US3475999A - Racheting handtool mechanism - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 4, 1969 w, M, ROBERTS ET AL 3,475,999

RACHETING HANDTOOL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1967 INVENTORS TTOR/VEYS Nov. 4, 1969 W. M. ROBERTS ET Al- RACHETING HANDTooL MECHANsM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1967 j TORNE Ys United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 81-63 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Following is disclosed a racheting handtool mechanism that includes a shank with an enlarged portion on one end having teeth on its periphery with opposed flanks that are substantially parallel. The enlarged portion has a polygon shaped socket on an interior region and a rotatable handle is secured to the shank and receives a removable tool. A housing having a pivotable arm encloses the enlarged portion, and a reciprocable pin carried by the housing is biased inward to engage the teeth. The end of the pin is beveled to permit rotation of the enlarged portion in one direction, but may be manually retracted and rotated to permit reversed rotation. The pivotable arm has a yoke securedto the housing to partially cover and protect the pin. Insulation is provided to enable use around electrical conductors.

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DISCUSSION Previously, racheting handtool mechanisms have been developed that utilize removable Screwdrivers and other inserts -such as adapters for socket wrenches. Such mechanisms with which we are familiar have a number of signicant disadvantages. It is common for them to have a rachet mechanism with only one direction of rotation, or alternatively, the means utilized for reversing the racheting direction is lacking in that degree of ruggedness characterized by fail-safe reliability. Moreover, the means for reversing the racheting direction is frequently exposed and thus subject to accidental impact and breakage. Some of them have stationary handles that tend to rotate in ones hand, thereby necessitating periodic changes in grip. Others have a form of construction in which electrical insulation is diicult to achieve. It is our purpose to provide a racheting hand tool mechanism which overcomes many of the above mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is an exploded, perspective view of a racheting handtool Imechanism embodying the principles of our invention; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view, partially in section, showing details of construction of the racheting mechanism; FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen looking along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of insulation means for a portion of the mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The numeral 11 in the drawing designates a shank having an enlarged portion 13 (see especially FIG. 3) integrally formed thereon. A plurality of teeth 15 form a gear on the periphery of enlarged portion 13, with the opposed ilanks 17, 19 of the teeth being substantially parallel. The anks may be inclined slightly and preferably diverge as shown in FIG. 3. A polygon shaped socket 21 extends axially into an interior region of the enlarged portions 13.

The upper region of shank 11 has in this instance a ICC cylindrical exteror and receives a handle 23 with slots 24 preferably constructed of electrically nonconductive material, such handle having an interior cylindrical region 25 which may be inserted over the shank 11. An air vent 24 extends through `the shank 11 to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the handle 23. An annular groove 27 (see FIG. 2) mates with a depressible but captive ball retainer 29 (see FIG. 1) to secure the the handle 23 to the shank 11. The handle is therefore rotatable on the shank and, by exerting a relatively large upward axial force against it, may be removed from the shank.

`'A removable handtool such as the screwdriver 30 may be inserted into the polygon shaped socket 21, such screwdriver having a polygon-shaped upper end 31 and a depressible but captive ball retainer 33 that engages a sidewall within the socket 21 to secure the screwdriver.

`A housing 35 encloses enlarged portion 13, and as seen in FIG. 3, has an aperture 37 to receive a reciprocable pin 39. The enlarged portion 13 is covered by a plate 38 releasably secured to the housing 35 by suitable fasteners 36. The pin 39 is biased toward engagement with the teeth 15 formed on enlarged portion 13 by means of a compression spring 41 which engages an enlarged lower portion 40 of the pin. The spring 41 also engages the shoulder of an insert 42 which in this instance is secured to the housing 35 by suitable means such as epoxy resin, threads, tack weld, interference tit, etc. The enlarged lower portion 40 of the pin 39 is adapted to extend between the space between the opposing anks 17, 19 of the teeth and is beveled as indicated by the numeral 47 to intersect an arcuate portion 48. When the housing 35, as viewed in FIG. 3, is rotated in the clockwise direction, the beveled portion 47 of the pin 39 rides over each tooth crest 20, with consequent reciprocation of the pin 39. However, engagement of the arcuate portion 48 with a flank 17 causes rotation of the enlarged portion 13 and a tool inserted in socket 21 when housing 35 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

To enable reverse rotation of the housing 35, vthe pin 39 is retracted, rotated 180 degrees, and then released. Thus, counterclockwise rotation of the housing 35 causes the beveled portion 47 of the pin 39 to ride over each tooth crest 20. However, engagement of the arcuate portion 48 with a ank 19 causes rotation of the enlarged portion 13 and tool inserted in socket 21 when housing 35 is rotated inthe clockwise direction.

