High strength drive extension

Abstract

A high strength drive extension includes a shaft, a sleeve, and a detent. The shaft includes a connecting structure. The sleeve is movably coupled to the shaft. The sleeve includes a driving head. The sleeve defines a hole in which the shaft inserts. The hole defines a receiving region mating with the connecting structure. The detent is configured to releasably retaining a tool on the driving head. The sleeve is disposed between the shaft and the sleeve and is movable between locking and unlocking positions in response to relative movement of the sleeve and the shaft.

Claims

1. A high strength drive extension comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end and extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end along an axis, with the shaft including a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure at the second end, wherein the shaft has a width in a width direction radial to the axis, wherein a maximum width of the first connecting structure is smaller than a minimum width of the second connecting structure, wherein the second connecting structure has a first width; a sleeve having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end, and movably coupled to the shaft, wherein the sleeve includes a driving head at the first end, wherein the sleeve defines a hole in which the shaft inserts, wherein the sleeve is movable on the shaft along the axis, wherein the hole defines first and second receiving regions respectively mating with the first and second connecting structures, wherein the hole has a width in a width direction radial to the axis, wherein a maximum width of the first receiving region is smaller than a minimum width of the second receiving region, wherein the driving head of the sleeve has a second width, and wherein the first width is greater than the second width; and a detent for releasably retaining a tool on the driving head disposed between the shaft and the sleeve and being movable between locking and unlocking positions in response to relative movement of the sleeve and the shaft; wherein the second connecting structure has at least three flat first driving sides, wherein each first driving side defines a protrusion protruding therefrom, with the protrusion unmovably protruding from each first driving side, wherein the second receiving region has at least three flat second driving sides mutually engaging with the at least three first driving sides, and wherein each second driving side defines a recess receiving the protrusion of the first driving side engaged therewith.

2. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends radially outwardly from each first driving side, wherein the protrusion has a curved cross section, wherein the recess extending inwardly into each second driving side, and wherein the recess has a curved cross section.

3. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first driving side extends lengthwise along the axis, wherein the protrusion extends lengthwise along the axis, wherein each second driving side extends lengthwise along the axis, and wherein the recess extends lengthwise along the axis.

4. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion has a length not greater than a length of each first driving side, and wherein the recess has a length not greater than a length of each second driving side.

5. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connecting structure defines a recessed area with a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, wherein the second recessed portion is deeper than the first recessed portion such that a radial distance from the axis to a bottom of the second recessed portion is smaller than a radial distance from the axis to a bottom of the first recessed portion, wherein the sleeve defines an aperture extending radially with respect to the axis on the driving head, wherein the detent is movably retained in the aperture and is received by the recessed area, and wherein the sleeve is movable on the shaft between a first position in which the detent is in the locking position, protrudes outside the aperture, and is supported by the bottom of the first recessed portion and a second position in which the detent is in the unlocking position, does not protrude outside the aperture, and is supported by the bottom of the second recessed portion.

6. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sleeve is urged by a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is retained between the shaft and the sleeve, and wherein the resilient member is carried by the first connecting structure and is received by the hole.

7. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first connecting structure has a circular cross section, and wherein the first receiving region has a circular cross section.

8. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment extending axially outwardly from the first shaft segment, wherein the first and second shaft segments are aligned along the axis, and wherein the first and second connecting structures are respectively located on the second and first shaft segments.

9. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first shaft segment defines a first orifice extending lengthwise along the axis and including an opening at an end of the first shaft segment, and wherein the second shaft segment includes a first end fit in the first orifice and a second end opposite the first end disposed outside the first orifice.

10. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first shaft segment defines a second orifice and the second shaft segment defines a groove communicating with the second orifice, wherein the second orifice extends radially with respect to the axis, wherein the groove includes two opposite sides spaced along the axis, wherein the first and second shaft segments include a restrainer engaging therewith, and wherein the restrainer is inserted in the second orifice and restrained between the two opposite sides of the groove.

11. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first connecting structure defines a recessed area with a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, wherein the second recessed portion is deeper than the first recessed portion such that a radial distance from the axis to a bottom of the second recessed portion is smaller than a radial distance from the axis to a bottom of the first recessed portion, wherein the sleeve defines an aperture extending radially with respect to the axis on the driving head, wherein the detent is movably retained in the aperture and is received by the recessed area, and wherein the sleeve is movable on the shaft between a first position in which the detent is in the locking position, protrudes outside the aperture, and is supported by the bottom of the first recessed portion and a second position in which the detent is in the unlocking position, does not protrude outside the aperture, and is supported by the bottom of the second recessed portion.

12. The high strength drive extension as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sleeve is urged by a resilient member, wherein the resilient member is retained between the shaft and the sleeve, and wherein the resilient member is carried by the first connecting structure and is received by the hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a high strength drive extension in accordance with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the high strength drive extension.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the high strength drive extension.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIGS. 1 through 4 show a drive extension 10 in accordance with the present invention. The drive extension 10 includes a shaft 20, a sleeve 30, and a detent 37.

(6) The shaft 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22 and extends longitudinally from the first end 21 to the second end 22 along an axis C. The first end 21 of the shaft 20 defines a cavity for coupling with a driving tool. The driving tool can drive, i.e. rotate, the drive extension 10. The shaft 20 includes a first connecting structure 25 and a second connecting structure 26 at the second end 22.

