Abstract: A dead blow slide hammer body with a through bore that receives and slides on a shaft. The hammer body includes one-or-more internal longitudinal cavities, lateral to the through bore, filled with a dampening material. When the hammer body sliding on the shaft strikes a slide stop, the dampening material creates a “dead blow” effect, increasing the duration of impact, while insulating a user from the shock.

Abstract: A dead blow slide hammer body with a through bore that receives and slides on a shaft. The hammer body includes one-or-more internal longitudinal cavities, lateral to the through bore, filled with a dampening material. When the hammer body sliding on the shaft strikes a slide stop, the dampening material creates a “dead blow” effect, increasing the duration of impact, while insulating a user from the shock.

Abstract: A tool including a bit including a detent portion in the form of a detent ball and a bias member adapted to provide a biasing force to the detent ball in an outward direction. The detent ball is adapted to engage a receiving portion in a socket to securely couple the bit to the socket. The biasing force may be sufficient to prevent the bit from being accidentally removed from coupling to the socket by hand after assembly. In one aspect, the bit may be removed from the socket upon application of an axial force of about 40 pounds or greater.

Abstract: A tool including a bit including a detent portion in the form of a detent ball and a bias member adapted to provide a biasing force to the detent ball in an outward direction. The detent ball is adapted to engage a receiving portion in a socket to securely couple the bit to the socket. The biasing force may be sufficient to prevent the bit from being accidentally removed from coupling to the socket by hand after assembly. In one aspect, the bit may be removed from the socket upon application of an axial force of about 40 pounds or greater.

Abstract: A reversible ratchet device is provided as a low-torque application wrench in the form of an elongated body carrying a ratchet mechanism thereon, the ratchet mechanism being operable under low-torque conditions such as are present with initial driving or final loosening of a workpiece. The device includes the ratchet mechanism carried directly on the body, both being co-axially rotatable with each other and with the workpiece.

Abstract: A reversible ratchet device is provided as a low-torque application wrench in the form of an elongated body carrying a ratchet mechanism thereon, the ratchet mechanism being operable under low-torque conditions such as are present with initial driving or final loosening of a workpiece. The device includes the ratchet mechanism carried directly on the body, both being co-axially rotatable with each other and with the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool for torquing threaded fasteners includes a socket body having formed therein a fastener-receiving receptacle with an axis of rotation, the receptacle having a plurality of interior faces arranged in a generally polygonal configuration and substantially parallel to the axis, with each of the interior faces having projecting laterally inwardly therefrom a pair of fastener-engaging surfaces with inner and outer ends spaced apart in use substantially axially, each fastener-engaging surface being arcuate and sloping away from the axis from a closed end toward an open end of the socket.

Abstract: A tool for torquing threaded fasteners includes a socket body having formed therein a fastener-receiving receptacle with an axis of rotation, the receptacle having a plurality of interior faces arranged in a generally polygonal configuration and substantially parallel to the axis, with each of the interior faces having projecting laterally inwardly therefrom a pair of fastener-engaging surfaces with inner and outer ends spaced apart in use substantially axially, each fastener-engaging surface being arcuate and sloping away from the axis from a closed end toward an open end of the socket.

Abstract: A socket for engaging a work piece having at least one wire. The socket includes a body having a closed peripheral side wall, first and second ends and a rotational axis extending between the first and second ends. The socket also includes a first receptacle formed in the first end and defining a drive structure configured for receiving a work piece for driving engagement therewith. A channel is formed in the side wall and opens at and extends laterally from the first end of the body for receiving the at least one wire.

Abstract: A molded tool structure has a non-metallic body and a continuous band of flexible and resilient non-metallic material encompassing the body and bonded to its exterior surface. The body may be a tool or a tool part. Also, the body may have one or more metal inserts insert molded therein, in which case there is a band encompassing each such insert. In one embodiment the body is a socket with inserts at both ends and in another embodiment the body is a driver shank with a double-ended screwdriver bit having a Phillips tip insert molded in the body and a flat-blade tip projecting from the body. The tool structure is molded by placing the flexible and resilient band or bands in a mold cavity, the body material being injected into the cavity so that it flows inside the band or bands and forces each band against the mold at the peripheral of the cavity. Any inserts are positioned in the cavity on suitable fixtures inside the bands so that the material flows between the bands and the inserts.

