Patent Publication Number: US-2009217789-A1

Title: Ratchet control structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a hand tool, and more particularly to a multi-purpose ratchet control structure capable of controlling a rotating direction. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional ratchet is frequently controlled by an actuating rod for actuating two engagement blocks, which respectively or simultaneously engage with the ratchet to control and lock the ratchet so that a tool, such as a wrench, can drive an object. Alternatively, a rotating rod directly executes the elastic tripping rotation to engage the rotating rod with the ratchet unidirectionally so that the rotation control and the engagement of the ratchet can be achieved according to various drive control structures. However, no matter what kind of structure is adopted, the ratchet control device is mainly directly disposed on a wrench driving head, a driver or a driving rod. The design that one ratchet can control various applications is seldom seen, and one ratchet can only provide the single function. 
     Furthermore, the currently used engagement blocks are positioned at an inner wall ring of a wrench head due to the structural limitations, and cannot be disposed within the twisting head so the structure has the limited function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a ratchet control structure having a rotating ring for controlling three states. In addition, the ratchet control structure may be combined with a driver, a wrench or a driving rod to achieve the multi-purpose driving function. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a ratchet control structure having engagement blocks disposed in a twisting head. 
     Therefore, the invention provides a ratchet control structure including a socket, a twisting head and a control ring. 
     The socket has an upper polygonal slot and a lower accommodating space formed with inner ratchet teeth. A through hole at a bottom portion of the polygonal slot communicates the polygonal slot with the accommodating space. 
     The twisting head has an upper semi-circular body inserted into the accommodating space of the socket. The semi-circular body has one side formed with two positioning slots and the other side formed with a positioning hole. Two engagement blocks may be respectively positioned into the positioning slots. An elastic member for pressing is disposed between the two engagement blocks. An outer side of the engagement block is an engagement end for engaging with the inner ratchet teeth. A spring and a circular ball are inserted into the positioning hole. An actuator is disposed below the twisting head, and a projecting ring is disposed between the actuator and the semi-circular body. 
     The control ring is fit with the projecting ring of the twisting head and restricted by and positioned at a bottom portion of the socket. An inner wall of the control ring has two projecting push blocks and three arced slots. The push blocks face the engagement block, and the arced slots are for engaging with the circular ball of the twisting head to position the control ring at three positions. 
     The control ring is rotated such that one of the push blocks pushes the corresponding engagement block to escape from the inner ratchet teeth. The other one of the push blocks pushes the corresponding engagement block to engage with the inner ratchet teeth so that three states may be obtained. A polygonal driving ring, the polygonal slot and the actuator are provided to match with various applications. 
     Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorially exploded view showing the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing two engagement blocks engaging with inner ratchet teeth according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing a circular ball sliding into a middle arced slot of a control ring according to the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing an engagement block engaging with the inner ratchet teeth according to the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematically cross-sectional view showing the circular ball sliding into an arced slot of the control ring according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a pictorially exploded view showing a hand driving ring according to the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a rotating wrench. 
         FIG. 9  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a 360-degree rotating wrench. 
         FIG. 10  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a conventional wrench. 
         FIG. 11  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a ratchet twist wrench. 
         FIG. 12  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a driver. 
         FIG. 13  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to another driver. 
         FIG. 14  is a pictorial view showing the invention directly formed and fixed to a bottom end of the driver. 
         FIG. 15  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to an L-shape rod. 
         FIG. 16  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a T-shaped rod. 
         FIG. 17  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to a driving rod. 
         FIG. 18  is a pictorial view showing the invention applied to another rotating wrench. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a ratchet control structure according to the invention includes a socket  10 , a twisting head  20  and a control ring  30 . A polygonal driving ring  11 , which is a hexagonal driving ring and to be driven by a wrench or a sleeve, is disposed above the socket  10 . The socket  10  is formed with an upper polygonal slot  12  and an accommodating space  13 . The upper polygonal slot  12  is a quadrangular slot, into which a rectangular driving head may be inserted. The accommodating space  13  has an inner wall formed with inner ratchet teeth  131 . A bottom portion of the polygonal slot  12  is formed with a through hole  14  for communicating the polygonal slot  12  with the accommodating space  13 . A bolt  15  may be inserted into the through hole  14 . 
     The twisting head  20  has an upper semi-circular body  21 , which is about a three-fourth semi-circular body. The semi-circular body  21  is inserted into the accommodating space  13  of the socket  10 . A top surface of the semi-circular body  21  is formed with a screw hole  22 . A pad ring  23  may be placed on the top surface of the semi-circular body  21  so that the bolt  15  may be inserted into the through hole  14  of the socket  10  and screwed to the screw hole  22 . One side of the semi-circular body  21  is a cut surface formed with two axial positioning slots  24 . The other side of the semi-circular body  21  is a camber formed with a radial positioning hole  25 . Two engagement blocks  26  may be respectively positioned into the two positioning slots  24 . One end of the engagement block  26  is a projecting arced post  261 , which engages with the positioning slot  24  of the semi-circular body  21 . An elastic member (spring)  27  for pressing is disposed between the two engagement blocks  26 . The engagement block  26  has a lower concave restricting slot  262  for preventing the elastic member  27  from escaping. An outer side of the engagement block  26  is a ladder-like engagement end  263  for engaging with the inner ratchet teeth  131 . A spring  251  and a circular ball  252  are inserted into the positioning hole  25 . An actuator  28  is disposed below the twisting head  20 . The actuator  28  is a quadrangular head to be inserted into a sleeve for driving the sleeve. A projecting ring  29  is disposed between the actuator  28  and the semi-circular body  21 . 
