Battery powered palm ratchet tool

• US 5,662,174 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary M. Vermilyer
• Original Assignee: Gary M. Vermilyer
• Inventors: Vermilyer, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/753,848
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 173/2, 173/4, 173/11, 173/13, 173/18, 173/170, 173/171, 81/58, 81/60, 81/177.1, 310/47, 310/50
• US Class Current: 173/13
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/004 of the ratchet type
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/063 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

Abstract

A battery powered palm ratchet tool including a hemispherical palm grip. The palm grip has an upper body with a gripping ring and an under side interconnected to a stop. The upper body encases a battery and a motor powered by the battery. The upper body has a plurality of teardrop-shaped sections interconnected by a plurality of ridges. The plurality of ridges bulge outwardly beyond the teardrop-shaped sections and create an enhanced gripping surface on the upper body of the palm grip. The palm grip has an axial opening within the upper body and stop for receiving a shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted within the axial opening and driven by the motor. The shaft is compressible within the axial opening for activating the motor and actuation of the shaft. The palm grip is positioned within one hand of a user for use on torquing an item.

Claims

1. A new and improved battery powered palm ratchet tool for torquing items in hard to reach places comprising, in combination:

a hemispherical palm grip having an upper body with a gripping ring and an under side being interconnected to a stop, the upper body encasing a battery and a motor powered by the battery, the upper body having a plurality of teardrop-shaped sections interconnected by a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges bulging outwardly beyond the teardrop-shaped sections for creating an enhanced gripping surface on the upper body of the palm grip, the palm grip having an axial opening within the upper body and stop for receiving a shaft, the shaft being rotatably mounted within the axial opening and driven by the motor, the shaft being compressible within the axial opening for activating the motor for actuation thereof, the shaft having an interior end positioned within the upper body and the motor, and an exterior end projecting beyond the stop of the palm grip, the exterior end of the shaft having a ball dent for coupling with a variety of torque-operated tool heads, the palm grip being positioned within one hand of a user and the shaft being coupled to one of the torque-operated tool heads for torquing an item;

the gripping ring of the palm grip having a pair of recharge contacts symmetrically attached thereto, each recharge contact being in electrical communication with the battery encased within the upper body;

the motor being a reversible motor for actuating the shaft of the palm grip, the motor having a switch for controlling the direction for rotation, the switch being attached to the under side of the palm grip;

a generally rectangular housing having a base portion with two short planar walls, one long planar wall and a front wall projecting therefrom and ending at a top portion, the housing having a concave opening within and accessible through the front wall and the top portion, the front wall having a concave portion leading into the concave opening of the housing, the concave opening being sized for receiving the palm grip in a horizontal orientation with the stop of the palm grip projecting from the concave portion of the front wall; and

the concave opening of the housing having an interior wall with a pair of transmitting contacts projecting therefrom and spaced from the concave portion of the front wall, the two short planar walls, the one long planar wall and the front wall form an interior area within the housing, the interior area having a transformer therein, the transformer having a power cord and a pair of cables, the power cord extending from the transformer and through the long planar wall, one of each of the pair of cables capable of being in electrical communication with one of the transmitting contacts, the transmitting contacts being in electrical communication with the recharging contacts of the palm grip when the palm grip being positioned within the housing, the battery of the palm grip being recharged when the palm grip being seated within the housing.

2. A battery powered palm ratchet tool comprising:

a hemispherical palm grip having an upper body with a gripping ring and an under side being interconnected to a stop, the upper body encasing a battery and a motor powered by the battery, the upper body having a plurality of teardrop-shaped sections interconnected by a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges bulging outwardly beyond the teardrop-shaped sections for creating an enhanced gripping surface on the upper body of the palm grip, the palm grip having an axial opening within the upper body and stop for receiving a shaft, the shaft being rotatably mounted within the axial opening and driven by the motor, the shaft being compressible within the axial opening for activating the motor for actuation thereof, the palm grip being positioned within one hand of a user.

3. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein the shaft having an interior end positioned within the upper body and the motor, and an exterior end projecting beyond the stop of the palm grip, the exterior end of the shaft having a ball dent for coupling with a variety of torque-operated tool heads, and the shaft being coupled to one of the torque-operated tool heads for torquing an item.

4. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein the gripping ring of the palm grip having a pair of recharge contacts symmetrically attached thereto, and each recharge contact being in electrical communication with the battery encased within the upper body.

5. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein the motor being a reversible motor for actuating the shaft of the palm grip, the motor having a switch for controlling the direction for rotation, the switch being attached to the under side of the palm grip.

6. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 4, further including:

a generally rectangular housing having a base portion with two planar walls, one long planar wall and a front wall projecting therefrom and ending at a top portion, the housing having a concave opening within and accessible through the front wall and the top portion, the front wall having a concave portion leading into the concave opening of the housing, and the concave opening being sized for receiving the palm grip in a horizontal orientation with the stop of the palm grip projecting from the concave portion of the front wall.

7. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein the concave opening of the housing having an interior wall with a pair of transmitting contacts projecting therefrom and spaced from the concave portion of the front wall, the two short planar walls, the long planar wall and the front wall form an interior area within the housing, the interior area having a transformer therein, and the transformer having a power cord and a pair of cables.

8. The battery powered palm ratchet tool as set forth in claim 7, wherein the power cord of the transformer extending from the transformer and through the long planar walls, one of each of the pair of cables being in electrical communication with one of the transmitting contacts, the transmitting contacts being in electrical communication with the recharging contacts of the palm grip when the palm grip being positioned within the housing, and the battery of the palm grip being recharged when the palm grip being seated within the housing.