Patent Application
20150000475
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a hand tool. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a hand tool that adapts a first size of socket to fit a second size of socket, as well as provide an extension for an impact driver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Impact socket adapters are well known in the art, and are commonly used to provide an extension for an impact driver. Socket adapters include a shank with two ends. The first end includes a male socket head, and the second end includes a female socket head. The shank may be of various lengths and can serve as an extension between the two types of sockets when it is hard for an impact driver to reach a particular fastener. Both the male and female socket heads are typically sized the same. For example, a ½ inch socket adapter would include a ½ inch female socket head and a ½ inch male socket head.
At times, when using an impact driver with a certain size of socket, it may be desired to use an extension as well as change to a socket of a different size. In such instances, it is necessary to locate the different size of socket, replace the existing socket on the impact driver, and then add an adapter to the newly added socket. In order to be more efficient, there is a need for a tool that may provide an adapter that will provide both an extension and convert the socket to a different size of socket in one tool.
The present invention generally relates to a tool that includes a shaft, a first head at a first end of the shaft, the first head comprising a female socket of a first size, and a second head at a second end of the shaft, the second head comprising a male socket of a second size. The first size and the second size are different from one another.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention relates to a hand tool that serves as an adapter to an impact driver. More specifically, the tool of the present invention converts a socket of one size to a socket of a different size as well as provides an extension between the impact driver and a fastener.
The tool 10 of the present invention includes a shank 20, a first head 30 located at one end of the shank 20 and a second head 40 located at a second end of the shank 20. The first head 30 or the second head 40 may be integral with the shank 20. Alternatively, the first head 30 or the second head 40 may be removable from the shank 20. The first head 30 comprises a first socket of a first size, and may be a female socket. The second head 40 comprises a second socket of a second size and may be a male socket. The first size and second size are different from one another. For example, in
In use, the second head 40 (male) of the tool 10 is simply coupled to a female socket already in position on the impact driver. Because the first head 30 and second head 40 are different, and the shank 20 provides an extension, the impact driver is provided with both a different size socket, and an extension, by using one tool 10, instead of having to switch out both the socket and the adapter to achieve the same results.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
