8. For
`example, gripping member 6a Will move toWard sideWall
`8b, gripping member 6b Will move toWard sideWall 8c, and
`so on With all the gripping members 6. When adjustable
`socket 1 is in its fully open position as seen in FIG. 8,
`gripping members 6 Will rest against their respective parallel
`sideWalls 8. The point at Which connecting shafts 16 meet
`gripping members 6 Will rest in the intercies of the angle
`formed by (1) the sideWall 8 on Which the gripping member
`6 travels and (2) the parallel sideWall 8 against Which the
`gripping member 6 rests. For example, connecting shaft 16
`on gripping member 6a Will rest in the intercies of sideWalls
`8a and 8b as seen in FIG. 8.
`Conversely, When it is desired to close the gripping
`members 6, movement of base plate 3 in a counterclockWise
`direction While holding collar plate 4 stationary Will cause
`gripping members 6 to move toWard the center point 29.
`Because of the angles formed on the ends 9 and 10 of
`gripping members 6, gripping members 6 remain parallel to
`an their adjacent parallel sideWalls 8 the entire time they are
`closing. If there is no bolt head for gripping members 6 to
`engage, they Will reach a completely closed position and the
`ends 10 of gripping members 6 Will meet at center point 29
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`as seen in FIG. 9. In this completely closed position, the
`connecting shafts 16 Will then rest in the intercies of the
`angle formed by the sidewall 8 on Which the gripping
`member 6 travels and the non-parallel adjacent sideWall 8.
`For example, in the completely closed position as shoWn in
`FIG. 9, the connecting shaft 16 of gripping member 6a
`Would rest at the intercies of sideWalls 8a and 8f. Of course,
`the directions of relative rotation just described are based on
`the direction adjustable socket 1 is shoWn facing in FIG. 3.
`Those skilled in the art Will understand that relative to the
`direction adjustable socket 1 is facing in FIG. 5, the direc
`tions of rotation Would be the opposite. It Will also be
`understood that the directions of rotation Would be opposite
`if base plate 3 Were held stationary and collar plate 4 rotated
`rather than the reverse situation described above.
`Furthermore it can noW be seen Why apertures 20 are
`elliptical in shape. As gripping member 6 travels along
`sideWall 8, connecting shaft 16 has a slight radial movement
`toWard and aWay from the center point 29. When connecting
`shaft 16 is in an intercies betWeen tWo sideWalls 8, connect
`ing shaft 16 is at its furthest distance from the center point
`29. As gripping members 6 travel toWard the midpoint of
`sideWalls 8, they and connecting shafts 16 move radially
`toWard the center point 29. After passing the midpoint of
`sideWalls 8, gripping members 6 once again radially move
`aWay from the center point 29 as they approach the opposite
`intercies betWeen sideWalls 8. The elliptical shape of aper
`ture 20 is intended to accommodate this radial movement.
`It Will be understood that When gripping members 6 of
`adjustable socket 1 are closed on a bolt head, collar plate 4
`and base plate 3 can no longer rotate relative to one another.
`This is because the bold head prevents gripping members 6
`from moving closer to center point 29 and sliding any further
`along sideWalls 8. When base plate 3 is further rotated,
`gripping members 6, being Wedged against sideWalls 8, Will
`force a simultaneous rotation of collar plate 4. Therefore
`torque applied to Wrench connector 25 Will cause gripping
`members 6 to apply more closing force on the bolt head
`While the torque is simultaneously transferred to the bolt
`head. In the embodiment shoWn, the direction of torque
`Which closes gripping members 6 is the direction of torque
`that Would tighten a bolt head (i.e., cause a bolt head to
`engage a threaded surface). For ease of explanation, the
`direction of torque tightening a bolt head Will be referred to
`as “positive” torque. HoWever, the direction of torque
`required to loosen a bolt head (i.e disengage a threaded
`surface), or “negative” torque, Would only cause gripping
`members 6 to open and therefore gripping members 6 could
`not simultaneously grip a bolt head and apply negative
`torque. Therefore adjustable socket 1 must be modi?ed to
`hold gripping members 6 closed on the bolt head While
`negative torque is applied.
`One such modi?cation is seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 and
`comprises a stop member 35 included on the adjustable
`socket 1. In the embodiment shoWn, stop member 35 is a
`cam member 37 having a cam lobe 38, a cam release arm 39,
`and a cam pin 40. A cam slot 42 Will be formed in base plate
`3 as seen in FIG. 5. Cam slot 42 communicates through base
`plate 3 as seen in FIG. 2 and is siZed to alloW cam lobe 38
`of cam member 37 to contact the shoulder 24 of collar plate
`4 as seen in FIG. 4. Cam member 35 Will be pivotally pined
`to base plate 3 by cam pin 40 and a cam release arm 39 Will
`extend from cam member 35 opposite cam lobe 38. Cam pin
`40 is positioned betWeen cam lobe 38 and cam release arm
`39 such that manually raising release arm 39 Will cause cam
`lobe 38 to loWer and engage shoulder 24 of collar plate 4.
