Abstract:
The ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control includes an axially rotatable rod installed within the handle. The rod is connected to a handgrip disposed externally to the handle. The rod rotates upon manual rotation of the handgrip. An end of the rod adjacent to the wrench head and opposite the handgrip has an axially offset flexible spring pin extending therefrom that engages a blind hole or receptacle in the back of the pawl in the wrench head. Rotation of the handgrip rotates the rod and its pin to swivel the pawl in the selected direction to lock rotation of the wrench drive in one rotational direction, while allowing rotation in the opposite direction. Rotation of the handgrip in the opposite direction reverses the above-described operation. One or more detents may be provided to secure the handgrip in the desired pawl actuating position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/987,896, filed May 2, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to mechanical hand tools and the like, and particularly to a ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control so that release and lockup of the rotational direction of the wrench drive is controlled by rotating the handgrip in the appropriate direction about the longitudinal axis of the wrench handle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The conventional ratchet wrench incorporates a reversible ratchet mechanism in the wrench head to allow the drive to rotate in a first direction of rotation while preventing rotation in the opposite second direction. The selector for setting the direction of rotation is conventionally a mechanical toggle, mechanical rotary switch, or other mechanism on or adjacent to the wrench head on the opposite side of the head from the drive. Mechanical advantage is provided by the conventional handle extending from the wrench head, which has a fixed handgrip at the distal end of the handle opposite the wrench head. 
         [0006]    While such ratchet wrenches are clearly more convenient than monolithic open end or box end wrenches, the separation of the directional control at the wrench head from the handgrip at the distal end of the handle opposite the wrench head tends to detract from the convenience of the tool in some circumstances. The user of such a conventional wrench must hold the wrench handle with the first hand while using his or her second hand to manipulate the directional control at the wrench head. This may not be a problem for tightening or loosening a single bolt, but may be troublesome when working on a series of bolts that require varying directions of rotation, as when attempting to align and start the threading of a series of bolts in a panel or other component that attaches with a plurality of bolts. Often, it is necessary to back off some of the bolts after they have been tightened in order to allow the component to be shifted slightly to allow other bolts to be aligned and started. The use of a ratchet rotational control adjacent to the wrench head may be cumbersome under such circumstances. 
         [0007]    Thus, a ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control includes a wrench head and an elongate handle or arm extending rigidly therefrom. The wrench head includes a generally circular ratchet therein, and a tool or socket drive affixed to the ratchet and extending axially therefrom. The wrench head further includes an adjustably positionable pawl that selectively engages the ratchet to lock (prevent) rotation of the ratchet in one direction of rotation and allow rotation of the ratchet in the opposite direction of rotation, with the locking and rotational directions being selectively reversible. 
         [0009]    Control of the pawl is provided by a rod installed in an axial passage through the wrench handle. The rod has an axially offset flexible spring pin that engages a blind hole or receptacle formed in the back of the pawl, i.e., opposite the teeth of the pawl. The rod is affixed to a handgrip disposed concentrically upon the distal end of the handle, i.e., opposite the wrench head. Handgrip rotation about the elongate axis of the handle results in the rod and the pin rotating in unison with the handgrip. Lateral movement of the pin causes one side of the pawl to pivot to engage the ratchet. The side of the pawl engaging the ratchet is determined by the direction of rotation of the handgrip, rod, and pin, and thus determines the rotational direction of lockup and release of the ratchet and drive of the wrench. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control according to the present invention, illustrating its various components and their relationships to one another. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view in section of the ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control of  FIG. 1 , showing the wrench set to provide lockup in a first rotational direction and permit rotation in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view in section of the ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control of  FIG. 1 , showing the wrench set to provide lockup in a second rotational direction and permit rotation in a first rotational direction opposite the second rotational direction. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view in section of a prior art ratchet wrench head having a pushbutton socket release mechanism. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control permits the user of the wrench to select the direction of lockup and rotation of the wrench drive by twisting or rotating the handgrip at the distal end of the handle or arm of the wrench. This provides significant advantages in the use of the wrench, especially when alternately tightening and loosening a series of bolts in an assembly. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an illustration of the various components of the ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control  10 , indicated as wrench  10  or ratchet wrench  10  throughout the remainder of the disclosure. The wrench  10  comprises a wrench head  12  having a handle or arm  14  rigidly affixed to and extending from the wrench head  12 . The wrench head  12  includes a ratchet cavity or receptacle  16 . A generally circular, toothed ratchet  18  is installed in the ratchet cavity  16  and selectively rotates therein. A tool drive  20 , e.g., a socket drive, is affixed to the ratchet  18  and rotates in unison therewith. The tool drive  20  may have a non-circular section and may be immovably affixed to the ratchet  18 . A cover  21  may be installed over the ratchet  18 . The cover  21  has a passage therethrough for the tool or socket drive  20 . The ratchet  18  and cover  21  are secured within the wrench head  12  by a snap ring  22  that seats in a circumferential groove  24  formed within the head  12 . Other means of securing the ratchet  18  and cover  21  within the ratchet cavity  16  of the wrench head  12  may be used, if desired. 
