Patent Publication Number: US-6901824-B1

Title: Ratchet wrench structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench structure, and more particularly to a ratchet wrench structure that is both available for sockets with sector-shaped and arcuate-shaped insertion recesses. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A first conventional ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the prior art shown in  FIG. 8  comprises a wrench body  10 A, a ratchet wheel  12 A rotatably mounted in the wrench body  10 A and having an inner wall formed with a plurality of arcuate insertion ribs  120 A, and a socket  61 A mounted in the ratchet wheel  12 A and having an outer periphery formed with a plurality of arcuate insertion recesses  610 A for insertion of the insertion ribs  120 A of the ratchet wheel  12 A. Thus, the socket  61 A is combined with the ratchet wheel  12 A, so that the socket  61 A can co-operate with the ratchet wheel  12 A to rotate a screw member (not shown) by rotation of the wrench body  10 A. However, the conventional ratchet wrench structure is only available for the socket  61 A with arcuate insertion recesses  610 A shown in  FIG. 8 , and is not available for the socket  60 A with sector-shaped insertion recesses  600 A shown in  FIG. 8A , thereby limiting the versatility of the conventional ratchet wrench structure. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , a screw member  62 A is mounted in the ratchet wheel  12 A, and each side of the screw member  62 A is rested on a respective insertion rib  120 A of the ratchet wheel  12 A. However, each side of the screw member  62 A only contacts one insertion rib  120 A of the ratchet wheel  12 A, thereby easily producing a slip movement between the screw member  62 A and the ratchet wheel  12 A during rotation of the wrench body  10 A. In addition, each of the insertion ribs  120 A of the ratchet wheel  12 A is easily worn out during a long-term utilization. 
   A second conventional ratchet wrench structure shown in  FIG. 10  comprises a wrench body  10 B, a ratchet wheel  12 B rotatably mounted in the wrench body  10 B and having an inner wall formed with a plurality of sector-shaped insertion ribs  120 B. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the screw member  62 A is mounted in the ratchet wheel  12 B, and each side of the screw member  62 A is rested on a respective insertion rib  120 B of the ratchet wheel  12 B. However, the corner of each of the sector-shaped insertion ribs  120 B is easily worn out due to rubbing during a long-term utilization. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional ratchet wrench structure. 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench structure that is available for the socket with the sector-shaped and arcuate-shaped insertion recesses. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench structure, wherein the two connections located between the second insertion face and each of the two first insertion faces of each of the insertion ribs are rested on each side of the screw member, so that the screw member s combined with the ratchet wheel rigidly and stably without incurring a slip movement. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench structure, wherein each of the insertion ribs and the screw member have a larger contact area, thereby preventing the insertion ribs from being worn out due to rubbing. 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ratchet wrench structure, comprising a wrench body, a ratchet wheel, and a socket, wherein:
         the wrench body has a head formed with a receiving hole;   the ratchet wheel is rotatably mounted in the receiving hole of the wrench body and has a center formed with a combination hole, the combination hole of the ratchet wheel has an inner periphery formed with a plurality of insertion ribs, each of the insertion ribs of the ratchet wheel includes two first insertion faces located on the two opposite sides thereof, and a second insertion face located between the two first insertion faces; and   the socket has one end having an outer periphery formed with a plurality of insertion recesses for insertion of the insertion ribs of the ratchet wheel.       

