Abstract:
The present invention relates to a one-way freewheel clutch type wrench, more specifically to an indicator mechanism for providing audible and/or tactile feedback when a one-way freewheel clutch wrench rotated in the unrestricted, or “reloading”, direction. The indicator mechanism has a ratchet wheel with teeth attached to a one-way freewheel clutch socket which. interacts with at least one indicator located in a pocket of the box-end of the wrench.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/806,070, tiled on 28 Mar. 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wrenches, specifically ratcheting wrenches are well known to those in the art, Generally, most ratcheting wrenches consist or a gear with teeth and a spring-loaded finger, or pawl making contact with the teeth. By the internal mechanics of these types of ratcheting wrenches, as the year rotates in an unrestricted direction the pawl rides along the teeth and when it passes over a tooth the spring will force the pawl back in contact with the gear. This creates an audible “click.” The audible click signals to the user that the wrench is turning in the unrestricted. direction. 
         [0003]    Alternatively, some wrenches employ a type of one-way freewheel clutch to provide one-way operation. This type of wrench may comprise a plurality of rollers placed in the space between the outer surface of a one-way freewheel clutch member having a through-hole for receiving an article to be turned and the inner surface of an outer box-end member. When the wrench turns in the restricted direction, the shape of the one-way freewheel clutch member promotes the wedging of the rollers between the one-way freewheel clutch member and the outer member, thereby essentially locking the two together. However, when burned in the unrestricted direction, the rollers will move along with the one-way freewheel clutch member along inside surface of the outer member. Unlike the ratcheting wrench, a one-way freewheel n clutch. wrench. makes no audible sound when turning in the unrestricted direction. This may be problematic as there is no audible or tactile feedback from the wrench. to know whether the wrench is “reloading” or just rotating along with the article being tightened or loosened. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a one-way freewheel clutch type wrench, more specifically to an indicator mechanism for providing audible and tactile feedback when a one-way freewheel clutch wrench is rotating in the unrestricted direction. The mechanism indicator comprises a toothed wheel or “ratchet” wheel fixedly attached to a one-way freewheel clutch member and at least one indicator member which interacts with the ratchet wheel as it rotates relative to the wrench. handle in the unrestricted direction to create audible and tactile feedback to a user. 
         [0005]    One aspect of the invention provides a gearless wrench having a box end; a freewheel clutch socket, with a collar, positioned within the box end; a ratchet wheel, with ratchet teeth, securely fastened to the collar of the freewheel clutch socket; and an indicator placed within the box end and in contact with the ratchet teeth. 
         [0006]    The gearless wrench may also have a snap-ring groove located in the box end, a cover elate configured to cover the ratchet wheel and the indicator, and a snap-ring positioned against the cover plate and within the snap-ring groove to retain the freewheel clutch socket and the ratchet wheel, the indicator, and the cover plate within the box end. The indicator may be a leaf spring. The indicator may also be a plurality of leaf springs. The ratchet wheel may be friction-fit to the collar of the freewheel clutch socket. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention provides a gearless wrench configured to provide auditory and/or tactile feedback during reloading, the gearless wrench having a box end comprising an indicator pocket; a freewheel clutch socket, with a collar, positioned within the box end; a ratchet wheel, with ratchet teeth, securely fastened to the collar of the freewheel clutch socket; and an indicator placed within the indicator pocket and in contact with the ratchet teeth. 
         [0008]    The gearless wrench may also have a snap-ring groove located in the box end, a cover plate configured to cover the ratchet and the indicator, and a snap-ring positioned against the cover plate and within the snap-ring groove to retain the freewheel clutch socket and the ratchet wheel, the indicator, and the cover plate within the box end. The indicator may be a leaf spring. The indicator may also be a plurality of leaf springs. The ratchet wheel may be friction-fit to the collar of the freewheel clutch socket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a one-way freewheel clutch wrench with indicator according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the wrench. of  FIG. 1  in use. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the wrench of  FIG. 1  in use. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0015]    A completely assembled one-way freewheel clutch wrench  10  having a one-way freewheel clutch socket  20  inside a box-end  30  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Visible in this figure is a. snap ring  40  which maintains the placement of a cover plate  42  and the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 . 
         [0016]    Looking to  FIG. 2 , the scar ring  40 , cover plate  42 , ratchet wheel  44  ( FIG. 3 ), and indicator  48  ( FIG. 3 ) have been removed to provide a view of the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 . The one-way freewheel clutch socket  20  comprises a one-way freewheel clutch member  22  and a plurality of rollers  28 . The one-way freewheel clutch socket  20  interacts with an inside surface  32  of the box-end  30  as described in further detail below. According to the orientation of  FIG. 2 , the wrench  10  is positioned to tighten a nut or bolt (not shown), having right-handed threads, into the page. When a nut or bolt head (not shown) is placed in the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 , it is tightened by rotating the wrench&#39;s handle  50  in the direction of arrow A. As the handle  50  is rotated, the plurality of rollers  28  rotate in the same direction thereby wedging themselves between the one-way freewheel clutch member  22  and the inside surface  32 . Therefore, the handle  50  and the one-way freewheel clutch. socket  20  are effectively connected and rotate together. When the handle  50  is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the plurality of rollers  28  abut one-way freewheel clutch member walls  24  and spin in place, thereby allowing the handle  50  to rotate independently about the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  further illustrates all of the components of the wrench  10  in an exploded view. As shown here, the one-way freewheel clutch member  22  has a collar  26  around which the ratchet wheel  44 , the cover plate  42 , and the snap ring  40  are placed. The ratchet wheel  44  may be pressed onto the collar  26 , or secured in any other fashion which provides a firm connection. Furthermore, machined, or otherwise provided, in the box-end  30  is a pocket  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for the indicator  48 , and a groove  36  for the snap ring  40 . The indicator  48  is shown as a single leaf spring, but it may comprise multiple offset springs to provide a finer audible feedback. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate how the indicator  48  interacts with the ratchet wheel.  44  depending on whether the wrench handle  50  is turned in the tightening direction (arrow A) or in the “reloading” direction (arrow B). The term “reloading” simply means rotating the handle, in the opposite direction of tightening, to a more advantageous position for a user (not shown) to apply force in the active direction. Furthermore, just as in  FIG. 2 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5  are illustrations of the wrench  10  viewed from above in a tightening orientation for right-hand threaded bolts and nuts being turned into the page. 
         [0019]    As the handle is turned in the direction of arrow A ( FIG. 4 ), both the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20  and the handle  50  rotate together. Therefore, the ratchet wheel  44  and the indicator  48  do not rotate relative to one another. As the handle is turned in the direction of arrow B ( FIG. 5 ), the handle  50  rotates independent of the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 . Because the indicator  48  rotates with the handle  50 , and the ratchet wheel  14  is affixed to the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 , the indicator  48  will ride along the ratchet wheel&#39;s teeth  46 . The interaction between. the indicator  48  and the teeth  46  will make an audible “clicking” sound. and therefore provides tactile feed hack to the user that the handle  50  is rotating independently from the one-way freewheel clutch socket.  20 . Therefore, the “clicking” sound is independent of the mechanics of the wrench reloading, but the “clicking” sound is still directly related to the reloading. The characteristics of the “clicking” (e.g., tone and timing) may be modified without changing the mechanics of the one-way freewheel clutch socket  20 . 
         [0020]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.