         [0018]    A single, unitary pawl  26  is disposed within the ratchet cavity  16  of the wrench head  12  adjacent the juncture of the head  12  and handle or arm  14 . The pawl  26  has a ratchet-engaging face having a plurality of teeth  28  thereon that selectively mesh with the teeth of the ratchet  18  to lock (prevent) rotation of the ratchet  18  in a predetermined rotational direction, while allowing rotation of the ratchet  18  in the opposite rotational direction. The pawl  26  selectively pivots arcuately within the wrench head cavity  16  to grip the ratchet  18  with one end or the other of the pawl  26 , according to the setting selected by the user and explained further below. The side or face of the pawl  26  opposite its toothed face, i.e., the side or face oriented toward the handle or arm  14 , includes a blind receptacle  30  formed therein, i.e., the receptacle  30  does not penetrate completely through the pawl  26  to the toothed face. The pawl  26  is pivoted arcuately within the wrench head cavity  16  by means of this blind receptacle  30 , as explained further below. 
         [0019]    The handle  14  has a concentric passage  32  therethrough, extending from the distal end of the handgrip end or portion  34  of the handle  14  to its opposite end at the wrench head  12 . A rigid rod  36  (i.e., the body of the rod  36  is inflexible, although the rod is rotatably mounted in the handle  14 ) is installed concentrically inside the handle  14 , within the passage  32 . The rod  36  has a handgrip attachment end  38  disposed within the handgrip end  34  of the handle  14 , and an opposite pawl engagement end  40  communicating with the ratchet cavity  16  of the wrench head  12 . A flexible spring pin  42  extends from the pawl engagement end  40  of the rod  36  and is axially offset therefrom, as seen clearly in the various drawings. The pin  42  engages the blind receptacle  30  in the pawl  26 , resiliently biasing the pawl  26  against the teeth of the ratchet  18 . Rotation of the rod  36  inside the wrench handle  14  results in the pin  42  describing a circular arc. The lateral limits of the arc result in the pin  42  switching the pawl  26  pivotally within the wrench head cavity  16 , thereby controlling the locking and rotational directions of the ratchet  18  within the wrench head  12 . The blind receptacle  30  in the pawl  26  may be elongated vertically to allow pin travel upward and downward within the receptacle  30 , while the pawl  26  remains in the same plane within the wrench head  12 , or the flexibility of the pin  42  may allow the pin  42  to flex to accommodate the geometric difference between the circular arc described by the pin  42  and the generally central position of the blind receptacle  30  in the pawl  26 . 
