Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
RATCHET-ACTION OPEN-END WRENCH
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ratchet-action open-end wrench.
Description of the Prior Art
Conventional ratchet-action open-end wrench, as shown in US 4,637,284, has a
fixed jaw, a movable jaw which is able to slide linearly, and an elastic
member. In an
operation condition, user can pull the wrench back and forth. The movable jaw
is
able to reciprocate with respect to the fixed jaw. Thus, the movable jaw can
clutch
threaded member along only a predetermined direction, so that the threaded
member
is rotated along the predetermined direction. The threaded member would be
released and would rotate with respect to the wrench when the wrench is pulled
along the opposite direction. Threaded member can be detached or fastened
easily.
However, the wrench mentioned above is not suitable for being used in a
narrowed environment. Moving direction of the movable jaw is simply aimed away
from the fixed jaw, even away from handle of the wrench. Considerable movement
of the movable jaw is necessary for releasing the threaded member. Thus, the
movable jaw would probably blocked by other objects, especially in narrowed
environment, failing to move and to release the threaded member.
For the requirement of operation in narrowed space, wrenches are provided in
several patents, such as US 5,287,777, US 5,582,082, and US 7,827,887. These
wrenches are suitable to be used in narrowed space, providing ratchet-action
function. The wrench revealed in US 5,287,777 is similar to the wrench
revealed in
I
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
US 7,827,887. The movable jaws of the wrenches are slidable along a segmental
pathway which is defined and limited by a pin, an arc-shaped hole, and several
arc-shaped surfaces. Thus, the movable jaw is unable to rotate arbitrarily.
The other
wrench shown in US 5,582,082 is provided with a pin and a linear extended
hole, so
that movable jaw of the wrench is able to slide. Further, both of movable jaw
and
fixed jaw of the wrench is formed with an arc-shaped surface. The arc-shaped
surfaces are used for limiting sliding pathway of the movable jaw, so that the
movable jaw can only slide with respect to the fixed jaw. The wrenches
mentioned
above are suitable for narrowed space, being welcomed in the market.
However, the wrenches are difficult to be produced. The components of the
wrenches should be formed with several specific contours, especially arc-
shaped
surfaces, some of which are located in grooves. The arc-shaped surfaces are
necessary for keeping the movable jaw in the predetermined pathway. The
arc-shaped surfaces are very difficult to be machined or processed. For
instance, the
arc-shaped surface of the wrench described in US 7,827,887 is located at an
interior
side of opening of the wrench. Machining tool, such as milling cutter, can
hardly
move into the opening. Thus, machining is obstructed.
For producing the wrenches, precision casting may be chosen as a main process.
However, this would lead to a deterioration of quality of the wrench since
precision
casting is always accompanied with deficiencies about structure strength and
surface
precision. With lowered structure strength, the wrench would be unwelcomed in
strict operation condition. With lowered surface precision, movement of
movable
jaw of the wrench would be obstructed by dust. On the other hand, precision
casting
2
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
would bring the manufacturing cost high. Market competitiveness of the
wrenches
would be probably destroyed by the disadvantages mentioned above.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate
the
above mentioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide another ratchet-action
open-end wrench which can be machined easily.
To achieve the above and other objects, a ratchet-action open-end wrench of
the
present invention includes a main body, a working portion, a slidable
mechanism,
and an elastic member.
Said main body has a handle, at least a head portion, and a fixed jaw. The
head
portion is connected to one end of the handle. The fixed jaw extends and
protrudes
out from the head portion.
Said working portion has at least a connection arm and a movable jaw. The
connection arm abuts against the head portion. An opening is defined by the
movable
jaw and the fixed jaw.
Said slidable mechanism comprises a sliding groove and a sliding portion. The
sliding groove is formed on one of the head portion and the connection arm.
The
sliding portion is firmly disposed on the other one of the head portion and
the
connection arm. The sliding portion is slidably disposed on the sliding
groove, so
that the working portion is able to slide along the sliding groove with
respect to the
main body. The working portion is slidable between a first position and a
second
position. A width of the opening is minified when the working portion slides
toward
3
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
the first position. The sliding groove is arc-shaped. An arc center of the
sliding
groove is located out of the head portion. The main body is located between
the arc
center and the movable jaw. The sliding portion has a non-circular cross
section, so
that the sliding portion is unable to rotate in the sliding groove
arbitrarily.
Said elastic member abuts against the main body and the working portion, so
that the working portion has a tendency to slide toward the first position.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for
purpose
of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the
present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a stereogram showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing showing using condition of a first embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a breakdown drawing showing a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 7 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a schematic drawing showing using condition of a second embodiment
4
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a schematic drawing showing of a third embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 11 is a schematic drawing showing of a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Please refer to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 for a first embodiment of the present
invention.
