Universal stepless wrench

• US 7,150,208 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bill Debley
• Original Assignee: Bill Debley
• Inventors: Debley, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/991,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 81/591, 81/58, 811/243, 811/245, 811/772
• US Class Current: 81/59.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/461 with concentric driving and driven member
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0021 Prolongations interposed between handle and tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a universal stepless wrench. More particularly, it relates to a wrench with a stepless rotatable for receiving and turning a slideable shaft in a desired direction. The rotatable allows a tool handle to rotate freely around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction. When the tool handle is moved in a locked direction, the slideable shaft is rotated, thereby rotating a socket or other suitable object.

Claims

1. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

wherein the universal stepless wrench further comprises an annular elastic cap having a central opening and covering a lip portion of the first rotatable, where the slideable shaft is inserted through the annular elastic cap and into the first rotatable.

2. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slideable shaft is a removable shaft.

3. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first rotatable comprises:

a hollow cylinder with a plurality of recesses spaced around a circumference of the hollow cylinder;

rotary elements included in each recess of the plurality of recesses; and

a bearing wall encasing both the hollow cylinder and the rotary elements.

4. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 3, wherein the plurality of recesses are wedge-shaped recesses.

5. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 4, wherein the rotary elements are drawn-cup needle roller clutch bearings.

6. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an axial protector on at least one end of the first rotatable.

7. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 6, wherein the axial protector is selected from a group consisting of bushings and bearings.

8. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 7, wherein the slideable shaft includes at least one notch.

9. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 8, wherein the at least one notch runs around a circumference of, perpendicularly to a length of, the slideable shaft, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted through the annular elastic cap, the annular elastic cap engages with the notch in order to adjustably hold the slideable shaft in place.

10. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 9, wherein the slideable shaft has both a socket-receiving end and a bit-receiving end.

11. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 10, wherein the slideable shaft and the tool handle both include angle markings, allowing a user to determine to what angle the slideable shaft has been turned.

12. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 11, wherein the tool handle is configured to operate perpendicularly to an inserted slideable shaft.

13. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 11, wherein the tool handle is configured to operate parallel to an inserted slideable shaft.

14. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction;

wherein the universal stepless wrench further comprises a second rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, where the second rotatable is positioned opposite the first rotatable such that the first rotatable allows for rotation in a first direction, while the second rotatable allows for rotation in a second direction;

wherein the slideable shaft further comprises a raised section, where the raised section engages with at least one of the first and second rotatable,

wherein each of the first rotatable and the second rotatable comprise;

a hollow cylinder with a plurality of recesses spaced around a circumference of the hollow cylinder;

rotary elements included in each recess in the plurality of recesses; and

a bearing wall encasing both the hollow cylinder and the rotary elements;

wherein the plurality of recesses are wedge-shaped recesses; and

wherein the slideable shaft and the tool handle both include angle markings, allowing a user to determine to what angle the slideable shaft has been turned.

15. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 14, wherein the rotary elements are drawn-cup needle roller clutch bearings.

16. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 15, further comprising an axial protector on at least one end of the first rotatable and the second rotatable.

17. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 16, wherein the axial protector is selected from a group consisting of bushings and bearings.

18. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

further comprising an axial protector on at least one end of the first rotatable, thereby helping with an axial load; and

wherein the axial protector is selected from a group consisting of bushings and bearings.

19. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

wherein the slideable shaft includes a notch.

20. A universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 19, wherein the notch runs around a circumference of, perpendicularly to a length of, the slideable shaft, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted through the annular elastic cap, the annular elastic cap engages with the notch in order to adjustably hold the shaft in place.

21. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

wherein the slideable shaft has both a socket-receiving end and a bit-receiving end.

22. A universal stepless wrench, comprising:

a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

a first rotatable encased in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

a slideable shaft for inserting into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

wherein the slideable shaft and the tool handle both include angle markings, allowing a user to determine to what angle the slideable shaft has been turned.

23. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench, comprising acts of:

forming a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

encasing a first rotatable in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

forming a slideable shaft configured to be insertable into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

further comprising an act of attaching an annular elastic cap with the tool handle, the annular elastic cap having a central opening and covering a lip portion of the first rotatable, where the slideable shaft is insertable through the annular elastic cap and into the first rotatable.

24. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench, comprising acts of:

forming a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

encasing a first rotatable in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

forming a slideable shaft configured to be insertable into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

further comprising an act of attaching an axial protector with at least one end of the first rotatable.

25. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 24, wherein in the act of attaching the axial protector, the axial protector is selected from a group consisting of bushings and bearings.

26. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench, comprising acts of:

forming a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

encasing a first rotatable in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

forming a slideable shaft configured to be insertable into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

further comprising an act of forming at least one notch in the slideable shaft.

27. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 26, wherein in the act of forming the at least one notch, the at least one notch runs around a circumference of, perpendicularly to a length of, the slideable shaft, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted through the annular elastic cap, the annular elastic cap engages with the notch in order to adjustably hold the slideable shaft in place.

28. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench, comprising acts of:

forming a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

encasing a first rotatable in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

forming a slideable shaft configured to be insertable into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction; and

wherein the act of forming the slideable shaft further comprises an act of forming both a socket-receiving end and a bit-receiving end on the slideable shaft.

29. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench, comprising acts of:

forming a tool handle having a rotatable receiving-portion;

encasing a first rotatable in the rotatable receiving-portion of the tool handle, the first rotatable allowing the tool handle to rotate freely around an inserted slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the inserted slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction;

forming a slideable shaft configured to be insertable into the first rotatable, whereby when the slideable shaft is inserted, the first rotatable allows the tool handle to freely rotate around the slideable shaft in one direction, but to engage with and lock against the slideable shaft when turned in an opposite direction, thereby allowing for rotation of the slideable shaft in a desired direction;

further comprising an act of encasing a second rotatable in the rotatable-receiving portion of the tool handle, where the second rotatable is positioned opposite the first rotatable such that the first rotatable allows for rotation in a first direction, while the second rotatable allows for rotation in a second direction; and

further comprising an act of attaching an axial protector on at least one end of the first rotatable and the second rotatable.

30. A method for forming a universal stepless wrench as set forth in claim 29, wherein in the act of attaching an axial protector, the axial protector is selected from a group consisting of bushings and bearings.