Abstract:
A socket and a system for using the socket where the socket has a male attachment end for releaseable engagement with the female output gear of a ratchet wrench. The socket may include a coupling mechanism or a detent groove with the coupling mechanism moved to the periphery of the opening in the output gear allowing the coupling to take place within the wrench to effectively reduce the height of the socket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/878,096 filed on Jun. 28, 2004 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/946,015 filed on Sep. 21, 2004, the contents of both are incorporated in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates, in general, to an anvil system and method for use with pneumatic ratchet wrenches. In particular, the present invention relates to a releasably attached anvil system for use with a pneumatic ratchet, a pneumatic ratchet that includes such an anvil system, and a method of use thereof.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     Ratchets driven by hand or motor having sockets that append to a ratcheting drive system. The ratchet typically has a plurality of different sized sockets having a female portion to accept the male portion of the hand or motor-powered ratchet.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention offers an compact, low profile socket wherein the socket can be changed out quickly.  
         [0007]     A first embodiment of a low profile socket configured for use with a pneumatic ratchet tool comprising: a socket having a coupling mechanism for releasable attachment of the socket to said tool, wherein at least a portion of said coupling mechanism rotates along with said socket; and a release button connected to said coupling mechanism to release said socket from said tool.  
         [0008]     A second embodiment of a pneumatic ratchet wrench assembly comprising: a housing; a motor contained with said housing; a coupling mechanism; at least one offset gear in mechanical communication with said motor within said housing; and a rotatable socket releasably attached within said at least one offset gear with said coupling mechanism.  
         [0009]     A third embodiment of a power ratchet flush socket tool comprising: a body having a handle portion; at least one drive attachment having a socket end and a male end; a release portion within the drive end of the drive attachment; a head portion adjacent the handle portion, the head portion comprising a head body, a first gear, and a ratchet mechanism having an output gear, wherein the output gear has an interior structure that is capable of receiving the male end of the drive attachments within the interior.  
         [0010]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a pneumatic ratchet with a sectional view of an embodiment of the socket system, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a socket and an offset gear, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3A  depicts a side sectional view of an embodiment of a socket, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3B  depicts the socket in  FIG. 3A  with a release button engaged, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  depicts a side sectional view of an embodiment of a socket system, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4B  the socket system in  FIG. 4A  with a release button engaged and the socket partially removed from an offset gear, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a socket and an offset gear, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6A  depicts a side sectional view of a second embodiment of a socket moving into engagement with an offset gear, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6B  depicts a side sectional view of the second embodiment of a socket system, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6C  depicts a side sectional view of the second embodiment of a socket disengaging from the offset gear, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  depicts an top sectional view of the second embodiment of the socket, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  depicts a side sectional view, top view and bottom view of different sized six-point low profile sockets. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.  
         [0025]     As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.  
         [0026]     The present invention offers an improved pneumatic ratchet for use in combination with a low profile or flush socket system that allows for the quick changing out of the socket thereby offering more flexibility and more options for the wrench user. The present invention offers greater flexibility, greater ease of use, and more options, than current pneumatic ratchets do because the lower profile socket allows access to smaller work spaces. The term pneumatic ratchet as used herein denotes an air powered hand tool to be used in conjunction with at least one rotating output that may include an anvil.  
         [0027]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a pneumatic ratchet wrench, denoted by a  100 , in accordance with the present invention. The pneumatic ratchet wrench  100  includes a housing  95 , a motor  10  therein, and a throttle  60 , which may be in communication with the motor  10 . At one end of the housing  95  may be a connector  90  for connecting the wrench  100  with an air source (not shown), such as an air compressor. At the distal end of the housing  95  may be an anvil or output system  300 , a ratchet and pawl system  50 , and a plurality of offset gears  30  (e.g.,  30 A,  30 B,  30 C).  
         [0028]     The ratchet and pawl system  50  may allow for the switching of rotational direction of a rotating anvil or output  310  (See e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). Rotation of the motor  10  may cause rotation of the plurality of offset gears  30  (e.g.,  30 A,  30 B,  30 C). Rotation of a first offset gear  30 A may cause rotation of a second offset gear  30 B which, in turn, causes rotation of a third offset gear  30 C. The third offset gear  30 C may be the most distal of the offset gears  30 . Moreover, the third offset gear  30 C may functionally interact with the anvil system  300  so that rotation of the third offset gear  30 C causes a similar rotation in the anvil or output  310  (See e.g.,  FIG. 2 ). It is the interrelationship, in part, between the third offset gear  30 C and the anvil or output  310  that forms the socket system  300  of the present invention.  
