HK1181707B - Drive system - Google Patents

Description

Drive system

Description of divisional applications

The application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with the application date of 2008-20/5, the application number of 200810097704.X and the invention name of 'improved driving sleeve head design for fixing and screwing fasteners'.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to drive sockets and, more particularly, to an improved drive socket design for retaining and screwing fasteners.

Background

U.S. patent No.6158310 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIG. 1 of the present application is FIG. 1 of the' 310 patent. As shown in fig. 1, the' 310 patent discloses a screw system 20 in the form of a headed bolt or fastener 22 having a drive head 24 and an elongated body 26. Between drive head 24 and elongated body 26 is a generally tapered transition portion 28. Threads 34 are formed on the elongated body 26 and the transition portion 28 includes alternating grooves 38 and lobes 40. Each of the flutes 38 and lobes 40 extend from an intersection 42 of the drive head 24 and the transition section 28 to the elongated body 26, taper outwardly, and each lobe 40 on each transition section 28 includes a thread 44. The drive head 24 also includes alternating flutes 46 and lobes 48, the flutes 46 and lobes 48 being aligned with the alternating flutes 38 and lobes 40 on the transition section 28.

As shown in fig. 1, a corresponding drive tool 30 is also provided that includes a drive socket 32, the drive socket 32 being formed and configured to correspond to the profile of the drive head 24 and transition portion 28 of the fastener 22. Thus, the drive socket 32 also includes alternating flutes 50 and lobes 52. Specifically, when the drive socket 32 is mated with the drive head 24 of the fastener 22 (i.e., for driving the fastener 22), the portion 54 of the recess 50 receives the lobes 40 of the transition portion 28 of the fastener 22, and the portion 56 of the recess 50 receives the lobes 48 of the drive head 24 of the fastener 22. Similarly, a portion 58 of the lobe 52 mates with the recess 38 of the transition portion 28 of the fastener 22, and a portion 60 of the lobe 52 mates with the recess 46 of the drive head 24 of the fastener 22. As shown in fig. 1, the portions 54 and 58 of the flutes 50 and lobes 52, respectively, of the drive socket 32 are disposed in a generally tapered portion 70 of the drive socket 32, and these portions 54 and 58 taper (i.e., widen) as they extend from the starting point 43 of the tapered portion 70 of the drive socket 32 to the end 72 of the drive tool 30. In contrast, the respective portions 56 and 60 of the flutes 50 and lobes 52 of the drive socket 32 remain unchanged as they extend from the interior 74 of the drive tool 30 to the beginning 43 of the tapered portion 70 of the drive socket 32.

The drive socket 32 is used to drive the fastener 22, but is configured such that it does not fully mate with the recess 38 of the transition section 28 of the fastener 22. For example, the formation of threads may cause some of the threads to continue into the recessed portion of the tapered portion of the fastener. Thus, the taper of the cuff or the teeth in the transition portion do not provide sufficient clearance. Consequently, the box design does not always achieve a torsional thread portion failure of the target final failure mode.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved drive socket design for fastening and screwing fasteners.

It is another object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a drive socket design that better mates with a recess in a tapered portion of a fastener.

Briefly, and in accordance with at least one of the foregoing, an embodiment of the present invention provides a drive socket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The drive socket is part of the drive tool and is configured to mate with a recess in the tapered portion of the fastener, such as recess 38 in portion 28 of fastener 22 shown in fig. 1, with better results than the drive socket 32 disclosed in the' 310 patent. In particular, a drive socket according to an embodiment of the present invention includes alternating flutes and lobes. Each of the lobes is of a uniform width as it extends through the tapered portion to the end of the bit, rather than tapering at the tapered portion of the drive bit as disclosed in the' 310 patent. The fact that the lobes are of uniform width in the tapered portion allows for a better fit with the grooves in the tapered portion of the fastener, such as the grooves 38 of the fastener 22 shown in fig. 1.

