Ratchet handle for use interchangeably with socket wrenches having coupling means of different sizes

A ratchet handle for use with socket wrenches includes a socket engaging projection on which socket wrenches having a first size of coupling socket can be mounted for turning by the handle. The handle includes a bar slidable within the projection and movable from a position within the projection to a second position with its end extending axially beyond the projection. Socket wrenches having a second and smaller size of coupling socket are mounted on the handle by engagement with the extended end of the bar. The bar is retained in either of two positions by spring pressed balls or detents which engage two shallow recesses in the projection in one position and in the extended position of the bar one of the detents lies outside the projection in position to engage a socket coupling mounted thereon. In another embodiment the bar is biased by a compression spring to its position within the projection and a cam on the bar urges a detent outwardly to retain the larger socket on the projection. A spring pressed detent at the end of the bar holds a smaller socket in place when the bar is in its extended position and the spring then has sufficient force to hold the bar in its extended position against the opposing force of the compression spring.

This invention relates to socket wrenches of the type commonly provided in 
sets comprising a ratchet handle and a plurality of sockets in a selected 
range of sizes, and the invention relates particularly to an improved 
ratchet handle for interchangeably with sockets having coupling heads of 
two different sizes. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Automobile repair shops and the like normally require several sets of 
socket wrenches one or more of which sets have coupling heads of different 
sizes and separate ratchet handles are included for each set having a 
different size of coupling head. It is desirable to keep the respective 
handle with each set to avoid loss of time in locating the correct handle 
for the job at hand. 
Heretofore screw driver or wrench devices have been provided that have 
multiple telescoping members or sections which may be moved longitudinally 
or axially with respect to one another to select a size of section for 
engagement with a screw head or a nut which is to be turned, the sections 
sliding with respect to one another until a section of the size of the nut 
or screw is reached, whereupon the nut or screw can be turned by turning 
the handle of the device. 
A ratchet handle is commonly provided for use with the socket wrenches of a 
set, and various lengths of connector rods or extensions have also been 
provided for use interchangeably with the sockets to enable the wrench to 
reach and turn nuts or bolt heads at selected distances from the ratchet 
handle. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ratchet 
handle for socket wrenches which is usable interchangeably with two sets 
of socket wrenches which have wrench socket couplings of different sizes. 
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved ratchet 
handle for socket wrenches which may be quickly and positively adjusted 
for use with either of two sets of socket wrenches which sets have 
coupling sockets of different sizes. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A ratchet handle for turning socket wrenches is provided with a projection 
for holding and driving a socket wrench having a coupling head of one size 
and is effective for use with a set of such socket wrenches. In order to 
make the handle effective for use with a set of socket wrenches having 
smaller coupling heads a second projection is provided which is slidably 
mounted within the first projection. The second projection may be moved 
axially outwardly of the first into a position for engaging a socket 
having a corresponding smaller coupling head socket. Thus the ratchet 
handle may be used interchangeably with socket wrenches from sets provided 
with two different sizes of coupling head sockets and the single ratchet 
handle is effective for use with either set of wrenches and avoids the 
necessity of providing two separate ratchet handles one for each set. 
The features of novelty which characterize the invention are set forth in 
the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its 
organization and method of operation, together with further objects and 
advantages thereof, may best be understood upon references to the 
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a wrench handle 10 of the 
ratchet type, which includes a ratchet housing or head 11 and a grip of 
lever 12 extending therefrom for rotating the wrench. Ratchet handles are 
well known and a detailed showing and description of the ratchet mechanism 
are not essential to an understanding of the present invention. The 
ratchet mechanism may be of the type affording operation in either 
direction so that nuts or bolt heads may be tightened or loosened by 
selecting the direction of operation of the ratchet. 
The ratchet handle 10 has a projecting member, generally indicated by the 
numeral 13, which is provided to engage and hold the selected socket 
wrench. The upper portion of the projection 13, indicated at 14, is driven 
by operation of the handle 12 through the ratcheting action of the head 
11. The projecting portion 14 terminates in a section 15 which is of 
square cross section so that it will fit the square coupling sockets of 
one set of socket wrenches. When a socket wrench is fitted on the section 
15, it is held in place frictionally by the pressure of a spring pressed 
ball or detent 16 which is held in section 15 by a retainer 16a. 
A bar 17, of square cross section, is slidably mounted within the 
projection 13 and is movable axially of the projection from the position 
shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to a second position, indicated in dotted 
lines, at the top of the housing 11, the bottom end of the bar then being 
positioned flush with the bottom of section 15. In this position the 
bottom end of the bar is out of the way of the nut or bolt head to be 
turned by the wrench. This position of the bar is illustrated in FIG. 3 
which shows a socket wrench 18 held on the section 15 of the projection 
13, pressure being exerted by the ball 16 urged by its spring 19. 
