Patent Application
20140020227
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to socket assemblies, and more particularly, to a socket assembly for attaching a fastener to a receiving structure.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Connectors (e.g., Bayonet Neill-Concelman “BNC” connectors, etc.) and fasteners (e.g., nuts, etc.) are known and used in many different applications. Threading a fastener onto a connector can be difficult and time consuming because the fastener and connector are relatively small. In one approach, assemblers use their hands and/or pliers to pick up and install the fasteners onto the connectors. This operation can be inefficient, tedious, and slow. In another approach, assemblers use standard socket assemblies to thread fasteners onto the connectors. The standard socket assemblies were also difficult to use and time consuming, as the standard socket assemblies were too large to accommodate for the relatively small fasteners. The fastener often became misaligned on the connector, leading to cross-threading. It would be useful to provide a socket assembly that can relatively easily pick up a fastener and thread the fastener onto a connector with minimal risk of misalignment, cross-threading, etc.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In accordance with one aspect, a socket assembly for attaching a fastener to a receiving structure is provided. The socket assembly includes a body portion defining a receiving space. The socket assembly further includes a gripping structure attached to the body portion. The gripping structure movably supports the fastener within the receiving space. The socket assembly further includes an alignment structure for axially aligning the body portion and the receiving structure.
In accordance with another aspect, a socket assembly for attaching a fastener to a receiving structure is provided. The socket assembly includes a body portion defining a receiving space. The socket assembly further includes a gripping structure movably supported by the body portion. The gripping structure is movable between a closed position and an opened position in which an end of the gripping structure is radially spaced away from the receiving space. The gripping structure supports the fastener within the receiving space.
In accordance with another aspect, a method of attaching a fastener to a receiving structure is provided. The method includes the step of gripping the fastener with a socket assembly. The method further includes the step of axially aligning the socket assembly and the receiving structure by displacing an alignment structure of the socket assembly axially in a first direction as the socket assembly moves towards the receiving structure in an opposing second direction. The method also includes the step of releasing the fastener from the socket assembly onto the receiving structure.
The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the present invention are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the present invention. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Still further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements.
Turning to the specific example shown in
The attachment apparatus 10 further includes the fastener 14. As will be described in more detail below, the socket assembly 20 can support (e.g., grip, hold, etc.) the fastener 14. The fastener 14 is somewhat generically/schematically depicted herein, and could include any number of structures. For example, the fastener 14 could include nuts, bolts, etc. In further examples, the fastener 14 is threaded, such as internally threaded. In the shown examples, the fastener 14 can include a hex nut, such as an internally threaded 9/16″ hex nut. The fastener 14 is not limited to such a size or shape, however.
The attachment apparatus 10 further includes the receiving structure 16. The receiving structure 16 is somewhat generically/schematically depicted in
Referring now to
The socket assembly 20 includes a shank portion 24. The shank portion 24 forms the portion of the socket assembly 20 that is held by the drill 12. In one example, the shank portion 24 is received by the drill 12, such that the drill 12 can hold and rotate the socket assembly 20. The shank portion 24 can be held by a chuck (not shown) of the drill 12. In the shown example, the shank portion 24 includes a hex shape, though any number of sizes and shapes are envisioned, including a variety of polygonal shapes. As such, drill 12 can grip and rotate the shank portion 24, thus causing the socket assembly 20 to rotate about its longitudinal central axis. The shank portion 24 can also be selectively removed from the drill 12.
The socket assembly 20 can further include an end portion 28. The end portion 28 is attached to the shank portion 24. In particular, the shank portion 24 extends along the longitudinal central axis in a direction away from the end portion 28. In the shown example, the end portion 28 includes a substantially cylindrical shape, though other shapes are envisioned (e.g., square, oval, etc.). The end portion 28 can be integrally formed with the shank portion 24 (i.e., one piece formed) or, in further examples, could be fixed to the shank portion 24.
The socket assembly 20 can further include an arrangement portion 32. The arrangement portion 32 is attached to the end portion 28. The arrangement portion 32 extends along the longitudinal central axis in a direction away from the end portion 28. In the shown example, the arrangement portion 32 extends away from the end portion 28 on an opposite side from the shank portion 24. As such, the arrangement portion 32 is positioned on a first side of the end portion 28 while the shank portion 24 is positioned on an opposing second side of the end portion 28. The arrangement portion 32 can include a substantially cylindrically shaped structure, though other shapes are envisioned (e.g., square shaped cross-section, oval shaped cross-section, etc.). The arrangement portion 32 can be integrally formed with the end portion 28 (i.e., one piece formed) or, in further examples, could be attached to the end portion 28. In a fully assembled state, the arrangement portion 32 extends axially within the socket assembly 20.
