GB2364945A

GB2364945A - Light Weight Wrench

Info

Publication number: GB2364945A
Application number: GB0017757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chih-Ching Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-18
Filing date: 2000-07-19
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-19
Also published as: GB0017757D0; FR2813225B3; FR2813225A3; DE20012408U1; GB2364945B

Abstract

A light weight wrench 10 comprises a main body 20 made of non-iron metal and having an elongated stem 22, one end of which is a holding end 24 for fitting to and driving a screw fastening member. At least one reinforcing member 30 having a hardness greater than that of the main body is disposed in the holding end thereof, and at least one reinforcing rod 50 having a hardness greater than that of the main body is axially disposed in the stem 22. Such a wrench has light weight and good strength. Also, the wrench has no magnetic properties and can be operated in a narrow space.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> LIGHT WEIGHT WRENCH The present invention relates to a hand tool and, more particularly, to a wrench and a socket of lightweight, reinforced structure.

A conventional wrench is used to drive a nut or bolt and is made of iron or steel. Such conventional wrenches have some shortcomings, for example, iron has a high density so that an iron-made wrench is heavy and is strength sapping to operate, iron is magnetic so that an iron-made wrench will magnetize articles and may affect the functioning of sophisticated equipment, and a conventional iron-made wrench has large volume and thickness and is not easy to hold, especially in a narrow space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrench and a socket made of non-iron metal and having light weight.

To this end, the invention consists in a light weight wrench comprising a main body having an elongated stem and made of non-iron metal, one end of the stem being a holding end for fitting to and driving a screw fastening member, at least one reinforcing member having a hardness greater than that of the main body and disposed in the holding end thereof, and at least one reinforcing rod having a hardness greater than that of the main body and axially disposed in the stem.

The invention enables the production of a wrench having sufficient structural strength for bearing high torque. Also, since the main body is made of non-iron metal, the wrench may have little or no magnetic properties. Furthermore, it enables the production of a wrench which is of light weight and smaller volume and thickness and is easy to operate in a narrow space.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the wrench of the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the wrench of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the wrench;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled wrench of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of still another preferred embodiment of the wrench; Fig. 8 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the wrench of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of socket for use with a wrench of the invention; Fig. 10 is a top exploded, perspective view of the socket of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an exploded, perspective view looking at the bottom of the socket of Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of another preferred embodiment of socket for use with the wrench of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the wrench 10 of the present invention comprises a main body 20 made of aluminum alloy so as to have a light weight. The main body 20 has an elongated stem 22, one end of which is formed with a ring-shaped holding end 24 for driving a nut or a bolt, the holding end having a through hole 25 extending from a top face to a bottom face. The main body 20 is further formed with a chamber 26 communicating with the through hole 25 and an axial passage 28.

A reinforcing member 30, which is an iron or steel ring-shaped member having a radial perforation 32, is received within the through hole 25 and is tightly attached to the circumferential wall of the through hole 25 with the perforation 32 aligned with the chamber 26. The reinforcing member 30 has a hardness greater than that of the main body, the circumferential face of the reinforcing member 30 being formed with an engaging surface 34 having projecting ribs or serrations for engaging with the inner wall of the through hole so as to achieve a firm engagement therewith.

A ratchet mechanism, which does not form part of the present invention, includes a ratchet 40 received in the reinforcing member 30, and a detent 42 received in the chamber 26 and extending through the perforation 32 resiliently to engage with the ratchet 40, as shown in Fig. 3, to produce a ratchet effect. The top and bottom edges of the reinforcing member 30 and

the ratchet 40 are respectively retained by a flange 27 and a C-shaped snap ring 29 positioned in the through hole 25, as shown in Fig. 4.

A reinforcing rod 50, the front end of which is formed with an insertion section 52 having projecting splines or ribs is fitted into the axial passage 28 of the main body and is fixed therein by the insertion section 52 which is proximal to the holding end.

The above components are assembled to form a ratchet wrench in which the fitting hole 44 of the ratchet 40 may be fitted to a nut for driving the same. When not being used, by means of a magnet 55 disposed at rear end of the wrench, the .wrench can be attracted and located in a certain position.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which the wrench 10' also includes a reinforcing member 30, a ratchet mechanism and a reinforcing rod 50. A stub shaft 46 of square cross section is inserted in the fitting hole 44 of the ratchet 40 so as to be insertable into a socket for fitting to a nut.