         [0029]     Turning to  FIG. 2  which shows the output or socket system  300  in exploded perspective view and the interrelationship between the third offset gear  30 C and the output  310 . The third offset gear  30 C may include a plurality of teeth  31  interspersed on the outer circumference, which intermesh with like teeth on the second offset gear  30 B. The anvil or output  310  may include a first end or socket end  320  and a drive end or second end  330 . In the embodiment shown the first end  320  is a low-profile drive socket.  
         [0030]     A coupling mechanism  335  may hold the socket  310  to the offset gear  30 . The coupling mechanism is a projection that may be a ball  335  located on the socket  310  and a detent  38  located on the offset gear  30 . The entire coupling mechanism may be self-contained within the socket  310  and the offset gear  30 . Thus, the coupling mechanism may fully rotate in unison with the rotating socket  310  and offset gear  30 . This may reduce moving parts and minimize additional bearing surfaces that are entailed in the coupling mechanism, thereby adding to the longevity of the device and lowering the total height of the socket.  
         [0031]     In the embodiment shown, the second end  330  may be hexagonal in cross-section so as to correspond with a similarly shaped hexagonal axial opening  35  through the offset gear  30 C. Located within the opening  35  in this embodiment the detent  38  may be a detent ring  38  which may communicate with a ball  335  located along the second end of the socket  310 . The detent ring  38  may surround the entire circumference of the opening  35 . This may allow the socket  310  to be placed within the gear  30  in virtually any rotatable configuration. The socket  310  needs only to align with the shape of the opening  35  (e.g., hexagon, square, polygon, slotted, etc.). Therefore, the socket  310  may slidingly engage with the gear  30  and lock into the gear  30  once the coupling mechanism is engaged. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the socket  310  is coupled, and locked, to the gear  30  (and thus the tool  100 , in whole), once the ball  335  clicks into the detent  38 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3A  depicts a side sectional view of an embodiment of the socket  310 . The socket  310  may include a body  360  having a first end  320  which may be used to attach to an additional drive, or bit (not shown) or directly interact with a workpiece (not shown) and a second end  330  housing a portion of a coupling and releasing mechanism of the socket system  300 . The first end  320  may include an opening to attach to a workpiece, which may be known as a socket face having any number or shape of faces for example, six, eight, ten, twelve or more faces.  
         [0033]     The second end  330  of the socket  310  may include a portion of the coupling and releasing mechanism that may include a release button  345  functionally attached to the body  360  by a button retention pin  340 . A spring  350  or any other biasing member may provide a bias against the release button  345 , while an interior portion of the release button  345  provides a normal force against ball  335 . The socket  310  also may have a collar  390  to allow for seating the socket  310  against the third offset gear  30 A (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). The release button  345  may be coaxial with the socket  310  and hourglass-shaped when viewed in section.  
         [0034]     While the embodiment depicted shows the socket  310  that has a first end  320  configured to be a socket  310  instead of a typical a square drive (e.g., ¼″ drive) that typically receives a socket of various sizes, the present invention allows for the changing of the socket  310  to sockets  310  having other configurations at the first end  320 . For example, other sizes (e.g., ⅝″, ⅞″, 10 mm, 18 mm etc.) for the socket  310  may be used a limited example of several size sockets  310  is shown in  FIG. 8 . Similarly, instead of a socket, the first end  320  may also have other shapes.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3B  depicts a side sectional view of the socket  310  (i.e., same view as  FIG. 3A ) only now with the release button  345  engaged, the spring  350  compressed, and ball  335  in a recessed position. A user may press, or engage, the release button  345  when they wish to remove, and change, the socket  310  from the third offset gear  30 A and tool  100 , in general. When a force, designated by directional arrow F, is applied to the release button  345  that is greater than the upward force provided by the bias of the spring  350 , the release button  345  is displaced further into the body  360 . The maximum depth that the release button  345  may be displaced further into the body  360  of the socket  310  may be determined, in part, by the button retention pin  340 . Thus, when the release button  345  is displaced by force designated by directional arrow F further into the body  360 , the release button  345  may no longer exert a normal force against the ball  334 . As a result, the ball  335  can recess into the body  360 , and the socket  310  can be removed from its seating.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  depicts a side sectional view of a socket  310  coupled to an offset gear  30 , thereby creating a socket system  300  in accordance with the present invention. The second end  330  of the socket  310  may reside within, and may be coaxial with, the opening  35  of the offset gear  35 . The seat  390  of the socket  310  may bear against, or abut, the offset gear  30 . The ball  335  may ride within the detent ring  38  of the offset gear  30  thereby providing additional purchase between the socket  310  and the offset gear  35 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 4B  depicts a side sectional view the low profile socket system  300  (i.e., the view in  FIG. 4A ) further wherein the release button  345  has been pressed so that the socket  310  is partially removed from the offset gear  30 . As shown the release button  345  may be pressed downward, displaced by force designated by directional arrow F further into the body  360 . As a result, the ball  335  may no longer have a normal force applied to it by the lower body portion of the release button  345 . This may allow the ball  335  to recess into the body  360  of the socket  310 . Thus, the ball  335  may no longer retain purchase with the detent ring  38  and the socket  310  can easily, and quickly, be released from its seating within the offset gear  30 .  
