Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-05-08
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S063200, C081S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227077
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool, and more particularly to a tool having a ratchet mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical ratchet tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,204 to Braun and comprises a gear rotatably received in an insert and a pair of pawls biased to engage with the gear and selectively disengaged from the pawls by a control member. However, an additional control member is required for actuating and disengaging the pawls from the gear. In addition, the pawls may not be stably retained in place.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ratchet mechanisms for tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet mechanism having a pair of pawls that may be stably retained in place and that may be directly actuated by the control ferrule.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a ratchet tool comprising a handle including a first end, a cartridge including a first end engaged into the first end of the handle and rotated in concert with the handle, the cartridge including an orifice formed therein and including a pair of apertures formed therein and communicating with each other, a driving stem including a first end rotatably received in the orifice of the cartridge and having a gear formed thereon, a pair of pins slidably received in the apertures of the cartridge respectively, means for biasing the tooth of a first end of the ends of the pins to engage with the gear of the driving stem, and means for selectively disengaging the tooth of the pins from the gear of the driving stem to control a driving direction of the driving stem. The ends of the pins each preferably includes one or more teeth formed thereon and the teeth may be changed and selectively biased to engage with the gear of the driving stem when the other teeth are worn out.
The selectively disengaging means includes a control ferrule rotatably engaged on the cartridge, the control ferrule having an inner peripheral portion and having an actuator extended radially inward from the inner peripheral portion of the control ferrule for engaging with the pins and for selectively disengaging the tooth of the pins from the gear of the driving stem to control the driving direction of the driving stem.
The control ferrule includes two depressions formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof for defining the actuator, the depressions of the control ferrule are provided for receiving the pins and for allowing the tooth of the pins to be biased to engage with the gear of the driving stem.
The control ferrule includes three cavities formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof, and the cartridge includes a spring-biased projection selectively engaging with the cavities of the control ferrule to position the control ferrule to the cartridge at a selected angular position.
An annular swelling is further formed on the cartridge, the control ferrule includes an annular flange extended radially inward therefrom and engaged with the annular swelling of the cartridge, and a cap is secured to the cartridge and engaged with the annular flange of the control ferrule for rotatably securing the control ferrule to the cartridge. The cartridge includes an outer peripheral portion having an annular tapered surface formed therein, and the cap includes an inner peripheral portion having an annular tapered surface formed therein and engaged with the tapered surface of the cartridge for limiting an engagement of the cap to the cartridge.
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: 5685204 (1997-11-01), Braun
patent: 5687820 (1997-11-01), Lin
patent: 6047802 (2000-04-01), Huang
patent: 6070503 (2000-06-01), Shiao
Baxley Charles E.
Berry Jr. Willie
Eley Timothy V.
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