Figs. 7 and 8 show still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the wrench 60 is also made of aluminum alloy. One end of wrench 60 is formed with a holding end 64 having a ratchet effect. The other end of the main body 62 of the wrench is formed with an open jaw 65 having a U-shaped inner wall for engaging a nut. The inner wall is formed with a U-shaped insertion groove 66 in which a second reinforcing member 68 is fixedly inserted. the second reinforcing member 68 is U-shaped and made of iron or steel.

Figs. 9 to 11 show a preferred embodiment of socket 70 for use with the present invention, in which the socket 70 is also made of aluminum alloy. The top end of the socket 70 is formed with a first fitting hole 72 for fitting with the insertion column 46 of the wrench of Fig. 5. The bottom end thereof is formed with a second fitting hole 74 for fitting to a nut. The wall of the first fitting hole 72 is formed with a step section 73 of larger size. The socket 70 further includes a reinforcing member 75 which is a square member formed from iron or steel plate and with a central hole 76. The central hole 76 has a diameter equal to that of the first fitting hole 72. the reinforcing member 75 is inlaid in the step section 73. The peripheral wall of the reinforcing member 75 is formed with an engaging surface 77 having projecting ribs or serrations

which engage with the peripheral wall of the step section 73 and enhance the fixing effect.

When the fitting hole 72 of the socket 70 is fitted with the stub shaft of the wrench, the reinforcing member 75 services as a main force bearing portion. In addition, as shown in Fig. 11,a second reinforcing member 78 is disposed in the second fitting hole 74 at the bottom end of the socket. This second reinforcing member 78 is formed with a central hexagonal hole 79. When the second fitting hole 74 is fitted with a nut, the reinforcing member 78 serves as a main force bearing portion.

Fig. 12 shows another preferred embodiment of the socket, in which the reinforcing member 95 inset in the step section 93 of the socket 90 is differently shaped. In Fig. 12, the reinforcing member 95 is circular and formed with a central hole 96. the circumferential wall of the reinforcing member 95 is formed with an engaging surface 97 for engaging with the circumferential wall of the step section 93 and enhancing the fixing effect.

The present invention has the following advantages: 1. The wrench and socket of the present invention are made of light material so that the wrench and socket have reduced weight and are easy to hold without requiring much strength.

2. The wrench and socket of the present invention are equipped with metal reinforcing members and have sufficient structural strength similar to steel hand tools. Therefore, the wrench and socket of the present invention are able to bear high torque.

3. The main body of the wrench is made of non-iron metal so that the wrench has negligible magnetic properties and will not affect the functioning of sophisticated equipment.

4. With respect to the same specification, the wrench of the present invention can be made with a smaller volume and thickness to facilitate use in a narrow space.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A light weight wrench comprising a main body having an elongated stem and made of non-iron metal, one end of the stem being a holding end for fitting to and driving a screw fastening member, at least one reinforcing member having a hardness greater than that of the main body and disposed in the holding end thereof, and at least one reinforcing rod having a hardness greater than that of the main body and axially disposed in the stem.
2. A wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding end is formed with a through hole for fitting to the screw fastening member and the reinforcing member is ring-shaped and disposed in the through hole.
3. A wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body is formed with a chamber communicating with the through hole, a peripheral wall of the reinforcing member is formed with a perforation aligned with the chamber, and a ratchet mechanism, which includes a ratchet and a detent, is rotatably disposed in the reinforcing member, the detent being disposed in the chamber and projecting through the perforation resiliently to engage with the ratchet.
4. A wrench as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the holding end is formed with a substantially U-shaped opening, and the reinforcing member is also substantially U-shaped and is disposed within the U-shaped opening.
5. A wrench as claimed in claim 4, wherein the opening is formed with an insertion groove in which the reinforcing member is disposed.
6. A wrench as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stem of the main body is formed with an axial passage in which the reinforcing rod is disposed.
7. a wrench as claimed in claim 6, wherein one end of the reinforcing rod is formed with a fixing section for fixedly engaging with the inner wall of the axial passage.
8. A wrench as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a socket driven by the wrench and having one end formed with a first fitting hole for attaching the socket to the wrench, and an opposite end formed with a second fitting hole for fitting with a screw fastening member, the socket being made of non-iron metal and including at least one reinforcing member having a predetermined geometrical shape and a hardness greater than that of the

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socket, and the reinforcing member being formed with a central hole and being engaged in one of the fitting holes of the socket.
9. A socket as claimed in claim 8, wherein a wall of the fitting hole in which the reinforcing member is disposed is formed with a step section of larger size, the reinforcing member being plate-like and being disposed in the step section.
10. A socket as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the outer periphery of the reinforcing member is formed with an engaging section for frictionally engaging with the wall of the fitting hole.
11. a light weight wrench constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 5, 6 and 9 to 12 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.