SOCKET SPANNER INSERT

Abstract

A socket spanner insert releases or fastens wheel bolts which in the mounted state rest inside wheel bolt holes of a car rim. The socket spanner insert includes a base body which has a screw head receptacle and a tool receptacle, and a sleeve which encompasses the base body at least in portions and is rotatably connected to the base body. In order to prevent damage to the rims when mounting and removing wheel bolts, a retaining element is provided which, during release or fastening of the wheel bolt, blocks a relative rotational movement of the sleeve with respect to the car rim and allows a rotation of the base body within the sleeve.

Claims

1. A socket spanner insert for releasing or fastening wheel bolts which in the mounted state rest inside wheel bolt holes of a car rim, the socket spanner insert comprising: a base body which has a screw head receptacle and a tool receptacle; a sleeve which encompasses the base body at least in portions and is rotatably connected to the base body at least one retaining element which, during release or fastening of the wheel bolt, blocks a relative rotational movement of the sleeve with respect to the car rim and allows a rotation of the base body within the sleeve.

2. A socket spanner insert according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining element comprises a first retaining element comprising at least one contact element made of a resilient material, which element is formed on or fastened to the sleeve and establishes force-fitting contact of the sleeve at the side wall of the wheel bolt hole.

3. A socket spanner insert according to claim 2, wherein the contact element is formed of a plurality of elevations which are arranged uniformly or non-uniformly on the sleeve and between which intermediate spaces are formed.

4. A socket spanner insert according to claim 3, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be conical, frustoconical, pyramidal, cylindrical, hollow-cylindrical, and/or prismatic.

5. A socket spanner insert according to claim 3, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular and/or semi-circular in a cross section radial to a sleeve surface of the sleeve.

6. A socket insert according to claim 3, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be circular, rectangular and/or polygonal in a cross section tangential to a sleeve surface of the sleeve.

7. A socket spanner insert according to claim 1, further comprising a second retaining element that is formed by a connection element between the sleeve and the tool, which connection element establishes a releasable and rotationally fixed connection between the sleeve and the tool, such that a rotational movement of the sleeve with respect to the tool and/or the car rim is blocked, while the base body is rotatably mounted inside the sleeve.

8. A socket spanner insert according to claim 7, wherein the connection element is configured as an arm which is slidably or pivotably hinged to the sleeve or to the tool at a first end, and can be releasably connected, at the second end thereof, to the tool or to the sleeve, or can be releasably connected at both ends to the sleeve and to the tool.

9. A socket spanner insert according to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises at least one annular groove into which the sleeve engages by means of retaining profiles, such that the sleeve is arranged on the base body so as to be interlocking and so as to not be slidable in the longitudinal axial direction.

10. A socket spanner insert according to claim 1, wherein thrust rings are arranged between the sleeve and the base body.

11. A socket spanner insert according to claim 4, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular and/or semi-circular in a cross section radial to a sleeve surface of the sleeve.

12. A socket insert according to claim 11, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be circular, rectangular and/or polygonal in a cross section tangential to the sleeve surface.

13. A socket insert according to claim 4, wherein the elevations are configured so as to be circular, rectangular and/or polygonal in a cross section tangential to a sleeve surface of the sleeve.

14. A socket spanner insert according to claim 3, further comprising a second retaining element that is formed by a connection element between the sleeve and the tool, which connection element establishes a releasable and rotationally fixed connection between the sleeve and the tool, such that a rotational movement of the sleeve with respect to the tool and/or the car rim is blocked, while the base body is rotatably mounted inside the sleeve.

15. A socket spanner insert according to claim 14, wherein the connection element is configured as an arm, wherein the arm is slidably or pivotably hinged to the sleeve or to the tool at a first end, and can be releasably connected, at the second end thereof, to the tool or to the sleeve, or the arm is releasably connectable at both ends to the sleeve and to the tool.

16. A socket spanner insert according to claim 3, wherein the base body comprises at least one annular groove into which the sleeve engages by means of retaining profiles, such that the sleeve is arranged on the base body so as to be interlocking and so as to not be slidable in the longitudinal axial direction.