The socket assembly 20 can further include at least one biasing device. The at least one biasing device includes an alignment biasing device 36. The alignment biasing device 36, includes a compression spring that wraps around the arrangement portion 32 and extends axially along the arrangement portion 32. The alignment biasing device 36 can extend a longer or shorter distance than as shown, and may include a varying elasticity range (e.g., stiff, flexible, etc.). The alignment biasing device 36 engages and contacts the end portion 28 at one end of the alignment biasing device 36. Accordingly, as the alignment biasing device 36 is compressed, the alignment biasing device 36 contacts the end portion 28 and is limited from further axial translation.
The at least one biasing device of the socket assembly 20 can further include a grip biasing device 40 for providing a biasing force within the socket assembly 20. The grip biasing device 40 includes a number of elastic biasing devices, including, but not limited to, compression springs, axially extending springs, spring pins, etc. In the shown example, the grip biasing device 40 includes a compressible spring pin. The grip biasing device 40 can extend axially along a direction that is generally parallel to the arrangement portion 32. In one example, the grip biasing device 40 is spaced apart a distance from the arrangement portion 32 such that the alignment biasing device 36 is positioned at least partially between the grip biasing device 40 and the arrangement portion 32. It is to be appreciated that in further examples, the grip biasing device 40 can extend a longer or shorter distance than as shown.
Referring still to
The body portion 44 further defines a receiving space 54. The receiving space 54 is positioned at the first end 46 of the body portion 44 opposite from the end portion 28. The receiving space 54 defines a substantially hollow, open space for receiving the fastener 14. In particular, the receiving space 54 extends axially from the first end 46 of the body portion 44 into an interior of the body portion 44. In the shown example, the receiving space 54 has a generally hexagonal shape that matches the hexagonal shape of the fastener 14. In the shown example, the receiving space 54 can receive the fastener 14 and, due to the matching shapes, limit rotation of the fastener 14 with respect to the receiving space 54. Of course, in further examples, other shapes are envisioned that can match the shape of the fastener 14 (e.g., receiving space 54 having a square shaped cross-section, oval shaped cross-section, etc.). The receiving space 54 can have slightly larger dimensions than the fastener 14, such that the fastener 14 can be received by and held within the receiving space 54. In one example, the receiving space 54 has an axial depth that is slightly less than an axial depth of the fastener 14, such that the fastener 14 can protrude at least partially from the first end 46 of the body portion 44 and out of the receiving space 54.
The socket assembly 20 further includes a gripping structure 58. The gripping structure 58 is attached to the body portion 44 of the socket assembly 20. In particular, the gripping structure 58 can be received within a slot 61 that extends axially along an outer surface of the body portion 44. In the shown example, the gripping structure 58 extends axially along the body portion 44 from the first end 46 to the second end 48 and defines an outer surface of the body portion 44. In further examples, however, the gripping structure 58 can extend a shorter distance than as shown, such as by not extending completely to the second end 48.
The gripping structure 58 is movably attached to the body portion 44 such that the gripping structure 58 moves or pivots with respect to the body portion 44. The gripping structure 58 can be attached to the body portion 44 in any number of ways. In the shown example, the gripping structure 58 can include a hinge pin 60 for attaching the gripping structure 58 to the body portion 44. The hinge pin 60 can extend through the body portion 44 and through the gripping structure 58. The hinge pin 60 can, for example, pass through a first hinge opening 62 formed in the body portion 44 and a second hinge opening 63 in the gripping structure 58. The hinge pin 60 can therefore extend in a direction that is generally transverse to the direction along which the body portion 44 and gripping structure 58 extend. It is to be appreciated that the gripping structure 58 is not limited to being movably attached to the body portion 44 with the hinge pin 60, and in further examples, could be attached in any number of ways, such as with other mechanical fasteners, snap fit means, etc.
The gripping structure 58 contacts and engages the grip biasing device 40. In one example, an end of the grip biasing device 40 contacts the gripping structure 58. The gripping structure 58 can therefore be biased to a closed or gripping position by the grip biasing device 40. The gripping structure 58 can be moved so as to overcome the elasticity of the grip biasing device 40, however. As such, the gripping structure 58 can be moved to an opened or non-gripping position while still remaining biased towards the closed position.