`Conversely, depressing cam release arm 39 Will raise cam
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`lobe 38 out of contact With collar plate 4. Cam lobe 38 Will
`have a cam surface 41 Which is adapted to prevent relative
`rotation betWeen base plate 3 and collar plate 4 in a
`particular direction When release arm 39 is raised and cam
`lobe 38 engages shoulder 24. In the embodiment shoWn,
`cam surface 41 prevents relative rotation Which Would tend
`to open gripping members 6 When negative torque is
`applied. When relative rotation of collar plate 4 is urged in
`the negative torque direction, cam member 37 tends to rotate
`forWard, pressing base plate 3 and collar plate 4 apart. This
`separating force acts to couple collar plate 4 and base plate
`3 together, preventing relative rotation. The curvature of
`cam surface 41 is such that any relative rotation in the
`negative torque direction tends to draW cam surface 41
`further into collar plate 4 and create even greater resistance
`to relative rotation. In this manner, adjustable socket 1 may
`be placed on a bolt head to be loosened and the gripping
`arms closed to the siZe of the bolt head. Then torque is
`applied in the negative torque direction causing cam mem
`ber 37 to engage collar plate 4 and prevent relative rotation
`that Would tend to open gripping members 6. After the bolt
`head has been loosened the desired amount, the torque
`application is ceased and cam release arm 39 is depressed,
`raising cam surface 41 out of contact With collar plate 4.
`An alternative embodiment of adjustable socket 1 could
`be formed by reversing the direction of relative rotation
`Which causes gripping members 6 to open and close. In other
`Words, negative torque Would close gripping members 6
`While positive torque Would open them. VieWing FIG. 3, it
`can be seen that gripping members 6 are rotated to the left
`in order to form the angle [3 betWeen each gripping member
`6 and the sideWall 8 upon Which it travels. As explained
`above, this causes gripping members 6 to close When a
`positive torque is applied. HoWever, if the positioning of
`gripping members 6 Was reversed as seen in FIG. 10 such
`that all gripping members 6 Were rotated to their right in
`order to form the angle [3 betWeen the gripping members 6
`and sideWalls 8, then the direction of relative rotation that
`causes closing Would also be reversed. In this con?guration,
`a negative direction of torque Would cause gripping mem
`bers 6 to close. Therefore a bolt head could be loosened
`Without the need for the any type of stop device 35. Of
`course, this embodiment could not tighten the bolt head
`Without a stop device 35. In this embodiment, it is envi
`sioned that as an alternative to a stop device 35, the user
`Would carry tWo adjustable sockets 1. The ?rst adjustable
`socket 1 Would close gripping members 6 When torque Was
`applied in the positive direction and Would be used for
`tightening bolt heads. The second adjustable socket 1 Would
`close gripping members 6 When torque Was applied in the
`negative direction and Would be used for loosening bolt
`heads. In this manner it Would be unnecessary to manufac
`ture adjustable sockets 1 With stop devices 35.
`Another embodiment combines the tWo adjustable sock
`ets 1 described immediately above. This embodiment, seen
`in FIG. 7, adapts tWo adjustable sockets 1 having opposite
`directions of rotation such that they may be ?xed in a back
`to back con?guration With base plates 3 being connected
`together. Double socket con?guration 52 differs from pre
`vious embodiments in that it counter-sinks the nuts 18 that
`Will secure gripping members 6 to their respective base
`plates 3. Furthermore, double socket con?guration 52 does
`not utiliZe an external Wrench connector 25 as seen in the
`embodiment of FIGS. 1—5. Rather a center aperture 54
`communicates completely through the thickness of both
`base plates 3. At the center of the combined base plates 3 is
`formed an internal Wrench connector 56 Which Will be
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`accessible form either side. In the embodiment shown,
`internal Wrench connector 56 comprises a polygonal aper
`ture adapted to receive a convention socket spur 7 as seen in
`FIG. 1. HoWever, it is envisioned that a conventional
`extended socket spur 58 Will be used to engage internal
`Wrench connector 56. When using double socket con?gu
`ration 52, one side of the combined tool is placed on the bolt
`head depending on Whether the bolt head is to be tightened
`or loosened. Extended socket spur 58 is then inserted
`through center aperture 54 from the other side until it
`engages internal Wrench connector 56. Thereafter, double
`socket con?guration 52 is used as described for the other
`embodiments.
`
`Although the present invention has been described in
`terms of speci?c embodiments, it is anticipated that alter
`ations and modi?cations thereof Will no doubt become
`apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended
`that the folloWing claims be interpreted as covering all such
`alterations and modi?cations as fall Within the true spirit and
`scope of the invention.
