T-shaped reversible ratchet tool

• US 5,461,950 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CAMCAR Intellectual Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Iwinski, Dean J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US08/232,607
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 80/59.1, 80/60, 80/61
• US Class Current: 81/61
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/463 a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/063 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

Abstract

A generally T-shaped ratchet tool includes an oblong handle containing ratchet mechanism and a shaft engageable with the ratchet mechanism and extending axially therefrom transversely of the handle for coupling to a driven member. The handle housing is formed of two identical plastic halves ultrasonically welded together for cooperation to define therein a cavity formation in which is disposed a ratchet wheel and a pawl, with the ratchet wheel being rotatable relative to the housing in only one direction about an axis. In a first embodiment a shaft is matingly engaged in a passage through the ratchet wheel and is retained therein for axial movement between first and second use positions, respectively projecting through openings at opposite sides of the housing. Detent means holds the shaft in each of its use positions and retains the shaft in engagement with the driven member. In a second embodiment a removable shaft has an engagement portion engageable in the passage of the ratchet wheel from either side of the housing, being held in place by detent structure. The ratchet wheel passage and mating shaft may be either square or hexagonal in transverse cross section, and the shaft may comprise a square driver or may define a bit-receiving socket.

Claims

1. A ratchet tool comprising:

an oblong handle housing, a ratchet mechanism disposed in said housing for rotation relative to said housing in only one direction about an axis, said ratchet mechanism having an axial passage polygonal in transverse cross section extending therethrough between opposite ends thereof, said housing having openings therein coaxial with said passage respectively at said opposite ends, ratchet detent structure formed on said ratchet mechanism, a shaft matingly engaged in said passage for rotation with said ratchet mechanism and for axial movement relative to said housing between first and second use conditions, first and second and third shaft detent structures formed on said shaft at longitudinally spaced-apart locations, and retaining means carried by said shaft and engageable with said ratchet mechanism and said handle housing respectively in the first and second use conditions of said shaft for limiting axial movement of said shaft and preventing removal thereof from said passage, said shaft in its first use condition projecting from one of said openings with said first shaft detent structure disposed outwardly of said housing for engagement with an associated driven member and with said second shaft detent structure disposed in engagement with said ratchet detent structure for holding said shaft in its first use condition, said shaft in its second use condition projecting from the other of said openings with said third shaft detent structure disposed outwardly of said housing for engagement with an associated driven member and with said first shaft detent structure disposed in engagement with said ratchet detent structure for holding said shaft in its second use condition.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said retaining means includes a groove formed in said shaft and a clip disposed in said groove projecting laterally outwardly from said shaft.

3. A ratchet tool comprising:

an oblong handle housing including two substantially identical plastic housing members each having an inner side and an outer side, said housing members being fixedly secured together with their inner sides in abutting mating relationship, said housing members cooperating to define a cavity formation in said handle housing, ratchet mechanism disposed in said cavity formation and including a ratchet wheel rotatable in only one direction relative to said handle housing about an axis extending transversely of said handle housing, said handle housing having two apertures respectively formed in said housing members coaxial with said axis and communicating with said passage, a shaft disposable in said passage and shaped for mating engagement therein for rotation with said ratchet wheel, said shaft being extendable through either of said openings and being axially movable in said passage between first and second use positions relative to said handle housing, and retaining means on said shaft engageable with said ratchet mechanism and said handle housing respectively for limiting axial movement of said shaft and preventing removal of said shaft from said passage.

4. The tool of claim 3, and further comprising first detent structure on said ratchet mechanism and second detent structure on said shaft engageable with said first detent structure for holding said shaft in each of its first and second use positions.