Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a socket for locating and fixing of fasteners to a component for joining thereof to other part and/or subassembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a socket for fasteners of different sizes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular socket assembly for fasteners of different sizes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the production of components and/or subassemblies, e.g. in an automobile manufacturing plant, the fasteners of different sizes are used for locating the part in the other parts and/or subassembly and subsequently fixing them together to obtain the component and/or subassembly for next stage of production or as a finished product/subassembly.

This necessitates multiple sockets for mounting of different sizes of fasteners during the production of components and/or subassemblies in a manufacturing and/or assembly plant thereof. This increases the overall cost of production and/or assembly thereof due to multiple sockets required thereof.

However, this can be avoided by developing a socket with multi-step head for inserting square head sockets for tightening of fastener heads of different sizes by changing to a socket-holder of corresponding cavity therein.

Therefore, there exists a need for reducing the cost of sockets used for locating and fixing and/or mounting of fasteners of different parts/components and/or subassemblies during the production and/or assembly of components in manufacturing/assembly plant, e.g. in an automobile manufacturing plant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a modular socket for locating, fixing and mounting of fasteners of different sizes on parts, components and/or subassemblies during the production thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular socket having multiple driving heads for fixing and mounting of fasteners of different sizes on parts, components and/or subassemblies during the production thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a modular socket is provided which has multiple driving heads for locating, fixing and mounting of fasteners of different sizes on parts, components and/or subassemblies during the production thereof.

The above modular socket helps in locating, mounting and fixing of different sizes of fasteners, e.g. nuts and bolts for locating and for the tightening and assembly of parts together to obtain a semi-finished or finished product and/or subassembly during the production thereof.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In an embodiment configured in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a modular socket assembly with a multi-step drive-head and multiple socket-holders for fasteners of different sizes, the modular socket assembly comprises:

• a multi-step drive-head having a plurality of steps configured from the top-face thereof;

• a first socket-holder securely fixed at the bottom-end of the multi-step drive-head;

• a plurality of intermediate externally and/or internally threaded socket-holders of different sizes;

• an outermost socket-holder having only internal threads at the top -end thereof; and

• each of the socket-holders having a cavity in the bottom-face thereof for locating and accommodating a respective fastener-head therein;

wherein each step of the multi-step drive-head accommodates a respective drive-head in a step thereof, which is suitable for a corresponding socket holder in the cavity thereof, for locating, mounting and tightening/loosening of a fastener of different size.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the first socket-holder is securely fixed at the bottom of the multi-step drive-head by welding.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first socket-holder comprises external threads on the top-end thereof and the multi-step drive-head includes corresponding internal threads made centrally at the bottom-face thereof for a secure fixing of the first socket-holder therein.

Typically, the multi-step drive-head comprises a through-hole at the bottom-face thereof and the first socket-holder comprises internal threads on the top-end thereof for fixing a threaded bolt passing through the through-hole of the multi-step drive-head for a secure connection thereof with the first socket-holder.

Typically, the external threads of the first socket-holder extend over a predefined length from the top-end thereof.

Typically, each of the plurality of socket-holders comprises the cavity of a predefined depth made at the bottom-face thereof to accommodate a respective fastener-head therein.

Typically, each of the plurality of intermediate socket-holders and the outermost socket-holder comprises internal threads on the top-portion thereof for tightening another socket-holder of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter thereof.

Typically, each of the plurality of intermediate socket-holders and the first socket-holder comprises external threads on the top-portion thereof for tightening another socket-holder of larger external diameter than the external diameter thereof.

Typically, the internal threads at the top-portion of the plurality of intermediate socket-holders and the outermost socket-holder, extend over the through hole thereof.

Typically, the external threads on the top-portion of the plurality of intermediate socket-holders and the first socket-holder, commence at a predefined distance from the top-end thereof.

Typically, each of the plurality of socket-holders and the outermost socket-holder comprises a cavity deeper than the cavity in the first socket-holder or a socket-holder preceding the intermediate socket-holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the modular socket assembly with multiple drive- heads and socket-holders configured in accordance with the present invention, which comprises multi-step drive-head to be fixed with a plurality of socket-holders of different external diameters for mounting the head of fasteners of different sizes.