Drawings

The invention, both as to organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a driver tool and a driver end of a fastener, such driver tool being shown partially in section, wherein the fastener and driver tool include the features disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6158310;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a driving tool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drive tool taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drive tool taken along line B-B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the drive tool;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the end of the drive tool;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the tip of the drive tool;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drive tool taken along line C-C of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, but provides a closer view of the tip of the driving tool; and

fig. 10 is another perspective view of the driving tool showing its rear end configured to mate with a threaded member.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated scope.

Fig. 5 shows a drive tool 100 including a drive socket 102 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The drive socket 102 is configured to mate with a recess in a tapered portion of the fastener 22, such as the recess 38 in the portion 28 of the fastener 22 shown in fig. 1, with better results than the drive socket 32 disclosed in the' 310 patent. Specifically, the drive socket 102 includes alternating flutes 104 and lobes 106. Each of the lobes 106 is of a uniform width as it extends through the tapered portion 108 to the end 110 of the drive socket 102, rather than tapering at the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102 as disclosed in the' 310 patent. The fact that the lobes 106 are of uniform width in the tapered portion 108 provides greater clearance at the flutes 104 in the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102, allowing for a better fit with the flutes in the tapered portion of the fastener, such as the flutes 38 in the portion 28 of the fastener 22 shown in fig. 1 and disclosed in the' 310 patent.

As shown in fig. 5, the driving tool 100 is generally cylindrical, having a first forward end 110 (see fig. 6) and a second rearward end 112 (see fig. 10). As shown in fig. 3, the driving tool 100 preferably includes a central opening 114 that extends from the first end 110 to the second end 112 of the driving tool 100. As shown in fig. 2-5, the drive socket 102 is disposed proximate the first end 110 of the drive tool 100. As shown in fig. 3-5 and 8-9, the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102 extends from the first end 110 of the drive tool to the interior 116 of the drive tool 100 and to the non-tapered portion 118 of the drive socket 102. Both the tapered portion 108 and the non-tapered portion 118 of the drive socket 102 include alternating flutes 104 and lobes 106, the flutes 104 and lobes 106 being configured to mate with alternating lobes and flutes, respectively, on a fastener, such as the fastener 22 shown in fig. 1 and disclosed in the' 310 patent. Each of the teeth 106 is uniform in width along its entire length. More specifically, the tooth 106 does not change width as it extends from the first end 110 of the drive tool 100 along the tapered portion 108 and the non-tapered portion 118. The fact that the lobes 106 are of uniform width in the tapered portion 108 provides greater clearance at the flutes 104 in the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102, allowing for a better fit with the flutes in the tapered portion of the fastener, such as the flutes 38 of the fastener 22 shown in fig. 1.

Conversely, although the groove 104 is uniform in width in the non-tapered portion 118, the groove 104 tapers outward (i.e., widens) as it extends from the junction 120 of the tapered portion 108 and the non-tapered portion 118 of the drive socket 102 to the tip 110 of the drive tool 100 (see, e.g., fig. 6-9).

As shown in fig. 3, each of the grooves 104 in the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102 may form an angle of 64 degrees relative to the grooves that are 180 degrees apart around the tapered portion 108, (in other words, the grooves 104 may form an angle of 32 degrees with the longitudinal axis 122 of the drive tool 100). Alternatively, each of the grooves 104 in the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102 may form other angles (such as 80 degrees) with respect to the grooves that are 180 degrees apart around the tapered portion 108, (in other words, the grooves 104 may form 40 degrees with the longitudinal axis 122 of the drive tool 100). Of course, other angles and configurations are possible. Regardless, as shown in fig. 4, preferably each of the lobes 106 in the tapered portion 108 of the drive socket 102 may be angled approximately 50 degrees relative to the lobes that are 180 degrees apart around the tapered portion 108, (in other words, the lobes 106 may be angled approximately 25 degrees from the longitudinal axis 122 of the drive tool 100). Of course, other angles and configurations are possible.

As shown in fig. 10, an opening 124 at the rear end 112 of the drive tool 100 is preferably provided through the central opening 114 of the drive tool 100 for receiving a square drive member (not shown). Of course, the rear end 112 of the drive tool 100 may take on other configurations and profiles depending on the drive component with which the drive tool 100 is to be engaged. As shown, if the rear end 112 of the drive tool 100 is configured to receive a square drive member, preferably the drive tool 100 includes an aperture 126 for receiving a ball detent on the drive member, thereby securely retaining the drive member, and the drive tool 100 includes an angled portion 128 to facilitate receipt of the drive member in the opening 124.

