Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-20
2003-04-01
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C192S04100R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06539825
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a single direction ratcheting wrench with stuck prevention and ratcheting direction indication.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 9 and 10
of the drawings illustrate a conventional ratcheting wrench that has a single ratcheting direction. The wrench comprises a handle
21
′ and a head
20
′ extending from the handle
21
′. A gear wheel
50
′ is rotatably mounted in a hole
22
′ defined in the head
20
′. A block
40
′ and a pawl
30
′ are mounted in a cavity
23
′ defined in the handle
21
′ and communicated with the hole
22
′ of the head
20
′. The block
40
′ comprises a fulcrum
41
′ extending from a side and facing a wall
24
′ defining the cavity
23
′. The block
40
′ further comprises two protrusions
42
that are alternately engaged with the teeth
52
′ of the gear wheel
50
′. Thus, the block
40
keeps swaying but has no displacement. A spring
44
′ is attached between the block
40
′ and the pawl
30
′ to bias the teeth
32
′ of the pawl
30
′ to engage with the teeth
52
′ of the gear wheel
50
′ and to bias a side
34
′ of the pawl
30
′ to press against the wall
24
′ defining the cavity
23
′. Thus, the wrench drives a fastener (not shown) engaged in an inner periphery
51
′ of the gear wheel
50
′ when the wrench is moved clockwise and the wrench moves freely when it is turned counterclockwise. However, it was found that the teeth
52
′ of the gear wheel
50
′ engaging with the protrusions
42
′ of the block
40
′ tends to wear. In addition, when the gear wheel
50
′ moves counterclockwise, the block
40
′ without any fixing arrangement moves toward an upper right portion of the cavity
23
′ until the block
40
′ is stuck in the cavity
23
′. Further, since the block
40
′ keeps swaying in the cavity
23
′, the location of the block
40
′ will affect the swaying angle thereof. It was found that the swaying angle was smaller when the block
40
′ is placed in the right portion of the cavity
23
′. This results in difficulty in the assembly procedure, as there is no reference point for mounting the block
40
′ in the cavity
23
′. Further, the position of the block
40
′ changes if the wrench is used as a hammer or it is subject to a shock, which would result in malfunction of the block
40
′.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a ratcheting wrench that may prevent stuck of the pawl and provide clear indication of the ratcheting direction of the ratcheting wrench.
A ratcheting wrench in accordance with the present invention comprises a handle having a first side, a second side, and a cavity between the first side and the second side. A transverse hole is defined in the first side of the handle and communicated with the cavity. A head extends from the handle and comprises a hole communicated with the cavity. A drive member is rotatably mounted in the hole of the head and comprises a plurality of teeth in an outer periphery thereof. A block is mounted in the cavity of the handle, and a fixing member extends through the transverse hole of the handle and retains the block in the cavity. A pawl is mounted in the cavity of the handle and comprises a first side having a plurality of teeth and a second side. An elastic element is attached between the block and the pawl for biasing the teeth of the pawl to engage with the teeth of the drive member and for biasing the second side of the pawl to press against a wall defining the cavity of the handle.
In an embodiment of the invention, the transverse hole does not extend through the second side of the handle and provides an indication of a ratcheting direction of the wrench. In another embodiment of the invention, the transverse hole extends through the second side of the handle and is not located in a longitudinal axis of the handle to thereby provide an indication of a ratcheting direction of the wrench.
In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing member is a pin having an embossed section that is in frictional engagement with an inner periphery defining the transverse hole of the handle. The block has a vertical hole through which the pin extends.
When the teeth of the pawl are stuck to the teeth of the drive member, free rotation of the drive member causes the pawl to impinge the block to thereby disengage the pawl from the drive member.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Kamrath Alan D.
Rider Bennett Egan & Arundel
Smith James G.
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