Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-15
2001-06-26
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S063100, C081S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250183
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ratchet tool, and more particularly to a ratchet tool or a screw driver having various tool members.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical ratchet tool (ratchet screw driver) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,204 to Braun and has 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 screw drivers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet screw driver including a structure for allowing the driving stems to be changeably engaged with the screw driver handle, and including a pair of pawls that may be stably retained in place and that may be 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 having an orifice, a sleeve having a gear rotatably received in the orifice of the cartridge, the sleeve including a bore, a tool member engaged in the bore of the sleeve for engaging with and for driving fasteners, and a ratchet means for controlling a driving direction of the sleeve relative to the cartridge.
The cartridge includes a pair of channels communicating with the orifice of the cartridge, the ratchet means includes a pair of pawls slidably received in the channels of the cartridge and each having at least one tooth, means for biasing the tooth of the pawls to engage with the gear, and means for selectively disengaging the tooth of the pawls from the gear to control the driving direction of the sleeve.
The cartridge includes at least one slot formed therein, the biasing means includes a spring member received in the slot of the cartridge and engaged with the pawls respectively to bias the tooth of the pawls to engage with the gear. The cartridge includes a pair of notches formed therein and communicating the slot with the channels of the cartridge respectively, the spring member includes two spring legs extended inward of the channels of the cartridge to engage with the pawls via the notches of the cartridge.
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 pawls and for selectively disengaging the tooth of the pawls from the gear of the sleeve.
The control ferrule includes two depressions formed in the inner peripheral portion for defining the actuator and for receiving the pawls and for allowing the tooth of the pawls to be biased to engage with the gear of the driving stem.
A positioning device is further provided for positioning the control ferrule to the cartridge at a selected angular position and includes three cavities formed in the inner peripheral portion of the control ferrule, and a spring-biased projection received in the cartridge and selectively engaging with the cavities of the control ferrule to position the control ferrule to the cartridge at a selected angular position. The sleeve includes an annular swelling formed thereon and engaged with the control ferrule, and means for rotatably securing the sleeve 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: 5974915 (1999-11-01), Chou
patent: 6047801 (2000-04-01), Liao
patent: 6047802 (2000-04-01), Huang
patent: 6070503 (2000-06-01), Shiao
Baxley, Esq. Charles E.
Berry Jr. Willie
Hail III Joseph J.
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