Retainer ring for securely retaining a first object to a second object

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6691593
  • Patent Number
    6,691,593
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 8, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 17, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Meislin; D. S.
    Agents
    • Kamrath; Alan
    • Rider Bennett, LLP
Abstract
A retainer ring includes at least two holding sections and at least one engaging section. Each holding section has a radius of curvature equal to half of a diameter of a reduced section of a first object, e.g., an adaptor. The engaging section has a radius of curvature greater than that of the holding sections. The holding sections securely clamp the reduced section of the first object with the engaging section partially protruding out of the reduced section of the first object for engaging with a second object e.g., a box end of a wrench.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a retainer ring for securely retaining a first object, e.g., an adaptor or a bit, to a second object, e.g., a box end of a wrench or a shank of a screwdriver.




2. Description of the Related Art





FIG. 12A

of the drawings illustrates a conventional retainer ring


1


engaged in an annular groove


3


of an object


2


, e.g., an adaptor. After mounting on the object


2


, the retainer ring


1


could move to a position shown in

FIG. 12B

under the action of gravity. This is because there is no means for securely retaining retainer ring


1


in the annular groove


3


. As a result, as illustrated in

FIG. 13

, it would be impossible to mount the object


2


into a receiving compartment


4


of, e.g., a box end of a wrench, as the retainer ring


1


protrudes too much outward to be inserted into the receiving compartment


4


.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An object of the present invention is to provide a retainer ring for securely retaining a first object to a second object.




In an embodiment of the invention, the first object is an adaptor and the second object is a box end of a wrench. In another embodiment of the invention, the first object is a bit and the second object is a shank of a screwdriver.




A retainer ring in accordance with the present invention comprises at least two holding sections and at least one engaging section. Each holding section has a radius of curvature equal to a diameter of a reduced section of a first object. The engaging section has a radius of curvature greater than that of the holding sections. The holding sections securely clamp the reduced section of the first object with the engaging section partially protruding out of the reduced section of the first object for engaging with a second object.




Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a wrench, an adaptor, and a retainer ring in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 1A

is a plan view of the retainer ring in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a bottom view of the adaptor and the retainer ring in an assembled state.





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of an end of the wrench, the adaptor, and the retainer ring in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

is a sectional view similar to

FIG. 3

, illustrating use of the retainer ring with an end of a wrench having a hexagonal inner periphery.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view similar to

FIG. 3

, illustrating a modified embodiment of the retainer ring in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 6

is an exploded perspective view illustrating a wrench, an adaptor, and another embodiment of the retainer ring in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a bottom view of the adaptor and the retainer ring of

FIG. 6

in an assembled state.





FIG. 8

is a sectional view of the end of the wrench, the adaptor, and the retainer ring in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is an exploded perspective view illustrating a bit, a screwdriver, and another modified embodiment of the retainer ring in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 10

is a sectional view illustrating engagement between the bit, the screwdriver, and the retainer ring in FIG.


9


.





FIG. 11

is a view illustrating use of the retainer ring in a shank having a circular receiving compartment.





FIG. 12A

is a sectional view illustrating engagement between a conventional retainer ring and an adaptor.





FIG. 12B

is a sectional view illustrating anomalous engagement between the retainer ring and the adaptor in FIG.


12


A.





FIG. 13

is a schematic sectional view illustrating difficulty of attaching the adaptor with retainer ring mounted thereon to a wrench.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to

FIG. 1

, in accordance with the present invention, a retainer ring


10


is provided to securely retain a first object, e.g., an adaptor


20


to a second object, e.g., a box end of a wrench


30


. The adaptor


20


includes a first end


21


engaged in a receiving compartment


31


of the box end of a wrench


30


and a second end


24


that acts as a drive end for engaging with and driving a socket (not shown). A spring-biased ball


25


is mounted to the drive end


24


of the adaptor


20


for releasably engaging with the socket, which is conventional and therefore not described in detail. The first end


21


of the adaptor


20


includes a hexagonal engaging portion


22


with a reduced section in which an annular groove


23


is defined.




Referring to

FIG. 1A

, the retainer ring


10


is resilient and includes at least two radially inward holding sections


11


and at least one radially outward engaging section


12


. Namely, the engaging section


12


is located in a position radially outward of the holding sections


11


. In this embodiment, the retainer ring


10


includes three holding sections


11


located on two distal ends


11




a


of the retainer ring


10


and a section


11




b


of the retainer ring


10


opposite to an opening


13


of the retainer ring


10


between the distal ends


11




a


. As illustrated in

FIG. 1A

, each holding section


11


has a radius of curvature r


1


equal to half of a diameter of the annular groove


23


defined in the reduced section of the engaging portion


22


. Further, the retainer ring


10


includes two engaging sections


12


on both sides of the section


11




b


opposite to the opening


13


of the retainer ring


10


. Each engaging section


12


has a radius of curvature r


2


greater than the radius of curvature r


1


of the holding sections


11


. Preferably, the retainer ring


10


has a uniform thickness d. Preferably, the radius of curvature r


2


of the engaging sections


12


is greater than the radius of curvature r


1


of the holding sections


11


by an amount t less than a thickness d of the retainer ring


10


.




