Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-07
2003-08-26
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
C081S063000, C081S063100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609444
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ratchet tool that includes a ratchet mechanism received in the head of the tool and a ramp is connected between the head and the neck of the tool. A switch lever is movably located on the ramp such that the grease is not stocked at the hole that the switch is located.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional ratchet tool
10
is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, and generally includes a head
100
and an engaging ring
200
is rotatably received in a hole
130
defined in the head
100
. The engaging ring
200
has toothed outer periphery
210
which is matched with a pawl
400
which is movably received in the head
100
. A switch member
500
is rotatably inserted in a hole
150
defined in a side of the head
100
and includes a bead
600
biased by a spring
601
connected to the switch member
500
. The bead
600
urges the pawl
400
toward the engaging ring
200
so that when the tool
10
is rotated in a first direction, the engaging ring
200
is rotated with the tool
10
, and the engaging ring
200
is rotated independently from the rotation of the tool
10
when the tool
10
is rotated in a second direction. The switch member
500
has a lever
510
which is accessible from the outside of the tool
10
so that the user may push the lever
510
to control the pawl
400
and the direction that the tool
10
outputs a torque.
Nevertheless, the hole
150
in which the switch member
500
is inserted is easily be stocked by grease and dust which are brought to the switch member
500
and easily enter into the hole
150
. The grease and dust become a hardened piece and makes the switch member to be hard to rotate.
The present invention intends to provide a ratchet tool that has a downward ramp connected to the head and the neck of the tool, and the lever of the switch member is arranged on the ramp so as to cover the hole from being stocked by the grease and dust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ratchet tool which comprises a head with an engaging ring rotatably received in a through hole in the head and a pawl is movably received in the recess, a toothed side of the pawl is engaged with the toothed periphery of the engaging ring. An operation recess is defined in a side of the head and communicates with the recess. A height difference is defined between an outside of the head and a neck. A ramp is connected between the outside of the head and the neck of the tool. The ramp is tilt relative to the outside of the head and the neck.
A switch member has a cylindrical portion inserted in the operation recess and a passage is defined radially in the cylindrical portion of the switch member. A spring and a bead are received in the passage. The spring is engaged with a notch defined in a side opposite to the toothed side and the bead is engaged with one of two concavities defined in an inner periphery of the operation recess. A top plate is connected to an end of the cylindrical portion of the switch member and a diameter of the top plate is larger than that of the operation recess so as to cover the operation recess. A lever extends from the top plate at an angle such that the lever is located in parallel with the ramp with a tiny gap defined therebetween.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet tool that has a lever for changing the direction of the tool to output a torque, the lever is located parallel with a tilt ramp connected between the head and the neck of the tool. The operation recess for receiving the switch member is well protected by the lever an the top plate of the switch member so as not to be blocked by grease and dust.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2957377 (1960-10-01), Hare
patent: 3436992 (1969-04-01), Over et al.
patent: 4277990 (1981-07-01), Hall
patent: 6050165 (2000-04-01), Hall
patent: 6453779 (2002-09-01), Hu
Hail III Joseph J.
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
Shakeri Hadi
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