QUICK DISCONNECT TOOL, QUICK DISCONNECT MALE CONNECTOR AND METHODS OF USING THE QUICK DISCONNECT AND MALE CONNECTOR

Abstract

Provided are a quick disconnect tool and a male connector. The tool includes a socket, detents in the socket and a collar to open and close the detents. The male connector fits within the socket and cannot rotate within the socket. The male connector includes a recess into which the detents can lock the male connector inside the socket.

Claims

1. A quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a non-circular inner mating surface constructed to mate with a male connector having a non-circular outer mating surface, a socket chamber opening into which the male connector can enter the socket chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socket passing from an outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber; a detent located in the detent hole; and a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the collar is in a closed position on the socket the locking surface pushes the detent into a closed position where the detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collar is in an open position the unlocking surface allows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein when the male connector is within the socket chamber and the detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the recess of the male connector locking the male connector within the socket chamber.

2. The quick disconnect tool according to claim 1, wherein the socket having a socket connection opposing the socket chamber opening.

3. The quick disconnect tool according to claim 1, wherein the socket chamber is the shape of a hexagon, a square, or a star.

4. The quick disconnect tool according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detent holes and each detent hole having an associated detent.

5. A quick disconnect tool and male connector comprising: the male connector having a non-circular outer mating surface and at least one recess on the outer mating surface; and the quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a non-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the outer mating surface of the male connector, a socket chamber opening into which the male connector can enter the socket chamber, the outer mating surface of the male connector having a shape so that the male connector cannot rotate within the socket chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socket passing from an outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber; a detent located in the detent hole; and a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the collar is in a closed position on the socket the locking surface pushes the detent into a closed position where the detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collar is in an open position the unlocking surface allows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein when the male connector is within the socket chamber and the detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the recess of the male connector locking the male connector within the socket chamber.

6. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the outer mating surface of the male connector and the inner surface of the socket chamber are substantially the same shape.

7. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector further comprising inner threads or outer threads.

8. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector is connected to a first device so that the tool can connect to the first device by the male connector and when the tool is connected to the male connector the first device cannot rotate in relation to the tool.

9. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the tool is connected to a second device so that the second device can connect to the male connector by the tool and when the tool is connected to the male connector the second device cannot rotate in relation to the male connector.

10. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector is connected to a first device and the tool is connected to a second device so that when the tool is connected to the male connector the first and second devices are connected and the first device cannot rotate in relation to the second device.

11. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the socket having a socket connection opposing the socket chamber opening.

12. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the socket chamber is the shape of a hexagon, a square, or a star.

13. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of detent holes and each detent hole having an associated detent.

14. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 5, wherein the male connector is a lug nut for a vehicle.

15. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 14, wherein the quick disconnect tool further comprises a handle that extend beyond a tire when connected to the lug nut.

16. The quick disconnect tool and male connector according to claim 14, wherein the tool is connected to a device and the device can be connected to the lug nut by connecting the tool to the male connector.

17. A method of installing a quick disconnect comprising: providing a male connector having a non-circular outer mating surface and at least one recess on the outer mating surface; providing a quick disconnect tool comprising: a socket defining a hollow socket chamber having a non-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the male connector, a socket chamber opening into which the male connector can enter the socket chamber, the outer mating surface of the male connector having a shape so that the male connector cannot rotate within the socket chamber, and at least one detent hole in the socket passing from an outer surface of the socket to the socket chamber; a detent located in the detent hole; and a collar having an inside surface that slides over the outer surface of the socket, the inside surface of the collar having a locking surface and an unlocking surface, when the collar is in a closed position on the socket the locking surface pushes the detent into a closed position where the detent protrudes into the socket chamber and when the collar is in an open position the unlocking surface allows the detent to not protrude into the socket chamber, wherein when the male connector is within the socket chamber and the detent is in a closed position the detent protrudes into the recess of the male connector locking the male connector within the socket chamber; and inserting the male connector into the chamber of the socket when the collar is in an open position and moving the collar to a closed position when the male connector is inside the chamber to lock the male connector inside the socket chamber.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the male connector further comprises internal or external threads and the method further comprising using the quick disconnect tool to rotate the male connector and screw the male connector onto or into threads to mount the male connector; and moving the collar into an open position and removing the quick disconnect tool from the male connector.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising connecting a first device to the male connector.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the outer mating surface of the male connector and the inner surface of the socket chamber are substantially the same shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1A illustrates a bottom view of the tool.

[0032] FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the tool.

[0033] FIG. 1C illustrates a side view of the tool.

[0034] FIG. 2A illustrates a cut-away view of the tool in an open position where the detent does not protrude into the socket cavity.

[0035] FIG. 2B illustrates a cut-away view of the tool in a closed position where the detent protrudes into the socket cavity.

[0036] FIG. 3A illustrates a cut-away view of the tool having the detents in a closed position protruding into the socket cavity.

[0037] FIG. 3B illustrates a cut-away view of the tool having the detents in an open position not protruding into the socket cavity.

