Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-07-17
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260447
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ratchet tool holder more particularly designed for holding die nuts or taps. The holder is of the type which can rotate the tool in any direction with ratcheting in the opposite direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tool holders of the double ratcheting type have been known for a long time. However, their system to reverse the ratcheting direction is very often complicated and difficult and awkward to use.
For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 270,516 dated Jan. 9, 1883 to Turner and entitled “Ratchet Drill”, to change ratcheting direction, the levers A on each side of the handle M must be operated to selectively actuate two different pawls P.
In U.S. Pat. No. 828,026 dated Aug. 7, 1906 to Garrigus and Golling and entitled “Tool Holder”, the pawl member 7, 8 must be rotated about its longitudinal axis through 180° in order to change ratcheting direction.
In U.S. Pat. No. 929,036 dated Jul. 27, 1909 to Smith and entitled “Ratchet Die-Stock”, there are two pawl members 20 located on opposite sides of the handle and which must be selectively moved and locked and unlocked from respective rings 22 on opposite sides of the handle.
In all these known prior arrangements, it is rather awkward to change ratcheting direction, a serious drawback when this direction must be changed frequently during use.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is therefore to provide a ratchet tool holder of the character described in which the change in the ratcheting direction can be effected very quickly and simply.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet tool holder of the character described which is more particularly suited for holding a die nut, for cutting or renewing threads on bolts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet tool holder of the character described which is more particularly suited for holding various taps for threading holes or repairing the existing threads on said holes.
The object of the present invention is to provide a holder of the double ratcheting type to enable the die nut to cut or renew threads on bolts that are hard to reach or are immovable and to then retrieve the die.
Another object of the present invention is a holder of the character described designed to accept all European dies with an outside diameter of 25 mm, and American dies with an outside diameter of one inch.
Another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the character described with an adapter to be able to use dies of still greater diameters.
Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a ratchet tool holder of the character described which is of simple construction and made of a minimum of molded parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ratchet tool holder of the present invention comprises an elongated hollow handle forming a circular through opening at one end, an annular ratchet gear rotatably mounted within said handle in register with said through opening, a securing device carried by said gear to releasably secure a tool within said gear, a slider member transversely mounted for movement in said handle from a first to a second pawl rotating position and forming push buttons alternately protruding from said handle in said pawl rotating positions, a rocker member having a central pivot parallel to the rotation axis of said gear and a first and a second pawl projection, said pawl projections equally spaced from said central pivot on opposite sides thereof, said rocker member mounted within said handle intermediate said gear and said slider member for rotation about said central pivot between two limit positions in one of which said first pawl projection is in ratcheting engagement with said gear and said second pawl projection clears said gear while in the other limit position said first pawl projection clears said gear and said second pawl projection is in ratcheting engagement with said gear, and a first spring loaded plunger carried by said slider member and biased against said rocker member, said first plunger shifted from one side to the other of said central pivot to bias rotation of said pawl member to a selected one of said two limit positions by manually pushing on a selected push button.
Preferably each gear tooth has a pair of radial side faces and each pawl projection has a generally V shape defining a locking face and a ratcheting face, said pawl projections being mirror images of each other.
There is provided a biasing system to bias said slider member in said first or second pawl rotating position.
Preferably said biasing system includes a partition transverse to and secured to said handle within the same and located adjacent the side of said slider member facing away from said rocker member, said partition having two spaced recesses facing said slider member, and a second spring loaded plunger carried by said slider member and releasably biased into one of said two recesses.
Preferably, said slider member has a thru bore, said first and second plungers slidably guided in opposite end portions of said thru bore and further including a compression spring located within said thru bore between said two plungers and biasing both plungers in opposite directions.
Preferably, said handle is formed of two identical molded half sections, each of U-shaped cross section defining a main wall and a peripheral wall upstanding from said main wall, and further including fasteners removably securing said two half sections in inverted position with said peripheral walls abutting each other.
Preferably, said slider member has a T-shape defining a main leg and two cross legs, said cross legs forming said two push buttons, said thru bore extending longitudinally through said main leg, said slide member in slidable contact with and guided by said main walls, said cross legs slidably contacting and guided in registering notches formed in said peripheral walls.
Preferably, said annular gear carries radial set screws for releasably positioning and retaining a tool or a tool adapter within said annular gear, said handle having an access hole opening into said circular through opening of said handle, said gear capable of taking a rotated position wherein said screw registers with said access hole to be accessible to a screw rotating tool inserted through said access hole.
A ratchet tool holder preferably further includes an adapter removably fitted into said annular gear and locked therein by said set screws and said adapter having a collar with a greater internal diameter than the internal diameter of said gear.
Preferably, said collar has a serrated inner circular surface to fit hexagon and twelve sided tools and carries radial fasteners to removably secure such a tool within said collar.
Preferably, said annular gear has end faces which are exposed in said thru opening of said handle and are knurled to be manually grasped to prevent gear rotation during handle ratcheting movement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 270516 (1883-01-01), Turner
patent: 798892 (1905-09-01), Evans
patent: 828026 (1906-08-01), Garrigus et al.
patent: 921518 (1909-05-01), Dixon
patent: 929036 (1909-07-01), Smith
patent: 2060609 (1936-11-01), Clabby
patent: 3290779 (1966-12-01), Bridges et al.
patent: 3448641 (1969-06-01), Morrow
patent: 3635654 (1972-01-01), McFarland
patent: 3715168 (1973-02-01), Kuhn
patent: 4111077 (1978-09-01), Cummings et al.
patent: 4722253 (1988-02-01), Chow
patent: 4770072 (1988-09-01), Neuhaus
patent: 6070502 (2000-01-01), Chang
Martineau François
Shakeri Hadi
Smith James G.
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