The gripping structure 58 can further include a tapered end portion 64. The tapered end portion 64 is disposed at an end of the gripping structure 58 that is adjacent the first end 46 of the body portion 44. The tapered end portion 64 can extend at least partially into the receiving space 54. As such, when the fastener 14 is positioned within the receiving space 54, the tapered end portion 64 can engage and grip the fastener 14, thus reducing the likelihood of the fastener 14 inadvertently being removed from the receiving space 54 and the longitudinal central axis. In addition, since the tapered end portion 64 gradually reduces in thickness towards the end of the gripping structure 58, the tapered end portion 64 can engage the fastener 14, whereupon the fastener 14 can move the end of the gripping structure 58 radially outwardly (i.e., in a direction away from the longitudinal central axis of the receiving space 54).
Referring still to
The alignment structure 70 includes an alignment opening 76. The alignment opening 76 is an elongated slot that extends axially through the alignment structure 70 from the first end 72 to the second end 74. The alignment opening 76 can have a generally circular cross-sectional shape, though other shapes are envisioned. The alignment opening 76 has a cross-sectional width (e.g., diameter in the shown example) that is slightly larger than a cross-sectional width (e.g., diameter) of the arrangement portion 32. Accordingly, in a fully assembled state, the alignment opening 76 can receive at least a portion of the arrangement portion 32 therewithin, such that the alignment structure 70 and arrangement portion 32 are coaxial. The alignment opening 76 allows the alignment structure 70 to translate axially along the arrangement portion 32. The alignment structure 70 can translate in a direction towards and away from the end portion 28. In addition, the alignment structure 70 can have an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the receiving structure 16. As such, the alignment structure 70 can be received and held within the receiving structure 16 such that the alignment structure 70 and receiving structure 16 are coaxially aligned.
The alignment structure 70 can engage the alignment biasing device 36. In particular, the second end 74 of the alignment structure 70 contacts and engages the alignment biasing device 36 as the alignment opening 76 receives the arrangement portion 32. The alignment biasing device 36 biases the alignment structure 70 to an extended position. However, the alignment structure 70 can translate along the arrangement portion 32, with the alignment biasing device 36 compressing and continuing to bias the alignment structure 70 towards the extended position.
The alignment structure 70 is movably attached with respect to the body portion 44. In particular, the alignment structure 70 can move (e.g., translate) with respect to the body portion 44. In the shown example, the alignment structure 70 includes an alignment screw 80. The alignment screw 80 can extend radially into the alignment structure 70. The alignment structure 70 can include a screw opening 82 for receiving the alignment screw 80. The screw opening 82 can receive the alignment screw 80, such that the alignment screw 80 protrudes at least partially into and out of the screw opening 82. In one example, the alignment screw 80 and screw opening 82 can each be threaded, such that a threading attachment between the alignment screw 80 and screw opening 82 can be achieved. However, the alignment screw 80 need not be limited to a threading attachment, and could be attached with respect to the alignment structure 70 in any number of ways.
The alignment screw 80 can protrude from the screw opening 82 and be received by an alignment slot 84 formed in the body portion 44. In one example, the alignment slot 84 extends through the body portion 44 from the internal bore 50 to an outer surface of the body portion 44. The alignment slot 84 extends axially along the body portion 44. As such, the alignment slot 84 can receive the alignment screw 80 and allow for axial translation of the alignment structure 70 with respect to the body portion 44. The alignment screw 80 can therefore translate within the alignment slot 84. It is to be appreciated that the alignment slot 84 can include one or more alignment slots. For example, the alignment slot 84 can include one alignment slot positioned to extend along the body portion 44. In another example, the alignment slot 84 can include a plurality of alignment slots, such as by having one alignment slot positioned on one side of the body portion 44 and another alignment slot positioned on an opposing side of the body portion 44.
Referring now to
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By providing the socket assembly 20 with the alignment structure 70, the socket assembly 20 can be axially aligned with the receiving structure 16. Accordingly, the risk of cross-threading the fastener 14 onto the threaded portion 18 is thereby reduced. Further, the socket assembly 20 can grip and hold the fastener 14 by the non-magnetic means of the gripping structure 58. Since the fasteners 14 can be relatively small, the socket assembly 20 reduces the need for a user to manually pick up the fasteners 14 with his/her fingers and/or with pliers.
The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Example embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.
