Ratchet wrench

An improved ratchet wrench is disclosed that minimizes the number of moving parts that are needed in the device to provide a low torque ratcheting action along with a non-ratcheting high torque mode of operation. Proximate each of the engaging faces of the wrench head, there is an irregular pyramidal cutout. The base of the cutout is a three sided polygon and forms a trailing engagement face when the wrench head is turned in the direction for providing torque to the nut. The apex of this cutout irregular pyramid is contiguous to, and provides a perpendicular junction between, the engaging face and the face of the wrench head. Thus, when the wrench direction is reversed, the wrench head rises up away from engagement with the nut and, upon the cooperating vertices of the nut reaching the next cutout, falls back into engagement with another set of trailing engagement edges. Ratcheting action for low torque applications is thus provided. To assist in stopping the travel of the wrench head and its various engaging faces any farther than necessary down onto the nut, a number of spring loaded balls are inserted into the engagement faces. In the preferred embodiment, there are two balls on opposite engagement faces. If higher torque is desired, these balls are capable of fully recessing into their holding slots, thus allowing the device to function as a normal wrench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to tools. More specifically, it relates to 
tools that are used to tighten and/or loosen threaded engagements. Even 
more specifically, it relates to a wrench wherein a ratchet type action is 
provided through the geometry of a plurality of angled cutouts about the 
periphery of the nut engaging portion of the device. In low torque 
applications, these cutouts provide a sufficient amount of guidance and 
engagement to allow the nut to be turned. When the opposite torque is 
applied, the angled surfaces allow the wrench to pop "up and over" 
allowing for ratcheting action in cramped or limited spaces. A pair of 
oppositely opposed spring loaded balls are present in two of the 
engagement faces of the unit. These allow for the unit to be pressed down 
onto the nut when large amounts of torque are needed to finish the 
engagement. 
More generally, the present invention would be useful in any application 
where quick low torque ratcheting with a minimum of moving parts would be 
required, such as would be useful in corrosive liquid environments such as 
undersea oil wells. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Ratchet wrenches are old and popular devices. When someone needs to quickly 
remove various threaded engagements, one from the other, ratchet wrenches 
are a preferred method of accomplishing this, seeing as how the user is 
not required to remove the tool from the nut at the termination of the 
torque applying stroke. These devices are ubiquitous and many different 
varieties are sold under various names. The present invention seeks to 
obviate one of the problems extant with these devices; that is, that the 
profusion of moving parts therein allow for various mechanical breakdowns 
and potential sticking of the mechanism through exposure to viscous 
substances. The present invention provides the ratcheting movement through 
tangential angled cutout geometries proximate the flat, central nut 
engaging portions of the device. 
During a search at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the following 
patents were uncovered that are related to the present invention: 
First is U.S. Pat. No. 2,185,002 issued on Dec. 26, 1939 to Earle A. Pack 
which discloses a dual reversible wrench. This apparatus has a pair of 
parallel heads that are journaled within hubs. A ratchet pawl connected to 
each of the heads allows for left handed or right handed movement of the 
head depending on how the pawl is adjusted. This is dissimilar from the 
present invention in that there is no cutout geometry taught to allow for 
the riding of the wrench up and out of engagement between the torque 
receiving and delivering surfaces of the nut and wrench, respectively. 
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,259 issued on Jul. 5, 1955 to Harvey J. Cowell. 
This discloses an open ended ratchet system wherein a plurality of 
recesses carrying jaw members are disposed tangentially about the inner 
wall of the engaging head. These jaw members are biased such that when the 
wrench is turned in one direction they engage and impart rotation to the 
nut faces. Beveled surfaces on the jaw members are configured such that 
when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, the jaw members are 
urged into the recesses, thus providing a ratcheting stroke. Contrast this 
to the instant invention wherein the cutouts proximate the flat interior 
engaging surfaces impel the wrench itself away from the engaging surfaces 
of the nut and allow the wrench to "slide" into the next engaging 
configuration of the alternating ratchet stroke. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,360 issued on Nov. 6, 1956 to Wayne W. Cottrell 
there is disclosed an angular wrench head with an upwardly opening socket. 
A central straight handle portion has, on either of its ends, socket heads 
disposed at a forty five degree angle from the handle, so as to be 
parallel with one another. Each of the socket heads carried a socket 
within it, and also includes retaining walls thicker than the socket to 
allow a removed nut to be carried to or from an overlying stud. As in the 
patents discussed above, this is clearly unlike the present invention, as 
no angled cutouts are involved to urge the wrench away from and over the 
nut when the wrench is turned in a specific direction. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,654 issued on Jan. 18, 1972 to Frederick R. McFarland 
there is disclosed a multisized reversible ratchet wrench. This includes 
an overcenter ratchet and pawl arrangement for limiting the direction of 
the socket's movements, and each end of the wrench has two permanent, 
variously sized nut receiving sockets. There is no teaching of the angled 
cutouts required in the present invention. 
Next is U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,791 issued on Jul. 7, 1981 to John W. Thompson. 
This is another device that uses a ratchet and pawl arrangement, combined 
with an offset handle to allow access to difficult to reach threaded 
engagements. On this device, the directional control for the ratchet is 
located on the upper extremity of the handle. As in the patents above, the 
ratcheting means is mechanical and there is no mention of any angled 
cutouts proximate the nut engaging area. 
Another patent relating to ratcheting wrenches is U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,521 
issued on Apr. 11, 1989 to John W. Lang. This discloses a ratchet box 
wrench with an offset handle. The ratcheting action in this device is also 
mechanical, and there is no teaching of the cutout geometry utilized in 
the instant invention. 
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,332 issued on Apr. 6, 1993 to Ronald W. Batten 
discloses a hand wrenching tool for use with frangible fasteners. The 
ejector members for the device are fitted about a socket sleeve that can 
be retrofitted to an existing box racket wrench. Again, as in the above 
discussed patents, there is no teaching of the angled portions to provide 
the "up and back" motion of the wrench on the ratchet stroke. 
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in 
combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an improved ratchet wrench that minimizes the 
number of moving parts that are needed in the device to provide a low 
torque ratcheting action along with a non-ratcheting high torque mode of 
operation. Proximate each of the engaging faces of the wrench head, there 
is an irregular pyramidal cutout. The base of the cutout is a three sided 
polygon and forms a trailing engagement face when the wrench head is 
turned in the proper direction to provide torque to the nut. The apex of 
this irregular cutout pyramid is contiguous to, and provides a 
perpendicular junction between, the engaging face and the face of the 
wrench head. Thus, when the wrench direction is reversed, the wrench head 
rises up away from engagement with the nut and, upon the cooperating 
vertices of the nut reaching the next cutout, falls back into engagement 
with another set of trailing engagement edges. Ratcheting action for low 
torque applications is thus provided. To assist in stopping the travel of 
the wrench head and its various engaging faces any farther than necessary 
down onto the nut, a number of spring loaded balls are inserted into the 
engagement faces. In the preferred embodiment, there are two balls on 
opposite engagement faces. If higher torque is desired, these balls are 
capable of fully recessing into their holding slots, thus allowing the 
device to function as a normal wrench. 
Accordingly, it is a major goal of the invention to provide an improved 
ratchet wrench tool that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
Moreover, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved 
ratchet wrench that allows the user to apply low torque quickly and easily 
to nuts or the like while additionally being capable of standard high 
torque wrench operation. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ratchet wrench 
wherein the ratcheting action is provided, during low torque application, 
by a cut out geometry of a portion of the wrench head proximate the 
innermost engagement faces. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved ratchet 
wrench wherein the cutout portions are irregularly pyramidal in shape, and 
where the triangular base of the cutout portion forms a trailing 
engagement edge with the nut vertices when the wrench is turned to apply 
torque and where the apex of the cutout irregular pyramid is contiguous 
to, and forms a perpendicular junction between the wrench head face and 
the innermost engagement faces, whereby on reversing the direction of the 
wrench, the head thereof is impelled up away from the nut and slips 
thereover to the next set of trailing engagement faces and the cooperating 
nut vertices. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved ratchet 
wrench wherein the innermost engagement faces are provided with a number 
of spring loaded balls, and where these spring loaded balls are urged 
inwardly into the nut receiving area of the wrench, thus limiting unforced 
travel of the wrench down onto and over the nut, and where these balls are 
able to be completely recessed into the interior of the wrench head when 
the head is pushed completely over the nut, thus allowing the device to be 
used as a standard box wrench. 
It is another goal of the invention to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is 
inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended 
purposes. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily 
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. 
Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further 
objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those 
skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention is indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 generally at 10. 