The ratchet-action open-end wrench of the present embodiment has an opening
which is provided for clamping threaded member, such as screw, nut, or other
similar
component. User can pull the wrench back and forth. The wrench would drive the
threaded member to rotate along a single direction so as to detach or fasten
the
threaded member. In the present embodiment, the wrench includes a main body 1,
a
working portion 2, a slidable mechanism 3, and an elastic member 4.
The main body 1 has a handle 11, a head portion 12, and a fixed jaw 13. The
head portion 12 is connected to one end of the handle 11. The fixed jaw 13
extends
and protrudes out from the head portion. Thus, the head portion 12 connects
the
handle 11 to the fixed jaw 13. For purposes of handling or storing, handling
bar or
hanging hole may be disposed on one end of the handle 11, where is away from
the
head portion 12. The fixed jaw 13 may be further formed with a recess 131. The
head portion 12 is formed with a receiving groove 121. Thickness of the fixed
jaw
13 may be greater than thickness of the head portion 12. Thus, the main body 1
can
be formed with two step surfaces on two sides of the main body 1, as shown in
Fig. 2
and Fig. 3. The step surfaces are located between the fixed jaw 13 and the
head
5
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
portion 12. In some embodiments, it is also possible that the main body is
formed
with single step surface on one side of the main body.
The working portion 2 has two connection arms 21 and a movable jaw 22, as
shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The connection arms 21 abut against the head
portion 12.
The head portion 12 is located between the two connection arms 21. The movable
jaw 22 is connected to the connection arms 21. The movable jaw 22 and the
fixed
jaw 13 are facing each other so as to define the opening therebetween. The
movable
jaw 22 may formed with the other recess 221. The recess 221 of the movable jaw
and the recess 131 of the fixed jaw are facing each other. Thus, the recesses
221, 131
are able to clamp corners of a polygonal column of a threaded member 5, as
shown
in Fig. 4. Each of the connection arms 21 is formed with a fixation hole 211.
In the present embodiment, the working portion 2 has two connection arms 21
so as to clip the head portion 12 therein. Dust or debris would be blocked out
by the
connection arms 21 so as to keep motion of the head portion 12 and the
connection
arms 21 smooth. In some embodiments, the working portion may have only one
connection arm. The main body has two head portion correspondingly. Thus,
connection arm can be positioned between the two head portion, obtaining
similar
dust-proof effect.
The slidable mechanism 3 includes a sliding groove 31 and a sliding portion.
The sliding groove 31 is formed on the head portion 12. The sliding portion is
firmly
disposed on the connection arms 21. More particularly, the sliding portion
includes a
sliding member 321 and a fixation pin 322. The sliding member 321 is slidably
received in the sliding groove 31. The sliding member 321 is formed with an
6
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
aperture 323. The fixation pin 322 penetrates through the aperture 323 and is
received in fixation holes 211 of the connection arms 21. It should be noted
that the
fixation pin 322 should be unable to rotate with respect to the sliding member
321
and the connection arms 21. The fixation pin 322, the aperture 323, and the
fixation
holes 211 may be formed with non-circular cross section if necessary. Thus,
the
sliding portion is slidably disposed on the sliding groove 31. The working
portion 2
is able to slide along the sliding groove 31 with respect to the main body 1.
The
sliding member 321 is formed in arc-shaped, so that the sliding portion has a
non-circular cross section. The sliding portion is unable to rotate in the
sliding
groove 31 arbitrarily. The sliding groove 31 extends and is formed arc-shaped.
Arc
center 311 of the sliding groove 31 is located out of the head portion 12, as
shown in
Fig. 4. Further, the movable jaw 22 is located at right side of the main body
1, and
the arc center 311 is located at left side of the main body 1. In other words,
the
movable jaw 22 and the arc center 311 are located at opposite sides divided by
the
main body 1. Thus, width of the opening would be changed when the working
portion 2 and the movable jaw 22 move along the sliding groove together with
the
sliding portion.
It should be noted that the sliding portion is still able to rotate in a
universal
aspect since the sliding groove 31 is arc-shaped. However, the rotation caused
by
sliding along the sliding groove 31 is ignored here. Rotation of the sliding
portion
discussed above is rotation of the sliding portion with respect to the sliding
groove.
Unable to rotate of the sliding portion with respect the sliding groove should
not be
regarded as that the sliding portion is unable to slide and rotate along
curved sliding
7
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
groove.
The elastic member 4 abuts against and locates between the main body 1 and
the working portion 2. More particularly, the elastic member 4 is received in
the
receiving groove 121 of the head portion, and abuts against the working
portion 2.
Accordingly, please refer to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the sliding portion is able to
slide
along the sliding groove 31. The sliding portion is firmly disposed on the
connection
arms 21 of the working portion. Thus, the working portion 2 can slide along
the
arc-shaped sliding groove 31 together with the sliding portion. The working
portion
2 can slide between a first position and a second position.
Refer to Fig. 4, the opening defines a width direction. When the working
portion is located at the first position, the opening is used for clamping a
threaded
member 5 therein. Two opposite ends of the working portion 2, the fixed jaw
13, and
the head portion 12 has an initial width Do therebetween.
