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US 6,634,262 B2Granted
Ratchet wrench for storage of nested sockets
AssigneeNebo Products, Inc.
InventorDarin Malchus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ratchet wrench with a wrench head, a handle and a tray provides compact and easily accessible storage of sockets. The handle defines a chamber in which the tray is stored. The tray has a back side and a stepped slot shaped and sized to retain sets of nested sockets. The tray defines at least one aperture which corresponds with the storage position of a first socket in each set of nested sockets. The aperture provides access to the first socket from the back side of the tray and facilitates dislodging of the first socket. Once the first socket is dislodged, the entire set of nested sockets is easily removed.
Claims22
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having means for mounting sockets;
- handle means for defining a chamber, wherein the handle means is operably connected to the head;
- and
- means for storing sockets in the chamber;
- wherein the storing means has means for retaining at least two separate sets of sockets in nested configurations until removal from the storing means is desired;
- wherein the retaining means is accessible from an open side of the storing means;
- and
- wherein the storing means and the handle means have means for engaging the handle means and storing means so that the storing means remains in the handle means during use.
5 more elements
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having a socket mounting stub;
- a handle operably connected to the head, wherein the handle defines a chamber;
- a tray adapted to be positioned in the chamber;
- wherein the tray has a stepped slot that is accessible from an open side of the tray;
- wherein the stepped slot is adapted so that the stepped slot retains at least two separate sets of sockets in nested configurations until removal from the tray is desired;
- wherein the tray and the handle are adapted to be securely engaged together so that the tray remains in the handle during use.
3 more elements
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having means for mounting sockets;
- handle means for defining a chamber, wherein the handle means is operably connected to the head;
- and
- means for storing sockets in the chamber;
- wherein the storing means has means for retaining at least a first set of sockets in a nested configuration until removal from the tray is desired;
- wherein the retaining means is accessible from an open side of the storing means;
- wherein the retaining means is stepped and is divided into cells;
- wherein the storing means has an aperture that corresponds to the position of the first set of sockets and facilitates dislodging at least one of the sockets in the first set of sockets so that the first set of sockets is easily removed from the tray;
- and
- wherein the storing means and the handle means have means for engaging the handle means and storing means together so that the storing means remains in the handle means during use.
7 more elements
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having a socket mounting stub;
- a handle operably connected to the head, wherein the handle defines a chamber;
- a tray sized to be positioned in the chamber;
- wherein the tray has a stepped slot that is accessible from an open side of the tray;
- wherein the stepped slot has a plurality of cells, each cell being adapted to retain a set of sockets in a nested configuration until removal from the tray is desired;
- wherein the tray has a back side configured such that one of the sockets in each set of sockets is exposed through the back side of the tray, enabling the set of sockets to be easily removed by pushing the exposed socket out of the cell;
- and
- wherein the tray and the handle are adapted to securely engage together so that the tray remains in the handle during use.
5 more elements
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having a socket mounting stub;
- a handle operably connected to the head, wherein the handle defines a chamber;
- a tray sized to slide into the chamber;
- wherein the tray has a stepped slot that is accessible from an open side of the tray;
- wherein the stepped slot is adapted to retain at least a first set of sockets in a nested configuration;
- wherein the stepped slot has a narrow receptacle and a wide receptacle, each adapted to grip a socket;
- which enables the set of sockets to be retained in the stepped slot until removal from the tray is desired;
- wherein one of the receptacles is adapted to exert a tighter grip on a socket than the other receptacle;
- wherein the tray and the handle are adapted to securely engage together so that the tray remains in the handle during use.
6 more elements
A wrench adapted to compactly store sockets comprising:
- a head having a socket mounting stub;
- a handle operably connected to the head, wherein the handle defines a chamber;
- a tray sized to be positioned in the chamber;
- wherein the tray has a stepped slot that is accessible from an open side of the tray;
- wherein the stepped slot has a plurality of cells, each cell being adapted to retain a set of sockets in a nested configuration until removal from the tray is desired;
- wherein the tray has a back side configured such that at least a portion of at least one of the sockets in each set of sockets is exposed through an aperture in the back side of the tray to allow for each set of nested sockets to be dislodged from the tray by way of the aperture;
- and
- wherein the cells are adapted such that dislodging the exposed socket in each set of sockets at least partially dislodges each of the remaining sockets in the set.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.