Patent Application
20250042000
The present invention relates to a hand tool and, more particularly, to an engaging structure for a hand tool.
A conventional socket structure was disclosed in the applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 10,596,685, and comprises a mounting portion 11 and multiple curved recesses 14. The mounting portion 11 is used for mounting an object 30. The object 30 has multiple corners 31 situated in the curved recesses 14. Thus, when the object 30 is rotated by the mounting portion 11, the curved recesses 14 will not wear the corners 31. However, the mounting portion 11 is only used for mounting the object 30 with a metric specification and is not available for a workpiece with a British specification, thereby limiting the versatility of the conventional socket structure.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an engaging structure for a hand tool, comprising a main body. The main body has a mounting element. The mounting element includes multiple first recessed portions, multiple second recessed portions, and multiple locking sides. Each of the first recessed portions is provided with two grooves. Each of the second recessed portions is provided with a first curved face. Each of the locking sides has a planar shape. Each of the locking sides is arranged between two of the second recessed portions. Each of the first recessed portions is formed on one of the locking sides. The locking sides construct a first hexagon. The first hexagon has a center provided with a central axis. The first hexagon has six side faces. Each of the six side faces coincide with each of the locking sides.
According to the primary advantages of the present invention, the mounting element is provided with the second recessed portions, so that the mounting element is used for mounting and receiving the first screw member, the second screw member, and the third screw member with three different specifications, thereby enhancing the versatility of the main body.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The mounting element 11 includes multiple first recessed portions 13, multiple second recessed portions 14, and multiple locking sides 15. The first recessed portions 13, the second recessed portions 14, and the locking sides 15 are arranged alternately and annularly. Preferably, the mounting element 11 includes six first recessed portions 13, six second recessed portions 14, and six locking sides 15.
Each of the first recessed portions 13 is provided with two grooves 131. Each of the two grooves 131 has a triangular shape or an equilateral triangular shape. The two grooves 131 are arranged in a linear shape and are connected without a distance therebetween. A first guide corner 132 is defined between the two grooves 131. The first guide corner 132 has a round (or chamfer or fillet or curved or arcuate) shape. A first angle 133 is defined between two sides of each of the two grooves 131. The first angle 133 is equal or close to sixty degrees (60°) or equal or close to ninety degrees (90°). Each of the two grooves 131 has a bottom provided with a second guide corner 134. Thus, each of the first recessed portions 13 has two second guide corners 134, and the first guide corner 132 is arranged between the two second guide corners 134. The second guide corner 134 has a round (or chamfer or fillet or curved or arcuate) shape. The second guide corner 134 has a dimension (or size) equal or close to that of the first guide corner 132. Each of the first recessed portions 13 has two ends each provided with a third guide corner 135. The third guide corner 135 has a round (or chamfer or fillet or curved or arcuate) shape. The third guide corner 135 has a dimension (or size) equal or close to that of the first guide corner 132. At least one of the first recessed portions 13 is arranged between two of the second recessed portions 14.
Each of the second recessed portions 14 is provided with a first curved face 141. The first curved face 141 has an arcuate shape. The first curved face 141 has a single radius.
Each of the locking sides 15 has a planar shape. Each of the locking sides 15 is arranged between two of the second recessed portions 14. Each of the first recessed portions 13 is formed on one of the locking sides 15. Each of the locking sides 15 includes one of the first recessed portions 13. Two of the second recessed portions 14 are arranged on two ends of each of the locking sides 15. Each of the locking sides 15 is arranged between the first curved face 141 of one of the second recessed portions 14 and the first curved face 141 of another one of the second recessed portions 14. Each of the locking sides 15 is not tangent to the first curved face 141 of each of the second recessed portions 14. A round guide corner is defined between each of the locking sides 15 and the first curved face 141 of each of the second recessed portions 14 to smoothly connect each of the locking sides 15 with the first curved face 141 of each of the second recessed portions 14.
Each of the locking sides 15 has a length defining a first length 16. A second length 17 is defined by each of the first recessed portions 13 together with two third guide corners 135 at the two ends thereof. The second length 17 is less than or close to one half of the first length 16. A height 171 is defined by a maximum height between each of the two grooves 131 and one of the locking sides 15. Thus, the height 171 is defined between the second guide corner 134 of each of the two grooves 131 and one of the locking sides 15. The first curved face 141 has two ends forming an expanding angle relative to an axis of the main body 10 and defining a second angle 18. The second angle 18 is less than or close to thirty degrees (30°) or less than or close to twenty five degrees (25°).
The locking sides 15 construct a first hexagon 20. The first hexagon 20 has a center provided with a central axis 21. The first hexagon 20 has six side faces 22. Each of the six side faces 22 coincide with each of the locking sides 15. Each of the six side faces 22 has a length defining a third length 23. The first length 16 is 0.5 times to 0.6 times of the third length 23. The central axis 21 is provided with a vertical line 24. The vertical line 24 passes through a center of circle of the first guide corner 132. A fourth length 25 is defined between two of the six side faces 22. The height 171 is 0.03 times to 0.04 times of the fourth length 25. Alternatively, the height 171 is 0.03 times to 0.35 times of the fourth length 25.
The first hexagon 20 has an inscribed circle 26. The central axis 21 is served as an axis of the inscribed circle 26. The inscribed circle 26 is tangent to each of the six side faces 22. The inscribed circle 26 has a diameter equal to the fourth length 25.
The central axis 21 is served as an axis of a second hexagon 27. The second hexagon 27 is smaller than the first hexagon 20. The second hexagon 27 has six side lines parallel with the six side faces 22 respectively. The second hexagon 27 has six angled corners 28. Each of the six angled corners 28 is served as a center of circle of the first curved face 141 of one of the second recessed portions 14. Each of the six angled corners 28 is close to or coincides with the inscribed circle 26. Thus, the first recessed portions 13, the second recessed portions 14, and the locking sides 15 of the mounting element 11 construct a structure that is similar to a star-shaped structure disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,667. In addition, the second recessed portions 14 are similar to the lobes 18 shown in FIG. 3 of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,667.
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Accordingly, the engaging structure for a hand tool has the following advantages.
1. Referring to
2. The six first angled corners 32 of the first screw member 30 are respectively disposed in the second recessed portions 14 of the mounting element 11, the six second angled corners 42 of the second screw member 40 are respectively disposed in the second recessed portions 14 of the mounting element 11, and the six protruding ribs 51 of the third screw member 50 are respectively received in the second recessed portions 14 of the mounting element 11, so that the mounting element 11 is used for mounting the first screw member 30, the second screw member 40, and the third screw member 50.
3. Each of the second recessed portions 14 is provided with the first curved face 141 and the second angle 18, so that the second recessed portions 14 are allowed to receive the six protruding ribs 51. Thus, the main body 10 can be used to rotate the third screw member 50.
4. Referring to
5. The mounting element 11 is provided with the locking sides 15 so that the main body 10 has a structure similar to that of a conventional engaging structure with a hexagonal recess.
6. Each of the six angled corners 28 is served as a center of circle of the first curved face 141 of one of the second recessed portions 14, so that the six protruding ribs 51 of the third screw member 50 are respectively received in the second recessed portions 14 of the mounting element 11. Thus, the mounting element 11 can be used to mount the third screw member 50.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.
