Ratcheting spring wrench

Details Ratcheting spring wrench Ratcheting spring wrench

1999-09-07

2001-10-30

Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)

Tools

Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor

Flexible

C081S486000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06308595

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to devices that manually rotate shafts, and in particular, to a ratcheting spring wrench for rotating a shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Shafts adapted as adjustment screws and the like, can be manually rotated to effect some type of adjustment by forming some sort of drive tool receiving structure at the end of or on the shaft, and using a correspondingly adapted driving tool to rotate the shaft. A typical drive tool receiving structure can include a hexagonal-shaped head (hex-heads) provided at the end of the shaft for use with conventional wrenches. Another common shaft drive arrangement can include a plurality of slots cut into the shaft such that they extend parallel with the axis of the shaft around the perimeter thereof. Rotation of the shaft is effected by inserting a screwdriver or similar object into one of the slots and prying in the direction of the desired rotation of the shaft. After some amount of rotation is achieved, the screwdriver is removed and reinserted into the end of the slot for further rotation.
There are several disadvantages associated with the above method. One disadvantage is that a separate drive tool must be provided. Another disadvantage is that the drive tool must be repeatedly removed from and then reinserted in the drive tool receiving structure for every rotational stroke of the shaft. This becomes very tedious if the shaft requires many revolutions.
A further disadvantage of the above method is that that there must be adequate physical access or clearance to the drive tool receiving structure to allow an effective stroke angle. If physical access or clearance to the drive tool receiving structure is inadequate, the stroke can be limited to a small angle that will not be effective in rotating shaft. In the case of shafts with hex-heads, there must be adequate clearance for placing the wrench over the next set of hex-head flats. In the case of the slotted shafts, the slot dimension and mechanical slop between the screwdriver and the slot limit the stroke angle.
Accordingly, an improved method for rotating a shaft is required that substantially eliminates the disadvantages associated with the above method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for manually rotating a shaft in a substantially continuous manner, the device comprising a coiled spring-like body having at least one and a half coils, a pair of arms extending laterally from the ends of the body, each arm integral with one of the coils, and an extension handle coupled to the end of each arm.
In one embodiment of the invention, the extension handles can be telescopically adjustable.
In another embodiment the wrench can be permanently mounted on the outer surface of a shaft to enable convenient rotation of the shaft without additional tools.
In still another embodiment, the shaft and wrench assembly can form a component of an electrical pressure switch of like apparatus.


REFERENCES:
patent: 648060 (1900-04-01), Yorty
patent: 786505 (1905-04-01), Loofbourrow
patent: 1422308 (1922-07-01), Schleicher
patent: 2277500 (1942-03-01), Murray
patent: 3269226 (1966-08-01), Von Tersch
patent: 4079642 (1978-03-01), Scott
patent: 4569105 (1986-02-01), Weider
patent: 5392673 (1995-02-01), Scott
Body-Solid Fitness Equipment Catalog, 1993, p. 29.

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