Abstract:
A disc shaped ratchet wrench device has an outer concentric member disposed at the outer circumference and formed substantially concentrical to a center of the disc shaped ratchet wrench device. The device further has an inner member disposed within the outer concentric member. The inner disc has a driving element rigidly affixed to the center of the disc shaped ratchet wrench device. Whereby, when the outer concentric member is rotated, the inner member and the driving element rotate in conjunction with the outer concentric member for tightening or loosening of a work piece.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Provisional Application No. 60/611,505, filed Sep. 21, 2005, entitled “POCKET PRO RATCHET WRENCH”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention pertains to the field of ratchet wrench. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved compact ratchet wrench.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Detachable handle socket ratchet wrench is known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,400 to Bogli describes a detachable handle socket ratchet wrench system for permitting a user to change handles to suit the needs of the user. The detachable handle socket ratchet wrench system includes a ratchet head with a tubular sleeve outwardly extending therefrom defining a receptacle. A plurality of elongate handles is provided each having an insertion portion adjacent a distal end of the respective handle. The insertion portion of each of the handles is insertable into the receptacle of the sleeve. Each of the handle has a length defined between the proximal and distal ends of the respective handle. The length of a first of the handles is greater than the length of a second of the handles and at least two times greater than the length of a third of the handles. The length of the third handle is greater than about one-half the length of the second handle and less than about four-fifths the length of the second handle.  
         [0006]     Wrench socket lever is also known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,618 to Macor describes a hand wrench for attachment with various sockets and other hand tool attachments to control the rotation of fasteners. The hand wrench has a main member with dimensions of length greater than width, and width greater than thickness such that it has a thin stamped form; and, a driving element fixed to and protruding out from the main member and formed to engage with sockets and other hand tool attachments. In some preferred embodiments, the main member is wider at one end and is bent offset with an obtuse angle of about 170 degrees. Because this hand wrench has a thin stamped form without a ratcheting mechanism, said hand wrench can access and engage fasteners under certain limited-access situations where a ratchet wrench (or any other known wrench) cannot. Additionally, the simple design and form allows the present invention to be manufactured at a much lower cost than a ratchet wrench or flex “T” handle, whereby providing the consumer with an inexpensive alternative to a ratchet wrench or flex “T” handle.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, specific usage hand tools such as a faucet handle tool is also known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,721 to Kowats describes a faucet handle turning tool having a cylindrically-shaped body member with a cavity in one end. The cavity has sidewalls which taper inwardly to engage a faucet handle. There is a hexagonal head on one end of the cylindrical body to receive a wrench, which provides the turning movement to turn the body member. A square bore is disposed within the hexagonal head to receive a ratchet drive which can provide the rotating driving movement to the hexagonal head. By utilizing separately provided ratchet or wrench drive means, the faucet handle tool requires only a minimum amount of storage space within a tool box.  
         [0008]     In the everyday usage of a wrench, there may be multiple needs or purposes for the wrench. In a lot of cases, the space available for applying the wrench is limited in that commonly available ratchet wrench generally cannot used because of spatial limitations. Or, alternatively the commonly available ratchet wrench cannot be used with ease because of its mechanism, size or shape. In light of the above limitations, it is desirous to have an improved ratchet wrench that has simple mechanism adapted for use with other commonly available and suitable tools. It is further desirous to have an improved ratchet wrench that can be used in a limited space and easy to use as well as to store.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A substantially disc shaped member is provided with a simple mechanism adapted for interfacing with other commonly available and suitable tools.  
         [0010]     A substantially disc shaped member is provided for ease of carrying and manipulation.  
         [0011]     A substantially disc shaped member is provided with a recesse for disposing a socket drive therein.  