Figure 2a shows a sectional view of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 1.

Figure 2b shows a top view of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 1 with the multiple drive-head thereof.

Figure 3a shows a sectional view of another embodiment of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 1 and marked with an encircled view EV thereof.

Figure 3b shows the top view of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 3a.

Figure 3c shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion EV of Fig. 3a.

Figure 4a shows a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 1 and marked with an encircled view EV thereof.

Figure 4b shows a top view of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 4a.

Figure 4c shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion EV of Fig. 4a.

Figure 5 shows a fastener of a suitable size guided by the first socket-holder of the modular socket of Fig. 2a.

Figure 6 shows another fastener of a different size guided by the second socket-holder of the modular socket of Fig. 2a.

Figure 7 shows a different fastener of another size guided by the third socket-holder of the modular socket of Fig. 2a.

Figure 8a shows a perspective view of the modular socket with multiple drive-head and the first socket-holder according to the present invention.

Figure 8b shows a top view of the modular socket shown in Fig. 8a. A section line A - A is marked therein for showing further details thereof in Fig. 8c.
Figure 8c shows the sectional view of the modular socket assembly of Fig. 8a and sectioned along the section line A – A of Fig. 8b.

Figure 9a shows a perspective view of the second socket-holder of the modular socket assembly configured according to the present invention.

Figure 9b shows a top view of the second socket-holder shown in Fig. 9a. A section line B - B is marked therein for showing further details thereof in Fig. 9c below.

Figure 9c shows the sectional view of the second socket-holder of Fig. 9a, and sectioned along the section line B – B of Fig. 9b.

Figure 10a shows a perspective view of the third socket-holder of the modular socket assembly configured according to the present invention.

Figure 10b shows a top view of the third socket-holder shown in Fig. 10a. Section line D-D is marked therein for showing further details in Fig. 10c.

Figure 10c shows the sectional view of the third socket-holder of Fig. 10a and sectioned along the section line D - D of Fig. 10b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In the following, the modular socket assembly with multi-step drive-head and several socket-holders for locating, mounting and fixing of different fasteners to a component and/or subassembly and configured according to the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the modular socket assembly 10 having multi-step drive-head 12 and a plurality of different size socket-holders 14, 16, 18 for mounting different sizes of fasteners 20, 30, 40 therein.

Figure 2a shows a sectional view of the modular socket assembly 10 of Fig.1. It includes a multi-step drive-head 12 having steps for accommodating several drive-heads therein and is fixed to a first inner socket-holder 14. Further, the modular socket assembly 10 includes a middle third socket-holder 18 threaded to the first socket-holder 14, and an outer second socket-holder 16 threaded on the middle third socket-holder 18. The inner first socket-holder 14 includes external threads on the lower outer diameter thereof and the outer third socket-holder 18 includes internal threads on the upper inner diameter thereof for tightening and locating/fixing thereof on the inner first socket-holder 14 as well as external threads on the upper outer diameter thereof for tightening and locating/fixing the outer second socket-holder 16 thereon. Therefore, the third socket-holder 18 can be suitably tightened and located/fixed between the inner first socket-holder 14 and the outer second socket-holder 16. The multi-step drive-head 12 has a plurality of steps S and this multi-step drive-head 12 is fixed on top of the first socket-holder 14. Each socket-holder 14, 16, 18 has a bottom cavity C for locating and accommodating a respective fastener head therein. Each step S of multi-step drive-head 12 accommodates a different drive-head for a respective socket-holder for locating, mounting and fixing/tightening or loosening of the head of a fastener of different size into/from the components to be assembled/dismantled by that respective socket-holder. The first socket-holder 14 is fixed under the multi-step drive-head 12. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first socket-holder 14 has external threads for a predefined length at the top portion thereof for fixing it into the internally threaded bottom face of the multi-step drive-head 12. In another embodiment of the present invention, the multi-step drive-head 12 includes a through hole at the center of the bottom thereof and the first socket-holder 14 has internal threads at the center of the top portion thereof for a predefined length for fixing a bolt B therein for fixing them together. In a yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first socket-holder 14 is centrally welded (Figs. 4a-4c) under the multi-step drive-head 12. This first socket-holder 14 also has external threads at least for a predefined length on its bottom end, and a cavity C of predefined depth at its bottom end for locating and accommodating the head of a respective fastener of suitable size. The socket-holder 16 has internal threads on its top portion for tightening of socket-holder 18 therein. Similarly, socket-holder 18 has internal threads on its top portion for tightening of socket-holder 14 therein and also has external threads on its top portion for tightening of second socket-holder 16 thereon. Further, the socket-holders 14, 18, and 16 have cavities of sequentially larger sizes respectively. The external threads at the top portion of socket-holders 16 and 18 commence at a predefined distance from the top end thereof and continue to the bottom end thereof. The cavity C at the bottom end of the socket-holders 18 and 16 are deeper than the length of the cavity C at the bottom end of the socket-holder 14 preceding it.

