Socket hand grip device

• US 6,427,564 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willie J. Nelson
• Original Assignee: Willie J. Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Willie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/785,136
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 811/771, 811/772
• US Class Current: 81/177.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/105 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners B25G1/102, B25G1/125 take precedence

Abstract

A socket hand grip device for providing torque on a socket. The socket hand grip device includes a hand grip having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral side extending between the top and bottom sides. The hand grip has a hole therein extending through the top and bottom sides. The hole is generally positioned along an axis of the hand grip and has a generally rectangular shape such that the hole has four inner side walls. A coupling member removably couples one of the sockets to the hand grip. The coupling member includes a first portion for extending into the hole. The first portion has a generally rectangular cross-section such that the first portion may be extended into the bottom side of the hand grip. A middle portion is integrally coupled to an end of the first portion. A second portion for extending into an opening of a socket is integrally coupled to the middle portion and is generally coaxial with the first portion.

Claims

1. A handle system for engaging a plurality of sockets, the sockets each having an opening therein having a generally rectangular shape and having inner surface walls with depressions therein, said system comprising:

a hand grip, said hand grip having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral side extending between said top and bottom sides, said hand grip having a hole therein, said hole extending through said top and bottom sides, said hole being generally positioned along an axis of said hand grip, said hole having a generally rectangular shape such that said hole has four inner side walls;

a coupling member for removably coupling one of said sockets to said hand grip, said coupling member comprising;

a first portion for extending into said hole, said first portion having a generally rectangular cross-section such that said first portion may be positioned in said hole, wherein said first portion is extendable into said bottom side of said hand grip; and

a middle portion integrally coupled to an end of said first portion, wherein said middle portion of said coupling member comprises a plate, said plate having a peripheral wall having a hexagonal cross-section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said first portion and said second portion;

a second portion for extending into an opening in one of the sockets, said second portion being integrally coupled to said middle portion and being generally coaxial with said first portion, said second portion having a generally rectangular cross-section such that said second portion may be positioned in one of said sockets.

2. The handle system as in claim 1, wherein a protruding member being integrally coupled to and extending away from said bottom side, said protruding member having a generally hexagonal cross-section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said top and bottom sides, said hole extending through said protruding member.

3. The handle system as in claim 1, wherein:

one of said inner side walls having a pair of depressions therein positioned such that one depression is located generally adjacent to said top and bottom sides; and

a detent being positioned in and being outwardly biased from an outer surface of said first portion, wherein said first portion is extendable into said bottom side of said hand grip such that said detent may be positioned in one of said depressions to removably couple said first portion to said hand grip.

4. The handle system as in claim 1, wherein said top side has a width greater than said bottom side, said top side having a width generally between 3 inches and 6 inches.

5. The handle system as in claim 4, wherein said peripheral wall has a plurality of elongated channels therein generally extending from said top side to said bottom side.

6. The handle system as in claim 5, wherein said hand grip has a generally circular shaped cross section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said top and bottom sides.

7. The handle system as in claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall has a plurality of elongated channels therein generally extending from said top side to said bottom side.

8. The handle system as in claim 7, wherein said hand grip has a generally circular shaped cross section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said top and bottom sides.

9. The handle system as in claim 1, wherein a detent being positioned in and outwardly biased from an outer surface of said second portion, wherein said second portion is extendable into said socket such that said detent in said second portion may be positioned in one of said depressions in said socket to removably couple said second portion to said socket.

10. The handle system as in claim 7, further including:

a plurality of coupling members, wherein there is a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a third coupling member, said first coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ½

inch, said second coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ⅜

inch, said third coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ¼

inch.

11. The handle system as in claim 1, further including:

a torque bar for applying torque to said hand grip, said torque bar comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said elongated member having a bend therein positioned nearer said first end than said second end, said bend being substantially equal to 90 degrees, said first end having a size and shape generally equal to said first portion of said coupling members for extending into said hole, said first end of said torque bar having a generally rectangular cross-section to be positioned in said hole. in said hand grip, wherein said first end is extendable into said top side of said hand grip.