Thus, when the retainer ring


10


is mounted in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


, the holding sections


11


of the retainer ring


10


securely clamp a bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


. Thus, the retainer ring


10


is securely engaged in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


without the risk of relative movement therebetween. This is owing to the fact that each holding section


11


has a radius of curvature r


1


equal to half of a diameter of the reduced section of the engaging portion


22


. Each engaging section


12


of the retainer ring


10


protrudes beyond the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


(see the solid black lines R and the dashed lines between the solid black lines R).




Referring to

FIG. 3

, when the adaptor


20


coupled with the retainer ring


10


is mounted in a dodecagonal receiving compartment


31


of a wrench


30


, the retainer ring


10


, when compressed, would not move or wobble in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


, as the three holding sections


11


of the retainer ring


10


securely clamp the bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


. Further, the engaging sections


12


engage with the dodecagonal inner periphery of the receiving compartment


31


at six points P. Thus, the adaptor


20


is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


31


of the wrench


30


.




When the adaptor


20


coupled with the retainer ring


10


is mounted in a polygonal receiving compartment


31


of a wrench


30


, as illustrated in

FIG. 4

, the retainer ring


10


, when compressed, would not move or wobble in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


, as the three holding sections


11


of the retainer ring


10


securely clamp the bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


. Further, the engaging sections


12


engage with the hexagonal inner periphery of the receiving compartment


31


at four points P. Thus, the adaptor


20


is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


31


of the wrench


30


.





FIG. 5

illustrates a modified embodiment of the retainer ring


10


, wherein like numerals denotes like elements. In this embodiment, the engaging portion (now designated by


22


′) of the adaptor


20


is circular, and wrench


30


has a circular receiving compartment


33


. When mounting the adaptor


20


coupled with the retainer ring


10


is mounted in the circular receiving compartment


33


of the wrench


30


, as illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the retainer ring


10


, when compressed, would not move or wobble in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


, as the three holding sections


11


of the retainer ring


10


securely clamp the bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


. Further, the whole engaging sections


12


engage with the circular inner periphery of the receiving compartment


33


(see the solid black lines R in FIG.


5


). Thus, the adaptor


20


is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


33


of the wrench


30


.





FIG. 6

illustrates another modified embodiment of the present invention, wherein like numerals denotes like elements. In this embodiment, the retainer ring


10


′ includes a radially outward engaging section


12


′ opposite to an opening


13


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ and two radially inward holding sections


11


′. Each radially inward holding section


11


′ includes an associated one of the distal ends (not labeled) of the retainer ring


10


′. The radii of the holding section


11


′ and the engaging section


12


′ in this embodiment are respectively the same as that of the holding section


11


and the engaging section


12


of the embodiment shown in FIG.


1


A.




As illustrated in

FIG. 7

, when mounting the retainer ring


10


′ to the adaptor


20


, the holding sections


11


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ securely clamp the bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


without the risk of relative movement therebetween. Further, the engaging section


12


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ protrudes beyond the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


.




When mounting the adaptor


20


coupled with the retainer ring


10


′ is mounted in a dodecagonal receiving compartment


31


of a wrench


30


, as illustrated in

FIG. 8

, the retainer ring


10


′, when compressed, would not move or wobble in the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


, as the holding sections


11


′ of the retainer ring


10


securely clamp the bottom wall


231


defining the annular groove


23


of the adaptor


20


. Further, the engaging section


12


′ engages with the dodecagonal inner periphery of the receiving compartment


31


at four points P. Thus, the adaptor


20


is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


31


of the wrench


30


.





FIG. 9

illustrates a further modified embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the retainer ring


10


′ includes a radially outward engaging section


12


′ opposite to an opening


13


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ and two radially inward holding sections


11


′. Each radially inward holding section


11


′ includes an associated one of the distal ends (not labeled) of the retainer ring


10


′. The retainer ring


10


′ securely retains a bit


20


′ to a shank


30


′ of a screwdriver. An end


22


′ of the bit


20


′ is hexagonal and includes a reduced section having an annular groove


23


′ defined by a bottom wall


231


′. A drive end


24


′ is formed on the other end of the bit


20


′. The shank


30


′ of the screwdriver includes a receiving compartment


32


′. The radii of the holding section


11


′ and the engaging section


12


′ in this embodiment are respectively the same as that of the holding section


11


and the engaging section


12


of the embodiment shown in FIG.