Figure 2b shows a top view of the modular socket assembly 10 of Figure 2a with the multiple drive-head 12 for socket-holders of different sizes disposed sequentially inside one after the other in a stepped manner (Figure 2a).

Figure 3a shows a sectional view of another embodiment of the modular socket assembly of Figure 1 and marked with an encircled view EV thereof. The multi-step drive-head 12 includes a through hole at the bottom center thereof and first socket-holder 14 has internal threads at the top center portion thereof for a predefined length.

Figure 3b shows the top view of the modular socket assembly of Figure 3a.

Figure 3c shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion EV of Figure 3a. Here, a bolt B is passed through the hole at the bottom center of the multi-step drive-head 12 and threaded into the threaded hole in the first socket-holder 14 for securely fixing them together.

Figure 4a shows a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the modular socket assembly of Figure 1. The first socket-holder 14 is centrally welded under the multi-step drive-head 12.

Figure 4b shows the top view of the modular socket assembly of Figure 4a.

Figure 4c shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion EV of Figure 4a. Here, the top end of the first socket-holder 14 is centrally welded circumferentially under the multi-step drive-head 12.

Figure 5 shows a fastener 20 of suitable size held in the cavity C of the inner first socket-holder 14 of the modular socket assembly 10 of Figure 2a, for locating, tightening and fixing of the head of a respective fastener in the relevant part or component or subassembly.

Figure 6 shows a different size fastener 30 guided by the cavity C of the outer second socket-holder 16 of Figure 2a, for locating, tightening and fixing of the head of the fastener of another size in the relevant part or component or subassembly.
Figure 7 shows a different size fastener 40 guided by the cavity C of the middle third socket-holder 18 of Figure 2a, for locating, tightening and fixing of the head of the fastener of yet another size in the relevant part or component or subassembly.

Figure 8a shows a perspective view of the modular socket assembly 10 with the multi-step drive-head 12 configured according to the present invention, and with the first socket-holder 14. This multi-step drive-head 12 includes a plurality of steps S made in the top portion thereof for engaging the square-head of the socket of different sizes.

Figure 8b shows a top view of the modular socket assembly 10 with the multi-step drive-head 12 of Figure 8a. A section line A-A is marked therein for showing further details thereof in Figure 8c below.

Figure 8c shows the sectional view of the modular socket assembly 10 of Figure 8a and sectioned along the section line A-A of Figure 8b. Here, the external threads T on the periphery of the lower end of the first socket-holder 14 and the steps S of the multi-step drive-head 12 are clearly visible.

Figure 9a shows a perspective view of the outer second socket-holder 16 of the modular socket assembly 10 configured according to the present invention.

Figure 9b shows a top view of the second socket-holder of Figure 9a. Section line B-B is marked therein for showing further details thereof in Figure 9c.

Figure 9c shows the sectional view of the second socket-holder of Figure 9a and sectioned along the section line B–B of Figure 9b. Here, the internal threads T on the top inner end thereof and cavity C at the bottom end thereof are clearly visible thereon.

Figure 10a shows a perspective view of the middle third socket-holder 18 of the modular socket assembly 10 configured according to the present invention.

Figure 10b shows a top view of the third socket-holder 18 of Figure 10a. Section line D-D is marked therein for showing further details thereof in Figure 10c below.

Figure 10c shows the sectional view of third socket-holder 18 of Figure 10a and sectioned along the section line D-D of Figure 10b. Here, the external threads T on the periphery of the third socket-holder 18 and internal threads T on the periphery of the upper end thereof are clearly visible thereon.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the modular socket assembly with multi-step drive-head and socket-holders is used for locating, mounting and fixing of fasteners in the following manner:

• Nut-runner for tightening of desired fastener is selected.

• Nut-runner is inserted in the suitable step S of the multi-step drive-head 12 of the modular socket assembly fixed with first socket-holder 14 and the head of the fastener 20 to be tightened in the component/subassembly is located in the cavity C at the bottom of first socket-holder 14.

• Middle or outer socket-holder (18 or 16) with its cavity C is threaded at the bottom of first socket-holder 14 for locating the head of the selected fastener 30 or 40 to be mounted and fixed in the component/subassembly, as required.

• If required, other socket-holder/s can be threaded between the first socket-holder 14 and the final socket-holder 16 having a cavity C suitable for locating, mounting and fixing of the heads of the selected fastener to be tightened in the component/subassembly.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The modular socket assembly having a multi-step drive-head and configured in accordance with the present invention offers the following advantages:

• Facilitates locating and fixing of fasteners of different sizes.

• Provides multiple driving heads for locating and fixing of fasteners of different sizes.

• Same socket can be used for multiple fasteners by adjusting the fastener socket-holder.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention.

Although, the embodiments presented in this disclosure have been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize that these embodiments can be applied with modifications possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification by making innumerable changes, variations/modifications, alterations/ integrations in terms of materials and method used to manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies/assemblies, in terms of their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships without departing from scope and spirit of the present invention.

The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the corresponding apparatus or device be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship, wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. , Claims:We claim:

1. A modular socket assembly with a multi-step drive-head and multiple socket-holders for fasteners of different sizes, said modular socket assembly comprises:

• a multi-step drive-head having a plurality of steps configured from the top-face thereof;

• a first socket-holder securely fixed at the bottom-end of said multi-step drive-head;

• a plurality of intermediate externally and/or internally threaded socket-holders of different sizes;

• an outermost socket-holder having only internal threads at the top -end thereof; and

• each of said socket-holders having a cavity in the bottom-face thereof for locating and accommodating a respective fastener-head therein;

wherein each step of said multi-step drive-head accommodates a respective drive-head in a step thereof, which is suitable for a corresponding socket holder in said cavity thereof, for locating, mounting and tightening/loosening of a fastener of different size.

2. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first socket-holder is securely fixed at the bottom of said multi-step drive-head by welding.
3. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first socket-holder comprises external threads on the top-end thereof and said multi-step drive-head includes corresponding internal threads made centrally at the bottom-face thereof for a secure fixing of said first socket-holder therein.

4. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-step drive-head comprises a through-hole at the bottom-face thereof and said first socket-holder comprises internal threads on the top-end thereof for fixing a threaded bolt passing through said through-hole of said multi-step drive-head for a secure connection thereof with said first socket-holder.

5. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the external threads of said first socket-holder extend over a predefined length from the top-end thereof.

6. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said socket-holders comprises said cavity of a predefined depth made at the bottom-face thereof to accommodate a respective fastener-head therein.

7. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate socket-holders and said outermost socket-holder comprises internal threads on the top-portion thereof for tightening another socket-holder of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter thereof.

8. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate socket-holders and said first socket-holder comprises external threads on the top-portion thereof for tightening another socket-holder of larger external diameter than the external diameter thereof.

9. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said internal threads at the top-portion of said plurality of intermediate socket-holders and said outermost socket-holder, extend over the through hole thereof.

10. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said external threads on the top-portion of said plurality of intermediate socket-holders and said first socket-holder, commence at a predefined distance from the top-end thereof.

11. The modular socket assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate socket-holders and said outermost socket-holder comprises a cavity deeper than the cavity in said first socket-holder or a socket-holder preceding said intermediate socket-holder.

Dated this 9th day of January 2023.

Digitally / e-Signed by:

(SANJAY KESHARWANI)
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT
REGN. NO. IN/PA-2043.