Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-05
2002-08-20
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S063100, C081S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435061
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a screwdriver, and more particularly to a ratchet screwdriver.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a prior art ratchet screwdriver comprises a main body
11
which is provided with an axial hole
13
having a receiving portion
12
via which a shank
10
is engaged with the main body
11
. The shank
10
is provided in the inner end with a gear
14
, which is confined by a position confining plate
16
disposed in an insertion slot
15
of the main body
11
. The main body
11
is fitted into a tubular housing
17
which is provided with an assembly hole
21
. The main body
11
is provided with a shifter
18
and two check plates
19
. The shifter
18
has a shifting knob
22
and two feet
24
. The shifting knob
22
is jutted out of the main body
11
via the assembly hole
21
. The position confining plate
16
is provided with an elastic piece
25
for preventing the axial displacements of the shank
10
and the position confining plate
16
.
Such a prior art ratchet screwdriver as described above is defective in design because the shifter
18
cannot be easily maneuvered due to the size of the assembly hole
21
of the tubular housing
17
. In addition, the check plates
19
are provided with a recessed edge
23
, which is intended to facilitate the lifting of the check plates
19
without hitting the shank
10
. In light of the reduction in axial area of the check plates
19
, the feet
24
of the shifter
18
are vulnerable to being trapped in the recessed edges
23
of the check plates
19
at such time when the shifter
18
is pushed to one end. Moreover, there is a gap between the position confining plate
16
and the insertion slot
15
, thereby resulting in an axial displacement of the position confining plate
16
or shank
10
.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet screwdriver which is free of the deficiencies of the prior art ratchet screwdriver described above.
The ratchet screwdriver of the present invention is basically similar in construction to the prior art ratchet screwdriver, with the difference being that the tubular housing is provided with an assembly slot, and two insertion slots, and that the shifter is provided with a sliding slot to facilitate the shifting of the shifter. In addition, the check plates are provided with an inclined portion to enhance the efficiency of the check plates being actuated by the feet of the shifter. The position confining plate is provided with two guide pillars for preventing the axial displacement of the position confining plate in conjunction with two springs and the guide slot of the main body.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4696208 (1987-09-01), Lay
patent: 5379873 (1995-01-01), Shiao
patent: 5806381 (1998-09-01), Lin
patent: 6151995 (2000-11-01), Shu
patent: 6240810 (2001-06-01), Ho
patent: 6330843 (2001-12-01), Lin
Hail III Joseph J.
Harrison & Egbert
Thomas David B.
Yeh-Hsing Enterprise Co., Ltd.
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