Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle or shank
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-04-17
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle or shank
C081S060000, C403S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrench, and more particularly to a wrench having a securing mechanism for securing the driving cartridge to the handle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical wrenches comprise a ratchet driving head secured to one end of a handle. Two kinds of the ratchet wrenches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,559 to Lin, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,427 to Chow. The driving heads may not be rotated relative to the handle. The other typical wrenches comprise a driving head pivotally secured to one end of the handle at a lateral pivot shaft that is located in a horizontal plane of the handle such that the driving head will rotate about the horizontal plane and will be disengaged from the horizontal plane of the handle. The driving head may not be rotated in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane of the handle of the wrenches.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional wrenches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a wrench including a driving cartridge rotatably secured to the handle and rotatably secured to the handle at a shaft that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the handle for allowing the driving cartridge to be rotated in a horizontal plane parallel to the horizontal plane of the handle.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a wrench comprising a handle including a horizontal plane and including a first end, a driving cartridge including a first end having a driving mechanism provided therein and including a second end rotatably secured to the first end of the handle at a shaft, the driving cartridge including a horizontal plane parallel to the horizontal plane of the handle and rotatable about the shaft in the horizontal plane parallel to that of the handle, and means for selectively securing the driving cartridge at an angular position relative to the handle.
The selectively securing means includes a pawl slidably disposed between the second end of the driving cartridge and the first end of the handle, and means for selectively coupling the pawl to the second end of the driving cartridge. A barrel is rotatably disposed between the second end of the driving cartridge and the first end of the handle for rotatably receiving the pawl in the barrel. The barrel includes a knob extended outward therefrom for rotating the barrel. At least one first engaging member is provided in the second end of the driving cartridge and at least one second engaging member is provided in the pawl, and means for selectively engaging the first engaging member of the driving cartridge with the second engaging member of the pawl. The barrel includes means for selectively moving the pawl toward and away from the driving cartridge and to engage with and to disengage the second engaging member of the pawl from the first engaging member of the driving cartridge.
The selectively moving means includes at least one inclined groove formed in the pawl, and at least one projection extended from the barrel and slidably engaged in the inclined groove of the pawl for allowing the barrel to move the pawl toward and away from the driving cartridge when the projection of the barrel is moved along the inclined groove of the pawl. The pawl includes an opening communicating with the inclined groove for allowing the projection of the barrel to be engaged into the inclined groove of the pawl.
A spring biasing means is further provided for biasing the second engaging member of the pawl to engage with the first engaging member of the driving cartridge. The first end of the handle includes a depression formed therein, the biasing means includes a spring engaged in the depression of the handle and engaged with the pawl.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4406186 (1983-09-01), Gummow
patent: 5499559 (1996-03-01), Lin
patent: 5533427 (1996-07-01), Chow
patent: 5694818 (1997-12-01), Nickipuck
patent: 6000299 (1999-12-01), Cole
patent: 6032555 (2000-03-01), Whitley
Baxley Charles E.
Shakeri Hadi
Smith James G.
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