Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~'~353~.~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a ratchet
wrench having an improved mechanism for driving a
ratchet-reversing mechanism and for the mechanism
achieving ratchet reversal.
Prior to the present invention and the cozen-
ding parent application, U.S. Serial No. 083380, having
issued March 9, 1982 as U.S. Patent 4,318,314, the no-
vernal mechanisms for ratcheting of ratchet wrenches
has always necessitated a separate and distinct fever-
set switch apart from the normally-gripped handle of
the ratchet wrench. The handle of the ratchet wrench
revolved during a non-driving ratcheting stroke of the
shaft and handle of the prior art ratchet wrenches. A
typical prior art patent illustrating the above noted
turning (revolving) of the handle during the ratcheting
stroke of oscillation is U.S. Patent 4,086,829 dated
May 2, 1978 to Hugeness. Both that prior art patent and
also U.S. Patent 3,372,781 dated March 12, 1968 to
Fulton illustrates the use of separate switches for no-
versing direction of ratcheting, the action being by
force transmission by other than the normal drive shaft
of the ratchet wrench. There has, therefore, been pro-
sent the difficulty of properly retaining a tight grip
on the handle when it rotates during ratcheting, loge-
then with necessity of a two hand operation -- one to
hold the wrench and the other to flip the separate but-
ton or switch apart from normal handle gripping Also,
as compared to the force-transmitting mechanism in the
head of the ratchet wrench of the prior parent applique-
lion above noted, transmitted through the paw itself,
and likewise as compared to torque of the parent apply-
cation handle mechanism through a spring structure,
thus- - - I- - = - n
I ,. 3 it
1 requiring a sturdy spring structure to endure against
breakage of the spring when subjected to large forces,
the invention of the present application deals with such
disadvantages and difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has one or
more objects such as obtaining an improved ratchet
wrench overcoming one or more of the preceding problems
and difficulties.
Another object, more specifically, is to obtain a
ratchet wrench having a ratchet mechanism reversible by
reverse twisting and turning the handle of the ratchet
wrench.
Another object is to obtain the preceding objects
together with greater strength and sturdiness of driving
- mechanisms thereof.
Another object is to obtain a ratchet wrench
having head gearing drive mechanism of improved strength
and sturdiness.
Another object is to obtain a ratchet wrench with
a novel mechanism for drive of the drive shaft
rotatable, upon a rotating of the handle thereof.
Another object is to obtain the above noted
objects, together with a female ratchet member of
improved strength and sturdiness.
Other objects will become apparent from the
preceding and following disclosure.
One or more objects of the invention are obtained
ho the invention as disclosed herein, as diagrammatic
gaily illustrated typically by the Figures.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments
demonstrating features and advantages of the present
invention, there is provided a ratchet wrench assembly
~3S3~
1 having selectable ra-tcheting action for causing rotation
in alternate directions. The wrench assembly has a
support structure and a drive stud means mounted on the
support structure for rotation thereon. Also included
5 it a gear means mounted on the support structure and
coupled to the drive stud means for driving it The
wrench assembly also has a two position ratchet means
coupled to the drive stud means for allowing i-t relative
to the support structure freedom of rotation in one of
two directions. This freedom of rotation can reverse
its direction in response to a change in the position of
the two-position ratchet means. The assembly includes a
drive shaft means for drivel engaging the first gear
means, and also includes a barrel means mounted about
the drive shaft means or rotatable driving it. The
wrench assembly also includes a coupling means coupled
between the gear means and the two-position ratchet
means for alternating the position of the latter in
response to alternate rotation of the barrel means.
unidirectional rotation of the barrel means in a
direction beyond that required to reverse the position
of the ratchet means is thereafter operable to cause
rotation of the drive stud means in the direction
allowed by the freedom of rotation of the two position
ratchet means.
