Abstract:
The invention is an improved Offset Head Ratchet Wrench. It allows the user to remove or interchange different size ratchet heads or tools quickly with the push of a button attached at the head of the activating shaft. This shaft can activate in three stages if it is operating an offset wrench. The activating shaft is attached to an E shaped structure, which is made up of an activating shaft, locking pin and pivot pin, all three being attached to a central plate. Stage one is when the activating shaft is in a partially depressed position. The locking pin releases the ratchet head for rotation only. Stage two is when the activating shaft is fully depressed, it releases the pivot pin, allowing the ratchet head to be easily and quickly removed or exchanged for another type of tool with a similarly designed head.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/233,323, filed Sep. 15, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a standard wrench, a socket wrench, and Offset Head Ratchet Wrenches. This allows the user to quickly remove the wrench head from the handle, enabling the user to use the head of the wrench as a palm wrench. In addition, the user can quickly change the size or type of head necessary to complete the task at hand. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,076 issued to Benny R. Barnes included the ability to remove the head of the ratchet from the handle. This invention suffers from the disadvantage that the user would have to completely unscrew the pivot pin to remove the ratchet head and then reinsert the screw in the pivot hole to reinstall the new ratchet head. This requires a two-hand operation and loose parts that may drop during the exchange. Also, the possibility of crossing threads exist, and could cause damage to the threaded area in the wrench, rendering the tool useless. It also, requires substantially more time and effort for this complete exchange process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an improved ratchet wrench with a quick release mechanism that enables the user to quickly remove or exchange the ratchet head for a different size ratchet head or type of wrench head with a similar connecting design. This different type of head can be an open-end wrench or a box style wrench for example. In a preferred embodiment the mechanism can be an E shaped structure having an activating shaft which passes through the handle, a locking pin, which selectively engages some of the plurality of holes located in the neck of the rotating head and a pivot pin that connects the handle to the wrench head. In a preferred embodiment the activating shaft has a button on it, when this button is depressed partially, it rests against a ball nose spring plunger pin that is perpendicularly aligned with the activating shaft. (one or more ball nose plungers, or some other type of device to allow or cause hesitation on the activation shaft) When additional pressure is applied to the button on the top of the activating shaft, this will cause the spring loaded ball on the ball nose spring plunger to depress, allowing the activating shaft to be fully depressed by moving beyond the ball nose spring plunger pin. When the activating shaft is partially depressed with the tip resting against the spring loaded ball of the ball nose spring plunger pin, it allows the locking pin to release the ratchet head&#39;s neck in order to change the angle by rotation, while still maintaining a solid connection between the handle and the ratchet wrench head with the pivot pin. This happens because the pivot pin is of greater length and remains in the locking position, which is when both the handle and the neck of the wrench head are connected. When the activating shaft is totally depressed it disengages the pivot pin thoroughly allowing the wrench head to be removed or exchanged. Another mechanism that can be used, but not limited to, that will also prohibit the pressure spring release activating shaft from totally depressing when pressure is applied, is a pin positioned perpendicularly and slightly offset to the activating shaft. In this application the activating shaft will have a cut out at a specific location. The wider part of the release pin will act as a seat for the activating shaft. This will only allow partial depression. The spring release pin also will have a cut out on one end of its shaft. When this release pin is pressed inward this will allow the cut out of the spring release pin to align itself with the activating shaft. When aligned with the cut out, the activating shaft is able to be fully depressed. When activating shaft is fully depressed it causes the pivot pin to be thoroughly disengaged from the flange. This allows the user with only one hand operation to easily remove or exchange the wrench head with another head size or style of similar flange design. When this quick release invention is used in a conventional straight wrench or ratchet wrench, another E shaped structure can be implemented, later identified in drawings as E 2  or # 50 . However, this structure will have two pins of equal length, both disengaging at the same time, allowing the wrench head to be exchanged or removed quickly with the push of a one stage button on the top of the activating shaft. In this application a straight activating shaft can be used since there will be only one pressure point required for release only. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of handle showing the E structure and how it would insert through the handle of a wrench; 
     FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of handle with E shaped structure inserted and recessed in handle; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of an alternate embodiment of the E shaped structure; 
     FIG. 4 is side view of the spring release pin with spring and cap; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of spring release pin while positioned in handle, preventing activating shaft from full depression; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of spring release pin being depressed, while positioned in handle, allowing the activating shaft to be fully depressed; 
     FIG. 7A is a cutaway view of an alternate activating shaft with ball nose spring plunger in the first position; 
     FIG. 7B is a cutaway view of an alternate activating shaft with the ball nose spring in the second position; 
     FIG. 7C is a cutaway view of an alternate activating shaft with the ball nose spring in the third position; 
     FIG. 8 is bottom view of a handle showing ball nose spring plunger in position. 
