Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-11-13
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314838
ABSTRACT:
This invention is an improved ratcheting mechanism that can be used in a variety of applications, including, without limitation, in a multiple bit T-driver. To understand the invention it is useful to first understand the prior art. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved ratcheting mechanism. It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved toggle for a ratcheting mechanism.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
A prior art T-driver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,197 entitled “Multiple Bit Handtool” issued Jul. 18, 1989. U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,197 and its disclosures and drawings are incorporated herein by this reference.
A prior art ratcheting mechanism can be incorporated into the prior art T-driver of U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,197. This is known in the prior art. A prior art T-driver with a prior art ratcheting mechanism is shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
3
and
4
and is described below.
FIG. 1
shows a first elongated barrel
1
and a second elongated barrel
2
. Barrel
2
is rotatably attached to barrel
1
. Pin
3
provides the means by which the barrels are rotatably attached. Although barrels
1
and
2
are substantially cylindrical (i.e. substantially circular cross-section) this is not a requirement. The elongated barrels may have rectangular, triangular, oval or other-shaped cross-sections. Furthermore, the cross-sectional size and shape of a barrel may be different for different portions of the barrel.
Both ends of barrel
2
have bit holding means to receive and hold bits. One end of barrel
1
also has a bit holding means to receive and hold bits. The bit holding means of barrel
1
is in spindle
12
through an end hole at
13
. Each of the bit holding means can be openings of barrel
2
and spindle
12
that are shaped and sized to receive and hold a bit. In this embodiment, the opening has a hexagonal cross-section and is adapted to accept and hold bits
4
,
5
and
6
.
FIG. 1
depicts double-headed bits
4
,
5
and
6
. The main body of each bit has a hexagonal cross-section for a friction fit into the bit holding means. Resilient rings, magnets, springs, spring balls and the like can also be used to facilitate or enable a holding fit for bit-holding purposes. The T-driver is not limited to the bit-holding means described or shown as any means capable of accepting and holding a bit on the end of a barrel can be used. For example, the bit-holding means can be a threaded cylindrical portion onto which a threaded (single-headed) bit is screwed. The exposed heads or ends of the bits can be covered with protective caps (not shown).
Double-headed bits are preferred because they give the user of the handtool a greater number of available tool options without the need for carrying extra bits. A double-headed bit can be removed from the bit-holding means, reversed and inserted back into the bit-holding means to make a different bit head available for use. There is no preferred selection of bits (as such preference is a matter of choice by the user) but one useful selection of double-headed screwdriver bits is comprised of the numbers 1, 2 and 3 Phillips heads paired respectively with the number
6
slotted, number
4
slotted and number
10
slotted flat-heads. The bits useful in the T-driver are not limited to screwdriver head bits and can include any other kind of bit or tool (for example, socket wrench heads, Allen wrench, butterfly, torque, star and other bit tips).
A portion la (see
FIG. 1
) of barrel
1
is open, hollow and adapted to receive an end of barrel
2
. Barrel
2
can be rotated (for example from a T-position as shown in
FIG. 5
) into (and nested in) the open area of portion
1
a to assume a “straight” position. A tight fit allows barrel
2
to hold whichever position (including an intermediate position) it is given by the user of the tool.
When the T-driver is in the perpendicular or T-position of
FIG. 5
, it is capable of producing a great deal more torque than a normal screwdriver or socket set. It also will provide more turning radius than a standard screwdriver or socket set. Considering its greater turning radius, it can apply the increased torque for a longer period of time in each rotation.
In use, the T-driver is functionally designed for barrel
2
to be placed across the palm of the hand with barrel
1
extending perpendicularly outwardly with two fingers on either side. An optional position has barrel
2
placed below the index finger. When high torque is not necessary, the T-driver can be used in the “straight” position and may be twisted with the fingers.
The dimensions of this T-driver can vary widely. The T-driver (bits excluded) in the depicted embodiment is about 5.75 inches long in the straight position. Barrel
1
is about 4.25 inches long and barrel
2
is about 2.25 inches long.
Incorporated into the prior art T-driver is a ratcheting mechanism having a rotatable wheel
10
with teeth
11
. The rotatable wheel
10
is at the end of a spindle
12
(including shaft
91
). The wheel
10
, teeth
11
and spindle
12
are inserted into an open end of barrel
1
(i.e., the end that is opposite the end where barrel
2
is rotatably attached to barrel
1
). The spindle
12
has an increased diameter (or head) at
13
. The diameter of
13
is greater than the diameter of the opening into barrel
1
through which spindle
12
is inserted. After insertion of wheel
10
, teeth
11
and spindle
12
into barrel
1
, a key
14
is inserted into an opening (not shown) in barrel
1
to secure spindle
12
to barrel
1
. Key
14
maintains a friction fit with the opening and prevents spindle
12
from sliding out of barrel
1
.
The ratcheting mechanism further includes toggles
20
each with an arm
21
and a dimple
22
. The toggles
20
(also shown as
20
a
and
20
b
) are positioned relative to each other in the manner shown in FIG.
2
. The arms
21
form an opening for tooth
11
a
as shown in FIG.
2
. Tooth
11
a
is one of teeth
11
. A spring
24
is mounted on toggles
20
. A switch is mounted on spring
24
. The switch has a switch plate
27
, a switch knob
28
for thumb or finger contact, and an extension
29
for insertion into hole
25
of spring
24
. Extension
29
and hole
25
are sized and shaped such that hole
25
receives and accommodates extension
29
. A sleeve
17
is positioned over barrel
1
and switch plate
27
. Sleeve
17
has an opening
18
sized and shaped to accommodate switch knob
28
and to allow it to extent through sleeve
17
where it can be accessed by a human thumb or finger.
Pressure (e.g., by thumb or finger) on switch knob
28
causes switch plate
27
, extension
29
and spring
24
to move in either direction along a path parallel to the length of elongated barrel
1
, as shown by arrow
19
in FIG.
4
. Switch
28
can be moved to any one of three positions. There is a tab
99
on each side of knob
28
. Tabs
99
work with the shape of hole
18
in sleeve
17
to select the desired switch position. When the switch is moved to the first position, extension
29
pushes spring
24
into contact with dimple
22
of one of the toggles (e.g., toggle
20
a
). When moved to the second position, extension
29
pushes spring
24
into contact with dimple
22
of the other toggle (e.g., toggle
20
b
). When moved to the third position, the extension
29
and spring
24
are in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, and there is no significant contact with the dimple
22
of either toggle.
When switch
28
is in the third position, both arms
21
of toggles
20
engage one tooth (shown as
11
a
in
FIG. 3
) of teeth
11
. The arms
21
engage tooth
11
a
on opposite sides of tooth
11
a
and prevent wheel
10
from rotating in either direction. Thus, bit
4
when inserted in spindle
12
can be turned by the T-driver in either direction to act on (e.g., turn) a screw or other device. There is no “give” in either rotational direction.
When switch
28
is moved to the first position, spring
24
makes contact with dimple
22
of toggle
20
a
and forces arm
2
Christianson Jon
Shakeri Hadi
Smith James G.
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