There is a handle portion 12, and a wrench head portion 14. The wrench 
head portion 14, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 has a first face 16 and a second 
face 18. Extending from the first face 16 to the second face 18 is a 
socket 20. At this point it should be emphasized that though in the 
embodiment described herein the socket 20 extends completely between the 
faces 16 and 18, that this is not necessary. The socket 20 could extend 
only partway into the area between the faces 16 and 18 without departing 
from the spirit of the invention. Additionally, though a handle portion 12 
is shown in this embodiment of the invention, that should not in any way 
be construed as a limitation in that the wrench head 14 could easily be 
supplied with a grip (not shown) around its periphery, obviating the 
necessity of a handle. 
The preferred embodiment described herein is configured for use with a hex, 
or six sided nut. It should be emphasized that the present invention could 
be easily adapted for use with a wide variety of nuts having varying 
numbers of sides. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, in the embodiment 
described herein, there are six engagement areas 21 about the periphery of 
the socket 20. Each of these engagement area consists of an innermost 
engagement face 22, with the usual dimensions that would be in place for a 
box type hex wrench of this size. These innermost engagement faces 22, as 
usual in a box wrench, are generally perpendicular to the first and second 
faces 16, 18 of the wrench head 14. Adjacent to the inner engagement faces 
are the cutout portions 24. These cutouts are in the shape of an irregular 
pyramid having a triangular base 26. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 
1, these triangular cutout bases form a shoulder that serves to engage the 
nut periphery in a low torque application of the wrench 10, as will be 
discussed hereinafter. At the opposite end of each of the cutout portions 
24 from the base or shoulder 26 is a cutout apex 28. This cutout apex is 
contiguous to both the inner engagement faces 22 and the wrench head face 
16 and also defines a perpendicular junction in respect to both. Lying 
between the base 26 and the apex 28 on each of the cutout portions 24 is a 
smooth facet or camming area 30 that serves to guide the wrench head 14 up 
from and over the nut (not shown) on the ratcheting stroke as will be 
discussed further below. The distance that shoulder or base 26 extends 
axially into the face 16 of the wrench head 14 is not critical, however it 
should be not extend too great a distance as this would extend the 
ratcheting or camming stroke. The camming area 30 is smooth and has a 
bottom edge 32 and a top edge 34 that extends tangentially in relation to 
the bottom edge, as best seen in FIG. 2. 
The discussion now turns to the ball detent means that are located on and 
within the innermost engagement faces. In the preferred embodiment of the 
invention the ball detents number two and are located on oppositely 
disposed faces, as is seen in FIG. 2. Other arrangements could, of course 
be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention. The ball 
detents 40 are retained inside recesses 42 (shown in FIG. 2) that are 
axially disposed within the wrench head 14. Within each recess 42 there is 
a biasing means 44 that urges the ball detent 40 inward, in the direction 
indicated by directional arrow A1 in FIG. 2, such that the ball 40 
protrudes into the socket 20. The ball detents 40 thus provide a travel 
stop to prevent the inner engagement faces 22 in the socket 20 from 
entirely engaging the nut (not shown). This allows the low torque turning 
of the nut through utilization of the cutout bases or shoulders 6 engaging 
the periphery of the nut when the wrench 10 is turned in the direction 
indicated by arrow A2 in FIG. 1. Additionally, if the user wishes to use 
wrench 10 as a normal box wrench, they may simply press the wrench head 14 
down and the ball detents 40 will be forced fully into the recess thus 
allowing proximal contact between the inner engagement faces 22 and the 
periphery of the nut. 
The discussion now turns to the use of the device 10. In loose engagement 
with a nut, not all of the base shoulders 26 would be completely engaged 
therewith, but as this is a low torque application, that is not an 
overwhelming drawback. The wrench 10 is turned in the direction indicated 
by arrow A2 (as mentioned above) and the nut will be turned in the like 
direction by its loose engagement with the trailing cutout base portions 
26. When the wrench 10 is turned in the direction indicated by arrow A3 in 
FIG. 3, the camming surface 30 will impel the wrench 10 (assuming the nut 
to be fixed) "downwards" in relation to the way the apparatus is depicted 
in the Figure. This motion away from the nut will continue until the area 
proximate the vertices of the nut slide over the apex 28 of the cutout 
portion 24 and engage the next set of trailing edge base cutout portions 
26. Thus, in a confined space, the instant invention may be used a low 
torque ratchet-type wrench, having almost no moving parts to be fouled or 
corroded. Additionally, by exerting extra force to impel the nut past the 
ball detents 40, the innermost engaging faces 22 are brought into proximal 
contact with the periphery of the nut, allowing the wrench 10 to be used 
in a manner similar to that of a standard box wrench. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments 
within the scope of the following claims.