         [0020]    The rod  36  is rotated by corresponding rotation of a handgrip  44 , to which the rod  36  is fixed for rotation therewith. The handgrip  44  has a handle passage  46  formed axially therethrough. The handgrip  44  fits closely over the handgrip end  34  of the handle  14 , the handle  14  extending through the handle passage  46 . A setscrew  48  or other suitable fastener is installed in a radial passage  50  through the handgrip  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and passes through a semicircumferential slot  52  formed through the hollow handgrip end  34  of the handle  14 . While the setscrew or fastener  48  is immovably affixed to the handgrip  44 , it is free to rotate radially relative to the handle  14  by means of the semicircumferential slot  52  through which the fastener  48  passes. The fastener  48  also engages a fastener receptacle  54  formed in the handgrip attachment end  38  of the rod  36 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , thereby fixing the handgrip  44  to the rod  36  for rotation therewith through an arc of about 180°. This assembly results in the handgrip  44  being immovably affixed to the rod  36 , while allowing the handgrip  44  and rod  36  to rotate in unison with one another relative to the handle  14  by means of the semicircumferential slot  52  in the handle  14 . Rotation of the rod  36  by means of handgrip  44  rotation results in the eccentric pin  42  rotating to swivel or pivot the pawl  26  to either side according to the direction of spring force exerted by the spring pin  42  on the receptacle  30  in the pawl  26 , thus setting the lockup and rotational directions of the ratchet  18  in the wrench head  12 . The handgrip  44  may have a high friction surface  56  to facilitate the grip of the user thereon, e.g., knurling or other roughening, non-slip coating, etc. 
         [0021]    The two ends  58   a  and  58   b  of the semicircumferential slot  52  serve to limit the arcuate or rotational travel of the setscrew  48  that passes therethrough, and thus the arcuate or rotational travel of the handgrip  44  and the rod  36  to which it is immovably attached. This serves to limit the motion of the pin  30  extending from the pawl engagement end  40  of the rod  36 , thus limiting the arcuate movement of the pawl  26  to its optimum limits. A detent  60 , e.g., a spring loaded ball, is installed in the handgrip end  38  of the rod  36 , and protrudes radially and resiliently therefrom due to an associated spring. The detent  60  selectively engages a detent receptacle  62  formed in the handgrip end  34  of the handle  14  as the handgrip  44  is rotated axially about the handle  14  to secure the handgrip  44  rotationally relative to the handle  14 . Two or more detent receptacles  62  may be provided in the handgrip end  34  of the handle  14  to secure the handgrip  14 , and the rod  36  to which the handgrip  14  is affixed, to lock the rotation of the ratchet  18  in the desired direction. 
         [0022]    The installation of the ratchet directional selection control at the distal or handgrip end  34  of the handle  14  greatly simplifies the provision of other features in the wrench head  12 . A highly desirable feature in ratchet wrenches is some means to release a socket that has been installed on the wrench drive. Sockets are conventionally secured removably to the wrench drive by a ball detent, much like the detent  60  described further above, that is seated in a receptacle within the drive attachment portion of the socket. It can sometimes be difficult to remove the socket from the drive if the user of the tool has oily hands and cannot get a firm grip on the socket to pull it past the ball detent of the socket drive. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, conventional ratchet wrenches are equipped with socket release mechanisms disposed within the wrench head. An example of such is illustrated in prior art  FIG. 4 . The wrench head W of  FIG. 4  includes a ball detent B disposed within the socket drive D. Depression of a pushbutton and plunger P releases the ball detent B to allow the socket S to be removed from the drive D without undue force. It will be noted in  FIG. 4  that the wrench head W also includes a ratchet directional selector switch R concentric with the pushbutton and plunger P, and a solid handle H extending from the wrench head W. The entire combination of the pushbutton and plunger P socket release and the ratchet directional selector switch R, as shown in prior art  FIG. 4 , may be greatly simplified by removing the ratchet directional selector switch R and associated mechanism from the wrench head W and constructing the ratchet wrench in accordance with the ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control  10  described in  FIGS. 1-3 . In other words, the ratchet wrench with handgrip ratchet control  10  may easily incorporate the pushbutton socket release mechanism of the prior art ratchet wrench of  FIG. 4 , thus providing all of the advantages of both tools, while greatly simplifying the construction of such a wrench. 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.