Wrench with ratcheting action
OwnerPeter Constantine Chaconasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ratchet wrench having a handle and an integral head. The head has a chamber formed therein with a wall about the chamber. At least one tooth is formed on the wall and projects into the chamber. A cylindrical rotor having a plurality of axial teeth is disposed in the chamber. The chamber is non circular and has a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the rotor wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically movable within the chamber. Movement of the handle engages a portion of the teeth on the rotor in locked driving engagement with the wall of the chamber and the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber. Backswinging the handle disengages the rotor. Three embodiments are disclosed. Methods of use of the three embodiments are disclosed.
Claims35
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout, at least one tooth being formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof, the rotor having means thereon to engage a workpiece,
- wherein the at least one tooth on the wall of chamber has a first surface having a height and a second opposite surface having a height less than the first surface, the first surface of the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber engaging one of the teeth on the rotor,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head,
- such that movement of the handle in a first direction engages the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber with one of the teeth on the rotor, and transmits torque to the rotor and the means to engage the workpiece, and movement of the handle in a second opposite direction disengages the teeth and moves the rotor from the engagement with the at least one tooth on the chamber wall.
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a non-circular chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout, at least one tooth being formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof, the rotor having means thereon to engage a workpiece,
- wherein the wall of the chamber in the head has a flat portion formed therein and spaced apart from the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber,
- each tooth on the rotor having a top land, wherein, when the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber engages one of the teeth on the rotor, the top land of another of the teeth on the rotor is in contact with the flat portion on the wall of the chamber thereby maintaining engagement between the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber and the one tooth on the rotor,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head,
- such that movement of the handle in a first direction engages the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber with one of the teeth on the rotor, and transmits torque to the rotor and the means to engage the workpiece, and movement of the handle in a second opposite direction disengages the teeth and moves the rotor from the engagement with the at least one tooth on the chamber wall.
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout, at least one tooth being formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof, the rotor having means thereon to engage a workpiece,
- wherein each tooth on the rotor has a top land and a first surface, the first surfaces of each of the teeth on the rotor having an equal height, the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber has a first surface having a height greater than the height of the respective surface of the teeth on the rotor, wherein when the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber engages the tooth on the rotor, the top land of the tooth on the rotor avoids contact with the wall of the chamber,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head, such that movement of the handle in a first direction engages the at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber with one of the teeth on the rotor, and transmits torque to the rotor and the means to engage the workpiece, and movement of the handle in a second opposite direction disengages the teeth and moves the rotor from the engagement with the at least one tooth on the chamber wall.
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout,
- a first set of teeth formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- a second set of teeth formed on the wall of the chamber and spaced apart from the first set of teeth, the second set of teeth projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof,
- a workpiece engagement means formed on the rotor,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head,
- wherein movement of the handle engages one of the sets of teeth on the chamber wall with corresponding teeth on the rotor and abuts the other set of teeth on the chamber wall with corresponding teeth on the rotor such that the teeth on the rotor are in driving engagement with the teeth on the wall of the chamber,
- and wherein reverse movement of the handle moves the head with respect to the rotor, disengaging the teeth on the rotor from the one set of teeth on the chamber wall in the head.
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout, the wall having a height,
- at least a first tooth formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- at least a second tooth formed on the wall of the chamber and spaced apart from the at least a first tooth, the at least a second tooth projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof,
- a workpiece engaging means formed on the rotor,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head,
- blocking means movably attached to the head,
- wherein, when the head is moved with respect to the rotor such that selected teeth on the rotor are in driving engagement with a selected at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber, the at least one spaced-apart tooth on the wall of the chamber abuts a corresponding tooth on the rotor, and
- movement of the blocking means to a selected position moves the blocking means to a position adjacent to the abutted at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber, thereby preventing the abutted at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber from becoming engaged with the teeth on the rotor.
A wrench comprising a handle and an integral head, the head having a chamber formed therein, the chamber having a wall thereabout, the wall having a height,
- at least a first tooth formed on the wall of the chamber and projecting into the chamber,
- at least a second tooth formed on the wall of the chamber and spaced apart from the at least a first tooth, the at least a second tooth projecting into the chamber,
- a cylindrical rotor disposed in the chamber, the rotor having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth formed axially on a circumference thereof,
- a workpiece engaging means formed on the rotor,
- the chamber in the head having a cross-sectional area and the rotor having a smaller cross-sectional area, wherein the rotor is translatably and eccentrically moveable within the chamber in the head,
- a resilient means disposed in the chamber between the rotor and the wall of the chamber, wherein the resilient means urges the teeth on the rotor into engagement with a selected at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber,
- wherein, when the head is moved with respect to the rotor such that selected teeth on the rotor are engaged with the selected at least one tooth on the wall of the chamber, the at least one spaced-apart tooth on the wall of the chamber abuts a corresponding tooth on the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.