Patent Publication Number: US-6907803-B2

Title: Single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, and more particularly to a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure that may enhance convenience of operation. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench in accordance with the prior art may be used to operate a workpiece, such as a nut, a bolt or the like, to rotate along one direction only. Thus, the conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench may drive the workpiece to rotate in the clockwise direction so as to lock the workpiece. The conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench may be inverted to drive the workpiece to rotate in the counterclockwise direction so as to unlock the workpiece. 
   However, the user cannot identify the correct rotation direction of the conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench, so that the user has to mount the conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench on the workpiece to test the correct rotation direction of the conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench for locking or unlocking the workpiece, thereby causing inconvenience to the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional single-direction operation type ratchet wrench. 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure that may enhance convenience of operation. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, wherein when the user holds the handle of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, he may directly identify the direction of operation for locking or unlocking the workpiece through tactile touch based on the identification portion on the handle, without having to test the direction of operation for locking or unlocking the workpiece, thereby facilitating the user operating the handle of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure. 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, comprising:
         an elongated handle having one end provided with a socket end, and a ratchet wheel mounted in the socket end and operated in one direction only; and   an identification portion mounted on the handle, for identifying the rotating direction of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure for locking or unlocking a workpiece, so that when a user holds the handle of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, he may directly identify the correct rotation direction for locking or unlocking the workpiece through tactile touch based on the identification portion on the handle.       

   Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1 , a single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated handle  10  having a first end provided with an opened end  11  and a second end provided with a socket end  15 . A ratchet wheel  16  is mounted in the socket end  15  of the handle  10  and may be operated in one direction only, so that the user may use the ratchet wheel  16  of the socket end  15  of the handle  10  to rotate and lock a workpiece, such as a nut or the like, and may invert the ratchet wheel  16  of the socket end  15  of the handle  10  to rotate and unlock the workpiece. 
   The single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises an identification portion  20  mounted on a side edge of the handle  10  and mated with a rotation direction of the ratchet wrench structure for locking or unlocking a workpiece, so that when a user holds the handle  10  of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, he may directly identify the correct rotation direction for locking or unlocking the workpiece by the location and the direction of the identification portion  20  on the handle  10 . 
   The identification portion  20  maybe located adjacent to the opened end  11  or the socket end  15  of the handle  10 , so as to correspondingly indicate the operation direction of the ratchet wheel  16  of the socket end  15  of the handle  10  of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure. 
   The identification portion  20  may be provided with concave streaks or convex streaks formed on or bonded on the side edge of the handle  10  and located adjacent to the opened end  11  or the socket end  15  of the handle  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple serially arranged upper oblique streaks  21  each directed toward a direction opposite to the socket end  15  of the handle  10 . 
   In operation, when the identification portion  20  is located at the top edge of the handle  10 , the handle  10  may be rotated toward the direction of the identification portion  20 , i.e., in the counterclockwise direction, so as to unlock or detach the workpiece. On the contrary, when the identification portion  20  is located at the bottom edge of the handle  10 , the handle  10  may be rotated toward the direction of the identification portion  20 , i.e., in the clockwise direction, so as to lock the workpiece. 
   Thus, when the user holds the handle  10  of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure, he may directly identify the direction of operation for locking or unlocking the workpiece through tactile touch based on the identification portion  20  on the handle  10 , without having to test the direction of operation for locking or unlocking the workpiece, thereby facilitating the user operating the handle  10  of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple serially arranged lower oblique streaks  22  each directed toward the direction of the socket end  15  of the handle  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple serially arranged serrated teeth  23  formed on a side end face of the handle  10 , thereby increasing the user&#39;s touch sensation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the serrated teeth  24  of the identification portion  20  are distributed along the entire side end face of the handle  10 , thereby increasing the user&#39;s touch sensation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple intermittently arranged oblique streaks  25  formed on a side edge of the handle  10 , thereby increasing the user&#39;s touch sensation. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple serially arranged arrow-shaped streaks  26  formed on a side edge of the handle  10 , thereby increasing aesthetic quality of the single-direction operation type ratchet wrench structure. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the serrated teeth  24  of the identification portion  20  are distributed along the entire side end face of the handle  10 , thereby increasing the user&#39;s touch sensation. In addition, the identification portion  20  includes an arrow-shaped streak  27  formed on the surface of the socket end  15  of the handle  10 , thereby facilitating the user identifying the direction of operation of the socket end  15  of the handle  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the identification portion  20  includes multiple serially arranged serrated teeth  23  formed on a side end face of the handle  10 , thereby increasing the user&#39;s touch sensation. In addition, the identification portion  20  includes an arrow-shaped streak  28  formed on the handle  10  and located opposite to the socket end  15  of the handle  10 , thereby facilitating the user identifying the direction of operation of the socket end  15  of the handle  10 . 
   While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention.