Patent Publication Number: US-2017348833-A1

Title: Ratchet Wrench System and Kit

Description:
PRIOR HISTORY 
     This patent application is a non-provisional patent application claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/343,990 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 1 Jun. 2016, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to hand tools such as wrench and ratchet wrench assemblies. More particularly the present invention relates to hand tools for enhancing mechanical advantage over rotatory fasteners and the like. 
     INVENTION SUMMARY 
     A ratchet wrench system and kit provide a user with the ability to enhance grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to either (a) turn rotary fasteners or (b) prevent rotary fasteners from turning. The ratchet wrench system and kit according to the present invention basically and essentially comprise a ratchet wrench assembly, a long ratchet interface, and a short ratchet interface. The ratchet wrench assembly comprises a ratchet head and a lever arm extending from the ratchet head. The ratchet head comprises a male side and a female side. The male side comprises a male transverse cross-section and the female side comprises a deep section and a shallow section. 
     The long ratchet interface comprises a long male end, a long female end, and a knurled central section. The long male and female ends are respectively and selectively matable with the female and male sides of the ratchet wrench assembly. The knurled central section allows a user to grip the same as a handle for enhancing a user&#39;s ability to grip and hold the mated ratchet wrench assembly and the long ratchet interface. The short ratchet interface comprises a short male end and a short female end. The short male and female ends are respectively matable with the female and male sides. The long and short ratchet interfaces enable a secondary wrench to grip and enhance mechanical advantage via the ratchet wrench assembly. 
     Other components of the ratchet system or kit include a driver adapter element, a ratchet saver plate construction, a half turn double end Allen wrench or hex key, and at least one cheater bar tool as illustrated and described in more detail in the sketches appended to these descriptions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following brief descriptions of drawing figures submitted in support of these specifications. 
         FIG. 1A  is a first top perspective view of a first alternative ratchet wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top perspective view of a first alternative long ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of a first alternative short ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1D  is a fragmentary plan view of a male side of first alternative ratchet wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1E  is a fragmentary plan view of a female side of first alternative ratchet wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a second top perspective view of the first alternative ratchet wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of the first alternative short ratchet interface element attached atop a second alternative long ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top perspective view of the first alternative short ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  is a top perspective view of the second alternative long ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a first top plan view of a fragmentary secondary wrench assembly attached to the first alternative ratchet wrench assembly via the first alternative short ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a first elevational side view of the fragmentary secondary wrench assembly attached to the first alternative ratchet wrench assembly via the first alternative short ratchet interface element with certain parts broken away to show otherwise hidden structure according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a second top plan view of a fragmentary secondary wrench assembly attached to the first alternative ratchet wrench assembly via the first alternative short ratchet interface element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a second elevational side view of the fragmentary secondary wrench assembly attached to the first alternative ratchet wrench assembly via the first alternative short ratchet interface element with certain parts broken away to show otherwise hidden structure and engaged with a socket and rotary fastener. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a second alternative ratchet wrench assembly outfitted with a third alternative long ratchet interface element with certain parts broken away to show otherwise hidden structure according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side elevational view of a third alternative wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is a bottom view of a third alternative wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a side elevational view of an angled drive element of the third alternative wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a side elevational view of a linear drive element of the third alternative wrench assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a side elevational view of a drive element cooperable with a drive adapter element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of the drive adapter element mated with a drive element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9C  is a bottom view of the drive adapter element mated with the drive element as otherwise shown in  FIG. 9B . 
         FIG. 10A  is a lateral view of a first alternative ratchet saver plate construction according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10B  is a plan view of the first alternative ratchet saver plate construction according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a lateral view of a second alternative ratchet saver plate construction according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a plan view of the second alternative ratchet saver plate construction according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a side view of a double end key wrench element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is a top view of the double end key wrench element according to the present invention mated with a secondary box wrench to add lever arm length to the double end key wrench element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referencing the drawings now with more specificity, the present invention firstly and basically provides a ratchet wrench system kit and method for enhancing grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to either (a) rotate as at  100  rotary fasteners  31  or (b) prevent rotary fastener  31  rotation  100 . Viewed systematically, the ratchet wrench system is believed to essentially comprise a ratchet wrench assembly as at  10  and any number of attachable components cooperable or matable with the ratchet wrench assembly  10 . The ratchet wrench assembly  10  preferably comprises a ratchet head  11  and a lever arm  12  extending from the ratchet head  11 . 