The two positions of the bar 17 are determined by two spring pressed balls 
or detents 20 and 21, their springs 22 and 23, respectively, urging the 
balls outwardly against the projection section 15. The spring and balls 
are mounted in radial recesses 24 and 25 and are retained in place by 
rings or shoulders 26 and 27, respectively. When the bar 17 is in the 
position of FIG. 2 the balls 20 and 21 engage shallow recesses 28 and 29 
in the wall of the projection portion 15. 
When the bar 17 is moved downwardly to the position of FIG. 1 the ball 20 
is engaged in the recess 29 and the ball 21 is outside the projection 
portion 15 in a position to engage the wall of a square coupling socket 30 
of a socket wrench 31. The ball 21 then is pressed against the wall of the 
coupling socket and holds the socket wrench in position on the end of the 
bar 17. 
The movement of the bar 17 may be limited by a longitudinal slot 32 in the 
projection portion 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and in which a set screw 
33 threaded in the bar 17 is positioned; thus the screw 33 moves along the 
slot 32 when the bar 17 is shifted and the length of the slot determines 
the range of movement of the bar. The set screw 33 is removed when the bar 
17 is to be removed from the projection 13. 
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the ratchet handle 10 may be 
used interchangeably for turning socket wrenches having two different 
sizes of coupling sockets, this being accomplished by mounting the larger 
coupling socket on the extension portion 15 or the smaller coupling socket 
on the bar 17 when in its lower and projected position. Thus a single 
ratchet wrench may be used with the socket wrenches of either of two sets 
of socket wrenches each set having a different size of coupling sockets. 
The modification of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 employs a 
ratchet handle essentially similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1. The 
ratchet handle includes a ratchet housing or head 34, shown broken away, 
and which has a downwardly projecting portion 35 in which a rod or bar 36 
is slidably mounted for movement axially of the head 34. The rod 36 is of 
square cross section as indicated in FIG. 7 and the projection 35 is also 
of square cross section as shown in FIG. 7. The cross section of the rod 
36, and the projection 35 are of sizes selected to fit the coupling 
recesses of two different sets of socket wrenches. The bar 36 is provided 
with a head 37 which is attached to the upper end of the rod by a threaded 
connection 38. The bar 36 passes through an enlarged section of the bore, 
indicated at 39, and a biasing spring 40 is arranged between the head 37 
and a shoulder 41 on the inner face or wall of the head 34. The spring 40 
biases the rod to an upward position and its upward movement is stopped by 
engagement of a ball 42 with the wall of a camming recess 43 formed in the 
rod. The ball 42 is retained in a hole 44 in the projection 35; the 
outward movement of the ball is limited by a ring 45 formed about the 
entrance of the hole and which prevents the ball from leaving the interior 
of the projection 35. When a socket wrench such as indicated at 46 is 
placed over the projection 35 it engages the ball 42 and presses it 
inwardly against the spring bias of the bar; the pressure of the camming 
surface 43 against the ball 42 urges the ball outwardly and thereby holds 
the socket 46 in place against unintentional removal from the projection 
35. The socket 46 may be released from the projection 35 by pressing the 
head 37 of the bar 36 downwardly so that the enlarged upper end of the 
recess 43 allows the ball to move away from its engagement with the socket 
46; the socket may then be removed easily from the wrench by pressing the 
rod 36 downwardly thereby engaging a part of the wall of the hexagonal 
recess 47 in the socket 46 and dropping the socket from the wrench. 
When the socket 46 has been removed from the projection 35, the bar 36 may 
be extended farther below the projection 35 and a socket 48 having a 
smaller recess that fits the lower end of the bar 36 may be pressed over 
the lower end of the bar. This position, as indicated in FIG. 5 is such 
that a ball 49 in a hole 50 is urged by a spring 51 into, a shallow recess 
52 on the interior wall of the socket 48. The ball 49 is retained in 
position in the hole 50 by a ring or projection 53 near the outlet of the 
hole 50 through which the ball projects slightly to engage the bar, the 
projection 53 prevents release of the ball from the hole 50 when the 
socket is removed from the bar 36. In the lower position of the bar, when 
the ball 49 is in engagement with the socket 48, the bar is held in its 
lower position with the spring 40 compressed, the pressure on the ball 49 
against the socket 48 being sufficient to prevent the return of the bar 36 
to its upper position until the socket 48 has been removed. 
From the foregoing it will be seen that the modification of the invention 
shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 provides the same advantages as the modification 
of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and further provides a quick release of the larger 
socket. Should it be desired to remove the bar 36 from the wrench head 34, 
the head 37 may be unscrewed and removed and the spring 40 released, 
thereby releasing the spring pressure on the ball 42. The ball can then be 
moved away from the retainer ring 45 and the ring may then be cut or 
ground away or otherwise removed and the ball taken out to free the path 
of the bar so that it may be removed. 
While the invention had been illustrated and described in connection with 
particular ratchet wrench constructions other applications and 
modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended by 
the appended claims to cover all modifications which fall within the 
spirit and scope of the invention.