         [0038]     Turning to  FIG. 5 , which shows a second embodiment of the invention in the same perspective as depicted in  FIG. 2 , namely an exploded perspective view of the socket  300  and its interplay with the offset gear  30 C. The socket  300 , in this embodiment, may employ as part of its coupling mechanism with the gear  30 , a pawl  336 . Another attribute of the second embodiment may be that the release button  345  (see  FIGS. 6A-6C ) need not be pressed in order to install the socket  310  and engage it to the gear  30 . That is the release button  345  may only need to be employed (e.g., pressed) in order to release, disengage (i.e., change) the socket  310  from the gear  30  and tool  100 . Similarly though, the embodiment in  FIG. 5  may include a coupling mechanism that is self-contained. Further, at least a portion of the coupling mechanism may rotate along with the socket  310 .  
         [0039]     Turning to the side elevation sections shown in  FIGS. 6A through 6C , the second embodiment&#39;s details will become more apparent.  FIG. 6A  depicts the socket  310  as it may be pushed into releasable engagement with the offset gear  30 . The pawl  336  may rotate about a pin  337  (see  FIG. 7 ) and may be biased via a spring  338  which may reside in a recess within the socket  310 . The shape of the pawl  336  may be such that the socket  310  may readily slide within the opening  35  of the gear  30 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6B , upon the successful mating of the socket  310  and the gear  30 , a low profile socket system  300  may be created. The bias of the spring  338  may exert a lateral (i.e., outward) pressure on the pawl  336  such that the pawl  336  may rotate into the detent  38 . In this embodiment the cross section of the detent  38  may be rectangular, or square, so as to provide a better purchase for the pawl  336  against the gear  30 .  
         [0040]     Similar to the views shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4B , the view in  FIG. 6C  shows the initiation of release of the socket  310  from the gear  30 . In order to remove the socket  310 , a force, denoted by directional arrow F, may be exerted onto the button  345 . As the button  345  is pushed further within the socket  310 , a bottom portion of the button  345  may ride against the pawl  336  so that it rotates inward against the spring  338 . As a result, the pawl  336  may ultimately retract within the body of the socket  310  so that the pawl  336  no longer has purchase against the detent  38 . The socket  310  can then release from the gear  30 .  
         [0041]     While the embodiments shown includes some attributes, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art, that other variations, and embodiments are possible with the invention. For example, although a plurality of offset gear  30  are shown to ultimately carry the rotation of the motor  10  to the socket  310 , this is not necessary. A single gear (not shown) could be the interface between the motor  10  and socket  310 . Conversely, a different number of offset gears  30  could be provided. Similarly, differently mechanical interfaces entirely could be used between the socket  310  and motor  10 .  
         [0042]     Similarly, although the detent ring  38  is shown within the offset gear  30 , alternative retainment means (e.g., ball  335  and detent ring  38 ) may be used. For example, the detent ring  38  could be fixed within another portion of the tool  100  than the offset gear  30 . Alternatively, instead of a detent ring  38 , a detent point or detent slot (not shown) could be used to retain the ball  335 .  
         [0043]     A rotatable socket  310  configured for use with a pneumatic ratchet tool  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  may comprise a socket  310  having a coupling mechanism  335  for releasable attachment of the socket  310  to said tool  100 , wherein at least a portion of said coupling mechanism  335  may rotate along with said socket  310  and may have a release button  345  that may be connected to said coupling mechanism  335  to release said socket  310  from said tool  100  as shown in  FIG. 3A-4B .  
         [0044]     The socket  310  may be low profile to allow the head portion of the tool  100  along with an appropriately sized socket  310  to fit into spaces smaller that a conventional socket system. The term low profile with a socket is meant to have the same depth to hold the workpiece, but with the area to attach the socket  310  moved within the head of the ratchet, thus effectively reducing the socket height by the length of a typical drive attachment. The coupling system may be moved from the conventional head of the conventional tool onto the socket of the invention, which may reduce the height of the combined socket and ratchet head by moving the mechanism internal to the socket. Additional benefits may include increased durability of the tool since each individual coupling mechanism on each socket  310  may undergo less usage and wear items are removed.  