     The ratchet head  11  comprises a male side as at  13  and a female side as at  14 . The male side  13  preferably comprises a male element as at  15  and the female side preferably comprises at least two female formations, including both a deep section as at  16 , and a shallow section as at  17 . Sockets as at  30  have female receptors  32  and  53  respectively attachable to the male element  15  and a rotary fastener  31  according to state of the art structures, and the lever arm  11  enables to the user to enhance mechanical advantage in either applying torque to (a) rotate rotary fasteners via a socket as attached to the male element  15  or (b) prevent rotary fastener rotation via a socket as attached to the male element  15 . 
     Among the various contemplated attachable components that are cooperable or matable with the ratchet wrench assembly  10  are a long ratchet interface as at  18 . The long ratchet interface  18  may preferably comprise a long interface male end  20 , a long interface female end  21 , and a central section as at  22 , which central section  22  may preferably be outfitted with a knurled outer surface as at  23 . The long male interface end  20  and the long female interface end  21  are respectively matable with the female side  14  and the male side  13  of the ratchet head  11 . The knurled central section  23  functions to enhance a user&#39;s ability to grip and manually hold the mated ratchet wrench assembly  10  and the long ratchet interface  18  by increasing the frictional contact surface area between a user&#39;s hand the knurled outer surface  23 . 
     Further among the various contemplated attachable components that are cooperable or matable with the ratchet wrench assembly  10  is a short ratchet interface as at  19 . The short ratchet interface  19  may be said to preferably comprise a short male interface end  24 , and a short female interface end as at  25 . The short male interface end  24  and the short female interface end  25  are respectively matable with the female side  14  and the male side  13  of the ratchet head  11 . Together, the long and short ratchet interfaces  18  and  19  enable the user to introduce and couple a secondary wrench assembly as at  26  with secondary lever arm  27  to the ratchet wrench assembly  10  to grip and enhance rotational mechanical advantage relative to a rotary fastener  31  via the ratchet wrench assembly  10  and a socket  30  as generally and comparatively depicted in  FIGS. 4A through 5B . 
     Referencing  FIGS. 4A through 5B , it will be seen that the short ratchet interface  19  is oriented such that the short female interface end  25  is received in the shallow section  17  and that the short male interface end  24  is cooperable or matable with the secondary wrench assembly  26  for enabling the user to increase the overall lever arm length by introducing the secondary lever arm  17  to add lever arm length to lever arm  11 , and thus enhance rotational mechanical advantage relative to or over the rotary fastener  31 . 
     Referencing  FIGS. 3A through 3C , the reader will there consider that the long male interface end  20  and the long female interface end  21  of the long ratchet interface  18  are also respectively matable with the short female interface end  25  and the short male interface end  24  of the short ratchet interface  19 .  FIG. 3A  depicts the short ratchet interface  19  attached to or coupled with the long ratchet interface  18  such that the short male interface end  24  is received in the long female interface end. The interchangeability of the short and long ratchet interfaces  19  and  18  thus enable the user to add functionality to the ratchet wrench system according to the present invention. 
     The reader will note that the outer male portions  33  of the short interface element are preferably so that a wrench can more properly cooperate therewith. Further, the outer male portions  33  can be received by female hexagonal shallow section  17  thereby providing a “ratchet saver” meaning the hexagon slides into the female hexagon at shallow section  17  in  FIG. 1A . The male end  24  may also be inserted into receptacle  48  of wrench  43  to provide a “breaker bar” as discussed in more detail hereinbelow. Further, the round portion at  22  of the second alternative long interface element  18  comprises a diameter that preferably fits inwardly tangent to the flats  67  of the hexagon shallow section  17  for added stability. 
