U.S. patent number 3,875,828 [Application Number 05/351,253] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-08 for self-retaining ratcheting wrench.
Invention is credited to James P. Evans.
United States Patent |
3,875,828 |
Evans |
April 8, 1975 |
SELF-RETAINING RATCHETING WRENCH
Abstract
A ratcheting wrench for rotating a hexagonal member, the wrench
including a body having a member engaging portion and a handle, the
member engaging portion providing four contiguous torqueing
surfaces configured to receive a hexagonal member therein, each
torqueing surface being at an angle of 120.degree. relative to any
adjacent torqueing surface, the torqueing surfaces providing a
member receiving opening therebetween, the first torqueing surface
being adjacent the opening and having a length less than one-half
the length along one side of the hexagonal member, the second
torqueing surface being contiguous to the first and in the
direction away from the opening and of a length slightly greater
than the length along one side of the hexagonal member, the third
torqueing surface being contiguous to the second torqueing surface
and being opposite and parallel to the first surface and of a
length slightly greater than the length along one side of the
hexagonal member, and the fourth torqueing surface being contiguous
to the third and parallel to the second surface, the length of the
fourth torqueing surface being greater than the length along one
side of the hexagonal member.
Inventors: |
Evans; James P. (Oklahoma City,
OK) |
Family
ID: |
23380218 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/351,253 |
Filed: |
April 16, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
81/119; 81/124.7;
81/124.3; 81/186 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B
13/08 (20130101); B25B 13/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B25B
13/08 (20060101); B25B 13/00 (20060101); B25B
13/46 (20060101); B25b 013/02 (); B25b 013/06 ();
B25b 013/58 () |
Field of
Search: |
;81/119,121R,121B,186,125.1,99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Smith; Al Lawrence
Assistant Examiner: Smith; James G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A ratcheting wrench for rotating a hexagonal member in which the
distance between opposing corners is X, the distance between
opposing sides is Y, and the distance along a side is Z,
comprising:
a wrench body having a member engaging portion and a handle
portion, the member engaging portion providing four contiguous
torqueing surfaces configured to receive said hexagonal member
therein, each said torqueing surface being at an angle of
120.degree. relative to any adjacent torqueing surface, the
torqueing surface providing a member receiving opening
therebetween, the first torqueing surface being adjacent said
opening and having a length less than 1/2 Z, the second torqueing
surface being contiguous to the first and in the direction away
from said opening and of a length slightly greater than Z, the
third torqueing surface being contiguous to the second surface and
at the end thereof opposite the first surface, the length of the
third surface being slightly greater than Z, the fourth torqueing
surface being contiguous to the third torqueing surface and at the
end thereof opposite the second torqueing surface, the length of
said fourth torqueing surface being greater than Z, the fourth
torqueing surface being parallel to said first torqueing surface
and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than Y, and the
wrench body member engaging portion having a positioning surface
intersecting said fourth torqueing surface at an angle of about
120.degree. and at the end thereof opposite the intersection of
said fourth torqueing surface with said third torqueing surface,
the positioning surface being generally parallel said second
torqueing surface and spaced from it a distance greater than X;
and
a flat spring having one end received in said positioning surface
and bent to extend generally parallel the positioning surface, said
spring being adaptable to resiliently urge a hexagonal member
towards said second and third torqueing surfaces.
2. A ratcheting wrench according to claim 1 wherein said flat
spring is received in said positioning surface adjacent the end of
such surface opposite the intersection with said fourth torqueing
surface, and wherein said spring has a free end terminating
adjacent said fourth torqueing surface.
Description
BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Wrenches have been employed in a variety of forms for engaging and
rotating hexagonal members. Most common wrenches are of two basic
types, that is, the open end wrench having parallel sides with an
opening between, the distance between the sides being such to
slidably and snugly receive opposing sides of a hexagonal member to
be rotated. The other common type wrench is the box end wrench in
which a hexagonal opening is provided to snugly receive the
hexagonal periphery of the member to be rotated. The box end
configuration may be employed in what is termed a socket wrench in
which the body portion is rotatable by a ratcheting mechanism.
