Patent Publication Number: US-6216567-B1

Title: Ratcheting tools having an angle-adjustable head

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to ratcheting tools of the type having a head that is finely adjustable in an angular position relative to a handle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings illustrate a conventional ratcheting tool having a head  10 ′ adjustable relative to a handle  20 ′. The head  10 ′ includes an extension  11 ′ with a number of teeth  12 ′ formed on an end thereof. An end of the handle  20 ′ includes two walls having a compartment  21 ′ defined therebetween. A pin  22 ′ is extended through aligned holes (one of them is a screw hole) of the walls of the end of the handle  20 ′ and through a hole (not labeled) in the extension  11 ′ of the head  10 ′. A longitudinal hole  26 ′ and a transverse hole  27 ′ are defined in the handle  20 ′ and located below the walls, wherein an upper end of the longitudinal hole  26 ′ communicates with the compartment  21 ′ and the transverse hole  27 ′ intersects the longitudinal hole  26 ′ at a mediate portion of the latter. A spring  28 ′ and a ball  29 ′ are mounted in a lower portion of the longitudinal hole  26 ′. A push pin  30 ′ is extended through the transverse hole  27 ′ and includes a positioning notch  31 ′ in an underside thereof for engaging with the ball  29 ′. The push pin  30 ′ further includes an inclined face  32 ′ in an upper side thereof. The push pin  30 ′ has a length greater than that of the transverse hole  27 ′ such that two ends of the push pin  30 ′ are exposed outside the handle  20 ′ for manual operation. A ball  33 ′, a spring  34 ′, and a catch  35 ′ are mounted in an upper portion of the longitudinal hole  26 ′, best shown in FIG.  15 . The catch  35 ′ includes a receptacle  36 ′ for receiving the spring  34 ′ and a portion of the ball  33 ′ that rests on the inclined face  32 ′. The catch  35 ′ further includes an inclined underside  37 ′ having the same inclination as the inclined face  32 ′. The catch  35 ′ is biased upward by the spring  34 ′ to engage with the teeth  12 ′ of the head  10 ′, thereby retaining the head  10 ′ in a desired angular position with respect to the handle  20 ′. When the push pin  30 ′ is pushed, the lower ball  29 ′ is lowered and the upper ball  33 ′ is also lowered, as shown in FIG.  15 . The upper spring  34 ′ and the catch  35 ′ are also lowered such that the catch  35 ′ disengages from the teeth  12 ′ of the head  10 ′. Thus, the head  10 ′ may be pivoted to a desired angular position relative to the handle  20 ′ and the push pin  30 ′ is then released to thereby retain the head  10 ′ in the desired angular position. 
     Nevertheless, such an arrangement is too complicated (two sets of balls and springs are required) and has limited angular adjustment, since there are only six teeth  12 ′ on the head  10 ′. The ratcheting tool cannot perform its function if the fastener to be tightened/loosened is located in a position that cannot be reached by the five angular positions of the head. The retaining function of the catch  35 ′ by only one tooth is also too small and thus incapable of reliably retaining the head  10 ′ in place. A further drawback of the complicated structure is that the catch  35 ′ and the teeth  12 ′ tend to disengage from each other when the balls  29 ′ and  33 ′ and the springs  28 ′ and  34 ′ are impinged. 