17. A socket spanner insert according to claim 3, wherein thrust rings are arranged between the sleeve and the base body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a socket spanner insert;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a socket spanner insert which has been placed on; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a socket spanner insert which has been placed on.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a cross section of a socket spanner insert 1 comprising a base body 2 which comprises, at the end face, and opposite ends, a tool receptacle 4 and a screw head receptacle 3. The socket spanner insert 1 can be placed onto an impact screwdriver (not shown) by means of the tool receptacle 4, by means of which impact screwdriver wheel bolts can be released or tightened. The base body 2 is encompassed by a sleeve 5 which is rotatably connected to the base body 2. In contrast, in the longitudinal axial direction (arrow 6) the sleeve 5 is fastened on the base body 2 such that it cannot slide. For this purpose, the sleeve 5 comprises two retaining profiles 7 which engage into correspondingly configured grooves 8 on the base body 2. On the side remote from the end face 17 of the socket spanner insert 1, the annular retaining profile 7 is interrupted by slits 9 which allow for a certain amount of radial spreading of the sleeve 5 such that the sleeve 5 can be pushed onto the base body 2 without damage. In the mounted state (FIG. 1) of the socket spanner insert 1, the sleeve 5 is mounted so as to be freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis 10 of the base body 2. On the outside of the sleeve 5, retaining elements in the form of elevations 11 are provided, which elevations have a substantially trapezoidal cross section and are spaced apart from the sleeve surface. The elevations 11 shown consist of a soft material, in particular silicon, rubber or the like (a resilient material), and offer non-slip contact within a wheel bolt hole (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0023] FIGS. 2 and 3 are different cross-sectional views of a socket spanner insert 1 placed onto a wheel bolt 12, inside a wheel bolt hole 13. FIG. 2 is a side view, while FIG. 3 is a plan view. The diameter of the sleeve 5 of the socket spanner insert 1 is dimensioned such that the elevations 11 have a sufficiently large contact surface at the wheel bolt hole 13, in the case of very narrow wheel bolt holes 13, to bring about force-fitting mounting of the sleeve 5 inside the wheel bolt hole 13 and to prevent a rotation of the sleeve 5 inside the wheel bolt hole 13. In contrast, the coefficient of friction between the base body 2 and the sleeve 5 is lower, such that the base body 1 is freely rotatable in the direction of the arrow 14, such that the wheel bolt 12 can be fastened therein or released. It can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that intermediate spaces 15 result between the elevations 11, which spaces serve to receive particles of dirt 16. The particles of dirt 16 accumulate in the intermediate spaces 15 and as a result do not scratch the inside surfaces of the wheel bolt holes 13.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the wheel bolt hole 13 has a comparatively small diameter, such that the elevations 11 rest directly on the inside walls of the wheel bolt holes 13. In contrast, in the case of larger wheel bolt holes 13, when removing the wheel bolts 12 there is initially not yet any contact with the rim surface within the wheel bolt hole 13. However, as soon as the wheel bolt 12 has been fully unscrewed from the thread using the impact screwdriver, the socket spanner insert 1 starts to rotate, usually eccentrically, together with the sleeve 5, which can lead to the sleeve 5 touching the rim surface inside the wheel bolt hole 13. In this case, the particularly shaped elevations 11 on the sleeve 5 bring about immediate braking of the sleeve 5, up to a standstill, such that in this case too damage of the rim due to scratching or the like is effectively prevented.

[0025] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

List of Reference Numbers

[0026] 1 socket spanner insert

[0027] 2 base body

[0028] 3 screw head receptacle

[0029] 4 tool receptacle

[0030] 5 sleeve

[0031] 6 arrow

[0032] 7, 7′ retaining profile

[0033] 8, 8′ groove

[0034] 9 slit

[0035] 10 longitudinal axis

[0036] 11 elevation

[0037] 12 wheel bolt

[0038] 13 wheel bolt hole

[0039] 14 arrow direction

[0040] 15 intermediate space

[0041] 16 particles of dirt

[0042] 17 end face