Wrench adapter

A device is provided for use with a wrench including an opening sized to receive a fastener assembly component therein. The device is coupleable to the wrench. The device includes a flange that extends outward from the device and remains spaced a distance from the wrench such that a slot is defined therebetween when the device is coupled to the wrench. The slot is sized and oriented to receive at least one of a washer and a bushing.

BACKGROUND

The field of the invention relates generally to hand tools and more specifically to an adapter for use with a wrench.

At least some known fasteners include threads that are sized and oriented to engage with a complementary fastener. For at least some known fasteners, a tool, such as a wrench or pliers, may be used to apply torque to a fastener to engage the fastener with the complementary fastener. More specifically, at least some known tools include an open end or a socket that is sized to engage the fastener, and a drive tool, such as a ratchet or a power tool, that extends from the socket to enable torque to be applied to the fastener by the socket.

Some known wrenches require at least a minimal amount of friction to ratchet. Furthermore, at least some known wrenches require a large radius for ratchet movement and/or lubrication for their best operation. Moreover, at least some known wrenches are bulky and/or heavy, and thus may be incapable of being used in locations of limited operating space.

To accommodate limited operating spaces, some known wrenches are fabricated with a low profile. In some situations, fastener assemblies include a washer, a split washer, or a bushing. Because of space considerations, at least some fasteners are manually started on the complementary fastener before a tool is used to apply torque to the fastener. However, in some cases, it may be more difficult to access the fastener assembly with a user's hands than with a tool. In these situations, such fasteners may be difficult to assemble and may require a time-consuming and/or tedious task.

It is possible to improve fastener engagement performance. The subject matter described herein facilitates decreasing installation time and/or repair time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a device is provided for use with a wrench including an opening. The device is coupleable to the wrench. The device includes a flange that extends outward from the device and remains spaced a distance from the wrench such that a slot is defined therebetween when the device is coupled to the wrench. The slot is sized and oriented to receive at least one of a washer and a bushing.

In another aspect, a device is provided for use with a ratchet wrench including a socket. The device includes an elongated member and a ratcheting member. The elongated member is coupleable to the ratchet wrench. The ratcheting member is coupled to the elongated member. The ratcheting member engages the ratchet wrench to selectively rotate the socket.

In yet another aspect, a coupling system is provided. The system includes a wrench and a device. The wrench includes an opening extending therethrough. The device is coupled to the wrench. The device includes a flange that extends outward from the device and remains spaced a distance from the wrench such that a slot is defined therebetween. The slot is sized and oriented to receive at least one of a washer and a bushing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter described herein relates generally to hand tools. More specifically, the subject matter described herein relates to a tool for use in assembling a fastening assembly. In one embodiment, the device includes an elongated member and a ratcheting member that is coupled to the elongated member. The device is coupled to a ratchet wrench that includes a socket sized to receive a fastener therein. The ratcheting member engages the ratchet wrench to selectively rotate the socket.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary known ratchet wrench100that includes a pair of heads102and a wrench handle104that extends between heads102. In one embodiment, handle104includes at least one bend such that heads102are positioned at different elevations. In the exemplary embodiment, each head102includes a socket106formed integrally therewith. Socket106enables tightening and/or loosening of a fastener assembly component (not shown) with a ratcheting motion such that the necessity of removing and/or repositioning ratchet wrench100after each rotational movement turn of the fastener assembly component is eliminated. Known fastener assemblies include, but are not limited to only including, a nut, a screw, a bolt, a threaded shaft, a bushing, and/or a washer. In one embodiment, a nut is threadably coupled to a threaded shaft such that a washer is between the nut and a base of the threaded shaft.

In the exemplary embodiment, socket106is rotatable in a clockwise direction and/or in a counterclockwise direction about an axis of rotation112. In the exemplary embodiment, socket106is coupled to a lever110that is selectively actuatable and/or switchable to reverse a direction of the ratcheting motion, i.e., a direction of rotation necessary to tighten and/or to loosen a fastener assembly component.

