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US4865485A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Socket extension with safety wedge

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-07-05
•
Granted: 1989-09-12
•
Expires: 2008-07-05
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Abstract

Abstract A socket extension is set forth with a release mechanism for an included lock ball wherein the release mechanism is positioned on side of the lock ball and an included safety wedge is positioned on the opposite side of the lock ball aligned with the release mechanism. The safety wedge is resiliently biased against the lock ball by a captured spring therebehind and the safety wedge being displaced upon displacement of the release mechanism to disengage said lock ball from an associated socket.

Inventors

  • 👤 James A. Finnefrock, Sr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 18:07
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/0007; B25B23/0021; B25B23/0035; F; F16; F16B; F16B21/00; F16B21/10; F16B21/16; F16B21/165; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/591; Y10T403/592; Y10T403/599

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
a socket extension with a safety wedge apparatus comprising; an elongate coaxially aligned shank formed with a forward portion including a plurality of flats, a first bore orthogonally formed to one of said flats with a spherical lock ball reciprocatingly mounted therein, and a release mechanism resiliently mounted on a first side of said first bore within a second bore coaxially formed in said elongate shank and said forward portion, and a wedge means separate and apart from said release mechanism mounted in a third bore resiliently engaging said lock ball, and wherein said third bore is parallel to and offset from said second bore, and wherein said wedge means includes an elongage wedge proximate a forward end of the wedge means and is formed with an inclined surface wherein said inclined surface is resiliently engageable with said lock ball, and wherein said wedge means includes a remote end spaced from said forward end, and wherein said wedge includes a coil spring mounted in aligned engagement with said wedge means at the remote end, and including a lock cap securing and aligning said spring and wedge within said third bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 190 words
a socket extension with a safety wedge apparatus comprising; an elongate coaxially aligned shank formed with a forward portion including a plurality of flats, a first bore orthogonally formed to one of said flats with a spherical lock ball reciprocatingly mounted therein, and a release mechanism resiliently mounted on a first side of said first bore within a second bore coaxially formed in said elongate shank and said forward portion, and a wedge means separate and apart from said release mechanism mounted in a third bore resiliently engaging said lock ball, and wherein said third bore is parallel to and offset from said second bore, and wherein said wedge means includes an elongage wedge proximate a forward end of the wedge means and is formed with an inclined surface wherein said inclined surface is resiliently engageable with said lock ball, and wherein said wedge means includes a remote end spaced from said forward end, and wherein said wedge includes a coil spring mounted in aligned engagement with said wedge means at the remote end, and including a lock cap securing and aligning said spring and wedge within said third bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 50 words
A socket extension with a safety wedge apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said release mechanism includes an elongate shank slidably positionable within said second bore and formed with a recess therein for accepting said lock ball when said release mechanism is manually shifted downwardly toward said wedge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A socket extension with a safety wedge apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said release mechanism further includes a handle extending outwardly of said shank and slidably secured within a slot formed in an exterior of said shank with said slot coaxially aligned with said second bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A socket extension with safety wedge apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the handle 22 is of a generally parallel pipet configuration and maintains alignment of said release mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A socket extension with safety wedge apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said release mechanism further includes a spring biasing said release shaft rearwardly of said lock ball.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4266453A Cited
US4502365A Cited
US4537100A Cited
US4571113A Cited
US4627761A Cited
US4583430A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-09-11 1993-03-13 1993-09-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-09-11 1997-03-13 1997-09-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-09-11 2001-03-13 2001-09-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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