Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Rigid jaws
Utility Patent
1998-07-28
2001-01-02
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Rigid jaws
C081S124300, C081S057460, C081S180100
Utility Patent
active
06167785
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tool for loosening or tightening fastener heads, such as nuts, bolts or the like in confined spaces. The tool includes a drive socket. A user can rotate the drive socket by pulling on a flexible member wound around a drum.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
When repairing automobiles, machinery or other equipment, a mechanic will often encounter fasteners which are in awkward confined locations. Removing or installing such fasteners can be very tedious because in constricted locations there is often not enough room to swing the handle of a conventional wrench through more than a very short stroke. As a result, a mechanic needs to engage the conventional wrench with the nut, push the wrench handle to turn the fastener through a few degrees, disengage the wrench, re-engage the wrench in a different orientation and repeat the process until the fastener has been removed or tightened, as the case may be. This is not only tedious but exposes the mechanic to the risk of skinned knuckles.
For some specific applications, such as the bolts on automotive distributor assemblies, there are commercially available wrenches having handles which are bent into a shape which allows the wrench to reach into the confined space while one end of the wrench handle is conveniently accessible to a user. These wrenches have the disadvantage that they are customized for specific applications. They are not generally useful.
A search of the prior art has located some tools which are designed to speed up the installation or removal of fasteners. These tools generally take the form of a conventional square drive ratchet wrench to which various sockets may be attached. The square drive can be caused to rotate rapidly about its axis to turn an attached socket without moving the wrench handle. Typically the square drive is caused to turn by means of a flexible member which can be pulled. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,306,553; 4,541,309; 4,592,254; 2,733,745; 4,099,430; and 4,407,175 are examples of such prior art.
The above-noted tools are not well adapted for use in confined spaces. In such spaces they retain many of the disadvantages of conventional wrenches which they seek to replace. First, because they are designed to hold sockets which are to be fitted over top of a fastener head, these tools require significant clearance over the top of the fastener head before they can be used. There is often limited clearance over the top of fastener heads in confined spaces. Second, these tools are generally quite bulky. Third, all of these tools have handles. It can be difficult to maneuver a handled tool into some confined areas.
A further disadvantage of the tools described above is that a person using the tool must simultaneously hold the tool handle and pull on a flexible member, such as a cord, or the like to turn the socket. In a confined space this could be very awkward.
There is a long standing and continuing need for a tool which can be used to quickly turn the head of a fastener in a confined space so that the fastener may be easily removed or installed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides tools which may be used to thread fasteners, such as nuts or bolts on or off. The tools are particularly well adapted for use in confined spaces. In one embodiment the invention provides a tool for tightening and loosening fasteners. The tool comprises a body having a bore extending axially therethrough. The body has a generally cylindrical outer surface and an inner surface. A socket is provided in the bore and a circumferential channel on the outer surface. a flexible member has one end attached to the body, a free end and a length capable of being wrapped more than once around the outer surface of the body within the circumferential channel. When the socket is engaged with a rotatable fastener with the flexible member wrapped around the body the fastener can be turned by pulling on the free end of the flexible member.
In preferred embodiments channel is defined between a pair of circumferential flanges. Most preferably one of the circumferential flanges comprises a notched circumferential edge. a hand grip is preferably attached to the free end of the flexible member.
In specific embodiments the socket comprises a twelve point socket, and a six point socket. Several tools according to the invention with sockets dimensioned to fit fasteners of different sizes may be provided in a kit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 519354 (1894-05-01), Sheppard
patent: 1306553 (1919-06-01), Morrison
patent: 2187399 (1940-01-01), Hopkins
patent: 2733745 (1956-02-01), Norwood
patent: 3124983 (1964-03-01), Emerzian
patent: 4099430 (1978-07-01), Stodola
patent: 4224844 (1980-09-01), Henriksen
patent: 4407175 (1983-10-01), Graham
patent: 4541309 (1985-09-01), Herrick
patent: 4592254 (1986-06-01), Wallis
patent: 4729270 (1988-03-01), Pritchard
patent: 5419221 (1995-05-01), Cole
patent: 5794496 (1998-08-01), Arnold
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Scherbel David A.
Wilson Lee
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