Sockets106are sized to receive different fastener assembly components therein. Each socket106is sized to receive at least a portion of the fastener component therein. Typically, sockets106are produced in a six-point configuration or in a twelve-point configuration. Generally, twelve-point configurations are usable with square-shaped fasteners and provide more “starting points” than six-point configurations. However, twelve-point configurations have an increased likelihood of fastener assembly components rounding and/or slipping as compared to six-point configurations. As such, twelve-point configurations are generally faster and more versatile to use than six-point configurations, but six-point configurations generally provide greater torque values than twelve-point configurations. In some embodiments, eight-point configurations are also available.

FIG. 2illustrates a device200that may be used with ratchet wrench100. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, device200retains at least a portion of a fastener assembly component (not shown), such as a nut, in place during assembly and, more specifically, while the nut is threadably coupled to a complementary fastener assembly component (not shown), such as a threaded shaft. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, device200also retains at least a portion of a washer, a split washer, or a bushing to be installed between the nut and the threaded shaft during assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, device200includes an elongated member204that is removably coupled to wrench handle104. As such, device200is selectively coupled to, or decoupled from, ratchet wrench100. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204is coupled against wrench handle104in a snap-fit connection. Alternatively, elongated member204may be integrally fabricated with wrench handle104and/or may be coupled to wrench handle104using any known fastening means that enables device200and ratchet wrench100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204includes a finger grip206that is ergonomically contoured. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, finger grip206is fabricated with a scalloped profile that includes at least one valley208that is sized and oriented to receive at least a portion of a user's finger (not shown) therein. Each valley208is defined between a pair of peaks209.

In the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204includes a retaining portion210that is selectively positionable over at least a portion of socket106. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, retaining portion210is selectively extendable over at least a portion of socket106to facilitate retaining the nut within socket106during assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204also includes a flange212that is selectively positionable relative to socket106. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, flange212extends outward from elongated member204on a side of socket106that is opposite retaining portion210. When flange212is extended past socket106, a slot214is defined between flange212and socket106. Slot214is sized to receive a washer therein. For example, in one embodiment, slot214retains a 0.500 O.D.×0.05″ washer therein, while retaining portion210retains a 5/16″ nut in socket106.

Moreover, flange212is oriented such that when the washer is received within slot214, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically with a nut or bolt head retained in socket106. To facilitate aligning the washer relative to socket106, in the exemplary embodiment, flange212includes a side wall216and a base wall218that extends substantially perpendicularly from side wall216. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, side wall216is oriented substantially parallel to axis of rotation112, and base wall218is oriented substantially perpendicular to axis of rotation112.

In the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204also includes a second flange220that is spaced a distance from flange212such that a gap222is defined therebetween. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, flanges212and220are positioned in a mirrored arrangement on opposite sides of axis of rotation112. Gap222is sized and oriented to receive a portion of the threaded shaft. For example, in one embodiment, gap222is sized to accommodate a 0.3125″ diameter bolt shaft.

In the exemplary embodiment, a ratcheting member224is coupled to elongated member204. In the exemplary embodiment, ratcheting member224is coupled to an opposite side of elongated member204than finger grip206such that, during use, ratcheting member204is oriented to receive at least a portion of the user's thumb while finger grip206receives at least a portion of the user's fingers.

In the exemplary embodiment, ratcheting member224engages ratchet wrench100to selectively rotate socket106. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, ratcheting member224includes a plurality of teeth226that engage ratchet wrench100to selectively rotate socket106about axis of rotation112.

In the exemplary embodiment, ratcheting member224includes a thumb grip228that is slidably coupled within a slot230defined along a longitudinal axis of ratcheting member224. In the exemplary embodiment, thumb grip228is used to drive ratchet wrench100to selectively rotate socket106without rotating ratchet wrench100, device200, and/or elongated member204.

In one embodiment, ratcheting member224may engage ratchet wrench100to selectively actuate lever110to reverse a direction of rotation of socket106. Thus, in such an embodiment, ratcheting member224may facilitate at least partially engaging and/or at least partially disengaging the nut with the threaded shaft.

