Versatile folding ratchet tool

• US 7,467,574 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yuan-Ho Lin
• Original Assignee: Yuan-Ho Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Yuan-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III; Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OJINI, EZIAMARA ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/983,307
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 811/778.5, 81 60- 632, 814/265, 814/275, 81436-440
• US Class Current: 81/60
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/461 with concentric driving and driven member
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/56 Spanner sets
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement

Abstract

A versatile folding ratchet tool comprises a ratchet assembly having two driving ends; and two tool assemblies connected to the two driving ends of the ratchet assembly, respectively; wherein each said tool assembly comprises a rotational core having one side connected to and driven by the driving end of the ratchet assembly; and two tool arms, each having one end thereof pivotably connected to the rotational core so that the tool arm is able to pivot with respect to the rotational core between a parallel position and a perpendicular position; and having an opposite end thereof pivotally attached by at least one tool element capable of pivoting with respect to the tool arm between a folded position and an extended position.

Claims

1. A versatile folding ratchet tool comprising:

a ratchet assembly having two driving ends; and

two tool assemblies connected to the two driving ends of the ratchet assembly, respectively;

wherein each said tool assembly comprises;

a rotational core having one side connected to and driven by the driving end of the ratchet assembly; and

two tool arms, each having one end thereof pivotably connected to the rotational core so that the tool arm is able to pivot with respect to the rotational core between a parallel position and a perpendicular position; and

having an opposite end thereof pivotally attached by at least one tool element capable of pivoting with respect to the tool arm between a folded position and an extended position wherein a positioning mechanism is provided between the tool arm and the rotational core for positioning the tool arm at either the parallel position or the perpendicular position, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a guiding slot preformed on the rotational core and a positioning piece mounted on the tool arm in a manner that when the tool arm pivots with respect to the rotational core, the positioning piece moves along the guiding slot.

2. The versatile folding ratchet tool of claim 1 wherein the ratchet assembly is a reversible ratchet assembly.

3. The versatile folding ratchet tool of claim 1 wherein the tool arm is formed with a recess and the tool element recesses in the tool arm when the tool element is at the folded position.

4. The versatile folding ratchet tool of claim 1 wherein the guiding slot on the rotational core is formed with two seats at two end thereof and the positioning piece of the tool arm is elastic in a manner that when the positioning piece moves along the guiding slot and is aligned to one of the seats, the positioning piece can be retained in the seat.

5. The versatile folding ratchet tool of the claim 4, wherein the elastic positioning piece of the tool arm comprises a blind bore, an elastic component settled in the blind bore and a steel ball settled in the blind bore but propped out from the blind bore by the elastic component such that the steel ball can move vertically with respect to the blind bore by virtue of an elasticity of the elastic component.

6. The versatile folding ratchet tool of the claim 1 wherein each of the tool elements is a slotted screwdriver, a crosspoint screwdriver, an Allen wrench or a borer.

7. The versatile folding ratchet tool of claim 1 wherein when the tool arm is at the parallel position and the tool element is at the extended position, the tool element is parallel and positioned next to rotation axes of the ratchet assembly and the rotational cores.