Ball socket driver bit

• US 6,729,211 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Department of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Snow, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/314,484
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 811/777.5, 814/40, 814/60
• US Class Current: 81/177.75
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0028 Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/20 one coupling part entering a sleeve of the other coupling part and connected thereto by sliding or rolling members F16D3/18, F16D3/24 take precedence

Abstract

A ball socket driver bit that includes a ball portion and a shank portion. The ball portion has a ball portion cross section; the ball portion cross section perpendicular to the bit axis is hexagonal. The shank portion has a cross section smaller than the ball portion, and ag first shank portion end and a second shank portion end. The first shank portion end is axially attached to the ball portion, the second shank portion end is adapted to axially enter a socket head screw. The ball portion is adapted to enter a socket such that when turning the socket the socket head screw can be turned when the socket axis is not axially aligned with the screw axis.

Claims

1. A ball socket driver bit, the ball socket driver bit having a bit axis, the ball socket driver bit comprising:

(a) a ball portion, the ball portion having a ball portion cross section, the ball portion cross section perpendicular to the bit axis being hexagonal, wherein the ball portion further comprises a flattened cap and a rounded ball portion body, the flattened cap having a side portion, the rounded ball portion body having a first rounded ball portion body end and a second rounded ball portion body end, the flattened cap axially attached to the first rounded ball portion body end, the side portion outwardly sloping toward the first rounded ball portion body end;

(b) a shank portion, the shank portion having a cross section smaller than the ball portion, the shank portion having a first shank portion end and a second shank portion end, the second rounded ball portion body end axially attached to the first shank portion end, the second shank portion end adapted to axially enter a socket head screw, the socket head screw having a screw axis, the ball portion adapted to enter a socket having a socket axis such that when turning the socket the socket head screw can be turned when the socket axis is not axially aligned with the screw axis.

2. The ball socket driver bit of claim 1, wherein the rounded ball portion begins to slope outwardly from the flattened cap and at a terminal point begins to slope inward toward the shank portion.

3. The ball socket driver bit of claim 2, wherein the shank portion having a cross section that corresponds to a screw selected from the group consisting of a Torx, a star, a two pin, a square, a spline, a cross recess (Phillips), a tri-wing, a socket, hexagonal, or combination type.

4. The ball socket driver bit of claim 3, wherein the ball portion is magnetized.

5. The ball socket driver bit of claim 3, wherein the shank portion is magnetized.

6. The ball socket driver bit of claim 3, wherein the ball socket driver bit is magnetized.

7. A ball socket driver bit, the ball socket driver bit having a bit axis, the ball socket driver bit comprising:

(a) a ball portion, the ball portion having a ball portion cross section, the ball portion cross section perpendicular to the bit axis being hexagonal, the ball portion comprising a flattened cap and a rounded ball portion body, the flattened cap having a side portion, the rounded ball portion body having a first rounded ball portion body end and a second rounded ball portion body end, the flattened cap axially attached to the first rounded ball portion body end, the side portion outwardly sloping toward the first rounded ball portion body end;

(b) a shank portion, the shank portion having a hexagonal cross section smaller than the ball portion, the shank portion having a first shank portion end and a second shank portion end, the second rounded ball portion body end axially attached to the first shank portion end, the rounded ball portion begins to slope outwardly from the flattened cap and at a terminal point begins to slope inward toward the shank portion, the second shank portion end adapted to axially enter a socket head screw, the socket head screw having a screw axis, the ball portion adapted to enter a socket with a socket axis such that when turning the socket the socket head screw can be turned when the socket axis is not axially aligned with the screw axis, the ball socket driver bit further being magnetized.

8. The ball socket driver bit of claim 7, wherein the ball socket driver bit is manufactured from steel.

9. The ball socket driver bit of claim 8, wherein the ball socket driver bit is solid.

10. The ball socket driver bit of claim 9, wherein the ball socket driver includes a surface, the surface being treated to provide a hard and wearing surface.