The invention, in a preread embodiment, may be
described as a novel ratchet wrench typically inclusive
of a general and continuous support structure supporting
the handle, drive shaft, gearing and driven socket stud
and support structure thereof, one improvement being a
mechanism such that concurrently the handle is free from
revolving connection during a ratcheting stroke of the
handle and shaft, while the ratchet reversal switch is
actuatable by initial reverse -twisting and rotation of
the handle of the ratchet wrench. Another improvement
includes a toggle-switch mechanism actuatable by the
1 head gears upon the initial reverse twisting end
revolving of the handle ox the ratchet wrench. Another
improvement arises in the line of direct force
transmittal by the stationary gears in their
interconnection with the support structure of the socket
stud of the ratchet wrench. Another improvement arises
in a novel mechanism of force-transmittal from the
handles inside irregularly shaped circumscribing surface
(as viewed in transverse cross-section through the
handle) through a wed gable roller by the wedging of the
roller against the rounded shaft (of circular
cross-section as viewed in transverse cross-section
there through when the handle is twisted and revolved in
a non-driving ratcheting direction of rotation. Another
improvement is a novel drag mechanism for permitting the
handle to be twisted off center alignment with the
handle support structure, such that the wedging and
gripping operation is thusly initiated and such that the
handle drives through the wedged roller, the round drive
shaft-
Preferably the wedging structure includes paired adjacent oppositely slanted surfaces as surface
portions of the inside, irregular shaped surface of the
handle, as previously discussed above. A broad range
for an angle formed between an imaginary line of
extension of one of the slanted surfaces and an opposing
converging imaginary tangent line that is orthogonal to
a perpendicular taken through a center diameter of the
roller in a wedged state, ranges between about 7 degrees
to about 12.5 degrees. But for preferred non-slipping
engagement, even if slightly soiled with oil or the
like, a preferred range is from about 9 agrees to about
11 degrees.
Preferably the dragging composition and
concurrently the composition that permits the handle to
twist out of alignment with the handle support structure
I
1 is rubber, and preferably in the form of an O-ring. By
saying rubber is meant any suitable elastic material or
composition. The drag serves as a braking compositor
and this function facilitates the ability of the twisted
and revolved handle in the non-driving reverse
direction, to grab with its slanted surface the surface
of the roller thusly effecting (achieving) the wedging
operation ox the ball or roller between the slanted
surface and the rounded shaft surface against which the
roller is normally mounted. Accordingly, while the
roller normally revolves when the rounded shaft
revolves, the roller is not normally in wedging state of
relationship with the handle except when the handle is
reversely twisted and revolved. Once the wedged state
has been achieved, continued reverse turning continues
to cause the rounded shaft to revolve It is to ye
naturally understood that what is termed the reverse
direction of revolving is dependent upon at any given
moment which opposite direction therefrom is the driving
direction -- which depends on which currently is the
ratchet state of ratcheting of the ratchet wrench. If
it is in a clockwise driving state, then reverse
direction is counterclockwise. On the other hand, if it
is in the counterclockwise driving state, then the
reverse direction is clockwise.
The invention may be better understood by making
reference to the following Figures. It is particular
pointed out that the drawings of the Figures are not to
scale and are not engineering drawings, and are nut
representative of necessarily exact size and position
relationships, instead, the drawings are purely
diagrammatical in nature, intended to illustrate
mechanism, operation and general shape and function for
improved understanding of the description of the
invention. However, the elements illustrated are
accurate and operative, this invention having been
] reduced to practice by actual construction prior to the
filing of this application for patent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the novel
ratchet wrench diagrammatically in a perspective view.
Fig. PA illustrates a head-end view of the
assembly of Fig. 1, as taken along line AHAB of Fig. 1.
Fig. BAA illustrates diagrammatically a detailed
and cross-sectional view of a portion of -the structure
illustrated in Figs. PA and PA.
Fig. 2B illustrates diagrammatically a handle-end
of the Fig. 1 embodiment, as taken along line AHAB of
Fig. 1, in a side cross-sectional view at the 2B end of
line AHAB.
Fig. PA illustrates diagrammatically a plan view
for the Fig. 1 embodiment, transverse -to the stud axis,
as viewed looking down upon the several plates arranged
on owns on top of the other.
Fig. 3B illustrates diagrammatically a plan view
of the Fig. 1 embodiment after removal of the top plate
illustrated in Fig. PA, thus illustrating the upper
toggle switch actuating plate that is rotatedly moved by
a gear actuated by teeth on the driving plate of Fig.
PA.