(7) The first connecting structure 25 defines a recessed area 251 with a first recessed portion 252 and a second recessed portion 253. The second recessed portion 253 is deeper than the first recessed portion 252 such that a radial distance from the axis C to a bottom of the second recessed portion 253 is smaller than a radial distance from the axis C to a bottom of the first recessed portion 252.

(8) The first connecting structure 25 has a circular cross section. The second connecting structure 26 has at least three flat first driving sides 261. The second connecting structure 26 has four flat first driving sides 261 illustrated in FIG. 4. Each first driving side 261 extends lengthwise along the axis C. Each first driving side 261 defines a protrusion 262 protruding therefrom. The protrusion 262 extends radially outwardly from the respective first driving side 261. The protrusion 262 has a curved cross section. The protrusion 262 extends lengthwise along the axis C. The protrusion 262 has a length not greater a length of the respective first driving side 261.

(9) The shaft 20 has a width direction radial to the axis C. A maximum width of the first connecting structure 25 is smaller than a minimum width of the second connecting structure 26. The second connecting structure 26 has a first width W1.

(10) The shaft 20 includes a first shaft segment 23 and a second shaft segment 24 extending axially outwardly from the first shaft segment 23. The first and second shaft segments 23 and 24 are aligned along the axis C. The first and second connecting structures 25 and 26 are respectively located on the second and first shaft segments 24 and 23. The first shaft segment 23 defines a first orifice 231 extending lengthwise along the axis C and including an opening at an end of the first shaft segment 23. The second shaft segment 24 includes a first end fit in the first orifice 231 and a second end opposite the first end disposed outside the first orifice 231. The first shaft segment 23 defines a second orifice 27 and the second shaft segment 24 defines a groove 241 communicating with the second orifice 27. The second orifice 27 extends radially with respect to the axis C. The second orifice 27 is located on the second connecting structure 26. The second orifice 27 is located between the two protrusions 262 of the two adjacent first driving sides 261. The groove 241 includes two opposite sides spaced along the axis C. The first and second shaft segments 23 and 24 include a restrainer 28 engaging therewith. The restrainer 28 is inserted in the second orifice 27 and restrained between the opposite sides of the groove 241. The restrainer 28 restrains relative movement of the first and second shaft segments 23 and 24. The restrainer 28 is a one-piece structure.

(11) The sleeve 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32 opposite the first end 31 and extends longitudinally from the first end 31 to the second end 32. The sleeve 30 includes a driving head at the first end 31. The sleeve 30 is movably coupled to the shaft 20. The sleeve 30 defines a hole 33 in which the shaft 20 inserts. The hole 33 extends through the first and second ends 31 and 32 of the sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 is movable on the shaft 20 along the axis C. The hole 33 defines first and second receiving regions 34 and 35 respectively mating with the first and second connecting structures 25 and 26. The first receiving region 34 has a circular cross section.

(12) The hole 33 has a width in a width direction radial to the axis C. A maximum width of the first receiving region 34 is smaller than a minimum width of the second receiving region 35. The second receiving region 35 has at least three flat second driving sides 351 mutually engaging with the three first driving sides 261. The second receiving region 35 has four flat second driving sides 351 illustrated in FIG. 4. Each second driving side 351 extends lengthwise along the axis C. Each second driving side 351 defines a recess 352 receiving the protrusion 262 of the respective first driving side 261. The recess 352 extends inwardly into the respective second driving side 351. The recess 352 has a curved cross section. The recess 352 extends lengthwise along the axis C. The recess 352 has a length not greater than a length of the respective second driving side 351. The sleeve 30 is urged by a resilient member 38. Moreover, the sleeve 30 defines an aperture 36 extending radially with respect to the axis C.

(13) The resilient member 38 is retained between the shaft 20 and the sleeve 30. The resilient member 38 is carried by the first connecting structure 25 and is received by the hole 33. The first end of the resilient member 38 abuts an interface between the first and second receiving regions 34 and 35. The second end of the resilient member 38 abuts the shaft 20.

(14) The detent 37 is configured to releasably retaining a tool on the driving head. The detent 37 is disposed between the shaft 20 and the sleeve 30 and is movable between locking and unlocking positions in response to relative movement of the sleeve 30 and the shaft 20. The detent 37 is movably retained in the aperture 36 and is received by the recessed area 251. The sleeve 30 is movable on the shaft 20 between a first position in which the detent 37 is in the locking position, protrudes outside the aperture 36, and is supported by the bottom of the first recessed portion 252 and a second position in which the detent 37 is in the unlocking position, does not protrude outside the aperture 36, and is supported by the bottom of the second recessed portion 253.

(15) The first connecting structure 25 is movable in the first receiving regions 34 in response to relative movement of the sleeve 30 and the shaft 20. Moreover, the first connecting structure 25 is partially received by the second receiving region 35. The second connecting structure 26 is movable in second receiving region 35 in response to relative movement of the sleeve 30 and the shaft 20.

(16) In view of the forgoing, the drive extension 10 has high strength and avoids deformation of parts thereof in that the second connecting structure 26 is wider than the driving head of the sleeve 30. Furthermore, the first driving sides 261 and the second driving sides 351 mutually engage with one another, and the protrusions 262 are respectively received in the recesses 352.

(17) The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.