Claims
- 1. A locking drive tool comprising:
a body, a lock member carried by the body for movement between a locking position extending from the body and a release position, an actuator member carried by the body for movement between a locking condition projecting from the body and a releasing condition, and coupling structure carried by the body and interconnecting the lock member and the actuator member, the coupling structure being responsive to movement of the actuator member in a predetermined direction from the locking condition to the releasing condition to effect a corresponding movement of the lock member from its locking position to its release position substantially in the predetermined direction.
- 2. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling structure is substantially rigid.
- 3. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the lock member is coupled to the coupling structure for tiltable movement relative thereto.
- 4. The drive tool of claim 3 and further comprising a first latch surface on the body and a second latch surface on the lock member, the lock member being tiltable from a normal rest configuration for engaging the second latch surface with the first latch surface to prevent movement of the lock member to its release position.
- 5. The drive tool of claim 4, wherein the lock member has a cam surface thereon engagable with an associated coupling tool during attempted removal thereof from the body removing the second latch surface into engagement with the first latch surface.
- 6. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the lock member has a cam surface thereon engageable with an associated coupling tool during mounting thereof on the body for moving the lock member to its release position.
- 7. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling structure includes an elongated bar having a first clevis at one end thereof for receiving the lock member and a second clevis at another end thereof for receiving the actuator member.
- 8. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling structure is fixedly secured to the actuator member.
- 9. The drive tool of claim 8, wherein actuator member has an aperture therein, the coupling structure being received in the aperture.
- 10. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the locking member has an aperture therein, the coupling structure being received through the aperture.
- 11. The drive tool of claim 1, and further comprising bias structure engageable with the coupling structure for resiliently biasing the coupling structure to a normal rest position relative to the lock member.
- 12. The drive tool of claim 1, and further comprising bias structure resiliently urging the actuator member to its locking condition.
- 13. The drive tool of claim 1, wherein the drive tool is an extension for a socket wrench.
- 14. A locking drive tool comprising:
a body, a lock member carried by the body for movement between a locking position extending from the body and a release position, an actuator member carried by the body for movement between a locking condition projecting from the body and a releasing condition, and flexible and resilient coupling structure carried by the body and interconnecting the lock member and the actuator member, the coupling structure being responsive to movement of the actuator member from its locking condition to its releasing condition for resiliently flexing to cause movement of the lock member from its locking position to its release position.
- 15. The drive tool of claim 14, and further comprising mounting structure mounting the lock member on the body for pivotal movement relative thereto.
- 16. The drive tool of claim 15, wherein the mounting structure includes a pivot member defining a pivot axis which is fixed relative to the body.
- 17. The drive tool of claim 16, wherein the lock member includes a tang extending therefrom and the coupling structure includes a notch receiving the tang therein.
- 18. The drive tool of claim 14, and further comprising a bias structure engageable with the lock member for resiliently urging the lock member toward its locking position.
- 19. The drive tool of claim 18, wherein the bias structure is carried by the coupling structure.
- 20. The drive tool of claim 14, and further comprising bias structure resiliently urging the actuator member to its locking condition.
- 21. A method of operating a locking drive tool between locking and releasing conditions comprising:
providing a lock member movable between locking and release positions and an actuator member movable between locking and releasing conditions, and interconnecting the lock member and the actuator member so that movement of the actuator member in a predetermined direction results in a corresponding movement of the lock member substantially in the predetermined direction.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the interconnecting includes providing a rigid coupling structure for effecting the interconnecting.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the interconnecting includes providing a flexible and resilient coupling structure for effecting the interconnecting.
- 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the interconnecting includes providing an interconnection between the coupling structure and the lock member which accommodates tilting movement of the lock member relative to the coupling structure.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of copending U.S. provisional application No. 60/318,247, filed Sep. 10, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60318247 |
Sep 2001 |
US |