`We claim:
`1. An adjustable socket for a socket Wrench, said adjust
`able socket comprising:
`
`a. a base plate;
`b. a collar plate rotatably attached to said base plate and
`having a central opening formed by a plurality of
`internal sideWalls;
`c. a plurality of gripping members movably positioned in
`said central opening,
`i. each of said gripping members having a contacting
`surface Which cumulatively de?ne a gripping region,
`and
`ii. each of said gripping members being connected to
`said base plate and having a ?rst end adapted to
`engage one of said internal sideWalls and a second
`end adapted to engage another one of said plurality
`of gripping members such that relative rotation of
`said base plate and said collar plate causes said ?rst
`ends to slide along said internal sideWalls and said
`second ends to slide along another gripping member
`thereby adjusting an area Within said gripping
`region.
`2. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein each of said gripping members are rotatively con
`nected to said base plate by Way of a shaft connected to said
`gripping member and extending through an aperture in said
`base plate.
`3. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 2,
`Wherein said apertures are elliptical in shape.
`4. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein said base plate has an interior surface and a recess
`de?ned by said interior surface.
`5. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 4,
`Wherein said collar plate has an interior surface With a
`shoulder formed thereon, said shoulder being formed to
`engage said recess formed in said base plate.
`6. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein an exterior surface of said base plate has a Wrench
`connector attached thereto.
`7. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 6,
`Wherein said Wrench connector is a polygonal bolt head.
`8. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein said side Walls extend above an exterior surface of
`said collar plate to form guide ridges.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`9. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 8,
`Wherein said gripping members have ?ngers extending
`beyond said sideWalls and channels formed in said ?ngers
`and adapted to slidably engage said guide ridges.
`10. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein a stop member is removably positioned on said
`adjustable socket in order to prevent relative rotation
`betWeen said base plate and collar plate.
`11. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 10,
`Wherein said stop member prevents relative rotation in one
`direction only.
`12. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein each of said gripping members are rotatively con
`nected to said base plate by Way of a shaft connected to said
`gripping member and extending through an aperture in said
`base plate.
`13. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein an outer perimeter of said base plate is substantially
`coextensive With an outer perimeter of said collar plate.
`14. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 1,
`Wherein a second adjustable Wrench socket is connected to
`said base plate.
`15. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 14,
`Wherein the orientation of said gripping members is reversed
`as betWeen said adjustable Wrench sockets.
`16. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 14,
`Wherein said adjustable Wrench sockets have a aperture
`communicating therethrough and a Wrench connector posi
`tioned inside said aperture.
`17. A socket Wrench, comprising:
`a. a base, operatively connected to a rotatable drive shaft;
`b. a collar, rotatably mounted to said base along an axis
`aligned With said drive shaft, said collar having an
`upper surface and a loWer surface, said upper surface
`including:
`i. a central recess having a bottom and a plurality of
`equal length side Walls;
`ii. a plurality of upWardly extending ridge members,
`said ridge members being equal in number to said
`side Walls, and aligned With said side Walls;
`c. a plurality of movable gripping members, rotatably
`disposed Within said base and in slidable engagement
`With said ridge members, said gripping members
`extending into said central recess to de?ne a gripping
`region; Wherein said gripping members are caused to
`adjust said gripping region upon rotation of said collar
`in a ?rst rotational direction, and caused to expand said
`gripping region upon rotation of said collar in an
`opposite rotational direction.
`18. An adjustable socket for a socket Wrench, said adjust
`able socket comprising:
`a. a base plate;
`b. a collar plate rotatably attached to said base plate and
`having a central opening formed by a plurality of
`internal sideWalls;
`c. a guide formed along each of said plurality of internal
`sideWalls; and
`d. a plurality of gripping members movably positioned in
`said central opening,
`i. each of said gripping members having a contacting
`surface Which cumulatively de?ne a gripping region,
`and
`ii. each of said gripping members being connected to
`said base plate and having:
`(1) a ?rst end engaging one of said internal sideWalls
`and moving slidably in said guide; and
`
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`5,918,511
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`(2) a second end adapted to engage another one of
`said plurality of gripping members Whereby rela
`tive rotation of said base plate and said collar plate
`causes said ?rst ends to slide along said internal
`sideWalls and said second ends to slide along
`another gripping member thereby adjusting an
`area Within said gripping region.
`19. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 18,
`Wherein an exterior surface of said base plate has a Wrench
`connector attached thereto.
`
`10
`20. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 19,
`Wherein said guides are extensions of said side Walls extend
`ing above an exterior surface of said collar plate to form
`ridges.
`21. An adjustable Wrench socket according to claim 20,
`Wherein said gripping members have ?ngers extending
`beyond said sideWalls With channels formed therein to
`slidably engage said ridg