Ratcheting mechanism
First Claim
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1. An improved toggle for a ratcheting mechanism, said toggle comprisinga plate with an arched structure and an arm;
- wherein said arched structure provides an arch which can be positioned above a shaft to which a ratcheting wheel with teeth is attached; and
wherein said arched structure extends across the toggle; and
wherein said arm is adapted to engage at least one of said teeth; and
wherein said plate and arm are adapted to be positioned and used in a ratcheting mechanism that includes said ratcheting wheel with teeth.
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Abstract
The invention is an improved ratcheting mechanism having a rotatable wheel with teeth, a shaft to which the wheel is affixed, at least two toggles, each with an arm for engaging a tooth of said wheel and each with an arched structure. The arched structure forms an arch over the shaft. There is also a contact for contacting either toggle to cause the arm of the contacted toggle to disengage from a tooth of the wheel and to allow rotation of the wheel in one rotational direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An improved toggle for a ratcheting mechanism, said toggle comprising
a plate with an arched structure and an arm; -
wherein said arched structure provides an arch which can be positioned above a shaft to which a ratcheting wheel with teeth is attached; and
wherein said arched structure extends across the toggle; and
wherein said arm is adapted to engage at least one of said teeth; and
wherein said plate and arm are adapted to be positioned and used in a ratcheting mechanism that includes said ratcheting wheel with teeth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A ratcheting mechanism comprising:
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(a) a rotatable wheel with teeth;
(b) a shaft to which the wheel is affixed;
(c) at least two toggles, each with an arm for engaging a tooth of said wheel and each with an arched structure, wherein said arched structure forms an arch over said shaft and said arched structure extends across the toggle; and
(d) a contact for contacting either toggle;
wherein said contacting causes the arm of the contacted toggle to disengage from a tooth of said wheel and to allow rotation of said wheel in one rotational direction.- View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
(i) said contact contacts the toggle by contacting a raised area of the toggle;
(ii) said arched structure elevates along itself and provides an elevated surface which serves as the raised area of the toggle;
(iii) adjacent teeth of said wheel form a perpendicular area for receiving an arm when said arm engages one of said teeth; and
(iv) said wheel with teeth has an apex and the arch allows the arms to be positioned lower in relation to said apex.
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16. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein:
(v) the number of teeth of said wheel is an even number and said teeth are uniformly positioned around said wheel.
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17. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein:
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(v) the contact is comprised of a spring having a contact area and a hole;
(vi) the ratcheting mechanism further comprises a switch for controlling movement of said spring and for causing the contact area of said spring to make contact with either toggle;
(vii) the switch is comprised of a knob for thumb or finger contact, a plate, and an extension from said plate;
(viii) said hole of said spring is sized and shaped to receive said extension from said plate.
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18. A handtool comprising:
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(a) a first elongated barrel having a bit-holding means on an end of said first elongated barrel, (b) a second elongated barrel having a bit-holding means on each end of said second elongated barrel, and (c) a ratcheting mechanism incorporated into the first elongated barrel;
wherein;
(i) said second barrel is rotatably attached at a fixed point to said first barrel and can be rotated about said fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said first barrel;
(ii) said bit-holding means are adapted to accept and hold bits;
(iii) said second barrel is adapted to be hand-held and to provide for increased torque when said barrel is perpendicular to said first barrel;
(iv) said first barrel has an open portion adapted to receive one end of said second barrel; and
wherein said end of said second barrel can be rotated into and received by said open portion; and
(v) said ratcheting mechanism is comprised of;
(1) a rotatable wheel with teeth;
(2) a shaft to which the wheel is affixed;
(3) at least two toggles, each with an arm for engaging a tooth of said wheel and each with an arched structure, wherein said arched structure forms an arch over said shaft and said arched structure extends across the toggle; and
(4) a contact for contacting either toggle;
wherein said contacting causes the arm of the contacted toggle to disengage from a tooth of said wheel and to allow rotation of said wheel in one rotational direction.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
(vi) said contact contacts the toggle by contacting a raised area of the toggle;
(vii) said arched structure elevates along itself and provides an elevated surface which serves as the raised area of the toggle;
(viii) adjacent teeth of said wheel form a perpendicular area for receiving an arm when said arm engages one of said teeth; and
(ix) said wheel with teeth has an apex and the arch allows the arms to be positioned lower in relation to said apex.
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20. A handtool in accordance with claim 19 wherein:
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(x) the contact is comprised of a spring having a contact area and a hole;
(xi) the ratcheting mechanism further comprises a switch for controlling movement of said spring and for causing the contact area of said spring to make contact with either toggle;
(xii) the switch is comprised of a knob for thumb or finger contact, a plate, and an extension from said plate; and
(xiii) said hole of said spring is sized and shaped to receive said extension from said plate.
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Specification