[0038] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate exemplary non-circular shapes for the inside surface of the socket chamber.

[0039] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate top views of exemplary non-circular shapes for the male connector mating surface.

[0040] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate side views of exemplary types of quick disconnect male connectors.

[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates and exemplary detent hole and detent.

[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary handle.

[0043] FIG. 9 illustrates use of a handle mounted to modified lug nut of a vehicle tire.

[0044] FIG. 10 illustrates a male connector mounted to a device.

[0045] FIG. 11 illustrates a tool mounted to a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The invention will now be explained with reference to the attached non-limiting drawings. The quick disconnect tool 2 and male connector 40, 41 can be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and alloys. A preferred material is steel.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the tool 2 comprises a socket 4. The socket 4 has a socket body defining a hollow socket chamber 6 having a non-circular inner surface constructed to mate with the non-circular mating surface 44 of the quick disconnect male connector 40, 41. The socket 4 includes a socket opening 8 into which the male connector 40, 41 can enter the socket chamber 6. The tool 2 also includes a collar 20 and optionally a socket connector 10.

[0048] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an internal view of the tool 2. The socket 4 contains at least one detent hole 12 in the socket 4 passing from an outer surface of the socket 4 to the socket chamber 6. FIGS. 3A and 3B show a preferred hexagon form with six detent holes 12. A detent 14 is present in the detent hole 12. The collar 20 is constructed sized to slide over the socket 4. The collar 20 has an inside surface that slides over the outer surface of the socket 4. The inside surface of the collar 20 has a locking surface 25 and an unlocking surface 24, when the collar 20 is in a closed position on the socket 4, as shown in FIG. 2B, the locking surface 25 pushes the detent 14 into a closed position where the detent 14 protrudes into the socket chamber 6. When the collar 20 is slid into an open position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the unlocking surface 24 allows the detent 14 to not protrude into the socket chamber 6. When the male connector 40 is within the socket chamber 6 and the detent 14 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 2B the detent 14 protrudes into the recess 42 of the male connector 40 locking the male connector 40 at an insertion position within the socket chamber 6 so that the male connector 40 cannot move further in or out of the chamber 6. The non-circular mating surface 44 of the male connector 40 and the non-circular inner mating surface of chamber 6 prevent the male connector 40 from rotating within the chamber 6 and the detent 14 locks the male connector 40 within the chamber 6. FIG. 3A is another view of the detents 14 in a locked position protruding within the chamber 6. 3B is another view of the detents 14 in an unlocked position not protruding within the chamber 6. The socket 4 has channels 21 and 27, and each channel 21, 27 having an associated removable retaining ring 22 and 29 present for retaining the collar 20 on the socket 4. The collar can cover both of the retaining rings 22 and 29 when the collar 20 is in a closed position, shown in FIG. 2B, and the retaining ring 22 can be exposed when the collar 20 is in an open position, shown in FIG. 2A. The tool 2 can include a spring 26 for biasing the collar 20 into a closed position. The spring 26 can be between the retaining ring 29 and a ridge 31 on the inside of the collar 20. When the collar 20 is slid into the open position, the first retaining ring 22 can be exposed and removed. With the first retaining ring 22 removed, the collar 20 can be slid off of the socket 4. Then the second retaining ring 27 can then be removed. Other retaining devices can be used in place of the retaining rings 22 and 27 to retain the collar 20 on the socket 4. The preferred form of the collar 20 is shown in the Figs in which the collar 20 slides along the outside surface of the socket 4 in a lengthwise direction. However, other collar designs can be utilized, such as collars that slide along the outside surface of the socket 4 in a widthwise direction, i.e. rotate about socket, or that slide in any direction along the outside surface of the socket 4 as desired. The main function of the collar is to lock and unlock the detent(s) 14.

[0049] The non-circular mating surface 44 and the non-circular shape of the chamber 6 can be any desired non-circular shape. Preferred non-circular shapes are hexagonal, square, and star shapes. Examples of preferred non-circular shapes for the chamber 6 include square, hexagon and star as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. Examples of preferred non-circular shapes for the mating surface 44 include square, hexagon and star as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. The shape of the mating surface 44 does not have to be the same as the shape of the chamber 6. The only requirements are that the male connector 40 is capable of being inserted into the chamber 6 and that the male connector 40 cannot rotate within the chamber 6. Preferably, the mating surface 44 and chamber 6 have the same shape.

