Ratchet device
OwnerBobby Huinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ratchet device includes a body having a compartment extending along a first axis. A ratchet member is rotatably received in the compartment about the first axis. The body includes first and second sides each having a receptacle in communication with the compartment. A ratchet block is received in each receptacle. A control member is received in a groove in a top side of the body. The groove is in communication with the compartment via an opening. The control member is movable between three positions along an axis perpendicular to but spaced from the first axis to disengage a toothed portion of either of the ratchet blocks from teeth on the ratchet member so as to control the driving direction of the ratchet device.
Claims15
A ratchet device comprising, in combination:
- a body including a compartment extending along a first axis, with the body further including a receptacle extending along an axis parallel to and spaced from the first axis, with the body further including first and second sides delimiting the compartment, with the first side including a first receptacle defining a second axis and in communication with the compartment, with the second side including a second receptacle defining a third axis and in communication with the compartment, with the second and third axes parallel to each other and located on a same side of the first axis, with the second and third axes spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the first axis, with each of the second and third axes spaced from the first axis in a radial direction perpendicular to the first axis, with the first and second compartments in communication with a same side of the compartment, with the body further including a top side extending between the first and second sides, with the top side including a groove in communication with the receptacle, with the groove including a bottom wall having an opening in communication with the compartment;
- a ratchet member received in the compartment of the body and rotatable about the first axis, with the ratchet member including an outer periphery having a plurality of teeth, with the ratchet member including a driving hole, with the driving hole adapted to drive a fastener or a bit;
- a positioning unit received in the receptacle of the body;
- a first ratcheting unit received in the first receptacle of the first side and movable along the second axis, with the first ratcheting unit including a first ratchet block and a first elastic element for returning the first ratchet block, with the first ratchet block including a first toothed portion releasably engaged with the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member;
- a second ratcheting unit received in the second receptacle of the second side and movable along the third axis, with the second ratcheting unit including a second ratchet block and a second elastic element for returning the second ratchet block, with the second ratchet block including a second toothed portion releasably engaged with the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member;
- a control member including a first end received in the groove of the body, with the control member further including a second end extending through the opening of the body into the compartment, with either of the first and second ratchet blocks movable by the second end of the control member to disengage either of the first and second toothed portions from the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, with the control member defining a fourth axis spaced from the first axis, with the control member movable between first, second, and third positions along the fourth axis, with the positioning unit positioning the control member in one of the first, second, and third positions,
- wherein when the control member is in the first position, the first and second toothed portions are engaged with the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, the ratchet member is not rotatable relative to the body,
- wherein when the control member is in the second position, the first toothed portion is engaged with the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, the second toothed portion is disengaged from the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, the ratchet member is rotatable relative to the body in a first direction, the ratchet member and the body are jointly rotatable in a second direction reverse to the first direction, and
- wherein when the control member is in the third position, the first toothed portion is disengaged from the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, the second toothed portion is engaged with the plurality of teeth of the ratchet member, the ratchet member is rotatable relative to the body in the second direction, the ratchet member and the body are jointly rotatable in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.