1


A.




As illustrated in

FIG. 10

, when mounting the retainer ring


10


′ to the bit


20


′, the holding sections


11


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ securely clamp the bottom wall


231


′ defining the annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′ without the risk of relative movement therebetween. Further, the engaging section


12


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ protrudes beyond the annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′.




When the bit


20


′ coupled with the retainer ring


10


′ is mounted in the hexagonal receiving compartment


32


′ of the shank


30


′, as illustrated in

FIG. 10

, the retainer ring


10


′, when compressed, would not move or wobble in the annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′, as the holding sections


11


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ securely clamp the bottom wall


231


′ defining the annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′. Further, the engaging section


12


′ engages with the hexagonal inner periphery of the receiving compartment


32


′ at three points P. Thus, the bit


20


′ is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


32


′ of the shank


30


′.





FIG. 11

illustrates still another modified embodiment that is modified from the embodiment of

FIGS. 9 and 10

. In this embodiment, the end


22


′ of the bit


20


′ is circular and the receiving compartment (now designated by


33


′) of the shank


30


′ is also circular. When the bit


20


′ coupled with the retainer ring


10


′ is mounted in the circular receiving compartment


33


′ of the shank


30


′, as illustrated in

FIG. 10

, the retainer ring


10


′ would not move or wobble in to annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′ when compressed, as the holding sections


11


′ of the retainer ring


10


′ securely clamp the bottom wall


231


′ defining the annular groove


23


′ of the bit


20


′. Further, the engaging section


12


′ engages with the circular inner periphery of the receiving compartment


33


′ (see the solid black line R). Thus, the bit


20


′ is securely engaged in the receiving compartment


33


′ of the shank


30


′. The radii of the holding section


11


′ and the engaging section


12


′ in this embodiment are respectively the same as that of the holding section


11


and the engaging section


12


of the embodiment shown in FIG.


1


A.




It is noted that the numbers and the shapes of the holding sections


11


,


11


′ and the engaging sections


12


,


12


′ may vary according to the need.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A retainer ring for securely retaining a first object having a reduced section to a second object, the retainer ring being resilient and comprising:at least two holding sections and at least one engaging section, each of said at least two holding sections having an inner radius of curvature equal to half of a diameter of the reduced section of the first object, said at least one engaging section having an inner radius of curvature greater than that of said at least two holding sections; said at least two holding sections being adapted to securely clamp said reduced section of said first object with said at least one engaging section partially protruding out of said reduced section of said first object for engaging with said second object.
  • 2. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retainer ring includes two distal ends spaced by an opening, each of said distal ends of said retainer forming an associated one of said at least two holding sections.
  • 3. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 2, wherein a third holding section of said at least two holding sections of said retainer ring is located in a position opposite to said opening.
  • 4. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retainer ring includes an opening and wherein said at least one engaging section of said retainer ring is opposite to said opening.
  • 5. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 6. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 7. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 3, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 8. The retainer ring as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 9. A combination comprising:a first object including a reduced section; a second object including a receiving compartment; and a resilient retainer ring including at least two holding sections and at least one engaging section, each of said at least two holding sections having an inner radius of curvature equal to half of a diameter of said reduced section of said first object, said at least one engaging section having an inner radius of curvature greater than that of said at least two holding sections, said at least two holding sections securely clamping said reduced section of said first object with said at least one engaging section partially protruding out of said reduced section of said first object for engaging with an inner periphery of said receiving compartment of said second object, with engagement of the at least one engaging section with the second object providing for clamping of the at least two holding sections about the reduced section.
  • 10. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retainer ring includes two distal ends spaced by an opening, each of said distal ends of said retainer forming an associated one of said at least two holding sections.
  • 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein a third holding section of said at least two holding sections is opposite to said opening.
  • 12. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retainer ring includes an opening and wherein said at least one engaging section of said retainer ring is opposite to said opening.
  • 13. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first object is an adaptor and the second object is a box end of a wrench.
  • 14. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first object is a bit and the second object is a shank of a screwdriver.
  • 15. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 16. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 17. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 18. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 19. The combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
  • 20. The combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein said inner radius of curvature of said at least one engaging section is greater than said inner radius of curvature of said at least two holding sections by an amount less than a thickness of said retainer ring.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
90220753 U Nov 2001 TW
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Number Name Date Kind
4324158 Le Roy Apr 1982 A
4480511 Nickipuck Nov 1984 A
5067775 D'Angelo Nov 1991 A
5918512 Habermehl et al. Jul 1999 A
5975186 Day Nov 1999 A
6305255 Wu Oct 2001 B1