     The male element  15  preferably comprises a transverse cross-section having a particular geometric shape exemplified by a square shape  28  as generally depicted in  FIG. 1D , and is designed or sized and shaped to mate with female ends  21  and  25  having cooperating transverse shapes (e.g. square as at. Deep section  16  preferably comprises a geometric shape (e.g. square as at  29 ) and is dimensioned or sized and shaped to mate with the male ends  20  and  24 . The shallow section  17  is dimensioned or sized and shaped to mate with (hexagonal) first outer male portions  33  of female ends  21  and  25 . The deep section  16  and the shallow section  17  may thus be said to preferably comprise differing shapes.  FIGS. 1B and 1C  depict the ends  21  and  25  having hexagonal outer male portions  33  and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict end  25  having a square outer male portion  33 . The short interface element depicted, for example in  FIG. 1C , provides the user with an ability to add leverage with a wrench (Outside) or a driven square (inside). The driven square could be a lithium ion powered electric driver for speed, then final torque by arm force, or alternatively, an air impact gun that has speed and power, the extra power in this case would be from the operator. 
     Stated another way, the long and short ratchet interfaces  18  and  19  respectively comprise an outer shape as at outer male portion(s)  33  at the long and short female ends  21  and  25 , which outer shape enables a secondary wrench  26  to grip and enhance mechanical advantage via the long and short ratchet interfaces  18  and  19 . Further, the long ratchet interface  18  comprises an second outer male portion  34  adjacent the long male end  20 , which second outer male portion  34  adjacent the long male end  20  is dimensioned or similarly shaped as the outer shape  33  at the long female end  21  for enabling a secondary wrench  26  to grip and enhance mechanical advantage closer to the ratchet head  11  for reducing bending moment. 
     Referencing  FIG. 6 , the reader will there consider a first alternative ratchet wrench assembly  35  according to the present invention comprising a ratchet wrench  36  and a long ratchet interface  37 . The ratchet wrench  36  preferably comprises a ratchet head  38  and a lever arm  12  extending from the ratchet head  38 . The ratchet head  38  comprises a male side as at  13  and a female side as at  14 . The male side  13  preferably comprises a male element as at  15  and the female side preferably comprises at least one female receptacle or formation as at  39 . The long ratchet interface  37  comprises a long male interface end  40 , and hand-grippable section as at  41 , which hand-grippable section  41  may preferably be outfitted with a knurled outer surface as at  23 . The long male interface end  40  is matable with the female side  14 . 
     Referencing  FIGS. 7A  though  8 B, the reader will there consider a second alternative wrench assembly  42  according to the present invention comprising a one-piece wrench construction  43  and an angled interface drive element  44 . The wrench construction  43  preferably comprises an interface end  45  and a lever arm  12  extending from the interface end  45 . The interface end  45  comprises a male side as at  46  and a female side as at  47 . The male side  46  preferably comprises a male element as at  47  and the female side preferably comprises a single female receptacle as at  48 . The angled interface drive element  44  comprises a first male end  49  and a second male end  50  angled relative to the first male end  49 . The first male end  49  is receivable in or matable at the female side  47 . The female side  47  comprises cutout or depression portions  51  configured to structurally accommodate attachable structure (e.g. a socket  30 ) to mate with the second male end  50 . 
     The second alternative wrench assembly  42  is basically an improved version of what would otherwise be referred to as a “breaker bar” in the industry. The reader is directed in particular to the angled cutout or depression portions  51  which may otherwise be referred to as reliefs for providing clearance for receiving a socket  30 . State of the art breaker bars typically comprise or provide a square drive end that pivots 180 degrees. The drive end pivots on a pin extending across a fork formed in the bar. In other words, the end of the bar is an open “U” shape that lets the square drive rotate on the pin that is fixed between to the sides of the open end. The pivot pin and drive end are prone to failure due to the structural arrangement. Second alternative wrench assembly  42 , being of uniform or one-piece construction, eliminates this problem. 
