Socket devices and methods of use
AssigneeThe Reaction Washer Company LLC
InventorJohn D. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A socket assembly may include a fastener socket and a contact member. The contact member may extend through a window formed in the fastener socket in a first direction to engage a fastener head and lock the socket assembly to the fastener head in a locked position. The contact member may also retract at least partially into the window in a second direction to disengage the contact member from the fastener head and unlock the socket assembly from the fastener head in an unlocked position. A threaded actuator may be rotated to transform the socket assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. The contact member may comprise a tang having first and second tang projections configured to engage first and second surfaces of the fastener head and lock the socket assembly to the fastener head.
Claims15
A socket assembly comprising:
- a fastener socket configured to receive a fastener head therein, the fastener socket comprising a window formed through a side of the fastener socket;
- and
- a tang comprising:
- a first tang projection configured to engage a first surface of the fastener head adjacent a first edge of the fastener head;
- and
- a second tang projection configured to engage a second surface of the fastener head, the first edge of the fastener head intermediate the first surface of the fastener head and the second surface of the fastener head,
- the tang defining a tang recess intermediate the first tang projection and the second tang projection, the tang recess configured to receive the first edge of the fastener head as the first tang projection engages the first surface of the fastener head and the second tang projection engages the second surface of the fastener head;
- wherein:
- in a locked position, the tang extends through the window in a first direction to engage the first surface of the fastener head with the first tang projection and engage the second surface of the fastener head with the second tang projection to lock the socket assembly to the fastener head;
- and
- in an unlocked position, the tang is retracted at least partially into the window in a second direction to disengage the first tang projection from the first surface of the fastener head and disengage the second tang projection from the second surface of the fastener head to unlock the socket assembly from the fastener head.
A socket assembly comprising:
- a fastener socket configured to receive a fastener head therein, the fastener socket comprising a window formed through a side of the fastener socket;
- a contact member configured to engage the fastener head;
- and
- a threaded actuator that is configured to be rotated to transform the socket assembly between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- wherein:
- in the locked position, the contact member extends through the window in a first direction to engage the fastener head and lock the socket assembly to the fastener head;
- and
- in the unlocked position, the contact member is retracted at least partially into the window in a second direction to disengage the contact member from the fastener head and unlock the socket assembly from the fastener head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.