     FIGS. 16 through 18 of the drawings illustrate another conventional ratcheting tool having a head  110 ′ adjustable relative to a handle  120 ′. The head  110 ′ includes an extension  111 ′ with a number of teeth  112 ′ formed on an end thereof. An end of the handle  120 ′ includes two walls having a compartment  121 ′ defined therebetween. A pin  122 ′ is extended through aligned holes (one of them is a screw hole) of the walls of the end of the handle  120 ′ and through a hole (not labeled) in the extension  111 ′ of the head  110 ′. A longitudinal hole  127 ′ and a transverse hole  126 ′ are defined in the handle  120 ′ and located below the walls, wherein an upper end of the longitudinal hole  127 ′ communicates with the compartment  121 ′ and the transverse hole  126 ′ intersects the longitudinal hole  127 ′ at a lower portion of the latter. A turnknob  128 ′ includes a stem  133 ′ extended through the transverse hole  126 ′ and having a stem  133 ′ with a higher profile portion  135 ′ and a lower profile portion  134 ′. A ball  129 ′, a spring  130 ′, and a catch  131 ′ are mounted in an upper portion of the longitudinal hole  127 ′, best shown in FIG.  17 . The catch  131 ′ includes a receptacle  136 ′ for receiving the spring  130 ′ and the ball  129 ′ that rests on the stem  133 ′. The catch  131 ′ further includes a tooth  137 ′ for engaging with the teeth  112 ′ of the head  110 ′. When the ball  130 ′ rests on the higher profile portion  135 ′ (FIG.  18 ), the catch  131 ′ is biased upward by the spring  130 ′ to engage with the teeth  112 ′ of the head  110 ′, thereby retaining the head  110 ′ in a desired angular position with respect to the handle  120 ′. When the turnknob  128 ′ is turned to a position in which the ball  130 ′ rests on the lower profile portion  134 ′, the ball  130 ′ is lowered. The spring  130 ′ and the catch  131 ′ are also lowered such that the tooth  137 ′ of the catch  131  ′ disengages from the teeth  112 ′ of the head  110 ′. Thus, the head  110 ′ may be pivoted to a desired angular position relative to the handle  120 ′ and the turnknob  128 ′ is then turned to the initial position to thereby retain the head  110 ′ in the desired angular position. 
     Nevertheless, such an arrangement is still too complicated and has limited angular adjustment, since there are only six teeth  112 ′ on the head  110 ′. The ratcheting tool cannot perform its function if the fastener to be tightened/loosened is located in a position that cannot be reached by the five angular positions of the head. The retaining function of the catch  131 ′ by only one tooth is also too small and thus incapable of reliably retaining the head  110 ′ in place. In addition, the user must use both hands to proceed with such adjustment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a ratcheting tool having a head finely adjustable in an angular position relative to a handle, wherein the ratcheting tool is simpler in structure to allow easy manufacture and assembly and to reduce potential malfunction possibility. Adjustment of the angular position of the head relative to the handle is accomplished by pushing a push button to allow adjustment and then releasing the push button to retain the head in place. 
     A ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention comprises: 
     a head including an end with an arcuate toothed face; 
     a handle including an end defining a compartment for pivotal connection with the end of the head, the handle including a longitudinal hole having an inner end and an outer end communicated with the compartment, the handle further including a transverse hole communicated with the inner end of the longitudinal hole; 
     a catch mounted in the longitudinal hole and including a first end with an arcuate toothed surface and a second end; 
     a push button mounted in the transverse hole and including a stem, the stem including a relatively higher portion and a relatively lower portion; and 
     means for biasing the push button to a retaining position in which the second end of the catch engages with the relatively higher portion of the stem such that the arcuate toothed surface of the catch is biased to engage with the arcuate toothed face of the head, thereby retaining the head in an angular position relative to the handle, and wherein when the push button is pushed, the second end of the catch is disengaged from the relatively higher portion to of the stem such that the arcuate toothed surface of the catch is disengaged from the arcuate toothed face of the head, thereby allowing adjustment of the angular position of the head relative to the handle. 
     A reduced hole may be intercommunicated between the transverse hole and the inner end of the longitudinal hole. The second end of the catch includes a stub extended through the reduced hole, and an elastic member is mounted around the stub for assisting in bias of the catch toward the head when the push button is in its retaining position. 