     The reader will further consider that the drive element  44  shown in  FIG. 8A  is an angled square drive element. The angled square drive element  44  can be clocked  4  different directions in the receiver due to the square receptacle  48  and the square transverse cross-section of the drive element  44  at both ends  49  and  50  thereof. The angle of angled square drive element  44  can be provided at virtually any angle.  FIG. 8B  is a straight or linear square drive pin element and referenced at  44 ′. If a user should break the drive pin elements  44  or  44 ′, the user is able to knock out the broken drive pin element  44  or  44 ′, and save on part replacement costs given the typically unmolested unibody construction of wrench  43  relative to the damaged drive elements  44 / 44 ′. A wrench can also attach to the male (hex) element  47 , or a tube could slip fit over the male elements to allow someone to maintain the rotary axis in alignment with the bolt centerline. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 9A through 9C , the reader will there consider a drive adapter feature according to the present invention. The drive adapter element is generally depicted and referenced at  52  and comprises opposed female receptacles as at  53 . Interconnecting the female receptacles is a knock-out hole or bore as at  54  for enabling the user to push-remove a drive bit element  55  receivable in either of the female receptacles  53  sized and shaped to cooperate or mate with male structures exemplified by the various male structures described in these specifications. 
     The drive adapter element  52  is the author&#39;s version of a common adapter. Noting that adapters usually convert a ½ square drive to a ⅜ square drive (or ¾ to ½, ⅜ to ¼, and so on . . . ), it is further noted that the larger (stronger) female side inevitably over stresses and breaks the smaller male side. This typically means the consumer must purchase a replacement tool. The drive adapter element  52  cooperates with replaceable bits  55  in contrast to state of the art adapters. This also allows different male combinations with the same female (main body) portion. The user could also add a fillet radius at the point of larger to smaller square for a stronger male bit that would still allow the socket to fit in position. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 10A through 11B , the reader will there consider first and second alternative ratchet saver plate constructions as at  56  and  57  respectively. Each ratchet saver plate construction  56  and  57  is outfittable onto an existing ratchet head and comprises an apertured head as at  58  and arm-straddling protrusions as at  59 . The ratchet save plate construction  56  comprises a square aperture as at  60  and the ratchet saver plate construction  57  comprises a hexagonal aperture as at  61  for structurally accommodating similarly shaped male structures. The ratchet saver plate constructions are outfittable onto a select ratchet head such that the apertured heads  58  structurally accommodate male structure associated with the select ratchet head and the arm-straddling protrusions  59  straddle a select lever arm extending from the select ratchet head. 
     Further referencing  FIGS. 10A-11B , the reader will consider that when using the ratchet to loosen a “frozen” fastener, the user will maneuver the ratchet sear into the tighten position. This causes the ratchet to . . . “ratchet”, and not apply force to the fastener. Hence the ratchet saver plate constructions operate to lock the square from turning, thereby converting a ratchet head into a “breaker bar”. The aperture  61  in  FIG. 11B  for example, shows a hexagonal shape to accept a socket or extension that has a male hexagon. The ratchet saver plate constructions  56  and  57  hold the square from turning by holding the socket or extension. 
     Referencing  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the reader will there consider a double end Allen wrench construction as at  62 . The double end Allen wrench  62  comprises a hexagonal transverse cross-section with a 15 degree twist between the first end  63  of the Allen wrench  62  and the second end  64  of the Allen wrench  62  such that the hexagonal shape of the transverse cross-section is rotated 15 degrees (as at angle  65 ) from the first end  63  relative to the second end  64 . The Allen wrench  62  thus provides an effective 12 point wrench or key for turning fasteners outfitted with hex receptacles. A box wrench  66  is cooperable with the Allen wrench  62  for enhancing torque by providing a longer lever arm as generally depicted in  FIG. 12B . 
     Stated another way, the present ratchet wrench kit contemplates the inclusion of a double end key wrench construction exemplified by the double end Allen wrench construction  62 . The double end key wrench construction comprising opposed key ends as at ends  63  and  64 , and a non-circular transverse cross-section at each of the opposed key ends  63  and  64 . The non-circular transverse cross-section at a first key end of the opposed key ends is rotated a select rotation degree (e.g. rotational degree or angle  65 ) relative to a second key end of the opposed key ends thereby effective engagement points for rotating rotatory fasteners  31 . 