         [0045]     The coupling mechanism  335  may include a ball  335  configured to communicate with a detent  38 . Alternatively, the coupling mechanism may include a pawl  336  configured to communicate with a detent  38  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The detent  38  may be located on an offset gear  30 C in said tool  100 . The coupling mechanism  335  may be self contained within said socket  310  and an offset gear  30 C within said tool  100 .  
         [0046]     Another embodiment may be a pneumatic ratchet wrench assembly  100  that may comprise a housing  95  and a motor  10  contained with the housing  95 . The assembly  100  may have at least one offset gear  30 C in mechanical communication with said motor  10  within said housing  95 . A coupling mechanism  335  within a rotatable socket  310  may releasably attach the socket  310  within the at least one offset gear  30 C.  
         [0047]     The offset gear  30 C may have a female drive portion or opening  35 . The rotatable socket  310  may have a drive end  330  and a workpiece end  330  of a body  310 . A male head  330  may be affixed to the body  310  at said drive end  330  of said socket  310 , said male head  330  dimensioned to be internally received by the female drive portion  35  of said at least one offset gear  30 C.  
         [0048]     Optionally the socket  310  may have a socket shoulder  390  at the drive end  330  of the socket body  310  adjacent the male head  330  to fully seat the socket  310  within the offset gear  30 C. The socket shoulder  390  may seat against the offset gear  30 C to ensure complete insertion and seating of the socket  310 . Additionally a detent  38  may be positioned on the female drive portion  35  of said at least one offset gear  30 C to help prevent unanticipated release of the socket  310 . The male head  330 , which may be affixed to the body  310  may be a hexagonal or any other desired shape. The assembly  100  may include a spring  350  loaded button  345  positioned on the male head  330 . The assembly  100  may alternatively have a coupling mechanism  336  that includes a pawl  336  configured to communicate with a detent  38 .  
         [0049]     Another embodiment may be a power ratchet flush socket tool  100  that may comprise a body  95  having a handle portion  60  having a trigger. The tool  100  may include at least one drive attachment  300  having a socket end  320  and a male end  330 . To aid in changing to a socket  310  that is dimensioned for a different sized workpiece a release portion  345  within the drive end  330  of the drive attachment  330  may be provided. The tool  100  may have a head portion  50  adjacent the handle portion  60 , the head portion  52  comprising a head body  51 , a first gear  30 A, and a ratchet mechanism  50  having an output gear  30 C, wherein the output gear  30 C may have an interior structure  35  that is capable of receiving the male end  330  of the drive attachments  310  within the interior  35 .  
         [0050]     The drive attachment  310  may be a plurality of different sized sockets  310  in a plurality of SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers) sizes of 5/32 up to 2 inches or Metric sizes 1 to 100 mm. The male end  330  may be hexagonally shaped, square or any other shape that corresponds to the female portion. The tool  100  may have a motor  10  positioned within the housing  95 . A reciprocating member  50  may be positioned at least partially within the head portion, wherein the reciprocating member  50  may be coupled to the motor  10 . A ratchet mechanism  50  may be positioned at least partially within the head portion, wherein said output gear  30 A may be coupled to the reciprocating member  50 , wherein a pawl  50  may be coupled to the reciprocating member  50 .  
         [0051]     The tool  100  may have an opening that exposes a button  345  for attaching and releasing said socket  310  from said output gear  30 C, said mechanism being self-contained. The tool  100  may have coupling mechanism  336  that may include a pawl  336  configured to communicate with a detent  38 . The tool  100  may have a button  345  having an indent  340 , wherein said release portion is a ball  335 , wherein a portion of said ball  335  fits into said indent  340  of said button  345 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . A spring  350  may be provided, wherein said spring  350  is positioned within said drive end  330  of the drive attachment  310  and wherein said spring  350  may urge said button  345  to project said ball  335  partially outside of said drive attachment  310  to engage the interior structure of said output gear  38 . Another method may be a button  345  that may be upwardly biased by a spring  350 , wherein said release portion  336  may be a pawl  336 , wherein a cam portion of said pawl  336  may rest against a portion of said button  345 . To move the pawl  336  a pin  337  about which said pawl  336  pivots against a spring  338  may be provided, wherein said spring  338  may be positioned within said drive end  330  of the drive attachment  310  and wherein said spring  338  may urge said pawl  336  to project partially outside of said drive attachment  310  to engage the interior structure  35  of said output gear  30 C.  
         [0052]     Various modifications and variations of the described apparatus and methods of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, outlined above, it should be understood that the invention should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.