     FIG. 9 is cutaway side view of handle with ball nose spring plunger aligned in position against the activating shaft. 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of spring release pin in position (not depressed); 
     FIG. 11 is right side view of handle with spring release pin in position; 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded side view of ratchet and handle for use as a straight head ratchet wrench with the pivot pin and the locking pin being of equal length on the E 2  structure; 
     FIG. 13 is a handle demonstrating the E 2  structure in a recessed embodiment into the handle; 
     FIG. 14 is the ratchet head with the flange displaying a cut out along a plurality of holes; 
     FIG. 15 shows an open end wrench with a similar flange end with a plurality of holes for rotation; 
     FIG. 16 shows a box-end wrench with a similar flange end with a plurality of holes for rotation; and 
     FIG. 17 is an alternate embodiment incorporating dual ball nose springs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed device enables a user to easily rotate the angle between a ratchet head and the angle without changing tools. The device also enables rapid removal and/or exchange of the existing ratchet head for a different size or type of wrench head. The disclosed quick release ratchet head invention illustrated is comprised of an E shaped structure, having several embodiments. Other methods of attachment can also be utilized that will be evident to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, which is used for ratchets which have rotatable heads, the longest leg of the E shaped structure is the activating shaft, with the two pins being different lengths. The activating shaft can be threaded on one end and have a button with a spring between the button and the handle to maintain the E-shaped structure in adjacent the handle. The center leg or locking pin is the shortest to enable the center leg disengage, when the activating shaft is depressed, from one of the plurality of holes for rotation purposes. This allows the offset wrench to rotate while the third leg or the pivot pin remains connected between the handle and the flange of the ratchet head. Once the wrench head is rotated to the desired position, the activating shaft is released, returning the locking pin to its locked position ready for use. Preferably, the activating shaft is prevented from total depression by a mechanism interfering with the line of travel. Two ways this can be done, but not limited to, are (1) perpendicular ball nose spring plunger or (2) a spring release pin is inserted through the side of the handle. In the second embodiment, where the ratchet wrench is a straight conventional design, the E 2  shaped structure can have an activating shaft as the longest leg and the other two legs can be of equal length in order for the simultaneous disengagement of both pins, the pivot pin and the locking pin to release the head of the ratchet quickly. 
     In the first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1 the central plate  10  of the release device  28  has three pins attached to it at a right angle. The longest pin is the activating shaft  12  that is, in this embodiment, threaded at the distal end  14 . The activating shaft  12  can be inserted into handle  16  from either the top or the underside and is a manufacturing and user preference. As described herein, the release device  28  is inserted through the bottom of the wrench receiving area  21  of the handle  16 , however this is not intended to limit the disclosure. The receiving area  21  has three corresponding channels  15 ,  17  and  19  to receive the pivot pin,  26 , locking pin  24 , and activating shaft  12 , respectively. Once the release device  28  is inserted through the receiving area  21 , the activating shaft  12  extends beyond the opposing side of the handle  16 . In a preferred embodiment a spring  18  can be placed over the threaded area  14  and a button  20  attached to the threaded area  14  of the activating shaft  12 , the button  20  having a threaded hole  22  dimensioned to receive the threaded activating shaft  12 . Alternatively, the shaft can remain unthreaded and the button can be welded, glued, or otherwise affixed to the shaft as known in the art. It should also be noted that other designs for engaging the activating shaft with the release device can be used and will be evident to those skilled in the art. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the preferable embodiment for use with the rotating, indexable wrench head as illustrated hereinafter. In this embodiment, the locking pin  24  is the shortest in length, so that when the activating shaft  12  is partially depressed, the locking pin  24  is the first pin to become disengaged from the flange  46  of the ratchet head  44 . The flange  46  of the ratchet head  44  is dimensioned to fit within the receiving notch  27  in a manner that prevents the ratchet head  44  from wobbling, but permits easy removal. The flange  46  has channels  26   a  and  24   a  that are positioned and sized to receive the pivot pin  26  and locking pin  24  respectively. The dimensioning between the shaft  46  and the receiving notch  27  must be such that the interaction between parts is snug, but not a friction fit. The ratchet head  44 , including the flange  46 , is illustrated in more detail in FIG.  14 . The depression of the activating shaft  12  enables the rotation of the head of the wrench  44 . Once the desired position is reached, the activating shaft  12  is released, returning to its original position, and the ratchet head  44  is locked for use. The third pivot pin  26  has a length greater than that of the locking pin  24  and less than that of the activating shaft  12 . When the activating shaft  12  is fully depressed, the pivot pin  26  is now disengaged from the flange  46 . This allows the user to exchange or disconnect the head of the ratchet  44  quickly with a one hand operation. 
