Adjustable socket including apertured sleeve

Claim 1

An adjustable socket comprising: a driver adapted to be rotatively driven about an axis of rotation thereof; a plurality of jaws each of which has a mounting lug including an enlarged end mounted on the driver for radial movement with respect to the axis of rotation thereof; each jaw also having camming and slide surfaces that are oriented in opposite axial directions; said camming and slide surfaces having a junction with each other which defines the outer radial extremity of the jaw; the driver having a jaw support end that engages the slide surfaces on the jaws; spring means for biasing the jaws radially outward; a sleeve that receives the driver and the jaws and is axially movable with respect thereto; said sleeve having camming surfaces that respectively engage the camming surfaces of the jaws to position the jaws against outward radial movement under the bias of the spring means; the sleeve having apertures respectively associated with the camming surfaces thereof; said apertures receiving the jaws at the junctions of the camming and slide surfaces thereof upon outward jaw movement under the bias of the spring means; and means for axially positioning the sleeve with respect to the driver.