A control element 49 which in this instance is a knurled knob, is secured to the upper end of the pin 39 to enable manual reciprocation and rotation of the pin to reverse the direction of possible rotation of the housing relative to the removable tool. The knob has a rib 50 which extends into a mating formed in the insert 4Z to properly orient the knob.

An arm 51, having in the drawing a covering 53 of electrically nonconductive material, is removably secured by suitable means such as epoxy resin, interference t, etc., to a yoke portion 57 which extends over slotted portions 59, 61 of the housing 35. Dowel pins 63, 65 are inserted through respective tines V60, 62 of the yoke 57 and into the housing 35 and secured by retainer pins 64, 66 to pivotally secure the arm 51 for rotation about an axis perpendicular to and adjacent the common axis of the dowel pins 63, 65 such that the yoke 57 partially covers and protects the reciprocable pin and associated racheting mechanism.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown boot insulation means 67 which fits around the housing 35 and yoke 57 in the interest of safety when working around the electrical conductor-s. An aperture 69 receives arm 51; aperture 71 receives the tool 30; and an elongated aperture 73 receives handle 23, while exposing one side of the knob 49. A

smaller elongated aperture 75 on the opposite side of the insulation means 67 exposes the opposite side of the knob and thus it may be conveniently retracted and rotated 180 degrees. Notches 77, 79 on the insulation means enable the arm 51 to be folded toward the handle 23.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided an invention having signicant advantages. The formation of the gear as an integral portion of the shaft 11 and the utilization of the tool receiving socket 21 internally of the gear provides a racheting handtool mechanism of great strength. Moreover, the utilization of a single reciprocable pin or pawl 39 which may be conveniently used to reverse the direction of rotation by withdrawing and rotating it 180 degrees produces a high degree of ruggedness and reliability. The utilization of a mounting system for the reciprocable pin 39 which enables the arm 51 and its yoke 57 to partially cover the pin and rachet mechanism at all times prevents failure through accidental impact. Further, the utilization of the handle 23 construction shown enables shaft 11 to rotate within handle 23 to eliminate necessity for the user changing his grip on the handle. However, when the handle 23 is folded into one of the slots 24 of the handle 23, rotation of the handle on the shank 11 is prevented and the tool may be used in the manner of a conventional screwdriver. By utilizing an electrically nonconductive material on or for the handle 23, the arm 51, and the boot insulation means 67 the tool may be utilized with a higher degree of safety.

While we have shown our invention in only one of its forms it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes and modilications without departing from the spirit thereof.

We claim:

1. A racheting handtool mechanism comprising:

a shank having an enlarged portion on one end, a gear having teeth with opposed and substantially parallel flanks formed on the periphery of said portion, and a polygon shaped socket formed axially in an interior region of said portion;

a rotatable handle secured to one end of said shank;

a removable tool secured in said socket;

a housing enclosing said enlarged protrusion;

a reciprocable pin carried by said housing and being biased to extend radially into engagement with the teeth of said gear, the end of the pin being beveled to permit rotation of said gear in one direction and consequent reciprocation of said pin;

a control element extending beyond said housing and being secured to said pin to enable manual retraction and rotation of said pin to reverse the direction of possible rotation of said gear; and

an arm having a yoke portion pivotally secured to the housing to rotate about an axis adjacent the axis of said reciprocable pin to partially cover and protect said pin.

2. The mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein the handle has groove means formed on an exterior thereof to receive the folded arm to prevent rotation of the handle relative to the shank.

3. The mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein an insulation boot substantially covers the housing and the yoke of said arm, and insulation means covers the arm and the handle.

4. The mechanism delined by claim 1 wherein the reciprocable pin extends through an insert secured in an aperture in the housing, biasing means extend between the insert and the pin to urge the pin toward the teeth, and a rib on the control element, which is secured to the pin, extends into a mating slot in the insert to orient the pm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,601,767 10/1926 Peterson 8158.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 210,895 10/1957 Australia.

499,786 6/ 1930 Germany.

JAMES L. I ONES, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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