HEX KEY

Abstract

 The present invention corresponds to the technical field of hand tools, specifically to a hex key of the type grouped in a holder (4), in such a way that the same has a longitudinal body (1) with a first end (1.1) and a second end (1.2) and a plastic coating (2) overinjected on the outer surface thereof, such that said coating (2) comprises a first cylindrical portion of constant diameter and, in addition, a second portion (3) of truncated cone shape, so that when the hex key is inserted into the circular fitting hole of the holder (4), the first cylindrical portion of the coating (2) passes easily through the said hole, but the second tapered portion (3) is friction-fitted into the said hole up to a certain intermediate section of the said hole.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention corresponds to the technical field of hand tools, in particular to a hex key of the type that is grouped in a holder.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Nowadays there are many different types of hand hex keys, depending on the type of screwdriver tip, the shank, whether or not they are angled, such as Allen hex keys, for example.

[0003] The hex key have many advantages, including the fact that they are very simple to manufacture, thanks to their simple design. They are small and light, making them easy to carry.

[0004] Furthermore, they fit perfectly inside the screw head and have several contact surfaces with the screw, which are protected from external damage. With these hex keys, better control and tightening is achieved, thus avoiding what happens with other types of hex keys, in which the transmitted force could end up with the screwed screw rounding the heads of the screws.

[0005] These hex keys fit perfectly into the angles of the bolts and are suitable for bolts of various sizes and dimensions. They allow the torque to be redistributed throughout the hex key, thus achieving a higher tightening force.

[0006] All these advantages have led to the increasing use of hex keys, which are most often supplied in sets containing several hex keys, each corresponding to a different size and usually with a holder for all the hex keys in the set, allowing them to be located.

[0007] To differentiate between sizes, many retailers apply colour coding to each size, making the selection of which tool to use more visual, quicker and easier.

[0008] In some cases, the colour is achieved by applying paint to the metal body of the hex key.

[0009] In other cases, in order to achieve a better grip on these spanners, the solution adopted is to place a thermoplastic cylindrical sleeve, normally PVC, manufactured by extrusion, on the body of the spanner, which makes it easier to grip and protects the surface of the spanner.

[0010] This sleeve is also coloured, if desired, to differentiate the hex keys by size.

[0011] These hex keys with the sleeve present an improved option over those without, due to the better grip they present, however, this sleeve is usually a bit costly to insert into the holder of the hex key set, so when fitting or removing the hex key from the holder, as the whole sleeve must pass through the fitting hole of the holder, it is usually a cumbersome process.

[0012] There is no device in the state of the art that allows a colour differentiation of these hex keys, while at the same time improving the grip, and that solves the problem of the difficulty of fitting the set of hex keys into the holder.

Description of the invention

[0013] The hex key presented here has a longitudinal body with a first and a second end, and comprises a plastic coating on at least one part of the body, which is overinjected on the outer surface of the body.

[0014] With the hex key proposed here, a significant improvement on the state of the art is achieved.

[0015] This is because we obtain a hex key with a plastic coating that protects the body of the hex key and to which the desired colour can be applied in a simple way, but in addition, as the means of fixing this coating are formed by over-injection, it is possible to vary the geometry and/or the finishes of this coating as required.

[0016] A great advantage of this is that it can be designed with two portions of different thickness or geometry, a first cylindrical portion and a second portion with a truncated cone shape in the coating area at the end, depending on the direction in which the coating area enters the fitting hole in the support. In this way, the first cylindrical portion of the coating passes easily and quickly through the bore of the support, which has a circular cross-section, and it is only at the end of the coating, where the second cone-shaped portion is located, that the fastening is carried out, which, being by means of this cone shape, takes place in a uniform and comfortable way by friction.

[0017] On the other hand, in these hex key set holders, the fitting hole usually has longitudinal grooves in its interior that collaborate with this truncated cone shape, for a proper and safe fitting of the hex keys.

[0018] This truncated cone shape also makes the hex key ergonomic to use.

[0019] On the other hand, the plastic coating feels much softer and warmer to the hand than the steel of which the body of the hex key is made. For a better grip, this coating can also have a rough outer surface, which increases the grip of the user and reduces the possibility of the hex key slipping out of the hand.

[0020] It is therefore a very efficient hex key, with which a better grip is achieved and with which it is possible to personalise it, solving the problems of fitting into the bracket of the hex key sets.

Brief description of the drawings

[0021] In order to assist in a better understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a series of drawings is provided as an integral part of this description, in which the following is shown for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of a hex key, for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of a hex key together with a set of hex keys and a holder thereof, for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0022] In view of the figures provided, it can be seen how, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hex key proposed here, which has a longitudinal body (1) with a first end (1.1) and a second end (1.2), comprises a plastic coating (2) on at least one part of the body (1), which is overinjected on the outer surface of the body (1).

[0023] In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating (2) has a first end (2.1) and a second end (2.2) oriented respectively towards the first and second ends (1.1, 1.2) of the body (1) and where it also comprises, between both first and second ends (2.1, 2.2), a first cylindrical portion of constant diameter and, starting from the second end (2.2), a second portion (3) of truncated cone shape.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the larger base (3.1) of this second tapered portion (3) is closest to the second end (1.2) of the body (1) and the smaller base (3.2) of said second tapered portion (3) is oriented in the opposite direction, being closest to the first end (1.1) of the body (1).

[0025] In this way, and as can be seen in Figure 2, when the hex key is inserted into the circular fitting hole (not shown) of a support (4) of the set of hex keys, the body (1) with the coating (2) in its first cylindrical portion easily passes through said hole, and the coating (2) begins to be inserted into said hole at its first end (2.1), so that, once said first cylindrical portion has passed through said bore, the second end (2.2) of the coating (2) reaches the height of the bore, at which time the smaller base (3.2) of the second tapered portion (3) is first inserted and then friction-fitted up to a certain intermediate section of the same into said bore.

[0026] When unclipping the hex key from the holder (4), the opposite movement is carried out, i.e. first the second tapered portion (3) is unclipped and then the rest of the body (1) of the hex key with the coating (2) is removed. In this way, both when fitting and removing the hex key, the process is more comfortable, quicker and simpler.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, in this preferred embodiment, the coating (2) of the hex key has a rough outer surface. This makes it easier to grip without slipping.

[0028] Likewise, in this particular case, the rough surface extends from the minor base (3.2) of the tapered portion (3) to the first end (2.1) of the coating (2).

[0029] According to another aspect, in this preferred embodiment of the invention, the body (1) has a first section (5) and a second section (6) between the first and second ends (1.1, 1.2) thereof, arranged in an angled manner, forming an angle between them of less than 180°, which in this particular case is equal to 90°.

[0030] The second section (6) is shorter in length than the first section (5) and where the coating (2) is located in the first section (5).

[0031] The described embodiment constitutes only an example of the present invention, therefore, the specific details, terms and phrases used herein are not to be regarded as limiting, but are to be understood only as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis providing a comprehensible description and sufficient information for the person skilled in the art to apply the present invention.

Claims

1. Hex key, comprising a longitudinal body (1) with a first end (1.1) and a second end (1.2), characterised in that it comprises a plastic coating (2) on at least a part of the body (1), which is overinjected on the outer surface of the body (1).

2. Hex key according to claim 1, characterised in that the coating (2) has a first end (2.1) and a second end (2.2) oriented respectively towards the first and second ends (1.1, 1.2) of the body (1) and wherein said coating (2) further comprises, between both first and second ends (2.1, 2.2), a first cylindrical portion of constant diameter and, starting from the second end (2.2), a second portion (3) of truncated cone shape, where the larger base (3.1) of this truncated cone portion (3) is the closest to the second end (1.2) of the body (1) and the smaller base (3.2) thereof is oriented in the opposite direction, being closer to the first end (2.1) of the body (1).

3. Hex key, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coating (2) has a rough outer surface.

4. Hex key according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the rough surface extends from the minor base (3.2) of the truncated cone portion (3) to the first end (2.1) of the coating (2).

5. Hex key, according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (1) has a first section (5) and a second section (6) between the first and second ends (1.1, 1.2) thereof, angled at an angle of less than 180°, the second section (6) being shorter in length than the first section and where the coating (2) is located in the first section (5).

6. Hex key according to claim 5, characterised in that the first and second sections (5, 6) form a 90° angle.

Drawing