Power driven wrench retention device

In a tool for driving socket members having an engagement opening defined by walls with a shank having a driven end and a driving end, engageable with the wall so said engagement opening for rotation therewith, comprising;

• the driving end having locking structure with axially displaceable locking means slidably carried on the shank and transversely displaceable securement means extending through said driven end from said locking means to the wall opposed therefrom;
• and
• said socket member having a retainer recess;
• and
• said securement means selectively engaging said retainer recess b y projecting engagement to lock the socket to the shank and disengaging by retracting disengagement to release the socket from the shank;
• and
• said locking means comprising a control bar;
• said control bar having manual gripping means for movement thereof,
• said control bar further having locking surface means engaging said securement means and socket wall engagement means engaging a wall of said socket in a locked position;
• and
• said control bar having a release surface merging into said locking surface for progressive disengagement of said securement means as said locking means are moved to a release position;
• and
• limiting means maintaining said control bar in a finite range of radial movement;
• and
• shoulder means disposed on the surface of said shank;
• and
• spring engagement means being disposed on said gripping means distal from the release surface;
• and
• an axial spring being carried on said shank disposed between said shoulder means and said spring engagement means to maintain said locking means in a locked position until operatively released;
• and
• said securement means comprising transverse carriage means having surface means and projection limiting means projectedly carrying said securement means;
• and
• said securement means having first bearing means in releasable engagement with the locking surface of said locking means;
• and
• said securement means having second bearing means and retraction means,
• pin means with projecting means and second bearing means thrustedly disposed between first bearing means and retraction means;
• and
• said retraction means being expandably disposed between said second bearing means and said limiting means;
• whereby, said projecting means is radially outwardly extended with the assembly is in a locked position and retracted when the assembly is in a released position.

A socket wrench tool comprising a shank having driven means at one end for attachment to operating means and mounting means on the other end for mounting and retaining a wrench socket having walls defining a securement opening and a pin engagement aperture in a wall for locking the socket to the shank,

• said mounting means comprising self-retracting detent means mounted on the shank for movement between an extended position extending into said aperture and a retracted position withdrawn from the aperture,
• means for biasing said detent means to said retracted position,
• said mounting means comprising locking means on the shaft movable between locking and unlocking positions with respect to said detent means;
• said locking means operative in the locking position to move said detent means to its extended position against the resistance of said biasing means and operative in the unlocking position to release said detent means to retract with the assistance of said biasing means to its retracted position with respect to the aperture.