     The ratios between the activating shaft  12 , locking pin  24  and pivot pin  26  are such that both the locking pin  24  and pivot pin  26  are released when the activating shaft  12  is fully depressed. During partial depression of the activating shaft  12 , however, the pivot pin  26  must remain within the upper receiving notch  15  a sufficient distance to ensure stability during the rotation process. Thus, the proportions between the locking pin  24  and the pivot pin  26  must be such that partial depression of the activating shaft  12  removes the locking pin  24  from its channel  17  and complete depression of the activating shaft  12  further releases the pivot pin  26  from its channel  15 . Since the ratchet  44  is not maintained in position by the activating shaft  12 , the ratchet  44  can be removed without removal of the activating shaft  12 . 
     FIG. 2 demonstrates the release device, E 1  shaped structure  28  inserted into the receiving area  21 . In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the E-shaped structure  28  is recessed into the receiving area  21  and handle  16 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the E-shaped structure  228  with the activating shaft  212  displaying a cut out  232 . The cut out  232  is a reduced diameter section of the shaft  212  that serves to stop the depression of the activating shaft  212 . The cut out  232  interacts with the spring release pin  234 , illustrated in FIG. 4, to provide the three degrees of activating shaft  212  depression. As stated heretofore, when the wrench is in use, the activating shaft  212  is in the first, or un-depressed, stage with both the pivot pin  226  and locking pin  224  within the upper receiving channels  15  and  17 . To rotate the head  44 , the activating shaft  212  is depressed to the second stage, bringing the release pin  234  to the upper end of the cutout  232 . This releases the locking pin  224  from interaction with the upper receiving notch  15  and the head  44 . The upper part of the cut out  232  acts as a stop when it meets up with the widest part of the spring release pin  234  in FIG.  4 . To remove the head  44 , the release pin  234  is depressed, thereby allowing the pin  234  to be aligned with the cut out  232  and enabling the activating shaft  212  to be fully depressed. 
     The spring release pin  234 , illustrated in FIG. 4, consists of a cap  242 , spring  240 , a threaded section  328 , cut out  236  and body  235 . As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spring release pin  234  can be inserted into the side of the handle  216 , perpendicular to the activating shaft  212  while in a slightly offset position. When the spring release pin  234  is not depressed, the body  236  serves as a stop for the activating shaft  212 , preventing full depression of the activating shaft  212 . When the spring release pin  234  is depressed and held in a depressed position, its cut out  236  will be aligned with the activating shaft  212 , allowing the activating shaft  212  to be fully depressed. This will allow the pivot pin  226  to be disengaged from flange  46  as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The spring release pin  234  can be threaded  238  on one end to receive cap  42 , or secured to the cap  42  through any other method known in the art. A spring  240  preferably serves to return the spring release pin  234  to its original position after depressing it to remove the head  46  of the wrench  44  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 demonstrates a top view of the spring release pin  234  positioned to stop the further depression of the activating shaft  212 . As can be seen, the activating shaft  212  is stopped by the body of the shaft of the spring release pin  234 . In order for the spring release pin  234  to prevent movement of the activating shaft  212 , due to the fact that the spring release pin  234  is passing through the cut out  232  of the activating shaft  212 , the positioning between the release pin  234  and activating shaft  212  must be precise. 
     FIG. 6 demonstrates a top view of the spring release pin  234  being depressed into the handle  216 . As can be seen in this figure, in a depressed position the cutout  236  is moved into a position to enable the activating shaft  212  to clear the release pin  234 , to complete the depression process. 
