Patent Application
20140060263
The present invention generally relates to hand tools, and especially relates to a fitting assembly for a hand tool with enhanced snapping capability and operation smoothness.
There are various types of hand tools for different operation requirements. Whether it is a manual, pneumatic, or electrical hand tool, in order to reach a fastener in a deep or tiny place, the hand tool usually requires an extender. Additionally, the hand tool usually has interchangeable heads or sockets so as to turn different sized bolts and other fasteners. As illustrated in
When torque is applied to the recess 11 or the fitting member 15, the lack of stability of the conventional fitting assembly causes imbalance to the distribution of the torque. This phenomenon is especially significant for pneumatic or electrical hand tools.
According to R.O.C Taiwan Patent No. M390204 as shown in
The interaction between the steel balls 28 and 29 involves force transmission and engagement direction that are perpendicular to each other. This would affect the snapping reliability and operation smoothness, causing inconveniency in connection and detachment. In addition, the fitting member 25 requires machinery in both axial direction and radial direction, adding the difficulty in manufacturing and assembly and the manufacturing cost.
As such, the present inventor has provided a novel fitting assembly to obviate the shortcomings such as the lack of snapping capability, operation difficulty, and high manufacturing cost, etc. of the prior teachings.
Therefore, a major objective of the present invention is provides a fitting assembly for a hand tool with enhanced snapping capability, operation smoothness, and reduced manufacturing cost.
To achieve the objective, the fitting assembly contains a body and one end of the body has a fitting member.
The fitting member has a through channel along a radial direction connecting two opposing sides of the fitting member. Two steel balls and a conical spring between the steel balls are housed in the through channel.
By simultaneously compressing the both ends of the conical spring through the steel balls on the fitting member, and as the smaller rings of the conical spring are squeezed into the larger rings to effectively reduce the length of the compressed conical spring and to align the steel balls' engagement direction and the axial direction of the conical spring, the fitting assembly provides enhanced snapping capability, operation smoothness in connection and detachment, and reduced manufacturing cost of the hand tool.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
As shown in
The fitting member 55 has a through channel 56 along a radial direction connecting two opposing sides of the fitting member 55. Two steel balls 571 and 572, and a conical spring 58 between the steel balls are housed in the through channel 56. The two ends of the through channel 56 are configured with edges 561 and 562, respectively, so that the steel balls 571 and 572 are slightly exposed out of the two ends of the through channel 56 without falling out. The conical spring 58 could be one that its two ends are of larger but different diameters and the middle is of a smaller diameter (as shown in
Therefore, by simultaneously compressing the both ends of the conical spring 58 through the steel balls 571 and 572 on the fitting member 55, and as the smaller rings of the conical spring 58 are squeezed into the larger rings to effectively reduce the length of the compressed conical spring 58, the fitting assembly of the present invention provides enhanced snapping capability, operation smoothness, and reduced manufacturing cost of the hand tool.
The operation of the fitting assembly of the present invention is as follows. As shown in
Additionally, as the steel balls 571 and 572 move along the same axis where the conical spring 58 expands and shrinks, the length of the compressed conical spring 58 is effectively reduced, and the fitting member 55's joining with a socket is smooth with enhanced snapping capability, thereby increasing the value and performance of the hand tool.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
