Locking swivel head ratchet wrench

• US 5,768,960 A
• Filed: 01/02/1997
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tarue David Archuleta
• Original Assignee: Tarue David Archuleta
• Inventors: Archuleta, Tarue David
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan, Eileen P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANGANAN, JONI BALDOS
• Application Number:
  US08/775,517
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 81/177.8, 81/177.9, 81/177.7, 81/185, 81/DIG. 11, 403/84, 403/87, 403/102, 403/103
• US Class Current: 81/177.8
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32262 At selected angle

Abstract

A tilt head wrench is provided having a handle with spaced-apart first and second openings each having a different geometrical shape. A tilt head includes a connector part through which extends a connector opening having a third geometrical configuration. A connector shaft extends through the first, second and connector openings. It includes a first end portion having a cross-sectional configuration that is engageable with the first opening and connector opening. The shaft includes a second end portion that is circular and permits free rotation of the head when positioned within the connector opening and second opening. Selective axial positioning of the connector shaft allows the tilt head to be in a locked or unlocked disposition.

Claims

1. A tilt head wrench comprising:

a handle having an attachment end with spaced-apart first and second flanges through which extend respective first and second openings, said first opening having a polygonal shape with inner corners and said second opening having a circular shape;

a tilt head connected to said attachment end by a hinge means, said tilt head having a connector part with a connector opening having a polygonal shape with respective inner corners;

said hinge means comprising a connector shaft which is axially slidable within said connector opening and said first and second openings, said shaft comprising a first end portion having a polygonal cross-sectional shape with outer corners and a second end portion having a circular cross-section, said first end portion having a longitudinal extent that is greater than the width of said first flange and less than the combined widths of said connector part and said first flange;

said first end portion preventing rotation of said tilt head when positioned within said first opening and said connector opening, said second end portion permitting free rotation between said tilt head and attachment end when positioned within said second opening and said connector opening.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the center axes of said first and second openings are in axial alignment and about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

3. The wrench of claim 2 wherein said tilt head includes a socket lug having a rotational axis which is about perpendicular to said center axes.

4. The wrench of claim 1 wherein said tilt head connector part is located between said first and second flanges and positioned so that the center axis of said connector opening is in axial alignment with the center axes of said first and second openings.

5. The wrench of claim 4 wherein each of said first and second flanges have an inside wall surface and said connector part includes opposing sidewalls having bearing faces each one of which engages a respective inside wall surface.

6. The wrench of claim 4 wherein said connector shaft includes a retention means proximate at least one opposing end of said shaft.

7. The wrench of claim 6 wherein the longitudinal extent of said connector shaft exceeds the combined widths of said first and second flanges and said connector part.

8. The wrench of claim 1 wherein said outer corners have sufficient radial extent to engage corresponding inner corners of said first opening and said connector opening.

9. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal extent of said second end portion is not less than the combined widths of said connector part and said second flange.

10. A tilt head wrench comprising:

a wrench handle and tilt head joined together by a hinge means, the proximal end of either one of said handle or head having spaced-apart first and second flanges through which extend respective first and second openings, said first opening having a polygonal shape and said second opening having a circular shape;

the proximal end of the other one of said handle or head having a third opening with a polygonal shape;

said hinge means comprising a connector shaft which is reciprocable within said first and second openings and said third opening, said shaft having opposing first and second end portions, said first end portion having a longitudinal extent that is greater than the width of said first flange and less than the combined widths of said other one of said proximal ends and said first flange, said first end portion having a predetermined cross-sectional configuration that is sufficient in radial extent to engage portions of said first and third polygonal shapes when positioned within said first and third openings, said second end portion having a circular cross-sectional shape that permits free rotation between said head and handle when positioned within said second opening and said third opening.

11. The wrench of claim 10 wherein said first end portion has a polygonal cross-sectional shape that corresponds to said first and third openings.

12. The wrench of claim 11 wherein the connector shaft includes a retention means proximate at least one opposing end of said shaft.

13. A tilt head wrench comprising:

a handle having an attachment end with first and second spaced-apart flanges;

a polygonal shaped first opening extending through said first flange, said first opening including a plurality of inside corners defining a first opening diameter;

a circular shaped second opening extending through said second flange having a center axis that is coextensive with said first opening;

a tilt head having a connector part interfitted between said flanges, said connector part having a polygonal shaped connector opening with a center axis that is coextensive with the center axes of said flanges, said connector opening including a plurality of inside corners defining a connector opening diameter;

a shaft comprising a first portion and a second portion extending into said flange openings and said connector part opening, said first portion having a polygonal shaped cross-section with outside corners defining an outer diameter about equal to said first opening diameter and said connector opening diameter;

said second portion having a circular cross-section with a diameter about equal to the diameters of said second flange opening and said connector opening; and

,

said first portion having a length sufficient to extend through said first opening and into said connector opening when a predetermined length of said second portion is positioned within said second opening.

14. The wrench of claim 13 wherein each of said first and second flanges include an inside wall and said connector part includes opposing sidewalls having bearing surfaces each one of which engages a respective inside wall.

15. The wrench of claim 14 wherein said connector opening is defined by an apertured bushing-extending into said connector part.

16. The wrench of claim 13 wherein said first opening diameter and said connector opening diameter are about equal.