     FIGS. 7 a-c  demonstrate a rear view of an activating shaft  112  in an alternate embodiment using a ball nose spring plunger pin  148 , where the ball  152  serves as the stopping point for the activating shaft  112 . During use, the plunger pin  148  is in the position illustrated in FIG.  7 A. To enable the ratchet head to rotate, the activating shaft  112  is depressed to a second step, illustrated in FIG. 7B, wherein the ball  152  encounters the shaft step  162 . This level removes the rotating pin from the wrench head flange, enabling rotation. To remove the wrench head, the activating shaft  112  is pressed to the third step, illustrated in FIG.  7 C. Since the ball  152  has the ability to recess into the pin  148  under pressure, applying additional pressure to the activating shaft  112  will cause the ball  152  to recess into ball nose spring plunger  148  enabling full depression of the activating shaft  112 . 
     FIG. 8 demonstrates a bottom view of the handle  116  indicating alignment between the ball nose spring plunger pin  148  and the activating shaft  112  extending from the release device base  110 . FIG. 9 demonstrates a side view of handle  116  showing approximate location of ball nose spring plunger pin  148  within the body of the handle  116 . The ball nose spring plunger  148  will have to be strategically placed in order to create an additional pressure point or stopping point at the precise time to enable the locking pin  124  to be removed from the holes  52  in the neck  46  of the wrench head  44 , illustrated in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 10 demonstrates a bottom view using the spring release pin  234  system illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the spring release pin  234  is depressed, it allows the cut out  236  to align with the activating shaft  212 . When this occurs the activating shaft  212  can be fully depressed allowing the pivot pin  226  to pass through the neck  46  of FIG. 14, thereby disconnecting the head  44  from the handle  16 . 
     FIG. 11 demonstrates a right side view of handle  16  with the spring release pin  234  being strategically located in a slightly offset perpendicular position to the activating shaft  212 . The wider part of the spring release pin  234  will pass through the cut out  232  of the activating shaft  212 . This will allow the activating shaft  212  to stop when it reaches the widest part of the shaft of spring release pin  234 . 
     FIG. 12 demonstrates an alternate embodiment to the above release device in an E-shaped structure  350  with the pivot pin  326  and the locking pin  324  being of the same length. This embodiment can be used with a straight conventional wrench application (un-indexable) or with the indexable head. In this embodiment, both the pivot pin  326  and the locking pin  324  serve to lock the head of the wrench  344  in a solid straight position. FIG. 13 demonstrates this embodiment inserted into the wrench  316 , wherein the E-shaped structure  310  is recessed into the handle  316 . 
     FIG. 14 demonstrates in a preferred embodiment for the indexable ratchet head  44  wherein a cut out  54 , on the underside of the flange  46 , is provided with a plurality of holes  52 . By recessing the holes  52 , the distance of travel for the locking pins disclosed herein can be reduced, therefore enabling a quicker release for rotating of the head of the ratchet wrench  44 . The recession of the holes  52  further enables the C-shaped structure  310  of FIGS. 12 and 13 to be used, as the locking pin  324  will disengage from the recessed holes  54  prior to the pivot pin  326  being disengaged from the pivot hole  55 . When the cut out  54  is created it allows the locking pin  24 ,  234  or  324  to be longer in proportion to the depth of the cut out  54 . By lengthening the locking pin  24  to be proportionately longer, equal to the depth of the cut out  54 , greater strength is provided. 
     FIGS. 15 &amp; 16 demonstrate some other type of wrench heads  58  and  60  that may be used with this new improved quick release design. It should be noted that the holes can be directly drilling through the wrench flange without the recess. In this embodiment, the E-shaped structure  28  of FIGS. 1 and 2 must be used. 
     In FIG. 17, the activating shaft  502  has dual cut outs  512  and  514  on either side. These serve to interact with ball nose spring plunger pins  504  and  506 , each containing balls  510  and  508 . This embodiment works in the same manner as that described heretofore in conjunction with FIGS. 7A-C. The dual ball nose spring plunger pins provide a greater resistance, which can be required in some applications. 
     Other methods of connecting the wrench head to the handle that meet the durability and rigidity criteria as set forth herein can also be incorporated.