# US 2016/0354907 A1 · Ratcheting torque wrench

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- Number: US 2016/0354907 A1
- Document ID: US20160354907A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/239,685
- Filed: 2016-08-17
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12
- Assignees: ECA Medical Instruments
- Applicants: ECA Medical Instruments
- Inventors: John Nino; David Ivinson, III
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354907A1

## CPC

- B25B 23/1427: {by mechanical means}
- A61B 17/1624: {Drive mechanisms therefor}
- A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches}
- A61B 90/03: {Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety}
- B25B 15/04: with ratchet action
- B25B 23/141: {Mechanical overload release couplings}
- A61B 2090/031: {torque limiting}
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A disposable ratcheting device and method is disclosed, which may include a shaft extending axially through at least a shank. The shank also provides a cup or chamber wherein a series of drive bodies reside in a movable fashion. The shank is placed in a body having an inner wall with teeth formed radially, The drive bodies have toes protruding beyond the shank and which, in a locked direction, engage the teeth inside the body.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-6. (canceled)

### Claim 7

A plastic ratchet mechanism, comprising:
a cylindrical body with a with an inner annular wall, a cylindrical end (18), and a cylindrical top (19);
a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall;
a cup shaped cylindrical upper shank smaller than the interior diameter of the cylindrical body and having an annular wall around its periphery said annular wall forming the peripheral wall;
drive body guides comprising:
at least one passageway through the annular wall fluidly connecting each drive body guide to the inner annular wall of the body;
at least one mounting post;
one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the cup shaped upper shank via the at least one mounting post; and,
each drive body having a toe that protrudes through the passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 7 wherein each drive body further comprises:
a post guide that mates with the mounting post;
a toe, instep;
a heel; and,
flexible ankle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 8 further comprising:
a first interior wall; and,
wherein the flexible ankle flexes against the first interior wall during ratcheting to allow the body to rotate in the unlocked without imparting rotation to the shank.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 8 further comprising:
a first interior wall; and,
wherein each heel engages each of the second interior walls as bearing surfaces and locks the toes against a bearing surface (410) of each ratchet teeth.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 8 further comprising:
a second interior wall; and,
wherein each ankle flexes against each of the first interior walls and the insteps pass over the deflecting surfaces (415) of each ratchet tooth.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 7 further comprising:
a lower shank affixed to a shaft at its nose;
a circumferential rim (34) formed on the back side of the lower shank; and,
a circumferential flange (33) extending radially inward within the hollow of cylindrical body 6 forming a catch for the circumferential rim of the lower shank.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 11 wherein the shaft is attached to a fastener.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 9 further comprising:
a lower shank affixed to a shaft at its nose;
a circumferential rim formed on the back side of the lower shank; and,
a circumferential flange extending radially inward within the hollow of cylindrical body forming a catch for the circumferential rim of the lower shank; and,
wherein the shaft is attached to a fastener.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The plastic ratchet mechanism of claim 10 further comprising:
a lower shank affixed to a shaft at its nose;
a circumferential rim formed on the back side of the lower shank; and,
a circumferential flange extending radially inward within the hollow of cylindrical body forming a catch for the circumferential rim of the lower shank; and,
wherein the shaft is attached to a fastener.

### Claim 16

A method of ratchet driving a shaft, the method comprising:
Within a hollow body placing a lower shank and an upper shank;
forming a plurality of ratchet teeth on the inner annular wall of the hollow body;
affixing a shaft with a tip at one end to a cup shaped upper shank;
placing the cup shaped upper shank within the hollow body;
placing a plurality of movable drive bodies in the cup shaped shank and each drive body having a toe protruding radially from the shank towards the inner annular wall of the hollow body; and,
connecting the toes to the ratchet teeth via rotating the shaft in a locked direction when rotating the body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of ratchet driving a shaft of claim 15 the method further comprising affixing the shaft to a fastener or resector.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of ratchet driving a shaft of claim 16 the method further comprising rotating the body in an unlocked direction whereby the toes disengage from the ratchet teeth and the shaft does not rotate.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of ratchet driving a shaft of claim 18 the method further comprising:
forming heels, flexible ankles, and an instep on each drive body; and,
flexing each ankle when the instep of the drive body passes over the deflecting surface of ratchet tooth whereby the toe does not engage a ratchet tooth.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of ratchet driving a shaft of claim 16 the method further comprising:
forming heels, flexible ankles, and an instep on each drive body; and,
placing the instep under load by moving it against a bearing wall in the cup and placing each toe against a bearing surface of a ratchet tooth.