Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-18
2003-09-23
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S060000, C081S438000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622597
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool, and more particularly to a ratchet tool.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical ratchet tools, particularly the ratchet screw drivers, have been developed and widely used today. U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,616 to Thompson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,820 to Lin, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,802 to Huang disclose three of the typical ratchet screw drivers and each includes a rotatable gear or a rotatable internal gear, and each includes a pair of pawls moved radially or laterally toward the gear or internal gear to control the operation directions of the ratchet screw drivers. The engagement between the radially or laterally moved pawls and the gear or internal gear is weak and may not sustain a great rotational driving torque. In addition, the driving stems or the driving tool members of the typical ratchet driving tools may not be changed or replaced with each other.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ratchet tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet tool including one or more pawls that may be moved longitudinally and that may be snugly engaged with the peripheral gear in order to increase the rotational driving torque to the driven fasteners.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet tool including one or more driving stems that may be changed or replaced with each other for facilitating the operation of the ratchet tool.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a ratchet tool comprising a housing including a pair of longitudinal channels, a seat rotatably secured to the housing and including a first end facing toward the housing and having a plurality of teeth, the seat including a cylindrical member having an aperture for receiving a driving stem which has an engaging hole for receiving a tool member, means for detachably securing the tool member to the driving stem, a pair of pawls slidably engaged in the longitudinal channels of the housing respectively, means for biasing the pawls to move longitudinally relative to the housing to engage with the teeth of the seat, and means for selectively disengaging the pawls from the teeth of the seat to control a rotational direction of the seat by the housing.
The seat includes an orifice formed in the first end thereof, the housing includes a barrel rotatably secured in the orifice of the seat.
The housing includes an outer peripheral portion having a passageway communicating with the channels of the housing, the selectively disengaging means includes an actuator slidably received in the passageway of the housing and rotatable to engage with either of the pawls.
The pawls each includes a notch, the actuator includes two ends engageable into the notches of the pawls.
The ends of the actuator each includes an inclined surface for facilitating an engagement of the ends of the actuator into the notches of the pawls.
The selectively disengaging means includes a control ferrule rotatably secured on the housing and having the actuator secured thereto for moving the actuator along the passageway of the housing.
The selectively disengaging means includes a fastener for securing the actuator to the control ferrule and for allowing the actuator to be rotated by the control ferrule.
A device is further for selectively securing the control ferrule to the housing at a selected angular position, and includes three depressions formed in the control ferrule, and a spring-biased projection engaged in the housing and selectively biased to engage with either of the depressions of the control ferrule.
The detachably securing means includes a guide passage formed in the driving stem and communicating with the engaging hole of the driving stem, a rod slidably received in the guide passage of the driving stem, and a rod biasing means for biasing the rod to move inward of the engaging hole of the driving stem and to engage with the tool member, for detachably securing the tool member to the driving stem.
The rod biasing means includes a spring engaged on the driving stem and engaged with the rod for biasing the rod to engage with the tool member. A ring is engaged between the rod and the spring for evenly forcing the rod to engage with the tool member.
The rod biasing means further includes an actuating sleeve engaged on the driving stem and having a peripheral shoulder provided therein for engaging with the rod and for moving the rod inward of the engaging hole of the driving stem.
The rod biasing means further includes a cap engaged on the driving stem and secured to the actuating sleeve and engaged with the spring for retaining the spring within the actuating sleeve.
The guide passage of the driving stem is inclined from a radially outer portion of the driving stem to a radially inward portion of the driving stem and communicating with the engaging hole of the driving stem for slidably receiving the rod.
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: 2989881 (1961-06-01), Lavietes
patent: 3136346 (1964-06-01), Karl et al.
patent: 3799226 (1974-03-01), Lavietes
patent: 4692073 (1987-09-01), Martindell
patent: 4799407 (1989-01-01), Miyamoto
patent: 5687820 (1997-11-01), Lin
patent: 5570616 (1998-08-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 6047802 (2000-04-01), Huang
patent: 6058812 (2000-05-01), Casel et al.
Baxley Charles E.
Smith James G.
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