     The stem of the push button includes an inclined surface for engaging with the second end of the stem. In an embodiment of the invention, the transverse hole includes a countersink in an end thereof to define an end wall. The push button includes a button head from which the stem extends. The biasing means is an elastic member mounted around the stem, located in the countersink, and attached between the end wall and the button head. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a circle A in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, wherein a push button is pushed; 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a circle B in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, wherein a head is pivoted through a small angle; 
     FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a circle C in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, wherein the head is pivoted through a larger angle; 
     FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a circle D in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6A, illustrating a modified embodiment of the push button; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a modified embodiment of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the ratcheting tool in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of a circle E in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, wherein a push button is pushed; 
     FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of a circle F in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, wherein the head is pivoted through an angle and the push button is released; 
     FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of a circle G in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view, partly sectioned, illustrating application of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention to a tool bit connector; 
     FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, wherein a head is adjusted to a desired angular position; 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional ratcheting tool with an adjustable head; 
     FIG. 15 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the ratcheting tool in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of another conventional ratcheting tool with an adjustable head; 
     FIG. 17 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the ratcheting tool in FIG. 16; and 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line  18 — 18  in FIG.  17 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13 and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention generally includes a handle  10  and a head  50  adjustably connected to the handle  10 . The head  50  includes a transverse hole  52  in a first end thereof and a drive column  51  extended from a second end thereof. The first end of the head  50  includes an arcuate toothed face with a plurality of teeth  53  formed thereon. The toothed arcuate face may extend for about 180°. It is appreciated that the head  50  may be a head of any kind of ratcheting tools, not limited to the socket wrench type ratcheting tool illustrated. 
     An end  20  of the handle  10  includes two walls  21  and  22  having a compartment  23  defined therebetween for receiving the first end of the head  50 . A pin  54  is extended through aligned holes  211  and  221  (hole  221  is a screw hole) of the walls  21  and  22  of the end  20  of the handle  10  and through the transverse hole  52  in the head  50 . A longitudinal hole  26  and a transverse hole  24  are defined in the handle  10 , wherein an outer end of the longitudinal hole  26  communicates with the compartment  23  and the transverse hole  27  is communicated with an inner end of the longitudinal hole  26  via a reduced hole  25 . A countersink  241  is defined in an end of the transverse hole  27  and defines an end wall  242 . 
     A push button  30  includes a button head  31  and a stem  32  extended from the button head  31 . The stem  32  is extended through the transverse hole  24  and has a supporting portion  33  including a first supporting face  331  and a second supporting face  332  that is lower than the first supporting face  331 . The first supporting face  331  is inclined, which will be described later. An elastic member (e.g., a spring  34 ) is mounted around the stem  32  and located in the countersink  241 , as shown in FIG.  3 A. The spring  34  is thus attached between the end wall  242  and the button head  31  to bias the push button  30  outward. 
     A catch  40  and an elastic member (e.g., a spring  44 ) are mounted in the longitudinal hole  26  for releasably engaging with the teeth  53  of the head  50 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the catch  40  includes a body  42  with an arcuate toothed surface  43  formed on a first end thereof and a stub  41  projected from a second end thereof. The spring  44  is mounted around the stub  41  that extends through the reduced hole  25  and rests on the stem  32  of the push button  30 . 
     When the push button  30  is in a released position shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the stub  41  of the catch  40  rests on the first supporting face  331  of the stem  32  of the push button  30 , and the spring  44  biases the arcuate toothed surface  43  of the catch  40  to engage with the arcuate teeth  53  of the head  50 , thereby retaining the head  50  in a desired angular position with respect to the handle  10 . The teeth  53  of the head  50  may be engaged with the arcuate toothed surface of the catch  40  by more than ten teeth to thereby provide a reliable retaining effect. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, when the push button  30  is pushed inward, the stub  41  of the catch  40  disengages from the first supporting face  331  and not engaged with the second supporting face  332  of the push button  30 . Thus, the head  50  is pivotable relative to the handle  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 5A, when adjustment of the angular position of the head  50  is required, the head  50  is pivoted and thus causes disengagement of the toothed surface  43  of the catch  40  from the teeth  53  of the head  50 . The stub  41  of the catch  40  now rests on the second supporting face  332 . Namely, the head  50  is in free rotation during adjustment. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the user may pivot the head  50  to a desired angular position relative to the handle  10  and then releases the push button  30 . The head  50  is reliably retained in the desired angular position relative to the handle  10 . The relative angular relationship between the head and the handle can be finely adjusted, as the arcuate toothed surface  43  of the catch  90  and the arcuate toothed face of the head  50  may include more teeth. FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the push button  30 , wherein the supporting portion (now designated by  35 ) of the stem  32  of the push button  30  is modified as an inclined surface  351 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a modified embodiment of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention. The ratcheting tool includes a handle  60  and a head  100  adjustably connected to the handle  60 . The head  100  includes a transverse hole  102  in a first end thereof and a drive column  101  extended from a second end thereof. The first end of the head  100  includes an arcuate toothed face with a plurality of teeth  103  formed thereon. The toothed arcuate face may extend for about 180°. 
