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US 6,186,030 B1Granted
Combination ratcheting socket wrench
AssigneeThe Stanley Works
InventorLowell Blake Whitley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An open-end or box wrench with a ratcheting socket wrench at the opposite end of the wrench handle. The ratcheting socket wrench may be either fixedly or pivotally attached. In one embodiment of the invention, a socket is permanently affixed to the ratchet mechanism. In another embodiment of the invention, a drive member for releasable attachment to sockets is permanently affixed to the ratchet mechanism. In either embodiment, the ratchet mechanism is preferably reversible.
Claims49
A ratcheting socket wrench comprising:
- a wrench body having a handle portion, said handle portion terminating at one end in a fastener engaging portion and at the other end in a pivot-forming structure;
- a ratcheting device, with one end designed for pivotal connection to said pivot-forming structure of said wrench handle, said ratchet device further comprising:
- (1) a ratchet body;
- (2) a socket member;
- (3) a socket-biasing member adapted to bias said socket member against said ratchet body, said socket member movably engaged with said ratchet body;
- and
- (4) a pawl, movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a first direction when said pawl is in a first predetermined position, and wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a second direction when said pawl is in a second predetermined position;
- and
- a pin provided to connect said wrench handle with said ratcheting device, such that said wrench handle, said ratcheting device, and said pin form a pivoting joint.
6 more elements
A ratcheting device comprising:
- a ratchet body;
- a socket member;
- a socket-biasing member adapted to bias said socket member against said ratchet body, said socket member movably engaged to said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl, movably engaged with said socket member and with splines located along the circumference of a bore in said ratchet body, wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a first direction when said pawl is in a first predetermined position, and wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a second direction when said pawl is in a second predetermined position;
- wherein said ratcheting device is adapted to allow movement of said pawl from said first predetermined position to said second predetermined position.
3 more elements
A ratcheting device comprising:
- a cylindrical ratchet body, said ratchet body further comprising:
- (1) an internal bore in a second end of said ratchet body, said internal bore of a diameter less than the outer diameter of said ratchet body such that a cylindrical wall is formed within said ratchet body at said second end;
- (2) an axial hole, said hole beginning at the terminus of said internal bore and continuing for some distance toward a first end of said ratchet body;
- (3) splines uniformly arranged along the inner circumference of said cylindrical wall, said splines extending axially some distance from said second end toward said first end of said ratchet body;
- a socket member, said socket member further comprising:
- (1) a first cylindrical portion, said first cylindrical portion having a shaped recess at a first end for engaging a fastener;
- (2) a second cylindrical portion for contacting a pawl, said second cylindrical portion extending axially from the center of a second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- (3) a third cylindrical portion provided to protrude into said axial hole in said ratchet body and to contact a socket-biasing member located within said ratchet body;
- (4) a flat surface for contacting said pawl, said flat surface extending axially the length of said second and third cylindrical portions;
- (5) wall sections for engaging said pawl, said wall sections adjacent to each of both edges of said flat surface occurring in said second cylindrical portion, each wall section further forming a predetermined angle with respect to said flat surface;
- (6) a tab of some thickness, extending vertically upward some distance from the outer surface of said second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- and
- (7) a retaining structure located on said flat surface of said second cylindrical portion for retaining a pawl-biasing member;
- a socket-biasing member for biasing said socket member against said ratchet body;
- a pawl, movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, said pawl further comprising:
- (1) sides angled inwardly from a front surface toward a back surface to form a wedge when in contact with either of said wall sections of said second cylindrical portion of said socket member;
- (2) at least two splines on its front surface extending some distance along its length, and provided to engage said splines located within said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl-biasing member, for biasing said pawl against said splines located within said ratchet body when said pawl is wedged against either of said wall sections formed in said second cylindrical portion of said socket member.
16 more elements
A ratcheting device comprising:
- a cylindrical ratchet body, said ratchet body further comprising:
- (1) an internal bore in a second end of said ratchet body, said internal bore of a diameter less than the outer diameter of said ratchet body such that a cylindrical wall is formed within said ratchet body at said second end;
- (2) an axial hole, said hole beginning at the terminus of said internal bore and continuing for some distance toward a first end of said ratchet body;
- (3) splines uniformly arranged along the inner circumference of said cylindrical wall, said splines extending axially some distance from said second end toward said first end of said ratchet body;
- a coupling member, said coupling member further comprising:
- (1) a first cylindrical portion, said first cylindrical portion having a protruding male connector at a first end for releasably engaging a socket;
- (2) a second cylindrical portion for contacting a pawl, said second cylindrical portion extending axially from the center of a second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- (3) a third cylindrical portion provided to protrude into said axial hole in said ratchet body and to contact a coupling-biasing member located within said ratchet body;
- (4) a flat surface for contacting said pawl, said flat surface extending axially the length of said second and third cylindrical portions;
- (5) wall sections for engaging said pawl, said wall sections adjacent to each of both edges of the flat surface occurring in said second cylindrical portion, each wall section forming a predetermined angle with respect to said flat surface;
- (6) a tab of some thickness extending vertically upward some distance from the outer surface of said second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- and
- (7) a retaining structure located on said flat surface of said second cylindrical portion for retaining a pawl-biasing member;
- a coupling-biasing member for biasing said coupling member against said ratchet body;
- a pawl movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, said pawl further comprising:
- (1) sides angled inwardly from a front surface toward a back surface to form a wedge when in contact with either of said wall sections of said second cylindrical portion of said coupling member;
- (2) at least two splines on its front surface extending some distance along its length, and provided to engage said splines located within said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl-biasing member, for biasing said pawl against said splines located within said ratchet body when said pawl is wedged against either of said wall sections formed in said second cylindrical portion of said coupling member.
16 more elements
A method for reversing the direction of a ratcheting device, comprising the steps of:
- pulling a socket member a predetermined distance away from a ratchet body;
- rotating said socket member in a predetermined direction to move a pawl from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position;
- and
- returning said socket member to a position abutting said ratchet body.
1 more element
A method for reversing the direction of a ratcheting device, comprising the steps of:
- pulling a coupling member a predetermined distance away from a ratchet body;
- rotating said coupling member in a predetermined direction to move a pawl from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position;
- and
- returning said coupling member to a position abutting said ratchet body.
1 more element
A ratcheting device, comprising:
- a ratchet body;
- a socket member;
- a socket-biasing member adapted to bias said socket member against said ratchet body, said socket member movably engaged to said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a first direction when said pawl is in a first predetermined position, and wherein said pawl is adapted to prevent movement of the ratchet device in a second direction when said pawl is in a second predetermined position;
- wherein said ratcheting device is adapted to allow movement of said pawl from said first predetermined position to said second predetermined position by pulling said socket member a predetermined distance away from said ratchet body and rotating said socket member in a predetermined direction.
3 more elements
A ratcheting device comprising:
- a ratchet body, said ratchet body further comprising:
- (1) an internal bore in a second end of said ratchet body, said internal bore of a diameter less than the outer dimension of said ratchet body such that a cylindrical wall is formed within said ratchet body at said second end;
- (2) an axial hole, said hole beginning at the terminus of said internal bore and continuing for some distance toward a first end of said ratchet body;
- (3) splines uniformly arranged along the inner circumference of said cylindrical wall, said splines extending axially some distance from said second end toward said first end of said ratchet body;
- a socket member, said socket member further comprising:
- (1) a first portion, said first portion having a shaped recess at a first end for engaging a fastener;
- (2) a second, cylindrical portion for contacting a pawl, said second cylindrical portion extending axially from the center of a second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- (3) a third, cylindrical portion provided to protrude into said axial hole in said ratchet body and to contact a socket-biasing member located within said ratchet body;
- (4) a flat surface for contacting said pawl, said flat surface extending axially from said second end of said first cylindrical portion, through at least a portion of said second cylindrical portion;
- (5) wall sections for engaging said pawl, said wall sections adjacent to each of both edges of said flat surface occurring in said second cylindrical portion, each wall section further forming a predetermined angle with respect to said flat surface;
- (6) a tab of some thickness, extending vertically upward some distance from the outer surface of said second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- and
- (7) a retaining structure located on said flat surface of said second cylindrical portion for retaining a pawl-biasing member;
- a socket-biasing member for biasing said socket member against said ratchet body;
- a pawl, movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, said pawl further comprising:
- (1) sides shaped to form a wedge when in contact with either of said wall sections of said second cylindrical portion of said socket member;
- (2) at least two splines on its front surface extending some distance along its length, and provided to engage said splines located within said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl-biasing member, for biasing said pawl against said splines located within said ratchet body when said pawl is wedged against either of said wall sections formed in said second cylindrical portion of said socket member.
16 more elements
A ratcheting device comprising:
- a ratchet body, said ratchet body further comprising:
- (1) an internal bore in a second end of said ratchet body, said internal bore of a diameter less than the outer dimension of said ratchet body such that a cylindrical wall is formed within said ratchet body at said second end;
- (2) an axial hole, said hole beginning at the terminus of said internal bore and continuing for some distance toward a first end of said ratchet body;
- (3) splines uniformly arranged along the inner circumference of said cylindrical wall, said splines extending axially some distance from said second end toward said first end of said ratchet body;
- a coupling member, said coupling member further comprising:
- (1) a first portion, said first portion having a protruding male connector at a first end for releasably engaging a socket;
- (2) a second, cylindrical portion for contacting a pawl, said second cylindrical portion extending axially from the center of a second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- (3) a third, cylindrical portion provided to protrude into said axial hole in said ratchet body and to contact a coupling-biasing member located within said ratchet body;
- (4) a flat surface for contacting said pawl, said flat surface extending axially from said second end of said first cylindrical portion, through at least a portion of said second cylindrical portion;
- (5) wall sections for engaging said pawl, said wall sections adjacent to each of both edges of the flat surface occurring in said second cylindrical portion, each wall section forming a predetermined angle with respect to said flat surface;
- (6) a tab of some thickness extending vertically upward some distance from the outer surface of said second end of said first cylindrical portion;
- and
- (7) a retaining structure located on said flat surface of said second cylindrical portion for retaining a pawl-biasing member;
- a coupling-biasing member for biasing said coupling member against said ratchet body;
- a pawl movably engaged with the inner circumference of said ratchet body, said pawl further comprising:
- (1) sides shaped to form a wedge when in contact with either of said wall sections of said second cylindrical portion of said coupling member;
- (2) at least two splines on its front surface extending some distance along its length, and provided to engage said splines located within said ratchet body;
- and
- a pawl-biasing member, for biasing said pawl against said splines located within said ratchet body when said pawl is wedged against either of said wall sections formed in said second cylindrical portion of said coupling member.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.