Ratchet tool having improved driving shank

• US 6,935,211 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Su Shia Chen
• Original Assignee: Su Shia Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Su Shia
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/763,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 81/58, 81/583, 81/584, 81 60- 632, 811/178.5, 814/38
• US Class Current: 81/58.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/04 with ratchet action
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0028 Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0035 Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

Abstract

A ratchet tool includes a seat rotatably secured to a housing and having a number of teeth, a driving stem is engaged in the seat and has an engaging hole to receive a tool member, two pawls are slidably engaged in the housing and biased to engage with the teeth of the seat. A device may selectively disengage the pawls from the teeth of the seat to control a rotational direction of the seat by the housing. The driving stem includes a narrower neck formed in the other end to form a head and to engage with and to drive tool elements. The provision of the narrower neck in the driving stem permits the driving stem to rotate relative to the tool elements.

Claims

1. A ratchet tool comprising:

a housing including a pair of longitudinal channels formed therein,

a seat rotatably secured to said housing and including a first end facing toward said housing and having a plurality of teeth formed therein, said seat including a cylindrical member extended therefrom and having an aperture formed therein,

a driving stem engaged in said aperture of said cylindrical member, said driving stem including a first end having an engaging hole formed therein,

a tool member received in said engaging hole of said driving stem,

a pair of pawls slidably engaged in said longitudinal channels of said housing respectively,

means for biasing said pawls to move longitudinally relative to said housing to engage with said teeth of said seat, and

means for selectively disengaging said pawls from said teeth of said seat to control a rotational direction of said seat by said housing, and

said driving stem including a second end having a narrower neck formed therein to define a head thereon, for engaging with and driving tool elements, a provision of said narrower neck in said second end of said driving stem permitting said driving stem to rotate relative to the tool elements.

2. The ratchet tool according to claim 1, wherein said driving stem includes a driving member provided in said second end thereof, and spaced away from said head, to have said narrower neck formed between said driving member and said head.

3. The ratchet tool according to claim 1, wherein said head of said driving stem includes a projection provided therein to selectively engage with the tool elements, and to retain the tool elements to said head of said driving stem.

4. The ratchet tool according to claim 3, wherein said driving stem includes a pathway formed therein to slidably receive said projection, and a rod slidably received in said pathway of said driving stem and having a depression formed therein to receive said projection to allow said projection to be disengaged from the tool elements, said projection is movable by said rod to engage with the tool elements when said rod is moved relative to said driving stem.

5. The ratchet tool according to claim 4 further comprising means for moving said rod relative to said driving stem, to move said projection toward and away from the tool elements.

6. The ratchet tool according to claim 5, wherein said moving means includes a button slidably received in said driving stem for engaging with and for moving said rod relative to said projection.

7. The ratchet tool according to claim 6, wherein said button includes an inclined surface formed therein, said rod includes an inclined surface formed therein and engaged with said inclined surface of said button, to allow said rod to be moved relative to said projection by said button.

8. The ratchet tool according to claim 1, wherein said seat includes an orifice formed in said first end thereof, said housing includes a barrel rotatably secured in said orifice of said seat.

9. The ratchet tool according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes an outer peripheral portion having a passageway formed therein and communicating with said channels of said housing, and an actuator slidably received in said passageway of said housing and rotatable to engage with either of said pawls.

10. The ratchet tool according to claim 9, wherein each of said pawls includes a notch formed therein, said actuator includes two inclined ends engageable into said notches of said pawls.

11. The ratchet tool according to claim 9 further comprising a control ferrule rotatably secured on said housing and having said actuator secured thereto for moving said actuator along said passageway of said housing.

12. The ratchet tool according to claim 11, wherein said control ferrule includes three depressions formed therein, and a spring-biased projection engaged in said housing and selectively biased to engage with either of said depressions of said control ferrule.