Abstract: A shaft drive includes a push button locking mechanism for releasingly locking the shaft drive to the attachment cavity of an attached tool. The locking mechanism can be used to positively couple one tool, such as a wrench drive, to another tool, such as a drive socket. A push button includes an inner end having a concave surface that interacts with the convex surface of a sliding locking bolt inside the shaft such that depression of the button moves the locking bolt to a release position. A spring in the locking bolt bore biases the bolt in its locking position.

Abstract: A short shaft has: a rear socket for coupling with a drive; a front drive for receiving a socket; and locking components for locking the rear socket to the drive and the front drive to the received socket. A central bore enters the shaft from the rear. A locking bolt and biasing spring go in the central bore and are retrained by a set screw. The locking bolt front end engages a detent ball disposed in a radial cavity in the drive. A thumb lever, disposed in a bore, has an inner end including a bore for engaging the locking bolt rear section for moving the locking bolt and an outer end accessible to a user's thumb for axial movement for moving the bolt from a locking position wherein the detent ball protrudes out of the drive so as to engage a drive socket and prevent its removal to a releasing position wherein the detent ball resides substantially within the front drive so as not to engage a drive socket.

Abstract: An extension for use with the drive member of a socket wrench system includes a shaft having a coupling at its rear end for attaching the rear end to a socket drive member, and a stud at its front end for torque transferring engagement with a socket. A locking mechanism secures a socket to the stud. The locking components are operable between a first position for positively locking a socket to the stud and a second position for releasing a socket. The locking mechanism includes a central bore within the shaft and a radial cavity from the central bore through the stud. A detent in the radial cavity has a locking position wherein it protrudes out of the stud when the locking mechanism is in its locking position so as to engage a socket and prevent its removal from the stud. The detent has a releasing position wherein it resides substantially within the stud and partially within the axial bore. A locking bolt within the axial bore is axially moveable by a thumb lever for activating the detent.