Lockable socket insert, insert tool and insert lock and method of making and using the same

A method of making a tool/lockable socket insert assembly and insert lock, comprising:

• forming a tool/lockable socket insert assembly including a socket insert having an insert axis, a cylindrical tool body comprising a free end, a shaft end, and a tool bore extending inwardly from the free end, and a cylindrical key shaft attached to the shaft end comprising a length, a shaft surface, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced key members disposed along the length and protruding radially outwardly away from the shaft surface, the cylindrical tool body, tool bore, and cylindrical key shaft concentric about the insert axis, the tool/lockable socket insert assembly also including a socket tool having a regular polygon-shaped tool body and attached to the socket insert;
• forming a cylindrical insert lock comprising an outer end configured for disposition toward a fastener pocket of a socket, a drive pocket end configured for disposition toward a drive pocket, an outer surface, and a keyway opening;
• and
• forming a socket including a regular polygon-shaped fastener pocket structured to receive the socket tool body therein in a slidable nested mating engagement,
• wherein the socket insert is rotatable so that the key members of the plurality of key members are insertable into the keyway opening, and wherein the socket tool is attached to the socket insert such that the socket tool body is not insertable into the fastener pocket when the key members are rotated so as to be insertable into the keyway opening.

A method of using a lockable socket insert and insert lock, comprising:

• forming a lockable socket insert comprising an insert axis, a cylindrical tool body comprising a free end, a shaft end, and a tool bore extending inwardly from the free end, and a cylindrical key shaft attached to the shaft end comprising a length, a shaft surface, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced key members disposed along the length and protruding radially outwardly away from the shaft surface, the cylindrical tool body, tool bore, and cylindrical key shaft concentric about the insert axis;
• forming a cylindrical insert lock comprising an outer end configured for disposition toward a fastener pocket of a socket, a drive pocket end configured for disposition toward a drive pocket of the socket, an outer surface, and a keyway opening;
• forming a socket tool comprising a regular polygon-shaped tool body comprising an outward end, an inward end, a plurality of flat tool sides, a corresponding plurality of angular tool corners, and a tool disposed on the outward end, and an attachment shaft disposed on the inward end, the attachment shaft configured for fixed engagement in the tool bore, wherein the regular polygon-shaped tool body is configured for slidable nested mating engagement within the regular polygon-shaped fastener pocket;
• attaching the socket tool to the lockable socket insert by fixing the attachment shaft within the tool bore;
• disposing the cylindrical insert lock within the socket, the socket comprising a socket axis, a fastener end, a drive end, a regular polygon-shaped fastener pocket having a pocket center disposed on the socket axis and comprising a plurality of flat pocket sides and a corresponding plurality of angular pocket corners extending from the fastener end to a base, and a socket bore that extends from the base to a drive pocket disposed in the drive end, the cylindrical lock insert disposed in the socket bore with the outer surface in an interference condition in the socket bore with the drive pocket end located at a predetermined depth from the base;
• and
• inserting socket tool and lockable socket insert into the socket with the cylindrical tool body inserted into the polygonal-shaped fastener pocket and engagement in the socket bore and the cylindrical key shaft and circumferentially spaced key members in slidable mating engagement as a key in and for passage through the keyway opening, wherein when the cylindrical lock insert is disposed in the socket bore and when the key is disposed in the keyway opening, the plurality of angular tool corners of the tool body are offset from the plurality of angular pocket corners of the regular polygon-shaped fastener pocket by an offset angle, and wherein the regular polygon-shaped tool body may not be inserted into the regular polygon-shaped fastener pocket of the socket.