     While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the present invention may essentially be said to provide a ratchet wrench system and kit for enhancing grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to either (a) rotate rotary fasteners or (b) prevent rotary fastener rotation, the ratchet wrench system and kit may be said to essentially comprise a ratchet wrench assembly and a long ratchet interface. 
     The ratchet wrench assembly comprises a ratchet head and a lever arm extending from the ratchet head. The ratchet head comprises a male side and a female side. The male side comprises a male element, and the female side comprises at least one female formation. The long ratchet interface comprises a long male interface end and a hand-grippable section. The long ratchet interface comprising a long male interface end and a hand-grippable section. The long male interface end is matable with the female side, and the hand-grippable section enhances a user&#39;s ability to grip and hold the ratchet wrench assembly and the long ratchet interface when mated. 
     The long ratchet interface may further preferably comprise a long female interface end and the hand-grippable section may provide a central section relative to the long male and female interface ends. The long male and female interface ends are preferably and respectively matable with the female and male sides for providing the user with interchangeable component functionality. The female side may further preferably comprise at least two female formations, wherein a first female formation of the at least two female formations is a deep section and a second female formation of the at least two female formations is a shallow section, which deep and shallow sections are configured for receiving first and second male structures. 
     The ratchet wrench system and kit may further preferably comprise a short ratchet interface having a short male interface end and a short female interface end. The short male and female interface ends are respectively matable with the female and male sides, and the long and short ratchet interfaces are interchangeably matable with the ratchet wrench assembly. The short ratchet interface enables a secondary wrench to grip and enhance mechanical advantage via the ratchet wrench assembly. The male element and the deep section may preferably comprise the same transverse shape, and the deep and shallow sections may preferably comprise differing transverse shapes. 
     The long and short ratchet interfaces respectively comprise first outer male portions at the long and short female interface ends. The outer male portions at the long and short female interface ends are preferably non-circular in transverse cross-section for enabling a secondary wrench to grip and enhance mechanical advantage via the long and short ratchet interfaces. The long ratchet interface may preferably comprise a second outer male portion adjacent the long male interface end, which second outer male portion adjacent the long male interface end is non-circular in transverse cross-section and the same shape as the outer shape at the long female end for enabling a user to introduce a secondary wrench to grip and enhance mechanical advantage adjacent the ratchet head for reducing bending moment. 
     The ratchet wrench system and kit may further preferably comprise a second wrench assembly as at wrench assembly  42 . The second wrench assembly  42  comprises a one-piece wrench construction  43  and an angled interface element as at  44 . The one-piece wrench construction comprises a second interface end and a second lever arm extending from the second interface end. The second interface end comprises second male side and a second female side. The second male side comprises a second male element and the second female side comprises a second female receptacle. The angled interface element comprises a first male end and a second male end angled relative to the first male end. The first male end is matable at the second female side. The second female side comprises depression portions configured to structurally accommodate attachable structure matable at the second male end. 
     The ratchet wrench system and kit may further preferably comprise a drive adapter element having opposed female receptacles and a knock-out hole interconnecting the opposed female receptacles for enabling the user to push-remove a drive bit element receivable in either of the opposed female receptacles. Further, the ratchet wrench system and kit may preferably include certain ratchet saver plate constructions, each of which has an apertured head and arm-straddling protrusions. The ratchet saver plate constructions are outfittable onto a select ratchet head such that the apertured head accommodates male structure and the arm-straddling protrusions straddle a select lever arm extending from the select ratchet head. 
     The ratchet wrench system and kit may further preferably include or comprise a double end key wrench construction. The double end key wrench construction comprises opposed key ends and a non-circular transverse cross-section at each of the opposed key ends. The non-circular transverse cross-section at a first key end of the opposed key ends is rotated or offset or twisted a select rotational degree or angle relative to a second key end of the opposed key ends, and thus the double end key wrench construction doubles the effective points for rotating rotatory fasteners. 
     Accordingly, although the inventive ratchet wrench system and kit has been described by reference to a number of exemplary embodiments, it is not intended that the ratchet wrench system and kit be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims, and the drawings, both diagrammatic and illustrative, submitted in support of these specifications.