     An outer wall surface of the control ring  30  has anti-skid textures  31  or several projections. The control ring  30  is fit with the twisting head  20 , disposed above the projecting ring  29 , and restricted by and positioned at the bottom portion of the socket  10 . An inner wall of the control ring  30  has two projecting push blocks  32  and three arced slots  33 ,  34  and  35 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The push blocks  32  face the engagement block  26 . The arced slots  33 ,  34  and  35  are for engaging with the elastic circular ball  252  of the twisting head  20  to position the control ring  30  at three positions. 
     According to the above-mentioned ratchet control structure of the invention, the polygonal driving ring  11  of the socket  10  is to be driven by the wrench or the sleeve, the polygonal slot  12  of the socket  10  is for fitting with the rectangular driving head, and the actuator  28  of the twisting head  20  is to be driven by the sleeve according to the requirements to be described in the following. 
     In operation, the control ring  30  is firstly rotated. When the circular ball  252  of the twisting head  20  is engaged with one arced slot  33  of the control ring  30  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the right-side push block  32  pushes the corresponding engagement block  26  to escape from the inner ratchet teeth  131 , and the left-side push block  32  pushes the corresponding engagement block  26  to engage with the inner ratchet teeth  131  so that the driving operation in one direction may be performed. Oppositely, the driving operation in the other direction may be performed. When the control ring  30  is rotated, the circular ball  252  of the twisting head  20  engages with the middle arced slot  34  of the control ring  30  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and the two engagement blocks  26  engage with the inner ratchet teeth  131  so that three states, including a clockwise driving state, a counterclockwise driving state and a stationary state, can be obtained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a hand driving ring  40  is fit with the polygonal driving ring  11  of the socket  10 , and an inner wall of the hand driving ring  40  is a polygonal inner wall  41  fit with the polygonal driving ring  11  so that a palm of a hand can drive the socket  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the invention is applied to a rotating wrench  50 , which has a rectangular block  51  inserted into the polygonal slot  12  so that the ratchet control structure can be combined with the rotating wrench  50  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the invention is applied to a retractable rotating wrench  60 , which may be directly pivotally connected to a pivotal hole  61  of the rotating wrench  60 . The polygonal driving ring  11  is formed with a hole  17 , wherein a rivet  171  or a bolt is provided to combine the ratchet control structure with the rotating wrench  60  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the invention is applied to a conventional dual-head wrench  70  having a jaw  71  directly fit with the polygonal driving ring  11  of the socket  10 . So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the conventional wrench  70  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the invention is applied to a ratchet twist wrench  80 , which has a twist rectangular block  81  inserted into the polygonal slot  12 . So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the rotating wrench  80  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the invention is applied to a driver  90  having a polygonal rod body  91  inserted into the polygonal slot  121  of this invention, which is a hexagonal slot. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the driver  90  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 , the actuator  281  is replaced with a sleeve and then applied to the driver  90 . The driver  90  has a rod body  92  inserted into the polygonal slot  12  of this invention. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the driver  90  to drive an object through the actuator (sleeve)  281 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the rod body  92  (see  FIG. 13 ) of the driver  90  is directly fixed in the polygonal slot  12  of this invention, wherein the rod body  92  may be directly fixed into the polygonal slot  12  or may be covered when the handle of the driver  90  is being molded. Thus, the hand can hold the driver  90  to drive the object. If the grip strength of the hand is insufficient, the jaw  71  of the wrench  70  can be directly fit with the polygonal driving ring  11  of the socket  10  to assist in driving the object. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the invention is applied to an L-shape rod  100  having a rectangular block  101  inserted into the polygonal slot  12  of this invention. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the L-shape rod  100  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the invention is applied to a T-shaped rod  110 , which has a horizontal rod  111  and a vertical rod  112  combined together. The horizontal rod  111  has a rectangular block  113  inserted into a sleeve  114  of the vertical rod  112 . A bottom end of the vertical rod  112  has a rectangular block  115  inserted into the polygonal slot  12  of this invention. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the T-shaped rod  110  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , an upper half portion of the socket  10 a is formed with a radial hole  16 , into which a driving rod  120  can be inserted. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the driving rod  120  to provide the driving function. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the invention is applied to another rotating wrench  130 . The rotating wrench  130  has a hexagonal slot (not shown) fit with the polygonal driving ring. So, the ratchet control structure can be combined with the rotating wrench  130  to drive the object. 
     While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications.