Patent US3821676A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3821676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic keeper accessory for conventional tools
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-01-31
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1993-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic keeper accessory selectively mountable on conventional end, box and socket wrenches without need for alterations or attaching expedients. The keeper accessory occupies a portion only of the fastener seating portion of a wrench head and the main body is resilient and shaped and sized to have an interference fit with the wrench head and, if made for use specifically with end and box wrenches, it preferably includes stop means to limit the portion of the accessory inserted into the wrench head. Its mid-portion may be suitably weakened to facilitate bowing in the plane of the wrench head to enhance its gripping action on the wrench head.
Inventors
- 👤 H Carr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/02; H01F7/0231; H01F7/0252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A keeper accessory for use with a wrenching tool to retain a fastener captive thereon while being manipulated into and out of an assembly position, said accessory comprising permanent magnet means, said permanent magnet means including means for securing the same selectively to a conventional end wrench and a conventional socket wrench head without need for modifying the wrench head in any way and with a portion only of said permanent magnet means occupying an interior portion of said head and positioned to have wide area surface contact with the surface of a fastener of magnetic material seated in said head thereby to hold the fastener captive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A keeper accessory for use with a wrenching tool to retain a fastener captive thereon while being manipulated into and out of an assembly position, said accessory comprising permanent magnet means, said permanent magnet means including means for securing the same selectively to a conventional end wrench and a conventional socket wrench head without need for modifying the wrench head in any way and with a portion only of said permanent magnet means occupying an interior portion of said head and positioned to have wide area surface contact with the surface of a fastener of magnetic material seated in said head thereby to hold the fastener captive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said accessory comprises a plurality of layers secured together and including a layer of resilient material disposed to have a snug frictional fit with a juxtaposed surface of a wrench when installed thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said resilient layer is spongy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said securing means comprises resilient means attached to said permanent magnetic means and sized to have an interference fit with a portion of a wrench head adequate to hold the same in place on the wrench head with said magnet means positioned to engage and hold a fastener seated in the wrench head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said securing means comprises spongy resilient material bonded to one face of said permanent magnet means and shaped to have a press fit with a juxtaposed edge portion of the wrench head when installed thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said magnet means is imperforate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said magnet means includes stop means engageable with one end face of a wrench head to limit the portion of the wrench head which can be occupied by said accessory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said accessory is oblong and provided at its ends with oppositely extending triangular extensions sized and shaped to snugly engage a pair of diametrically opposed points of the socket of a hex wrench head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 8 characterized in that said magnet means includes stop means effective to limit the axial insertion of said accessory into a wrench head and thereby leave room for the reception of a fastener.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 8 characterized in that said magnet means is sized to have a snug frictional fit with a plurality of points of a socket type wrench and adapted to occupy the inner end portion of the well of a socket type wrench head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said resilient material is bonded to said magnEtic means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said magnetic means is slightly longer than the diameter of the interior dimension of the wrench head opening thereby necessitating bowing of said magnetic means so long as the same is installed in a wrench head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 1 characterized in that one face of said wafer is flat and exposed for wide-area direct surface contact with one axial end face of a fastener.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A keeper accessory for holding a fastener component to a conventional tool head without need for altering the tool head comprising an elongated strip of elastomeric magnetic material having diametrically opposed portions there shaped and sized to have a press fit crosswise of one end of a conventional wrench head, and said accessory including means limiting the distance that said accessory can be inserted into the wrench to reserve adequate room for a fastener.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A keeper accessory for holding a fastener component to a conventional tool head without need for altering the tool head comprising an elongated strip of elastomeric magnetic material having diametrically opposed portions there shaped and sized to have a press fit crosswise of one end of a conventional wrench head, and said accessory including means limiting the distance that said accessory can be inserted into the wrench to reserve adequate room for a fastener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the same is selectively installable crosswise of one end portion of the fastener seating portion of wrench heads of various types including end wrenches, box wrenches and socket wrenches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 14 characterized in that said accessory is elongated and generally rectangular in cross section and includes means projecting from its opposite ends adapted to seat against one end face of a wrench head thereby to limit the portion of the fastener seating portion of the wrench occupied by said accessory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 16 characterized in that said elongated strip of elastomeric magnetic material is weakened in the midportion thereof to facilitate bowing thereof in the plane of said strip whereby one face of said magnetic strip is positioned to lie generally flush with the adjacent end surface of a fastener when the latter is seated in a wrench head having said keeper accessory installed therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
A keeper accessory comprising an elongated strip of flexible magnetic material having a length in excess of the transverse width of a fastener seating recess of a wrench head, said strip being weakened transversely of its midportion to facilitate bowing of the same within the plane of the strip incident to installation of the strip crosswise of a wrench head thereby storing stresses in the strip effective to maintain the same captive in one end portion of the wrench head with the surface of the strip facing a fastener substantially planar and in readiness to lie flush against an end surface of a fastener.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
A keeper accessory comprising an elongated strip of flexible magnetic material having a length in excess of the transverse width of a fastener seating recess of a wrench head, said strip being weakened transversely of its midportion to facilitate bowing of the same within the plane of the strip incident to installation of the strip crosswise of a wrench head thereby storing stresses in the strip effective to maintain the same captive in one end portion of the wrench head with the surface of the strip facing a fastener substantially planar and in readiness to lie flush against an end surface of a fastener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 18 characterized in that said strip is recessed crosswise of its opposite end to provide stops limiting assembly of said accessory axially into a wrench head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 18 characterized in that said accessory is notched crosswise of the midportion thereof to facilitate bowing of the same in the plane of the strip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A keeper accessory as defined in claim 18 characterized in having been severed from one end of a continuous length of permanently magnetized elastomeric magnetic material and having a width greater than the transverse width of a wrench head with which the keeper accessory is to be used.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
A keeper accessory for holding a fastener component to a conventional wrenching tool head without need for altering the tool head comprising an elongated strip of non-rigid permanently magnetized magnetic material having a length slightly in excess of the transverse dimension of a socket type wrenching head and adapted to be pressed into a press fit with the interior sidewalls at the inner end of a socket head with its broad outwardly facing surface positioned to lie flush against the exterior end surface of a fastener component when properly seated in the socket head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
94 words
A keeper accessory for holding a fastener component to a conventional wrenching tool head without need for altering the tool head comprising an elongated strip of non-rigid permanently magnetized magnetic material having a length slightly in excess of the transverse dimension of a socket type wrenching head and adapted to be pressed into a press fit with the interior sidewalls at the inner end of a socket head with its broad outwardly facing surface positioned to lie flush against the exterior end surface of a fastener component when properly seated in the socket head.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |