Flank Drive Plus/Wright Grip/Anti-Slip
- Thread starter ocloc24
- Start date
disston
Well-known member
https://www.google.com/patents/US8365640
Here's the patent. Doesn't say who first produced them but I think it was Proto.
The flank drive was a Snap On was first produced by Snap On.
https://www.google.com/patents/US3495485
Here's the patent. Doesn't say who first produced them but I think it was Proto.
The flank drive was a Snap On was first produced by Snap On.
https://www.google.com/patents/US3495485
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
Snap-on came out with FD+ right around 1991 or so.
They are designed to turn nuts that have the corners completely rounded off.
They are designed to turn nuts that have the corners completely rounded off.
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davethorik
Well-known member
Pretty sure Bonney's Loc-Rite was the first of this kind.
I own all FDP I was just curious who started that design. Bonney as mentioned above would not surprise me.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Wright Grip look to be the best bang for the buck !
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Bonney never had an FD+ type design on their open ends that I know of. Their open ends were the hexagonal shape like the Cornwell's are.
davethorik
Well-known member
Yes, thanks for the correction, i believe the bonney loc rite was only on the box ends.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Yes and there's a thread floating around here that says Snap-on bought the patent to the Bonney Loc-Rite design which they call Flank Drive. Other people say that Snap-on invented the off corner engagement system. I don't think the argument was ever settled. Remains a mystery.
Box end -- The patent by bonney was indeed quoted as prior art for the box end ("Flank Drive") patent by snap on for sockets and 12pt wrenches. that was early 1960's IIRC.
The Open end -- A design for (+) new open end FD+ was put in production as noted above around 1991/92. It may have come from Williams (?), but I'm not that familiar at all with the Willams history.
Someone will probably know if we keep bumping the thread.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
The FD+ did not come from Williams. It's an SO invention.
shockwave
Well-known member
I am pretty sure snap on is originator for serrated open ends
And competitors followed suit
And competitors followed suit
I was under that impression but didn't know for sure. Wheres all the old timers who remember when this stuff came out?
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
When MAC came out with their own Flank Drive (for sockets and box ends), they went from being the thickest chrome socket to the thinnest over night. They're even thinner than SO. The implementation of the MACDRIVE will be indicated by an 'R' at the end of the part number which stands for "Revised." And incidentally, only their sockets with the 'R' at the end of the part number are USA made.