Refer to Fig. 5, the working portion 2 is able to slide along the sliding
groove
31 toward the second position. The threaded member 5 can escape from the fixed
jaw 13 and the movable jaw 22 so as to rotate in the opening arbitrarily. Two
opposite ends of the working portion 2, the fixed jaw 13, and the head portion
12 has
a maximum width Dm therebetween. Preferably, subtraction of the maximum width
Dm and the initial width Do is smaller than tan percent of the initial width
Do. Thus,
in an operation condition, the threaded member 5 can escape from the opening
without overly movement of the working portion 2. When user pulls the wrench
in
an opposite direction, the opening can clamp the threaded member 5 immediately
so
as to fasten or detach the threaded member 5 easily. Further, the wrench is
suitable
8
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
for operating in narrowed space since motion of the working portion 2 is
minified by
employing the arc-shaped sliding groove.
Please refer to Fig. 4. The elastic member 4 abuts against the working portion
2,
so that the working portion 2 has a tendency to slide toward the first
position. The
working portion 2 would slide to the first position when the working portion 2
is
released from external force. The connection arms 21 would abut against the
step
surfaces. Width of two opposite ends of the working portion 2, the fixed jaw
13, and
the head portion 12 is then return to the initial width Do.
In the present embodiment, the sliding groove 31 is formed on the head portion
12. The sliding portion is firmly disposed on the connection arms 21. In other
possible embodiments of the present invention, position of the sliding groove
31 and
position of the sliding portion may be interchanged. The sliding groove may be
formed on the connection arms, and the sliding portion may be firmly disposed
on
the head portion. In addition, in the embodiment, the fixation holes of the
connection
arms should be removed, and the head portion should be formed with the
corresponding fixation hole. Thus, the sliding portion can be assembled on or
attached to the head portion by fabrication or other manners.
Please refer to Fig. 6 to Fig. 8. In a second embodiment of the present
invention,
structure of the wrench is approximately similar to the wrench of the first
embodiment. The sliding portion is replaced with two pins 324. Each of the
connection arms 21 is formed with two fixation holes 211. Each of the pins 324
penetrates through the sliding groove 31 and is received in two corresponding
fixation holes 211 which are located on the connection arms respectively. The
pins
9
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
324 are able to slide along the sliding groove 31. Thus, the working portion 2
is still
able to slide along the arc-shaped sliding groove 31 between the first
position and
the second position, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. In the present embodiment,
the
pin 324 may has circular cross sections respectively; even so, the cross
section of the
sliding portion is still non-circular since each of the pins 324 is regarded
as only a
part of the sliding portion. The working portion 2 is still unable to slide in
the sliding
groove 31 arbitrarily. Thus, in the present embodiment, whether each of the
pins 324
is able to rotate is not limited. As such, the structure of the wrench is
further
simplified in the second embodiment.
Please refer to Fig. 10 for a third embodiment of the present invention. The
opening has a bottom end near the connection arm 21 a which is opposite to an
open
end of the opening. The recess 221a on the movable jaw 22a is more distant
than the
recess 131a on the fixed jaw 13a from the bottom end of the opening so that
the two
recesses 221 a,131 a are not symmetrical positionally. Thereby, when the
wrench is
pulled in an opposite direction, an angle should be rotated to reposition a
corner of
the threaded member to the recess 221a on the movable jaw 22a is decreased, so
that
it is easier for a user to operate back and forth.
Besides, for better protection for corners of the threaded member, a fourth
embodiment is provided as shown in Fig. 11. First, a free end of the fixed jaw
13b
has an inclined face 133 facing the opening. The inclined face 133 is inclined
toward
the open end of the opening. Thereby, when the threaded member 5 is clamped
between the fixed jaw 13b and the movable jaw 22b, the fixed jaw 13b abuts
against
a fringe of the threaded member 5 instead of a corner of the threaded member 5
so
CA 02785973 2012-08-09
that corners of the threaded member 5 are prevented from abrasion by the fixed
jaw
13b. Second, each of the fixed jaw 13b and the movable jaw 22b further forms a
notch 132,222. The two notches 132,222 face each other. The notch 133 on the
fixed
jaw 13b is recessed away from the movable jaw 22b, and the notch 222 is
recessed
away form the fixed jaw 13b. With the notches 132,222, the fixed jaw 13b and
the
movable jaw 22b are prevented from abutting against corners of the threaded
member 5. Thus, abrasion of the threaded member 5 is avoided.
In view of foregoing, the wrenches of the present embodiments have simplified
structures. It is noted that arc-shaped abutting surface is dismissed, and
only
arc-shaped groove which can be manufactured easily is retained. The components
are suitable for machining and processing. Producing processes, such as
machining,
folding, casting, and pressing, can be chosen as the main producing process.
As such,
cost, precision, and structure strength can be managed well.
