Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle or shank
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-06-19
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle or shank
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247386
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to indexable wrenches to which other tools such socket heads, crowfoot-type wrenches and the likes are connected for use to install and tighten nuts, bolts and other threaded means, and to break loose the same.
More particularly, this invention relates to an improved indexable dual action wrench which can be used in a first variably angled configuration to transmit force applied to a moment arm. In a second configuration, the moment arm can be moved to reciprocate and rapidly rotate the attachment mechanism relative to the moment arm.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Indexable dual action wrenches like the one set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,186 to the present inventor, Stephen A. Gummow, apply direct torque to a socket head in a first configuration to tighten or loosen a nut and in a second configuration, to rapidly rotate the socket head to spin the nut. That wrench provides more than one position for the handle relative to the wrench body.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,221 to James E. Cole, another indexable head ratchet wrench is disclosed. That device describes a dual action wrench which, in its locked position, utilizes a half-splined connecting pin to engage complimentary splines on the inner surface of an orifice in the wrench body as a means to prevent rotation about the axis of the pin. One of the major drawbacks of this deslon is the susceptibility of the splines on the inner surface of the orifice to chipping., burring and breaking. Additionally, in order to permit the handle to move between the locked and unlocked positions, it is necessary for the orifice in the handle to be substantially larger that the “unsplined” portion of the pin which it engages in the unlocked position, resulting with sloppiness in the movement of the handle when in the unlocked position. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved dual action wrench which operates in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, in which the device can be readily switched between the two configurations.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved dual action wrench which is switchable between the locked and unlocked configurations, which may be readily positioned in a limited number of different angles in the locked configuration, the positions corresponding to 45° increments.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved dual action wrench which is movable between a locked or direct torque configuration and an unlocked or reciprocal configuration, in which the difficulties and drawbacks of prior devices are avoided, including those associated with reliance on mating splines to lock and unlock the wrench.
Other objects and advantages of the inventions will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A ratchet wrench including a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a ratchet head, a connecting pin, and a handle. The ratchet head includes a conventional ratchet system for rotating a shank about an axis. A conventional socket or an open-end or closed-end crowfoot-type wrench can be connected to a shank.
The generally cylindrical connecting pin aligned along an axis parallel to the shank axis and attached to the ratchet head. The connecting pin extends through an orifice in the handle, thereby connecting the handle to the ratchet head. A shoulder of the ratchet head includes a v-shaped notch that is adapted to receive the corner of the handle in a complementary manner to prevent rotation of the handle about the connecting pin axis: and an indented portion of the connecting pin is adapted to allow the handle to rotate freely about the connecting pin axis.
The handle is slidable between a locked position and a unlocked position on the connecting pin. In the locked position the handle orifice is disposed about the connecting pin. The handle corner engages the v-shaped notch and the ratchet wrench can be used to rotate a nut or bolt head in a conventional manner. In the unlocked position, the handle orifice is disposed about the indented portion of the connecting pin and the ratchet head can rotate in a full circle about the connecting pin axis. This allows the ratchet wrench to be used to rapidly rotate a nut by moving the handle in a reciprocating manner.
When a nut or bolt head to be rotated by the ratchet wrench is near an obstruction, the handle can be unlocked, rotated about the connecting pin axis, then locked, thereby adjusting the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis of the ratchet head. In many instances, such angular adjustment allows the ratchet wrench to be used to rotate the nut or bolthead the conventional manner while avoiding contact between the handle and the obstruction.
In other embodiments of the invention, the improved dual action ratchet device of the present invention is employed in breaker bars and combination wrenches. In these applications, as in the socket wrench embodiment discussed above, the ratchet device is designed to be used in a first locked, variably angled configuration to transmit force applied to a moment arm to directly tighten or loosen threaded means and in a second unlocked configuration to reciprocate the moment arm and thereby rapidly rotate the threaded means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1417338 (1922-05-01), Lenahan
patent: 1568442 (1926-01-01), Carver
patent: 1764379 (1930-06-01), Zilliox
patent: 1822428 (1931-09-01), Zilliox
patent: 4334445 (1982-06-01), Timewell
patent: 4406186 (1983-09-01), Gummow
patent: 4688454 (1987-08-01), Scull
patent: 4805494 (1989-02-01), Santoro
patent: 5419221 (1995-05-01), Cole
patent: 5694818 (1997-12-01), Nickipuc
patent: 5775184 (1998-07-01), Cole
patent: 5941141 (1999-08-01), Whitley
Danganan Joni B.
Hail III Joseph J.
Wallenstein & Wagner Ltd.
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