Abstract:
A telescopic ratchet extension is an apparatus to extend a ratchet drive to lengths being subject to no measurable limitation. An extension member is provided which includes an inner cylinder telescopically received by an outer cylinder. A locking apparatus serves to lock the inner cylinder at any position within the outer cylinder. The locking apparatus includes a locking tool which has a knurled gripping element removably affixed via crimping to the inner cylinder.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration No. 488,646 filed on Feb. 14, 2001 under 35 U.S.C. §122 and 37 C.F.R. §1.14. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to hand tools and, more particularly, to a telescopic ratchet extension.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As any mechanic who works on cars or mechanical equipment knows, there are tight places that require special tools to get at them. The proper tool can save time and money, and get the job done. If one is using a ratchet drive extension to reach a particularly elusive bolt, it can be frustrating, and you can end up exchanging different length extensions several times until you find the right length, that is, if you can find it. Typical existing adjustable extensions have detent holes spaced at intervals along a telescoping shaft, so that the shaft can only adjust to the length determined by the holes.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there exists a need for a continuously adjustable, telescoping ratchet extension that can be adjusted to any length. The development of the telescopic ratchet extension fulfills this need.  
         [0007]     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. The following patents disclose a socket wrench extension: U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,365 issued in the name of Zerver; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,548 issued in the name of Colace et al.  
         [0008]     The following patents describe a wrench with a handle having a telescoping sleeve: U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,737 issued in the name of Raber, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,978,938 issued in the name of Nalley.  
         [0009]     The following patents disclose a tratchet tool with a rotatable hand hold and telescoping shaft: U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,932 issued in the name of Jeannotte; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,402 issued in the name of Rainey.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,033 issued in the name of Fard, Sr. describes an extensible, multi-positioning turning tool.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,946 issued in the name of Jackson et al. discloses an axially repositionable adapter for a ratchet assembly.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,223 issued in the name of Lin describes a tool with interchangeable pieces with an extending shaft.  
         [0013]     Consequently, a need has been felt for a continuously adjustable, telescoping ratchet extension that can be adjusted to any length in an easy and effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a telescopic ratchet extension which is linearly adjustable.  
         [0015]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a telescopic ratchet extension which can fit into small areas.  
         [0016]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a telescopic ratchet extension fabricated of tool steel being chrome plated, thus being rugged, durable, and non-corrosive.  
         [0017]     It is still another object of the present invention a telescopic ratchet extension being of high strength and which collapses easily for storage.  
         [0018]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking apparatus which allows for an outer cylinder to be locked at any position along an inner cylinder, thereby allowing for a complete range of linear adjustment.  
         [0019]     It is another object of the present invention to provide measuring indicia which allows the user to adjust and lock the telescopic ratchet extension at a preselected position should the need arise.  
         [0020]     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a telescopic ratchet extension is an apparatus to extend a ratchet drive to lengths being subject to no measurable limitation. An extension member is provided which includes an inner cylinder telescopically received by an outer cylinder. In order to lock the inner cylinder at any position within the outer cylinder, a locking apparatus is provided which includes a locking tool. The locking tool has a knurled gripping element removably affixed via crimping to the inner cylinder.  
         [0021]     The locking apparatus further includes a square-shaped slot extending therethrough for accommodating an insertion end of the inner cylinder. After insertion of the insertion end within the slot, clockwise rotation of the locking tool effectuates downward rotation by the locking tool, whereby a contacting surface thereof mechanically impinges against an outer circumferential sidewall of the inner cylinder, thereby positionably locking the inner cylinder against the locking tool within the outer cylinder. At this point, a socket is placed on the socket engaging end of the inner cylinder for engagement with a fastener to be tightened utilizing the telescopic ratchet extension.  
         [0022]     In the event user desires to adjust a linear length of the extension member, user simply reinserts the insertion end of the inner cylinder within slot of the locking apparatus, and turns the locking tool in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby removing mechanical interference between the contacting surface thereof and the inner cylinder so as to allow the inner cylinder to freely telescope within the outer cylinder.  
         [0023]     The locking apparatus allows for the inner cylinder to be locked at any position along the outer cylinder, thereby allowing for a complete range of linear adjustment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a telescopic ratchet extension according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded side elevational view of the telescopic ratchet extension according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the inner and outer cylinders according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the outer cylinder according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the locking tool according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the locking tool according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the telescopic ratchet extension shown with measuring indicia. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
       [0032]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a telescopic ratchet extension  10  is shown, according to the present invention, comprised of an elongated, cylindrical extension member  20  fabricated of a metal material, preferably tool steel being chrome plated, so as to retard rust. The extension member  20  includes an inner cylinder  22  telescopically received by an outer cylinder  26 . The outer cylinder  26  is of a linearly, elongated configuration, having an anterior end  26   a  opposite a posterior end  26   b , and a knurled, external circumferential surface. The outer cylinder  26  is further defined as having a circular cross-section and an inner cylinder receiving cavity  27  for intimate slidable engagement by the inner cylinder  22 . The anterior end  26   a  of the outer cylinder  26  is defined as having a downwardly-tapering drive shaft  28  terminating into a socket engaging end  29 . The anterior end  26   a  includes threads  26   b  for mating with corresponding threads  40   a  of a locking apparatus  40  (to be described in greater detail below).  
