Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With severing – removing material from preform mechanically,... – Punching article from sheet material
Reexamination Certificate
1995-01-26
2001-03-20
Ortiz, Angela (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With severing, removing material from preform mechanically,...
Punching article from sheet material
C264S274000, C264S275000, C264S319000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hand tools and the like and, more particularly, to ratcheting hand tools. The invention has particular application to hand tools of the type having non-metallic handle portions. The invention is an improvement of the hand tool disclosed in copending and commonly-owned U.S. application Ser. No. 07/913,221, filed Jul. 14, 1992 and entitled “Composite Hand Tool”, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,300.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, wrenches and similar hand tools have been made of iron, steel, or some other metal, because of strength and durability requirements. Metal tools are manufactured using machining, casting or forging procedures. An important disadvantage of metal tools is their cost, both from manufacturing and material standpoints. Moreover, metal tools are unsuitable for use in many applications, particularly when a shock hazard condition exists for the user.
The aforementioned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/913,221, discloses a composite hand tool which is made entirely of non-metallic material. However, in certain types of hand tools utilizing moving parts, such as ratchet wrenches, the use of some metal parts may be necessary for satisfactory operation and durability of the tool.
It is known to provide plastic hand tools with metal inserts. One such arrangement is embodied in an open end wrench and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,328. Another such arrangement is embodied in a box wrench manufactured by Banzai Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. No such insert-molded tools have heretofore been produced, however, utilizing movable parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved composite hand tool which avoids the disadvantages of prior hand tools while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a ratchet hand tool which is formed entirely of non-metallic material except for the ratcheting apparatus.
In connection with the foregoing feature, a further feature of the invention is the provision of a ratchet hand tool of the type set forth which is of relatively simple and economical construction.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a method for forming a ratchet hand tool of the type set forth.
These and other features of the invention are attained by providing a ratchet hand tool comprising: a totally non-metallic body including a handle portion and a head portion, a gear insert embedded in the head portion, and a ratchet mechanism carried by the insert for ratcheting engagement therewith.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
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Ortiz Angela
Shaw Seyfarth
Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
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