Snap-On Technologies, Inc.

Snap-On Tools Company

Corpak, Inc.

Michael Q Thompson

Daniel M Eggert

Marco E DeVecchis

Stacy T Spracklin

David G Quinn

Erik Andersen

Robert B Edwards, Ii

William T Pagac

Robert C Gibson

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. The parts may either confine or expose a peripheral portion of the gear, and the reinforcing structure encircles hub portions of the pawl and gear to the hold them together. The body parts may be secured together by various means, including pinning, ultrasonic welding and snap-fitting. The wrench body may be provided with an outer non-metallic sheath, in addition to or in lieu of the reinforcing structure, which sheath covers at least the handle portion of the body.

Composite box wrench with reinforcing and retaining structure

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.

Composite socket with dual inserts and annular reinforcing member

The invention is a device for angular fixation of a delivery or drainage tube at, for example, the point where that tube exits through the skin from a body cavity. The tube may be used for delivery, extraction, or evacuation of fluids or gases through a surgically formed stoma in a patient. In the enteral feeding, or delivery, embodiment, an enteral feeding tube extends outwardly from the patient to support the components of the device. The components include a sleeve disposed along and movable along the feeding tube and a base elbow unit through which the feeding tube passes. The base elbow unit includes a subdermal portion, a sleeve engaging portion, and a generally cylindrical tube-engaging portion. The feeding tube is movable from a first, substantially straight position to a second, acutely angled position. In this second, acutely angled position, the tube is immobilized by locking engagement to the tube engaging portion. The device includes an interlocking tab at one end of the sleeve, which tab enables locking engagement of the sleeve engaging portion of the base elbow unit when the tube is in its second, acutely angled position.

Tube fixation device

Growing community of inventors

Waukegan, IL, United States of America

Michael Q Thompson