         [0033]     The inner cylinder  22  is of a linearly elongated configuration having a circular cross-section and a diameter measuring just shy a diameter of the inner cylinder receiving cavity  27  of the outer cylinder  26 . The posterior end  26   b  of the outer cylinder  26  defines a ratchet receiving cavity  25  formed as a rectangular void for adaptive engagement by an extension engagement end  38  of a standard ratchet wrench  30 . For purposes of this disclosure, a standard ratchet wrench  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is defined as having a shank  34  with an elongated, knurled, cylindrical handle portion  32  at one end and a headpiece  36  at an opposite end, wherein the headpiece  36  includes an extension engagement end  38  for engagement within the ratchet receiving cavity  25  of the inner cylinder  22 .  
         [0034]     It is envisioned that a plurality of outer cylinders  26  are provided having multiple-sized ratchet receiving cavities  25  being available in ¼, ⅜, and ½ inch sizes for engagement with a correspondingly-sized extension engagement end  38  of a ratchet wrench  30 .  
         [0035]     In order to lock the inner cylinder  22  at any position within the outer cylinder  26 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  5 , and  6 , a locking apparatus  40  is provided. The locking apparatus  40  comprises inner corresponding threads  40   a  for threadedly engaging threads  26   b  of the anterior end  26   a  of the outer cylinder  26 . The locking apparatus further comprises a locking tool  41  which imparts important functional utility to the present invention as will be described hereinbelow. The locking tool  41  includes a knurled gripping element  44 . The knurled gripping element  44  has a slightly downwardly-tapered lower portion  45  removably affixed via crimping to the inner cylinder  22 .  
         [0036]     The locking apparatus  40  includes a square-shaped slot  52  extending therethrough for accommodating an insertion end  47  of the inner cylinder  22 . After insertion of the insertion end  47  within the slot  52 , manual clockwise rotation of the locking tool  41  effectuates downward rotation by the locking tool  41 , whereby a contacting surface  55  thereof mechanically impinges against an outer circumferential sidewall of the inner cylinder  22 , thereby positionably locking the inner cylinder  22  against the locking tool  41  within the outer cylinder  26 . At this point, a socket  60  is placed on the socket engaging end  29  of the inner cylinder  22  for engagement with a fastener to be tightened utilizing the telescopic ratchet extension  10 .  
         [0037]     In the event user desires to adjust a linear length of the extension member  20 , user simply reinserts the insertion end  47  of the inner cylinder  22  within slot  52  of the locking apparatus  40 , and manually turns the locking tool  41  in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby removing mechanical interference between the contacting surface  55  thereof and the inner cylinder  22  so as to allow the inner cylinder  22  to freely telescope within the outer cylinder  26 .  
         [0038]     The locking apparatus  40  allows for the inner cylinder  22  to be locked at any position along the outer cylinder  26 , thereby allowing for a complete range of linear adjustment.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , it is envisioned that measuring indicia  70  are engraved along the external circumferential surface of the inner cylinder  22  in a sequentially progressive manner. The measuring indicia  70  allow the user to adjust and lock the extension member  20  at a preselected position should the need arise.  
       2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
       [0040]     To use the present invention, a user slidably adjusts the inner cylinder  22  within the outer cylinder  26  to a desired length. Next, user inserts the insertion end  47  of the inner cylinder  22  within the locking apparatus&#39;s  40  slot  52 , and rotates the locking tool  41  in a clockwise direction, thereby positionably locking the inner cylinder  22  against the locking tool  41  within the outer cylinder  26 . At this point, a socket  60  is placed on the socket engaging end  29  of the inner cylinder  22  for engagement with a fastener to be tightened utilizing the telescopic ratchet extension  10 .  
         [0041]     In the event user desires to adjust a linear length of the extension member  20 , user simply reinserts the insertion end  47  of the inner cylinder  22  within the slot  52  of the locking apparatus  40 , and turns the locking tool  41  in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby removing mechanical interference between the locking apparatus  40  and the inner cylinder  22 , so as to allow the inner cylinder  22  to freely telescope within the outer cylinder  26 .  
         [0042]     The use of the present invention allows for convenient linear adjustments without utilizing different length extensions.  
         [0043]     Therefore, the foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. As one can envision, an individual skilled in the relevant art, in conjunction with the present teachings, would be capable of incorporating many minor modifications that are anticipated within this disclosure. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be broadly limited only by the following Claims.