The present invention is directed towards a wrench concept of
improved economy, simplicity and ease of operation and in which the
wrench can be used to ratchet a hexagonal member without the use of
moving parts and in which ratcheting is accomplished without
removing contact of the wrench from the hexagonal member being
ratcheted.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a wrench for
ratcheting a hexagonal member. More particularly, an object of this
invention is to provide a ratcheting wrench for hexagonal members
characterized by simplicity of operation and in which ratcheting is
accomplished without moving parts.
Another object of this invention is to provide a wrench for
ratcheting members wherein in one embodiment the wrench is in the
form of a ratcheting socket in which the hexagonal member may be
ratcheted in a manner not requiring moving parts.
These general as well as more specific objects of the invention
will be fulfilled in the following description and claims, taken in
conjunction with the attached drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wrench embodying the invention. The
wrench shows the invention incorporated in one configuration at the
left end and a different configuration at the right end.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the wrench embodying the
invention and showing the use of hard material inserts to increase
the wear resistance of the wrench.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 4 is an additional alternate embodiment of the invention
showing the means whereby the angle of the various surfaces may
vary relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment showing a further variation of
the angle of the contacting surfaces relative to the longitudinal
axis of the handle and showing the inclusion of a spring means to
retain the wrench torqueing surfaces in engagement with the
hexagonal member being rotated.
FIG. 6 is a view, shown partially in cross section, of a wrench
wherein the member engaging portion is in the form of a socket,
that is, wherein the hexagonal member to be rotated is fully
encompassed by the wrench.
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.
6.
FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the invention in a wrench design
commonly referred to as a "crow foot."
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of FIG.
5.
FIG. 10 is a hexagonal member showing representative
dimensions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a wrench is shown
for rotation of a hexagonal member 10. As shown in FIG. 10 the
hexagonal member 12 has representative dimensions in which the
distance between opposing corners is X, the distance between
opposing sides is Y, and the length along a side is Z. The wrench
of FIG. 1 includes a body 14 having a handle portion 16 extending
therefrom. The body 14 includes a hexagonal member receiving recess
generally indicated by the numeral 18, the recess forming a
hexagonal member engaging portion. The recess provides four
contiguous torqueing surfaces to receive a hexagonal member and,
upon pivotation of handle 16, to rotate the hexagonal member. The
torqueing surfaces provide a hexagonal member receiving opening 20
therebetween. The first torqueing surface 22 is adjacent the
opening 20 and has a length A less than 1/2 Z. The second torqueing
surface 24 is contiguous to the first torqueing surface 22 and
extends in the direction away from the opening 20, the second
torqueing surface intersecting the first surface 22 at an angle of
120.degree.. The length of the second torqueing surface 24 is
slightly greater than Z.
The third torqueing surface 26 is contiguous to the second
torqueing surface 24 and intersects the plane of the second
torqueing surface 24 at an angle of 120.degree.. The length of the
third torqueing surface 26 is slightly greater than Z.
The fourth torqueing surface 28 intersects the third torqueing
surface 26 at an angle of 120.degree.. It is parallel to the first
torqueing surface 22 and spaced from it a distance slightly greater
than Y. The length of the fourth torqueing surface 28 is greater
than Z.
When the wrench handle 16 is rotated in the direction indicated by
the arrow the four torqueing surfaces 22, 24, 26 and 28 engage the
member 12 and rotate it in the direction indicated by the arrow
internally of the member. When the wrench handle is moved in the
direction opposite that indicated by the arrow the surfaces 22, 24,
26 and 28 slide upon the external peripheral surfaces of the
hexagonal member 12 but do not apply any rotational torque to it.
The wrench can thus be moved to a new position wherein, upon
rotation again in the direction indicated by the arrow, the member
12 will be engaged by the torqueing surfaces and rotated. Thus the
wrench provides a ratcheting wrench for a hexagonal member which
does not employ any moving parts. In addition, the arrangement of
the invention provides a ratcheting wrench wherein four of the six
surfaces of the hexagonal member are engaged by the wrench and yet
wherein the wrench can easily be slipped onto or off the hexagonal
member.