[0050] Sockets for installing or removing bolts and nuts are now well known. Conventional sockets can be modified for use in the present invention by adding the detent hole(s) 12, channel 21 and channel 27, and then installing the detent(s) 14, spring 26, retaining rings 22 and 29, and collar 20. Conventional sockets are most commonly hexagonal, or more commonly referred to as “6-point” in lay terms. Conventional sockets are driven by being attached to the driving tool via a male/female square connection fitting cared the square drive, which is an example of suitable socket connector 10. Standard sizes of square drives around the world include ¼″, ⅜″, ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1½″, 2½″ and 3½″ square drive sizes (a de facto international standard with no metric equivalents) along with some lesser used drivers such as ⅝″ square drive, and both #4 and #5 spline drives specified in ANSI 107 specifications. This wide range of square drive sizes provides for a wide variety of socket types and sizes to suit small to very large nuts and bolts. Some square drivers have a through hole to attach the socket to the driver (using a retaining ring with o-ring and pin type, or single piece molded retaining rings), a locking pin, or friction ball. Some common hand ratchets employ a quick release button on their top for quick socket release of smaller sockets. The tool chosen to drive the socket wrench ultimately supplies the mechanical advantage needed by the user to provide the torque needed to loosen or tighten the fastener as may be required. Larger drivers are typically used with higher torque, while smaller drivers are used for convenience in smaller low torque applications. Given the limits of human strength and fatigue, torque above 600 ft-lbs of torque will generally involve some kind of power assist, instead of the user simply pushing on the handle of a wrench. Very large sockets and drivers are typically powered by hydraulics to achieve torque. The present invention is suitable for any size socket and torque.

[0051] Bolts having external threads and nuts having internal threads, both of which have a non-circular mating surface that mates with a socket to rotate the bolts and nuts are now well known. The male connector 40 can be a formed from conventional bolts or nuts by forming a recess 42 in the non-circular mating surface 44 of the bolt or nut that is constructed to mate with the socket chamber 6. Examples of such modified bolts, male connector 40, are shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. The external threads 48 of the male connector 40 can be of any desired type, such as threads that screw into a threaded hole or into a surface, and into any desired material such as wood, metal, composites, ground, rock, plastic or any other surface. The threads can be performed in the material or formed by the threads on the bolt as the bolt is threaded into the surface. The internal threads 46 of the male connector 40 can be threaded onto any rod having mating threads or the threads on the rod can be formed as the male connector 40 is threaded onto the rod. The recess 42 is preferably formed in the non-circular mating surface 44 so that the mating surface 44 is both sides of the recess as shown in the FIG. 6.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, the detent hole 12 can have a smaller diameter at the opening 15 to the socket chamber 6 than the opening 16 to the outer surface of the socket 4 so that only a portion of the detent 14 can pass into socket chamber 6. If the detent 14 is in a preferred ball shape, the opening 16 can be larger than the diameter of the ball detent 14 so the detent can be inserted into the detent hole 12 and the opening 15 can be smaller than ball detent 14 diameter so that the ball detent 14 cannot fall or move entirely into the chamber 6 and only a portion 17 of the detent 14 can protrude into the chamber 6. While a ball shape is shown in the drawings, the detent 14 can have any desired shape.

[0053] The socket 4 can include a socket connector 10 for connecting devices to the socket 4. The socket connector 10 can be any desired shape and function. A preferred example of socket connector 10 is a conventional socket connector in the shape of a square so that any device have a square socket connector can be connected to the socket 4. An example of a devise is a socket handle 30 (FIG. 8) having a male socket connector 32 that can be inserted into the socket connector 10. The tool 2 can provides high strength and can be used under high loads. As shown in FIG. 9, the male connector 40 can be a lug nut on a vehicle wheel 52. The tool 2 can be used to attach a handle 30 that extends beyond the wheel to the male connector 40 (lug nut). When the wheel 52 is powered by the vehicle, the wheel 52 and vehicle can be lifted by the handle 30 contacting the ground as the wheel 52 is turned to thereby move the vehicle out of a hole, sand, mud, snow, or other situation. Since the socket 4 and male connector 40 do not rotate in relation to each other, there is very little or no friction or wear occurring during use. Another example of a device is chains that can be easily and quickly attached to the lug nut male connector 40 using the tool 2. The tool 2 is capable of releasably and quickly connecting one or more devices together in to provide a high torque and high strength connection.

[0054] In another embodiment, as shown in the FIG. 10, the male connector can be fastened to or integrally formed with a first device 50 in any desired matter, such as welding, gluing, mechanical fastening, being integrally formed, etc. As shown in FIG. 11, the socket 4 can be can be fastened to or integrally formed with a second device 51 in any desired matter, such as welding, gluing, mechanical fastening, being integrally formed, etc. Thus, any combination of devices can fastened to each other so that the devices cannot move or rotate with regard to each other under high loads. For example, an entire multi-ton vehicle can be lifted with one tool and male connector.

[0055] The male connector 40, 41 can be driven into a surface using the tool 2, such as a wall, floor, ground, or any other surface to provide a quick disconnect capability. Devices having a tool 2 mounted thereon can easily be connected to the male connector 40, 41 to provide a high strength and high torque connection between the device and the surface. Examples of devices include shelves, pictures, cabinets, hangers, televisions, and cables. The tool 2 and male connector 40, 41 can be suitable for climbing applications, where the connector 40, 41 is driven into a rock face. The tool 2 and male connector 40, 41 preferably do not provide a fluid transfer, as shown in the Figs.

[0056] While the claimed invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the claimed invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, while a collar 20 is shown in the drawings, other structures to close and open the detents 14 can be used.