While it has been discussed that the driving tool 100 may be used to drive fasteners such as the fastener 22 disclosed in the' 310 patent, the driving tool 100 may be used to drive fasteners having different shapes and configurations, such as fasteners having lobes that do not form a taper in the tapered or transition portion of the fastener.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing description.

Claims (22)

1. A drive system, comprising:

a first member having a tapered portion with alternating grooves and lobes,

a second member having a tapered portion, the tapered portion of the second member having alternating grooves and lobes,

wherein the alternating grooves and lobes of the tapered portion of the second member are configured to mate with the alternating lobes and grooves, respectively, of the tapered portion of the first member, and wherein the alternating grooves and lobes of the tapered portion of the second member are shaped in a non-complementary manner to the alternating lobes and grooves, respectively, of the tapered portion of the first member, and wherein the lobes of the tapered portion of the second member are uniform in width, and wherein the grooves of the tapered portion of the first member have a width that forms a taper as they progress toward the non-tapered portion of the first member.

2. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the first member is a fastener and the second member is a drive tool bit.

3. The drive system of claim 2, wherein the fastener further has a non-tapered portion and an elongate body, the tapered portion of the fastener being located between the non-tapered portion of the fastener and the elongate body of the fastener.

4. The drive system of claim 3, wherein the elongate body of the fastener has threads formed thereon, and wherein the lobes of the tapered portion of the fastener have threads formed thereon.

5. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises a non-tapered portion, the second member further comprises a non-tapered portion, the teeth of the tapered portion of the first member taper as they progress toward the non-tapered portion, and the grooves of the tapered portion of the second member have a width that forms a taper as they progress in the tapered portion of the second member from a tip of the second member to the non-tapered portion of the second member.

6. The drive system of claim 5, wherein the first member is a fastener and the second member is a drive tool bit.

7. The drive system of claim 6, wherein the fastener further has an elongate body, the tapered portion of the fastener being located between the non-tapered portion of the fastener and the elongate body of the fastener.

8. The drive system of claim 7, wherein the elongate body of the fastener has threads formed thereon, and wherein the lobes of the tapered portion of the fastener have threads formed thereon.

9. The drive system of claim 5, wherein the groove of the non-tapered portion of the second member has a uniform width.

10. The drive system of claim 5, wherein the lobes of the non-tapered portion of the second member have a uniform width.

11. The drive system of claim 5, wherein a first angle is formed between teeth that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other in the tapered portion of the second member, and wherein a second angle is formed between grooves that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other in the tapered portion of the second member.

12. The drive system of claim 11, wherein the first angle formed between the lobes in the tapered portion of the second member is 50 degrees.

13. The drive system of claim 12, wherein the lobes in the tapered portion of the second member form an angle of 25 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member.

14. The drive system of claim 12, wherein the second angle formed between the grooves in the tapered portion of the second member is 64 degrees.

15. The drive system of claim 14, wherein the groove in the tapered portion of the second member forms an angle of 32 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member.

16. The drive system of claim 12, wherein the second angle formed between the grooves in the tapered portion of the second member is 80 degrees.

17. The drive system of claim 16, wherein the groove in the tapered portion of the second member forms an angle of 40 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member.

18. The drive system of claim 11, wherein the second angle formed between the grooves in the tapered portion of the second member is 64 degrees.

19. The drive system of claim 18, wherein the groove in the tapered portion of the second member forms an angle of 32 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member.

20. The drive system of claim 11, wherein the second angle formed between the grooves in the tapered portion of the second member is 80 degrees.

21. The drive system of claim 20, wherein the groove in the tapered portion of the second member forms an angle of 40 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member.

22. The drive system of claim 2, wherein the lobes of the tapered section of the fastener have a width that forms a taper as they progress from a first end of the tapered section to a second end of the tapered section, and wherein the lobes of the tapered section have threads formed thereon.