During operation, in the exemplary embodiment, a desired ratchet wrench100is selected for use based on a size of the fastening assembly component. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, elongated member204is coupled against wrench handle104such that ratcheting member224is positioned to engage ratchet wrench100to selectively rotate socket106. In the exemplary embodiment, device200is coupled to ratchet wrench100to facilitate retaining the nut in socket106and/or the washer within slot230during assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, during assembly, a washer is inserted within slot214, and a nut is inserted within socket106. Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, retaining portion210is selectively extended over at least a portion of socket106to facilitate retaining the nut within socket106during assembly. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically with the nut and/or socket106. Alternatively, the washer is inserted within slot214and a bolt head may be inserted within socket106and extended through the washer for coupling to a threaded opening.

In the exemplary embodiment, ratcheting member224selectively rotates socket106. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, as thumb grip228is moved along slot230, socket106is rotated about axis of rotation112to enable the nut to at least partially engage the threaded shaft.

In the exemplary embodiment, after the nut is at least partially engaged with the threaded shaft, device200is removed from ratchet wrench100. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, when the nut is at least partially engaged with the threaded shaft, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically to the nut and the threaded shaft extends through the washer. Ratchet wrench100may then subsequently tighten the nut onto the threaded shaft using an appropriate amount of torque.

FIG. 3illustrates an alternative device300for use in retaining fastening hardware during assembly. In the exemplary embodiment, device300is removably coupled to a wrench302. As such, device300is selectively coupled to, or decoupled from, wrench302. In the exemplary embodiment, wrench320includes a head304and a wrench handle306that extends from head304. In the exemplary embodiment, head304includes an opening308defined therethrough. Opening308is sized to receive at least a portion of a fastener assembly component (not shown), such as a nut, a screw, a bolt, and/or a threaded shaft, therein. Wrench302is configured to rotate the fastener assembly component about an axis of rotation310.

In the exemplary embodiment, device300retains at least a portion of a washer, a split washer, or a bushing between the fastener assembly component and a complementary fastener assembly component (not shown) during assembly. Moreover, device300may include a finger grip and/or a retaining portion as are described above with respect to elongated member204.

In the exemplary embodiment, device300includes a flange316that is selectively positionable relative to opening308. When flange316is extended past opening308, a slot318is defined between flange316and opening308. Slot318is sized to receive a washer therein.

Moreover, flange316is oriented such that when the washer is received within slot318, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically with the fastener assembly component retained in opening308. To facilitate aligning the washer relative to opening308, in the exemplary embodiment, flange316includes a side wall320and a base wall322that extends substantially perpendicularly from side wall320. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, side wall320is substantially parallel to axis of rotation310, and base wall322is substantially perpendicular to axis of rotation310.

In the exemplary embodiment, device300also includes a second flange324that is spaced a distance from flange316such that a gap326is defined therebetween. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, flanges316and324are positioned in a mirrored arrangement on opposites sides of axis of rotation310. Gap326is sized and oriented to receive a portion of the fastener assembly component therein when the fastener assembly component is being coupled to the complementary fastener assembly component.

During operation, in the exemplary embodiment, a desired wrench302is selected for use based on a size of the fastening assembly component. In the exemplary embodiment, wrench302facilitates retaining the fastening assembly component within opening308and device300facilitates retaining the washer within slot318during assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment, during assembly a washer is inserted within slot318, and a nut is inserted within opening308. In the exemplary embodiment, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically with the fastener assembly component and/or opening308.

In the exemplary embodiment, wrench302and/or device300is rotated about axis of rotation310to enable the fastener assembly component to at least partially engage the complementary fastener assembly component. Additionally, device300may be rotated about axis of rotation310to enable the fastener assembly component to at least partially disengage from the complementary fastener assembly component.

In the exemplary embodiment, after the fastener assembly component is at least partially engaged with the complementary fastener assembly component, device300is removed from wrench302. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, when the fastener assembly component is at least partially engaged with the complementary fastener assembly component, the washer is aligned substantially concentrically to the fastener assembly component and the threaded shaft extends through the washer. Wrench302may then subsequently tighten the nut onto the threaded shaft using an appropriate amount of torque.

Exemplary embodiments of fastening methods, devices, and systems are described and/or illustrated herein in detail. The exemplary methods and systems facilitate accessing fastener assemblies in locations of limited operating space. As such, the methods and systems described herein facilitate decreasing installation time and/or repair time. The exemplary systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each system and/or steps of each method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or method steps described herein. Each component and each method step may also be used in combination with other components and/or method steps.