Patent Publication Number: US-2015082948-A1

Title: Ratcheting Tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     The present application is a continuation-in part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/300,852 filed on Nov. 21, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tool and, more particularly, to a ratcheting tool. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,067 shows a retention socket. The retention socket includes a drive surface to retain a fastener when it is rotated in one direction. The patent discloses a retention socket including clockwise and counterclockwise drive surfaces and teaches that the amount of surface area of clockwise drive surface which contacts the fastener when being rotated in a clockwise direction is larger than that when being rotated in a counterclockwise direction, but doesn&#39;t teach the retention socket operable as a ratcheting socket. 
     The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     According to the present invention, a ratcheting tool includes a first driving structure and at least one second driving structure extending from the first driving structure. The first driving structure includes a first receiving hole. The second driving structure includes a second receiving hole, an inner flange inwardly extending from an inner surface of the second receiving hole, and a plurality of teeth extending from the inner surface of the second receiving hole. Each tooth has a bottom connected to the inner flange and includes an upper edge disposed on a top of the tooth, a first side located at one side of the tooth, a second side located at another side of the tooth and being opposite to the first side, and a beveled ridge extending from a juncture between the one of first and second sides and the upper edge to the inner flange, gradually and inwardly protruding from an inner surface of the tooth. The beveled ridge includes an engaging bevel inclined toward a juncture between the one of the first and second sides and the inner flange and connected to the one of the first and second sides and the inner flange, and a guiding bevel interfacing with the engaging bevel and inclined toward the juncture between the upper edge and another of the first and second sides. 
     The engaging bevel and the guiding bevel both extend inclinedly from the juncture between the one of the first and second sides and the upper edge. The engaging and guiding bevels extend from the one of the first and second sides and from the upper edge and incline to the inner flange. 
     The at least one second driving structure is operable in first and second directions. The at least one second driving structure in the first direction driving an object engaged therewith includes the engaging bevel abutting against the object. The at least one second driving structure driven in the second direction reverse to the first direction moving relative to the object includes the guiding bevel provided to allow the object to slide along the second receiving hole. 
     Other objectives, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied 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 a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the ratcheting tool of the present invention in use with a drive extension and a wrenching tool to engage with a bolt; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the ratcheting tool, the drive extension, and the wrenching tool shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a continued cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  and shows the ratcheting tool of the present invention in operation to turn the bolt; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial, cross-sectional view showing the ratcheting tool of the present invention in operation to turn freely with respect to the bolt; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1 through 8  show a ratcheting tool in accordance with the present invention. The ratcheting tool includes a first driving structure  10  and at least one second driving structure  20  extending from the first driving structure  10 . The first and at least one second driving structures  10  and  20  are disposed coaxial with respect to one another. 
     The first driving structure  10  includes a first receiving hole  11 . The first driving structure  10  has an inner periphery delimit an inner surface of the first receiving hole  11 . The inner surface of the first receiving hole  11  is polygonal. The inner surface of the first receiving hole  11  includes at least one side thereof including a recess for a retaining member. 
     The at least one second driving structure  20  includes a second receiving hole  21 . The second driving structure  20  has an inner periphery delimiting an inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 . The first and second receiving holes  11  and  21  are connected to one another. The inner surface of the second receiving hole  21  is annular. The largest cross-sectional size of the inner surface of the first receiving hole  11  is not greater than the largest cross-sectional size of the inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 . An inner flange  22  inwardly extends from the inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 . A plurality of teeth  23  extends from the inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 . The plurality of teeth  23  is arranged circumferentially on the inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 . Each of the plurality of teeth  23  has a bottom connected to the inner flange  22 . Each of the plurality of teeth  23  includes an upper edge disposed on a top thereof, a first side located at one side thereof, a second side located at another side thereof and being opposite to the first side. 
     Furthermore, each of the plurality of teeth  23  includes a beveled ridge  231  configured to extend from a juncture between the one of first and second sides and the upper edge to the inner flange  22  and from an inner surface of the inner flange  22 , and to gradually and inwardly protrude from an inner surface of each of the plurality of teeth  23 . The beveled ridge  231  includes an engaging bevel  232  inclined toward a juncture between the one of the first and second sides and the inner flange  22  and connected to the one of the first and second sides and the inner flange  22 . Moreover, the beveled ridge  231  includes a guiding bevel  233  interfacing with the engaging bevel  232  and inclined toward the juncture between the upper edge and another of the first and second sides. The engaging bevel  232  and the guiding bevel  233  both extend inclinedly from the juncture between the one of the first and second sides and the upper edge. The engaging and guiding bevels  232  and  233  extend from the one of the first and second sides and from the upper edge and incline to the inner flange  22 . 
     Furthermore, each of the plurality of teeth  23  has a connecting surface located among the beveled ridge, the second side and the upper edge. The connecting surface is connected with the second side, the upper edge and the guiding bevel of the beveled ridge. 
     The ratcheting tool includes the at least one second driving structure  20  in first and second directions. The at least one second driving structure  20  in the first direction driving an object  90  engaged therewith including the engaging bevel  232  abutting against the object  90 . The at least one second driving structure  20  driven in the second direction reverse to the first direction moving relative to the object  90  including the guiding bevel  233  provided to allow the object to slide along the second receiving hole  21 . In the embodiment, the object  90  is a bolt which has a hexagonal head. 
     Here, there are two second driving structures  20  extend from the first driving structure  10 . The first driving structure  10  interconnects and is disposed between the two second driving structures  20 . The two second driving structures  20  are symmetrically disposed with respect to the first driving structure  10 . 
     In addition,  FIGS. 4 and 7  show the ratcheting tool cooperate with a drive extension  70  and a wrenching tool  80 . The drive extension  70  and the wrenching tool  80  give a user leverage to turn the object  90  efficiently. The drive extension  70  has a first end configured to include a polygonal engaging protrusion  71  and a second end configured to include a polygonal engaging hole  72 . The first and second ends of the drive extension  70  are located oppositely along a longitudinal length thereof. The polygonal engaging protrusion  71  and the first receiving hole  11  have corresponding shapes. The engaging protrusion  71  of the drive extension  70  is adapted to insert through the second receiving hole  21  of one of the two second driving structures  20  because the largest cross-sectional size of the inner surface of the first receiving hole  11  is not greater than the largest cross-sectional size of the inner surface of the second receiving hole  21 , and then engages in the first receiving hole  11 . The drive extension  70  is operable to turn the ratcheting tool because the engaging protrusion  71  and the first receiving hole  11  have corresponding polygonal shapes. In addition, the wrenching tool  80  has a first end including a driving head and a second end opposite the first end. The first and second ends of the tool are located oppositely along a longitudinal length thereof. The driving head is configured to include a polygonal stem. The stem and the engaging hole  72  have the corresponding shapes. The driving head is adapted to engage in the engaging hole  72 . The wrenching tool  80  is operable to turn the drive extension  70  because the stem and the engaging hole  72  have corresponding polygonal shapes. The second end of the wrenching tool  80  is adapted to be gripped during operation thereof. The second end of the wrenching tool  80  is therefore configured to include an ergonomic handle. The user holds the second end of the wrenching tool  80  to gain leverage. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.