Fig. 3C illustrates diagrammatically a plan view
of the Fig o 1 embodiment after removal of the two upper
plates of Figs. PA end 3B, thus illustrating the lower
toggle-switch actuating plate that is rotatedly moved in
response to a gear actuated my teeth on the driving
plate of Fig. PA, and part of head support structure.
Fig. ED illustrates diagrammatically a top view
of the head-end of the embodiment of Fig. 1 after
removal of the top cover plate and after removal of the
upper plates of Figs. PA, 3B and 3C, thus illustrating a
~35~
1 face of the socket stud support structure, the mounted
gear, -the toggle-spring-mounting recess, a cross section
of the plates-mounting shaft, the ratchet paw
positioned in an arcuate cut-away section of the socket
stud-support structure, the biasing spring that is
biased against the paw, the female toothed ratchet
surface o-E the head support structure and the like.
Fig. PA illustrates diagrammatically a transverse
cross section of the embodiment ox Fig. 1 as taken along
line 4-4 of Fig. 2B, illustrating the rounded drive
shaft, the mounted roller and support structure thereof
-- the barrel structure and the slanted surfaces of the
irregularly shaped inside surface at the circumscribing
surface of the handle as viewed transversely.
Fig. 4B illustrates diagrammatically the same
matters illustrated in Fig. PA in detailed and
cross-sactional view but in different positions causing
a wedged state of being, such that a rotation of the
handle rotates the drive shaft (and also illustrating
the angle of the slanted surfaces).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figs. 1, PA, BAA, 2B, PA, 3B, 3C, ED, PA and 4B
all illustrate a common embodiment of the invention and
accordingly, identical and corresponding indicia are
shown in more than one Figure where common elements are
illustrated in differing views. Once an indicia in one
view has been described, it normally is not repeated for
other Figures.
The perspective view of Fig. 1 illustrates
broadly the outward appearance of the novel ratchet
wrench 5 having a head 6 and a handle end 7.
The Fig. PA cross-sectional view of the head 6
shows collectively the stack of consecutive plates 8
driven by, directly or indirectly, the shaft 9 and
3~l5
l portions pa and 9b thereon as illustrated in Figs. PA,
3B and 3C. Portion pa is squared and has plate 16 with
its square hole 16b formed by hole plate edges aye, such
that plate 16 revolves with the shaft 9. In contrast,
each of plates 17 and 18 merely revolve around -the
rounded portion 9b of the shaft 9. The shaft 9 is
driven by the teeth 10 being acted upon by teeth 11 of
gear element 12 that it driven by action on its beveled
; teeth 13 by bevel gear teeth aye of bevel gear 14
mounted fixedly upon drive shaft 15. The socket stud 20
is continuous and integral with stud support structure
lo. The stud bearing surface 21 of annular shape serves
to cushion torque forces of the stud support structure
during use, substantially eliminating the po~siblility
of stretching or rupture of support structure portion
aye. 'rho head support structure portion 22b has the
female ratchet teeth 27 on the inside face thereof, and
at its upper portion seats the support head top 59.
Within the circularly-shaped stud support
structure 19, having a substantially flat upper face,
there is a recess space 23 in its upper face having
spring 28 mounted therein, with its spaced apart
upwardly extending spring ends aye and 28b. A scalloped
cut-out space 36 has a coil spring 25 mounted at one end
within a recess 24 of the scalloped inwardly located
wall of the stud support structure 19 and the other end
of the spring is mounted within the paw recess eye
viably best in Fig ED of the paw 26. The paw 26
has, as presently positioned, the non-ratcheting toothed
portion aye held in the position shown in Figs. PA, 3C
and ED ho the clamping surface aye of the actuating key
41 of plate 18 and the ratcheting toothed portion 26b.
The clamping surfaces aye and 41b, respectively, act on
the paw heads 26c and 26d of Figs. PA, 3C and ED.
Figs. PA, 3B and 3C illustrate the aperture 30
having the spring end orb mounted therein. Spring end
I
1 aye is minutely in the plate aperture 38, best seen in
Fig. I Space 37 in plate 16 of Fig. PA merely
provides space for movement of that plate about the
spring end aye. Likewise, space 31 in Fig. 3C provides
space for movement of plate 18 about spring end aye.
With reruns to principally Figs. PA, PA, 3B
and 3C, the plate 16 has cut-out slot 32 with male teeth
aye engaging gear 35. Cut-out slot 33 is also viably
in Fig. PA. The cutout slot 33 is in plate 17 through
which slot 34 is also viably, the slot 33 having
female teeth aye in Fig. 3B. Non-toothed, mere
space-providing slot 34 provides space for plate 18 to
move freely about the gear 35. The Fig. PA plate 16 has
a cut out space 37 providing room for movement of the
15 plate 16 about the spring end aye. Thus, spring end aye
can relatively move in the the cut-out space 37 in
direction 45 when the plate 16 is driven in direction
42, and in direction 45 when plate 17 forces its
movement by revolving in direction 43. The spring end
20 aye moving in direction 45 can cause plate 1~3 to move
revoltingly in direction 44 which would cause the
actuating key 41 to reverse the positron of the paw 26
by the clamping surface 41b pressing against heat Dow
Fig. 3B shows space 29 for movement of spring end 28b~
Plate 16 has a downwardly (inwardly) extending,
radially projecting, and peripherally located,
flange-like key member 39 having opposite
force-transmitting faces aye and 39b shown in Figs. PA,
PA, 3B, BAA, 3C and ED for portions 8'. Key member 39
can respectively act on flange or ridge (rim) structure
aye extending outwardly from the stud support structure
and having force receiving (pressure receiving) face
aye' and the spaced apart other flange or ridge
structure 40b with its pressure receiving face 40b'.
Force is transmitted from the plate 16 through key
member 39 to drive -the stud 20. Thus, initial reverse
I
1 turning of the shaft pa causes the plate 16 through
teeth aye to rotate gear 35 which gear 35 rotates plate
17 reversing the position of the spring end aye thereby
causing the spring end 28b to also reverse to thusly
move plate 18 in direction 44. This concurrently causes
thereby the actuating key 41 to reverse the direction of
the paw 26 to become spring biased and clamped in the
opposite direction.
The Honda end 7 of the ratchet wrench, as shown
in Figs. 2B and 4, illustrates the drive shaft 15
against which rollers aye, 47b and 47c rest within the
guide space of barrel structure 48. The rollers during
normal operation and positioning roll freely with the
contacting drive shaft 15 and do not become wedged
wedge
:15 against the irregularly shaped surfaces aye of structure
50 that is tubular in shape and mounted integrally and
fixedly with and on the surrounding circumscribing
handle structure 60. Even when the handle is gripped
and twisted by a person the rollers do not engage or
wedge at the apex locations aye where angled surfaces
converge and meet. However, the twisting of the handle
and turning thereof in a non-driving direction of
ratcheting causes the handle structure 60 and structure
50 to be twisted by virtue of yielding elastic 0-rings
51 and 52. Because the 0-rings yield when the handle is
twisted, the handle structure 60 moves out of alignment
with regard to structure 22d which is a part of the
support structure and with regard to the barrel
structure 48 whereby the rollers tone or more) become
30 wedged as shown in Fig. 4B by movement relatively) in
direction 61 by the roller aye. This motion with regard
to movement by handle structure 60 and/std~ecture 50 in
direction 62 thereby drives the shaft 15 in the
ratcheting direction 63 (drive shaft 15).
The abutment bearing member 55 of the handle
portion 7 in Fig. 2B, of annular shape, serves to hold
53~5
1 members onto the drive shaft 15 being locked into
position by the horse shoe clamp (pin) 57 on the drive
shaft slot 56. The end plug member 58 merely fits
snugly in a wedge fit as shown (a snap-fit).
For either ratchet position, the ratchet wrench
is operated to forcefully and manually move the socket
stud by the oscillating movement of the handle relative
to the anchored head portion. The twist of the handle
in a ratcheting direction causes the ratcheting driving
-functions to reverse and a continued turning beyond the
intermediate reversing phase results in driving in the
reverse direction as the new alternate driving direction
and what heretofore was the driving direction has thusly
become the new alternate ratcheting direction.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible in light of the above
teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