12. The handle system as in claim 11, wherein said second end has a generally rectangular cross-section such that said second end of said torque bar may be positioned in one of said sockets.

13. The handle system as in claim 3, further including:

a torque bar for applying torque to said hand grip, said torque bar comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said elongated member having a bend therein positioned nearer said first end than said second end, said bend being substantially equal to 90 degrees, said first end having a size and shape generally equal to said first portion of said coupling members for extending into said hole, said first end of said torque bar having a generally rectangular cross-section to be positioned in said hole in said hand grip, a first detent being positioned in and outwardly biased from an outer surface of said torque bar and positioned generally adjacent to said first end, wherein said first end is extendable into said top side of said hand grip such that said first detent in said torque bar may be positioned in one of said depressions to removably couple said torque bar to said hand grip.

14. A handle system for engaging a plurality of sockets, the sockets each having an opening therein having a generally rectangular shape and having inner surface walls with depressions therein, said system comprising:

a hand grip, said hand grip having a top side, a bottom side and a peripheral side extending between said top and bottom sides, a protruding member being integrally coupled to and extending away from said bottom side, said protruding member having a generally hexagonal cross-section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said top and bottom sides, said hand grip having a hole therein, said hole extending through said top and bottom sides and through said protruding member, said hole being generally positioned along an axis of said hand grip, said hole having a generally rectangular shape such that said hole has four inner side walls, each of said inner side walls having a pair of depressions therein positioned such that each of said side walls has one depression located generally adjacent to said top and bottom sides, said top side having a width greater than said bottom side, said top side having a width generally between 3 inches and 6 inches, said peripheral wall having a plurality of elongated channels therein generally extending from said top side to said bottom side, said hand grip having a generally circular shaped cross section taken perpendicular to said line extending through said top and bottom sides;

a plurality of coupling members for removably coupling one of said sockets to said hand grip, each of said coupling members comprising;

a first portion for extending into said hole, said first portion having a generally rectangular cross-section such that said first portion may be positioned in said hole, a detent being positioned in and biased outwardly from an outer surface of said first portion, wherein said first portion is extendable into said bottom side of said hand grip such that said detent may be positioned in one of said depressions to removably couple said first portion to said hand grip;

a middle portion comprising a plate integrally coupled to an end of said first portion, wherein said middle portion of said coupling member comprises a plate, said plate having a peripheral wall having a hexagonal cross-section taken perpendicular to a line extending through said first portion and said second portion, said plate having a width and shape generally identical to said protruding member;

a second portion for extending into an opening in one of the sockets, said second portion being integrally coupled to said middle portion and being generally coaxial with said first portion, said second portion having a generally rectangular cross-section such that said second portion may be positioned in said socket, a detent being positioned in and outwardly biased from an outer surface of said second portion, wherein said second portion is extendable into said socket such that said detent in said second portion may be positioned in one of said depressions in said socket to removably couple said second portion to said socket;

wherein there is a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a third coupling member, said first coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ½

inch, said second coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ⅜

inch, said third coupling member having a second portion having a width substantially equal to ¼

inch; and

a torque bar for applying torque to said hand grip, said torque bar comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said elongated member having a bend therein positioned nearer said first end than said second end, said bend being substantially equal to 90 degrees, said first end having a size and shape generally equal to said first portion of said coupling members for extending into said hole, said first end of said torque bar having a generally rectangular cross-section to be positioned in said hole in said hand grip, a first detent being positioned in and outwardly biased from an outer surface of said torque bar and positioned generally adjacent to said first end, wherein said first end is extendable into said top side of said hand grip such that said first detent in said torque bar may be positioned in one of said depressions to removably couple said torque bar to said hand grip, said second end having a generally rectangular cross-section such that said second end of said torque bar may be positioned in one of said sockets, a second detent being positioned in and outwardly biased from an outer surface of said torque bar and positioned generally adjacent to said second end, wherein said second end is extendable into said socket such that said second detent may be positioned in one of said depressions in said socket to removably couple said second end to said socket.