Abstract: An insulating hand tool has an elongated shank injection molded of a high-strength, electrically insulating material, such as glass-reinforced nylon, and a handle formed of an electrically insulating material. The handle and the shank may be molded together in a unitary, one-piece construction, or the handle end of the shank may be press-fitted in an axial bore in one end of the handle or the shank may be insert molded into the handle. The working end of the shank is adapted to carry a working tip or a socket, either of which may be insert molded in the working end of the shank or may be press-fitted in an axial bore therein. The socket may form a nut driver or define a receptacle to removably receive a working tip. The working tip may be a commercially-available, double-ended bit, with a Phillips tip at one end embedded in the shank.

Abstract: A composite box end wrench has a non-metallic body including a handle portion and at least one head portion which defines a fastener-receiving opening therethrough. The wrench includes strengthening and/or retaining structure which strengthens the head portion and can change the failure mode to confine wrench parts in the event of failure. In one embodiment each head portion has a fastener-engaging member insert molded therein along with a reinforcing plate which encircles the member and preferably extends slightly into the handle portion. The reinforcing structure could alternatively be a band extending the length of the wrench and encircling the fastener-engaging member (or members in a double-ended wrench). In a ratcheting version of the wrench the non-metallic body may be split lengthwise into two parts, each of which has reinforcing structure embedded therein, the fastener-engaging member being a ratchet gear which, along with an associated pawl, is disposed between the body parts.

Abstract: A composite box end wrench has a non-metallic body including a handle portion and at least one head portion which defines a fastener-receiving opening therethrough. The wrench includes strengthening and/or retaining structure which strengthens the head portion and can change the failure mode to confine wrench parts in the event of failure. In one embodiment each head portion has a fastener-engaging member insert molded therein along with a reinforcing plate which encircles the member and preferably extends slightly into the handle portion. The reinforcing structure could alternatively be a band extending the length of the wrench and encircling the fastener-engaging member (or members in a double-ended wrench). In a ratcheting version of the wrench the non-metallic body may be split lengthwise into two parts, each of which has reinforcing structure embedded therein, the fastener-engaging member being a ratchet gear which, along with an associated pawl, is disposed between the body parts.

Abstract: An insulating ratcheting screwdriver includes an elongated composite shank formed of electrically insulating material and provided with a bit holder at a working end thereof. The other end of the shank has an axial recess in which is disposed one end of a hexagonal connecting pin, the other end of which is press-fitted in an axial bore in one end of a metal coupler for joining the coupler to the shank. The metal coupler is removably received in a receptacle formed in a ratchet mechanism disposed in one end of an elongated, electrically insulating handle.

Abstract: A socket tool is formed primarily from non-metallic composite material. The socket tool body is compression molded of high-strength, glass-reinforced vinyl ester sheet molding compound. Metal inserts are respectively received in the driven and driving ends of the tool body, the inserts respectively defining openings for respectively mateably receiving associated driving and driven members, the inserts being disposed in the body so that no portion of the inserts projects outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the body. The inserts are preferably insert molded in the body, but may also be fixedly secured in pre-existing recesses in the ends of the body, as by press-fitting or bonding. In the latter case, the inserts are provided with anti-rotation outer surfaces which are non-circular in transverse cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A socket tool has an elongated body with driving and driven inserts, respectively, embedded in the opposite ends thereof, the inserts being flush with or recessed inwardly from the ends of the body. The inserts may be knurled around all or a portion of the outer surfaces thereof. Metal or non-metallic annular reinforcing members encircle at least one of the inserts. In one embodiment the reinforcement is a non-metallic sleeve which encircles the body along its entire length, and which may have end flanges overlapping the ends of the body. In other embodiments the reinforcement is entirely embedded in the body and in contact with the inner end surface and/or the peripheral side surface of at least one insert. In one embodiment the reinforcement extends from the insert to the outer surface of the body.

Abstract: A socket tool is formed primarily from non-metallic composite material. The socket tool body is compression molded of high-strength, glass-reinforced vinyl ester sheet molding compound. Metal inserts are respectively received in the driven and driving ends of the tool body, the inserts respectively defining openings for respectively mateably receiving associated driving and driven members, the inserts being disposed in the body so that no portion of the inserts projects outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the body. The inserts are preferably insert molded in the body, but may also be fixedly secured in pre-existing recesses in the ends of the body, as by press-fitting or bonding. In the latter case, the inserts are provided with anti-rotation outer surfaces which are non-circular in transverse cross-sectional shape.