Ratcheting mechanism

• US 6,314,838 B2
• Filed: 08/12/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dean Wall
• Original Assignee: Dean Wall
• Inventors: Wall, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shakeri, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US09/373,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 81/584, 81/60, 81/61, 81/62, 81/631, 192/43, 192/43.2, 192/43.1
• US Class Current: 81/58.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/02 operated by rotating the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/04 with ratchet action
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

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.

Claims

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.

2. A toggle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arched structure elevates along itself and provides an elevated surface which serves as a raised area of the toggle.

3. A toggle in accordance with claim 2 wherein said arched structure expands in width along itself.

4. A ratcheting mechanism comprising:

(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.

5. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein said contact contacts the toggle by contacting a raised area of the toggle.

6. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 5 wherein said arched structure elevates along itself and provides an elevated surface which serves as the raised area of the toggle.

7. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein said arched structure also expands in width along itself.

8. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein adjacent teeth of said wheel form a V-shaped notch for receiving an arm of said at least two toggles when said arm engages one of said teeth;

and wherein the sides of the V-shaped notch form a perpendicular angle.

9. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein the number of teeth of said wheel is an even number and said teeth are uniformly positioned around said wheel.

10. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein the number of teeth of said wheel is 12.

11. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein the number of teeth of said wheel is 8.

12. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein the wheel with teeth has an apex;

and wherein the arch allows the arms to be positioned lower in relation to said apex.

13. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein the contact is comprised of a spring having a contact area.

14. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a switch for controlling movement of said spring and for causing the contact area of said spring to make contact with either toggle.

15. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

(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.

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.

17. A ratcheting mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein:

(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.

18. A handtool comprising:

(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.

19. A handtool in accordance with claim 18 wherein:

(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.

20. A handtool in accordance with claim 19 wherein:

(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.