Socket adaptor

A socket adaptor comprising:

• a body configured to be received within a drive socket receptacle of an impact socket;
• a receptacle defined by the body and configured to receive an anvil of an impact tool therein;
• and
• at least one hole defined by the body and configured to be alignable with a corresponding hole in the anvil and a corresponding hole in the impact socket, where by at least a portion of a keeper is insertable through the aligned holes of the impact socket, the socket adaptor, and the anvil for retaining the impact socket to the anvil of the impact tool;
• wherein the socket adaptor includes a flange or shoulder along an upper portion of the socket adaptor;
• wherein the socket adaptor includes one or more tapered, chamfered, and/or angled inner surfaces that define an inner transition from the flange or shoulder into the receptacle of the socket adaptor, whereby the inner transition is configured to facilitate insertion of the anvil of the impact tool into the receptacle of the socket adaptor;
• wherein the inner transition defines an angle relative to the body of the socket adaptor within a range from about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees.

A socket adaptor comprising:

• a body configured to be received within a drive socket receptacle of an impact socket;
• a receptacle defined by the body and configured to receive an anvil of an impact tool therein;
• and
• at least one hole defined by the body and configured to be alignable with a corresponding hole in the anvil and a corresponding hole in the impact socket, whereby at least a portion of a keeper is insertable through the aligned holes of the impact socket, the socket adaptor, and the anvil for retaining the impact socket to the anvil of the impact tool;
• wherein the socket adaptor includes a flange or shoulder along an upper portion of the socket adaptor;
• wherein the socket adaptor includes one or more tapered, chamfered, and/or angled outer surfaces that define an outer transition from the flange or shoulder to the body of the socket adaptor, whereby the outer transition is configured to facilitate insertion of the body of the socket adaptor into the drive socket receptacle of the impact socket;
• and
• wherein the outer transition defines an angle relative to the body of the socket adaptor within a range from about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees.

A socket adaptor comprising:

• a body configured to be received within a drive socket receptacle of an impact socket;
• a receptacle defined by the body and configured to receive an anvil of an impact tool therein;
• and
• at least one hole defined by the body and configured to be alignable with a corresponding hole in the anvil and a corresponding hole in the impact socket, whereby at least a portion of a keeper is insertable through the aligned holes of the impact socket, the socket adaptor, and the anvil for retaining the impact socket to the anvil of the impact tool;
• wherein the socket adaptor includes:
• a flange or shoulder along an upper portion of the socket adaptor;
• one or more tapered, chamfered, and/or angled inner surfaces that define an inner transition from the flange or shoulder into the receptacle of the socket adaptor;
• and
• one or more tapered, chamfered, and/or angled outer surfaces that define an outer transition from the flange or shoulder to the body of the socket adaptor;
• wherein:
• the inner transition defines an angle relative to the body of the socket adaptor within a range from about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees;
• and/or
• the outer transition defines an angle relative to the body of the socket adaptor within a range from about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees.

A socket adaptor comprising:

• a body configured to be received within a drive socket receptacle of an impact socket;
• a receptacle defined by the body and configured to receive an anvil of an impact tool therein;
• and
• at least one hole defined by the body and configured to be alignable with a corresponding hole in the anvil and a corresponding hole in the impact socket, whereby at least a portion of a keeper is insertable through the aligned holes of the impact socket, the socket adaptor, and the anvil for retaining the impact socket to the anvil of the impact tool;
• wherein the socket adaptor is usable with each of a first impact socket including a first sloped surface defining a first angle into a first socket receptacle of the first impact socket, a second impact socket including a second sloped surface defining a second angle, different than the first angle, into a second socket receptacle of the second impact socket, and a third impact socket including a third sloped surface defining a third angle, different than the first and second angles, into a third socket receptacle of the third impact socket.

A method of retaining an impact socket to an anvil of an impact tool, the method comprising:

• positioning a socket adaptor relative to a drive socket receptacle of the impact socket and an anvil of the impact tool such that:
• a body of the socket adaptor is received within the drive socket receptacle of the impact socket;
• the anvil of the impact tool is received within a receptacle defined by the body of the socket adaptor;
• and
• at least one hole defined by the body of the socket adaptor is aligned with a corresponding hole in the anvil and a corresponding hole in the impact socket;
• and
• inserting at least a portion of a keeper through the aligned holes of the impact socket, the socket adaptor, and the anvil for retaining the impact socket to the anvil of the impact tool;
• wherein the body of the socket adaptor includes four sidewalls defining a generally square shape with outside rounded corners, the four sidewalls having inner surfaces that define the receptacle to have a generally square shape with inside rounded corners.