Means for retaining tool shanks in socket members

Claim 1

IN A SOCKET MEMBER AND CUTTER BIT ARRANGEMENT OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A SOCKET MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED, SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SOCKET FORMING PERFORATION THEREIN, A CUTTING MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATED, SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHANK, A FIXEDLY SECURED PIVOTING ELEMENT LOCATED IN THE PERFORATION OF SID SOCKET FORMING ELEMENT INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH THEREOF AND PROJECTING INTO SAID PERFORATION, SAID PIVOTING ELEMENT BEING ENGAGEABLE IN A DEPRESSION IN THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID SHANK, SAID SOCKET FORMING MEMBER BEING CUT AWAY FORWARDLY ABOVE SAID PIVOTING ELEMENT, AND THE REAR LOWER PORTION OF SAID SHANK BEING CHAMFERED, WHEREBY SAID SHANK CAN PIVOT FORWARDLY IN SAID SOCKET MEMBER ON SAID PIVOTING ELEMENT AND CAN BE ROCKED REARWARDLY THEREIN TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE REAR FACE OF SAID SHANK ABOVE SAID CHAMFERED PORTION CAN ABUT A REAR FACE OF SAID SOCKET FORMING PERFORATION TO RESIST CUTTING STRAINS IMPOSED ON THE CUTTING MEMBER, THE CHAMFERED PORTION OF SAID SHANK, WHEN SAID SHANK IS IN ITS REARWARD POSITION, LYING IN SPACED RELATION TO THE REAR FACE OF SAID SOCKET FORMING PERFORATION TO DEFINE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A RECESS IN THE LOWER REAR PORTION OF SAID SOCKET MEMBER, AND A RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SOCKET MEMBER AND MOVABLE IN SAID RECESS WHEREBY SAID LOCKING MEANS MAY BE MOVED INTO A LOCKING POSITION WHEREIN A PORTION OF SAID LOCKING MEANS WITHIN SAID PERFORATION CAN MOVE UPWARDLY TO A POSITION BEHIND THE CHAMFERED PORTION OF SAID SHANK, IN WHICH POSITION IT ENGAGES AND HOLDS SAID SHANK IN ITS REARWARD POSITION THEREBY PREVENTING SAID CUTTING MEMBER FROM ROCKING FORWARDLY ON SAID PIVOTING ELEMENT, AND MEANS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE SAID SOCKET MEMBER FOR RELEASING SAID LOCKING MEANS BY BRINGING SAID PORTION DOWNWARDLY UNTIL IT CLEARS SAID SHANK.