   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 structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective assembly view of the ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a partially enlarged view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4A  is a partially enlarged view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5A  is a partially enlarged view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a partially enlarged view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a partially enlarged view of the ratchet wrench structure as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan assembly view of a first conventional ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of a socket of the first conventional ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan assembly view of the first conventional ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the prior art; and 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan assembly view of a second conventional ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1–3 , a ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a wrench body  10 , a ratchet wheel  20 , and a socket  40 . 
   The wrench body  10  has a head formed with a receiving hole  11 . 
   The ratchet wheel  20  is rotatably mounted in the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10 . The ratchet wheel  20  has an outer wall formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth  200 . The ratchet wheel  20  has a center formed with a combination hole  21 . The combination hole  21  of the ratchet wheel  20  has an inner periphery formed with a plurality of insertion ribs  210 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3A , each of the insertion ribs  210  of the ratchet wheel  20  includes two first insertion faces  211  located on the two opposite sides thereof, and a second insertion face  212  located between the two first insertion faces  211 . Preferably, each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  has an arcuate convex shape. Preferably, the second insertion face  212  of each of the insertion ribs  210  has an arcuate concave shape. In addition, each of the insertion ribs  210  of the ratchet wheel  20  includes a third insertion face  213  located between any two adjacent insertion ribs  210 . Preferably, the third insertion face  213  of each of the insertion ribs  210  has an arcuate concave shape. 
   The socket  40  has one end having an outer periphery formed with a plurality of insertion recesses  41  for insertion of the insertion ribs  210  of the ratchet wheel  20 . Each of the insertion recesses  41  of the socket  40  has a shape mating with that of the respective insertion rib  210  of the ratchet wheel  20 , so that each of the insertion recesses  41  of the socket  40  is combined with the respective insertion rib  210  of the ratchet wheel  20  rigidly and stably. The other end of the socket  40  is used to mount a screw member (not shown). 
   The ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a locking pawl  30  pivotally mounted in the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10  and formed with a plurality of engaging teeth  300  engaging with the ratchet teeth  200  of the ratchet wheel  20 . 
   The ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a supporting seat  50  mounted on a bottom of the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10  for supporting the ratchet wheel  20  in the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10 , and a C-shaped snap ring  51  secured on the bottom of the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10  for retaining the supporting seat  50  in the receiving hole  11  of the wrench body  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the socket  40  is inserted into the ratchet wheel  20 , so that each of the insertion ribs  210  of the ratchet wheel  20  is inserted into the respective insertion recess  41  of the socket  40 . Thus, the socket  40  is combined with the ratchet wheel  20 , so that the socket  40  can co-operate with the ratchet wheel  20  to rotate the screw member (not shown) by rotation of the wrench body  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , each of the insertion recesses  600  of the socket  60  has a sector shape. Thus, when the socket  60  is inserted into the ratchet wheel  20 , the second insertion face  212  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on an end face of the respective insertion recess  600  of the socket  60 , and the third insertion face  213  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on a side of the respective insertion recess  600  of the socket  60 , so that the socket  60  is combined with the ratchet wheel  20  rigidly and stably. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , each of the insertion recesses  610  of the socket  61  has an arcuate shape. Thus, when the socket  61  is inserted into the ratchet wheel  20 , each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on an end face of the respective insertion recess  610  of the socket  61 , and the third insertion face  213  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on a side of the respective insertion recess  610  of the socket  61 , so that the socket  61  is combined with the ratchet wheel  20  rigidly and stably. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6A , each of the insertion ribs  210  of the ratchet wheel  20  includes a connection  214  located between the second insertion face  212  and each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210 . Thus, when the screw member  62  is inserted into the ratchet wheel  20 , the connection  214  located between the second insertion face  212  and each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on each side of the screw member  62 , so that the screw member  62  is combined with the ratchet wheel  20  rigidly and stably. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 7A , the connection  214  located between the second insertion face  212  and each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  has an arcuate face, thereby increasing the contact area of the ratchet wheel  20  with the socket  40 , and thereby enhancing the structural strength of the ratchet wrench structure. 
   Accordingly, the ratchet wrench structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.
         1. The second insertion face  212  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on the end face of the respective insertion recess  600  of the socket  60 , so that the ratchet wrench structure is available for the socket  60  with the sector-shaped insertion recesses  600 .   2. Each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  is rested on the end face of the respective insertion recess  610  of the socket  61 , so that the ratchet wrench structure is available for the socket  61  with the arcuate-shaped insertion recesses  610 .   3. The two connections  214  located between the second insertion face  212  and each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  are rested on each side of the screw member  62 , so that the screw member  62  is combined with the ratchet wheel  20  rigidly and stably without incurring a slip movement.   4. The two connections  214  located between the second insertion face  212  and each of the two first insertion faces  211  of each of the insertion ribs  210  are rested on each side of the screw member  62 , thereby producing more contact points between the screw member  62  and the ratchet wheel  20 , so that the structural strength of the ratchet wrench structure is enhanced.   5. Each of the insertion ribs  210  and the screw member  62  have a larger contact area, thereby preventing the insertion ribs  210  from being worn out due to rubbing actions.       

   Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) 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.