In FIG. 1 the wrench design at the right hand is the same as that
previously described with reference to the design at the left hand
of the wrench except that the right hand configuration includes a
positioning surface 30 intersecting the fourth torqueing surface
28. The positioning surface 30 is spaced from and generally
parallel to the second torqueing surface 24, the distance between
the surfaces 24 and 30 being greater than Y. The positioning
surface 30 does not contact the hexagonal member being rotated and
serves only to assist in retaining the wrench in engagement with a
hexagonal member while it is being ratcheted, thus enabling the
user to be freer in the motions of the wrench during ratcheting
operation.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment substantially that as shown in the right
hand side of FIG. 1 except that the positioning surface 30 is
curved so as to allow easier movement of the wrench onto and off of
a hexagonal member while at the same time serving to loosely retain
the wrench in engagement with a hexagonal member as the member is
being rotated.
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement wherein a portion of each of the four
torqueing surfaces is formed of a material harder than the body of
the wrench. The material is in the form of inserts 32 which may be
such as tungsten carbide. The inserts 32 add to the wear resistance
of the wrench.
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention illustrating that the
relationship of the angles of the torqueing surfaces 22 through 28
may vary as they relate to the longitudinal axis of handle 16.
Further, FIG. 4 shows an arrangement wherein the fourth torqueing
surface includes a recess 34 therein. The recess 34 increases
slightly the spacing between first torqueing surface 22 and fourth
torqueing surface 28 so as to enable the hexagonal member to more
easily slide into position in engagement with the torqueing
surfaces. In addition, the point of intersection of second
torqueing surface 24 and third torqueing surface 26 has a
semicircular notch 36 cut therein. The notch 36 provides
compensation for imperfection in the hexagonal peripheral
configuration of the member to be rotated and enables the member to
be more securely engaged by the torqueing surfaces.
FIG. 5 shows an arrangement wherein the first torqueing surface 22
and fourth torqueing surface 28 are parallel to the longitudinal
axis of handle 16.
FIGS. 5 and 9 show an embodiment in which a spring 38 extends in
front of positioning surface 30. When a hexagonal member 12 is in
position within the wrench recess 18 spring 38 lightly contacts the
member 12. In this way as the wrench handle 36 is moved back and
forth in a ratcheting action the hexagonal member 12 is maintained
in slidable contact with the torqueing surfaces and as the handle
is moved in the direction to apply torque to member 12 it is urged
into the torqueing position by spring 38. It can be seen that the
use of spring 38 in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is optional. In
addition, the arrangement, positioning and shape of the spring 38
may vary.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of the invention wherein the
recess 18 for the wrench is completely enclosed so as to, in
effect, provide a socket type wrench for engaging a hexagonal
member. In this arrangement the opening 20 is covered by an
extension 14A of the body portion. The torqueing surfaces 22, 24,
26 and 28 remain the same in their relationship to each other and
function as in the other embodiments, including FIG. 1, to rotate
the hexagonal member 12. The provision of the body extension 14A
which connects the wrench body in the full 360.degree. enclosure
adds additional strength to the wrench. The embodiment of FIGS. 6
and 7 is a ratcheting socket wrench having no moving parts.
FIG. 8 shows the wrench employed in a design commonly termed a
"crow foot." The body 14 includes a handle portion 16A having a
recess 40 therein. A wrench handle extension including a square
configured extending portion may be inserted in the recess 50 by
means of which the wrench can be rotated and ratcheted. As a
different arrangement the handle may be removably extended into
recess 42 so as to extend in the direction normal to the wrench
having the integral handle as shown in FIG. 1.
The invention described provides a ratcheting wrench which may be
termed as "self-retaining" in that the configurations tend to
maintain the torqueing surfaces in contact with the hexagonal
member to be rotated as the wrench handle is oscillated in a manner
to ratchet the hexagonal member. The wrench described, including
various alternate embodiments which are shown by way of example
only, fulfills the objectives above set forth.
It is understood that the invention is not limited by the
embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but
is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims,
including the full range of equivalency to which each element
thereof is entitled.
* * * * *