Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-10-23
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S063000, C081S063100, C081S063200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305248
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a ratchet mechanism for a ratcheting driver, in particular a screwdriver.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Conventional ratchet mechanisms for screwdrivers have pawls which extend in the axial direction of the shaft of the screwdriver and which have narrow extensions engageable with the teeth of a gear provided on the shaft. The pawls are pushed into and out of engagement with the gear by a control member which is usually slidable in the axial direction. Such ratchet mechanisms occupy a significant proportion of the overall length of the screwdriver. Other ratchet mechanisms have been proposed which may require less length but which are complex and difficult to assemble.
It would be desirable to be able to provide a ratchet mechanism which is of short axial length, requires only a minimum number of parts, and is easy to assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a ratcheting driver comprising a handle, a shaft rotatable relative to the handle, and a ratchet mechanism interposed between the handle, and the shaft. The ratchet mechanism comprises a body fixed to the handle; and a spur gear coaxially fixed with respect to the shaft and mounted in the body so as to be rotatable together with the shaft relative to the body about a common rotation axis of the shaft and the spur gear. First and second pawls are mounted on the body so as to be tiltable about respective tilting axes parallel to the rotation axis and on opposite sides of an imaginary plane containing the rotation axis, each pawl having a free end between its tilting axis and the said plane. Each pawl is tiltable between an engaging position, in which its free end intersects the tip cylinder of the spur gear and can abut against the flank of a gear tooth to prevent rotation of the gear in one direction relative to the body, and a non-engaging position, in which its free end lies outside the tip cylinder.
A control member having first and second spring legs is movable to a first ratcheting position, in which the first leg urges the first pawl to the engaging position and the second leg urges the second pawl to the non-engaging position, a second ratcheting position, in which the first leg urges the first pawl to the non-engaging position and the second leg urges the second pawl to the engaging position, and an intermediate non-ratcheting position, in which both legs urge both pawls to the engaging position.
A control sleeve is rotatably mounted on the body and is linked to the control member so that rotation of the control sleeve clockwise and anticlockwise from a given position moves the control member from the intermediate non-ratcheting position to the first and second ratcheting positions respectively.
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Berry Jr. Willie
Eley Timothy V.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
The Stanley Works Limited
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