     An end  70  of the handle  60  includes two walls  71  and  72  having a compartment  73  defined therebetween for receiving the first end of the head  100 . A pin  104  is extended through aligned holes  711  and  721  (hole  721  is a screw hole) of the walls  71  and  72  of the end  70  of the handle  60  and through the transverse hole  102  in the head  100 . A longitudinal hole  75  and a transverse hole  74  are defined in the handle  60 , wherein an outer end of the longitudinal hole  75  communicates with the compartment  73  and the transverse hole  74  is communicated with an inner end of the longitudinal hole  75 . A countersink  741  is defined in an end of the transverse hole  74  and defines an end wall  742 . 
     A push button  80  includes a button head  81  and a stem  82  extended from the button head  81 . The stem  82  is extended through the transverse hole  74  and has a supporting portion  83  including a first supporting face  831  and a second supporting face  832  that is lower than the first supporting face  831 . The first supporting face  831  is inclined, which will be described later. An elastic member (e.g., a spring  84 ) is mounted around the stem  82  and located in the countersink  841 , as shown in FIG.  9 A. The spring  84  is thus attached between the end wall  742  and the button head  81  to bias the push button  80  outward. 
     A catch  90  is mounted in the longitudinal hole  75  for releasably engaging with the teeth  103  of the head  100 . As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9A, the catch  90  includes a first end  92  with an arcuate toothed surface  93  formed thereon and a second end  91 . 
     When the push button  80  is in a released position shown in FIG. 9A, the first end  91  of the catch  90  rests on the first supporting face  831  of the stem  82  of the push button  80 . The arcuate toothed surface  93  of the catch  90  is biased toward the head  100  to engage with the arcuate teeth  103  of the head  100 , thereby retaining the head  100  in a desired angular position with respect to the handle  60 . The teeth  103  of the head  100  may be engaged with the toothed surface  93  of the catch  90  by more than ten teeth to thereby provide a reliable retaining effect. 
     Referring to FIGS. 10 and 10A, when the push button  80  is pushed inward, the arcuate toothed surface  93  of the catch  90  disengages from the teeth  103  of the head  100  with the first end  91  of the catch  90  resting on the second supporting face  832  of the push button  80 . Thus, the head  100  is pivotable relative to the handle  60 . Referring to FIGS. 11 and 11A, when adjustment of the angular position of the head  100  is required, the head  100  is pivoted to a desired angular position relative to the handle  60  and the push button  80  is then released. The head  100  is reliably retained in the desired angular position relative to the handle  60 . The relative angular relationship between the head and the handle can be finely adjusted, as the arcuate toothed surface  93  of the catch  90  of the arcuate toothed face of the head  100  may include more teeth. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate application of the adjustment arrangement to a tool bit connector  200 . The tool bit connector  200  may engage with any kind of screwdrivers, sockets, or hex wrenches. 
     According to the above description, it is appreciated that the head of the ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention may by adjusted to a desired angular position relative to the handle in an easier manner. The overall structure is simple for reducing potential malfunction possibility and is easy to manufacture and assemble. The head is reliably retained in place, and the relative angular relationship between the head and the handle can be finely adjusted. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.