Torque wrench as a ratchet instrument for the medical field

A torque wrench (1) as a ratchet instrument for the medical field, having:

• a front and a rear, a head region (10) located at the front, an adjoining neck region (11), a shank region (12) adjacent to the neck region (11), and a handle region (14) arranged at the rear, the head, neck, and shank regions extending in a plane (H);
• an accommodating opening (3) provided in the head region (10);
• a surround (2) enclosing the opening (3);
• the opening has a center point through which an axis (V) extends vertically;
• and the opening is sized to allow a conventional screwing-in instrument (9) to be inserted along the extent of the axis (V), which is perpendicular to the plane (H);
• a catch segment (40) is arranged on the periphery of the accommodating opening (3), the catch segment (40) is sized to move to a limited extent and the front portion (41-44) of the catch segment (40) is oriented toward the accommodating opening (3), the front portion (41-44) is sized to:
• upon actuation of the torque wrench (1) in the forward direction, come into carry-along engagement with an outer contour (93,94;93′,94′) provided on a head (90) of the screwing-in instrument (9);
• and upon actuation of the torque wrench (1) in the return direction, release the carry-along engagement with the outer contour (93,94;93′,94′) provided on the head (90) of the screwing-in instrument (9);
• and
• a flexurally rigid basic branch (6) is sized to run along the torque wrench (1) from the neck region (11), wherein
• a deflectable branch (7) is provided via which, upon actuation of the torque wrench (1) in the forward direction, the torque which is to be generated is introduced by means of a forward force (F) exerted by the user;
• a catch spring (47) is sized to extend into the neck region (11) from the catch segment (40), the catch segment (40) and the catch spring (47) forming a single-piece catch (4);
• the catch segment (40) and catch spring (47) are arranged in the channel-like free space (5), which allows the catch segment (40) and catch sprint (47) to be deflected in the plane (H) counter to the force of the catch spring (47);
• and the catch (4) is formed integrally from the neck region (11), the catch segment (40) has, on its front portion (41-44), a front nose (44), to one side of which is located a second flank (42) and to the other side of which is located a third flank (43);
• the free space (5) opens out into the accommodating opening (3) by a first and a second stop (50,51);
• the first stop (50) is arranged opposite the second flank (42) and, upon actuation of the torque wrench (1) in the forward direction, the second flank (42) of the at least basically non-deflected catch (4) butts against the first stop (50), the front nose (44) being spaced apart by the minimum distance (a0) from the axis (V);
• and
• the second stop (51) is arranged opposite the third flank (43) and, upon actuation of the torque wrench (1) in the return direction, the third flank (43) of the deflected catch (4) has moved toward the second stop (51) or butts against the same, in which the front nose (44) is spaced apart by the maximum distance (a1) from the axis (V), the second flank (42) is remote from the first stop (50) and the catch spring (47) has been elastically deformed counter to its restoring force, wherein
• the catch spring (47) merges into the catch segment (40) at a spring outlet (46) and, merges into the neck region (11) at a spring mouth (48);
• and is in the form of a rectilinear or at least partially curved leaf spring;
• the front nose (44) of the catch segment (40) is followed, in one direction, by a first flank (41), the first flank (41) being adjoined by the second flank (42);
• is followed, in the other direction, by the third flank (43), which extends in a rounded manner in the direction of the spring outlet (46);
• the front nose (44) being designed as a point or convexity which is raised in the direction of the accommodating opening (3);
• the first stop (50) is formed as a straight edge and the second stop (51) is of trough-like form;
• and the catch spring (47), which projects through the free space (5), divides off a first and a second spring clearance (52,52′), the proportions of which change as the catch spring (47) moves, and which terminate in a base (53) which is followed by the spring mouth (48).