Patent Publication Number: US-6655237-B2

Title: Ratchet wrench having cover positioning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, and more particularly to a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, wherein the cover may be mounted easily and conveniently. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional ratchet wrench in accordance with the prior art comprises a handle having one end formed with a receiving recess, a ratchet wheel mounted in the receiving recess of the handle, and a cover mounted in the receiving recess of the handle, to cover the ratchet wheel, thereby preventing the ratchet wheel from detaching from the receiving recess of the handle. However, the cover mounted in the receiving recess of the handle in a locking manner, so that assembly and disassembly of conventional ratchet wrench is difficult and inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, wherein the cover may be mounted easily and conveniently. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, wherein the C-shaped snap ring may be mounted in the depression of the cover and locked in the locking groove of the receiving recess of the handle easily and conveniently, so as to efficiently prevent the cover and the ratchet wheel from being detached from the receiving recess of the handle. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, wherein it is easy to form the depression in the surface of the cover, thereby simplifying fabrication of the ratchet wrench. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device, comprising a handle having one end formed with a receiving recess, a ratchet wheel mounted in the receiving recess of the handle, and a cover mounted in the receiving recess of the handle, to cover the receiving recess of the handle and the ratchet wheel, wherein: 
     the cover has a surface formed with a depression, the depression has an opened side, so that the depression has a stepwise cross-section, and a C-shaped snap ring is mounted in the depression of the cover, the C-shaped snap ring has one side selectively locked on a wall of the receiving recess of the handle and an outer periphery of the ratchet wheel. 
     Preferably, the wall of the receiving recess of the handle is formed with a locking groove for locking the C-shaped snap ring. 
     Preferably, the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel is formed with a locking groove for locking the C-shaped snap ring. 
     Preferably, the cover is formed with a through hole to mate with the ratchet wheel, and the depression of the cover is located at an outer periphery of the through hole. 
     Preferably, the depression of the cover has a semi-circular shape. 
     Preferably, the depression of the cover has an annular shape. 
    
    
     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 an exploded perspective view of a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan assembly view of the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan assembly view of a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device as shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan assembly view of the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device as shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle  11 , a ratchet wheel  21 , a cover  31 , and a C-shaped snap ring  41 . 
     The handle  11  has one end formed with a receiving recess  12  which has a wall having a top portion formed with a locking groove  13  as shown in the figure. 
     The ratchet wheel  21  includes a main body  22 , and a shaft portion  23  which is extended from a center of the main body  22  to mate with a socket (not shown). 
     The cover  31  has a surface formed with a through hole  32 . The cover  31  has a periphery formed with a depression  33  located at an outer periphery of the through hole  32 . It is appreciated that, the depression  33  has a semi-annular shape, and has an opened side, so that the depression  33  has a substantially L-shaped stepwise cross-section. In addition, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the opened side of the depression  33  is directed toward an outer edge of the cover  31 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is assembled. 
     The ratchet wheel  21  is mounted in the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 , and the cover  31  is mounted in the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . At this time, the shaft portion  23  of the ratchet wheel  21  is protruded outward from the through hole  32  of the cover  31 , and the bottom face of the cover  31  is rested on the main body  22  of the ratchet wheel  21 . 
     Then, the C-shaped snap ring  41  is mounted in the depression  33  of the cover  31 , and an outer side of the C-shaped snap ring  41  is locked in the locking groove  13  of the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11  by the elastic restoring force of the C-shaped snap ring  41 . 
     Thus, the cover  31  is retained by the C-shaped snap ring  41 , and cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 , so that the ratchet wheel  21  cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . Thus, the C-shaped snap ring  41  may be locked in the locking groove  13  of the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11  easily and conveniently, so as to efficiently prevent the cover  31  and the ratchet wheel  21  from being detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . In addition, it is easy to form the depression  33  in the surface of the cover  31 , thereby simplifying fabrication of the ratchet wrench. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. 
     As shown in the figures, the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11  is provided with a ratchet wheel  21  which is fixed in the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 , and the cover  31  is mounted in the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11  to cover and seal the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . 
     It is appreciated that, the cover  31  has a periphery formed with a depression  33 , and the opened side of the depression  33  is directed toward the through hole  32  of the cover  31 . Thus, the C-shaped snap ring  41  is mounted in the depression  33  of the cover  31 , and an inner side of the C-shaped snap ring  41  is locked in a locking groove  24  that is formed in an outer periphery of the ratchet wheel  21 . Thus, the cover  31  may be retained by the C-shaped snap ring  41 , and cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 , so that the ratchet wheel  21  cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the ratchet wheel  21  has a closed shape. 
     As shown in the figures, the cover  31  has a periphery formed with a depression  33 , and the opened side of the depression  33  is directed toward the through hole  32  of the cover  31 . The depression  33  of the cover  31  has an annular shape. 
     Thus, the C-shaped snap ring  41  is mounted in the depression  33  of the cover  31 , and an inner side of the C-shaped snap ring  41  is locked on an outer periphery of the ratchet wheel  21 . Thus, the cover  31  may be retained by the C-shaped snap ring  41 , and cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 , so that the ratchet wheel  21  cannot be detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . 
     Accordingly, in the ratchet wrench having a cover positioning device in accordance with the present invention, it is easy to form the depression  33  in the surface of the cover  31 , thereby simplifying fabrication of the ratchet wrench. In addition, the C-shaped snap ring  41  may be mounted in the depression  33  of the cover  31  and locked in the locking groove  13  of the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11  easily and conveniently, so as to efficiently prevent the cover  31  and the ratchet wheel  21  from being detached from the receiving recess  12  of the handle  11 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.