Right angle wrench socket wrench adaptor

• US 6,382,057 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Dynamics
• Original Assignee: Charles F. Kienholz
• Inventors: Kienholz, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/219,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 811/772, 814/36, 811/771, 279/9.1, 279/91, 279/93
• US Class Current: 81/177.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/00 Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers bolt tensioners B25B29/02

Abstract

An adapter for adapting a right-angle wrench, such as an Allen wrench, to a socket wrench or ratchet handle is disclosed. The adapter comprises an upper adapter housing, a lower adapter housing which receives the upper adapter housing, and an insert portion insertable in the lower adapter housing. The upper adapter housing has a rectangular recessed socket opening at a top end and a lower externally threaded portion toward a bottom end. The lower externally threaded portion defines a transverse channel with an upper bearing surface for accommodating handle portions of the right-angle wrenches. The upper bearing surface may be configured with an angular taper. The lower adapter housing has an axial hole at a bottom end and an externally threaded portion towards a top end which receives the lower externally threaded portion. Right-angle wrenches are snugly accommodated in the axial hole of the lower adapter housing by the insert portion.

Claims

1. An adapter for adapting right-angle wrenches to socket wrenches comprising:

an upper adapter housing having a rectangular recessed socket opening at a top end and a lower externally threaded portion toward a bottom end, the lower externally threaded portion defining a transverse channel with an angular taper for accommodating handle portions of the right-angle wrenches;

a lower adapter housing having an axial hole therethrough and an upper internally threaded portion toward a top end, which upper internally threaded portion receives the lower externally threaded portion; and

an insert portion, insertable into the lower adapter housing, for snugly accommodating a lower shaft portion of the right-angle wrench in the axial hole of the lower adapter housing.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the upper adapter housing is substantially cylindrical.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the transverse channel comprises two substantially parallel channel surfaces extending from the bottom end of the upper adapter housing toward the angular taper.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the angular taper comprises two taper surfaces, wherein each taper surface joins one of the channel surfaces.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the two taper surfaces are angled at about 60°

from each other.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lower adapter housing is substantially cylindrical.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the upper internally threaded portion begins at a distance from the top end of the lower adapter housing.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lower adapter housing has an internal radial seat portion adjacent the bottom end, for engaging the insert portion.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the upper internally threaded portion ends at a distance spaced from the internal radial seat portion.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the lower adapter housing has an external taper at the bottom end through which the axial hole is formed.

11. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the top end of the lower adapter housing has a substantially flat bearing surface around a periphery of the lower adapter housing for engaging a surface of the right-angle wrench when the adapter is assembled.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the insert portion comprises a substantially tubular portion.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the insert portion further comprises an extended portion at a top end for abutting the lower adapter housing, and a tapered section at a bottom end.

14. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the insert portion has an external diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the axial hole in the lower adapter housing.

15. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the insert portion has an internal diameter to snugly accommodate the particular right-angle wrench.

16. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the right-angle wrench is a hexagonal wrench.

17. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said lower shaft portion of the right-angle wrench has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

19. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the right-angle wrench comprises a ball ended wrench.

18. An adapter for adapting right-angle wrenches to socket wrenches comprising:

an upper adapter housing having a rectangular recessed socket opening at a top end and a lower externally threaded portion toward a bottom end, the lower externally threaded portion defining a transverse channel with an upper bearing surface for accommodating handle portions of the right-angle wrenches, the transverse channel comprising two substantially parallel channel surfaces extending from the bottom end of the upper adapter housing toward the upper bearing surface;

a lower adapter housing having an axial hole at a bottom end and an upper internally threaded portion toward a top end, which upper internally threaded portion receives the lower externally threaded portion, wherein the top end of the lower adapter housing has a substantially flat surface around a periphery of the lower adapter housing for engaging a surface of the right-angle wrench when the adapter is assembled; and

an insert portion, insertable into the lower adapter housing, for snugly accommodating the right-angle wrenches in the axial hole of the lower adapter housing, wherein the insert portion further comprises an extended shoulder at a top end for abutting the lower adapter housing.