         [0012]     A disc shaped ratchet wrench device has an outer concentric member disposed at the outer circumference and formed substantially concentrical to a center of the disc shaped ratchet wrench device. The device further has an inner member which includes an inner member that is lodge within the disc or disposed within the outer concentric member. The inner disc has a driving element rigidly affixed to the center of the disc shaped ratchet wrench device. Whereby, when the outer concentric member is rotated, the inner member and the driving element rotate in conjunction with the outer concentric member for tightening or loosening of a work piece. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows perspective view from the top of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows perspective view from the bottom of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a handle of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a limited angular space for applying the handle of  FIG. 3 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  is shown. Compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  has a substantially circular or disc shape. Wrench  10  is preferably of a compact or a suitable size for suitable hand manipulation. Compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  has a thickness  11  or height giving the same a cylindrical shape defining a recess which is described in detail infra. Notches  12  and teeth  13  are formed on or around the outer or exterior circumference of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . The notches  12  and teeth  13  may be used to provide a secure or slip resistant grip. The grip may be achieved by placing some of the fingers of a hand thereon for twisting or turning such that a bolt (not shown) with a socket such as a commonly available socket out of a set of the same may be fastened or loosened as the case may be.  
         [0019]     Within notches  12  and teeth  13 , an inner ring  14  is formed out of the same material as that of notches  12  or formed out of a different material that is rigidly attached to notches  12 . Inner ring  14  has an inner surface  15  or wall opposite to the outer surface of notches  12  and teeth  13  that is touching the fingers of a hand for manipulation of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  as described supra.  
         [0020]     In alternative embodiments, Inner ring  14  may have non-circular outer contour that fits into an inner wall of the out member having notches  12  and teeth  13 . The outer contour may be oval shaped or of any other suitable shape. Inner ring  14  may also have a circular opening that is hollowed out and having a commonly available ratchet drive fitted at the center ratchet wrench  10 .  
         [0021]     While the notches  12  or teeth  13  are convenient elements of the present invention, they are not absolutely necessary for the implementation of the present invention. Any element suitable for hand gripping is contemplated by the present invention. For example, a disc having a rough outer surface suitable for hand grip is contemplated by the present invention.  
         [0022]     Referring back now to the referred embodiment, compact disc shape ratchet wrench  10  further has an inner member  16  having its outer circumference rigidly connected to a top portion of the inner circumference of inner ring  14 . Inner ring  14  and inner member  16  may be formed out of similar material. Inner member  16  is substantially thinner than thickness or height  11  of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 , whereby only a top portion of the inner circumference of inner ring  14  is connected with inner disc  16 . Inner member  16  possesses an outer surface  18  and an opposing inner surface  20 .  
         [0023]     A button  24  is located on the top center of the compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . In other words, button  24  is located on the outer surface  18  side of inner member  16 . Button  24  may be used for allowing a socket (not shown) to engage and/or release the attached socket from recessed socket engagement square drive  22 . A switch lever  23  on the side of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  such as on the inner ring  14  is provided. Lever  23  possesses two switching positions: a first position enables a user to ratchet compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  clockwise, and a second position enables the user to ratchet compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  counter-clockwise for loosening or tightening a nut or a bolt as the case may be.  
         [0024]     One advantage of the present invention is that a recessed socket engagement square drive  22  is formed within a recess defined by the cylindrical shape of the inner recess. Because of the recess, less space is required for positioning a socket such as a commonly available socket to fit into a limited space. Whereby, a user can use the compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  in limited access conditions or locations in that wrench  10  can fit into a more limited space. The recess is defined by inner surface  20 , and the inner surface  15  of inner ring  14 . The recess may be cylindrically shaped that has an open end and a closed end. The closed end is defined or limited by inner surface  20  of inner member  16 . At the center of the closed end, the square drive  22  is formed for attaching to a set of suitably shaped, standardized sockets (not shown). Depending on the size of the standardized sockets, the same may or may not extend out of the open end of the cylindrical recess depending on the thickness  11  of the disc. However, generally speaking thickness  11  is shorter than the length of the socket. Recessed socket engagement square drive  22  is positioned on the inner surface  20  side of the recess thereby providing more space for the commonly available sockets to be attached thereon. In other words, square drive  22  takes less space this way than a disc with the recess. For example, with no collapsed in recess, square drive  22  necessarily protrude more in an outward direction whereby taking more space. Therefore, more space is provided because the inner member  16  is thinner than thickness  11  of compact wrench  10 , thereby providing space for the cylindrical recess.  
         [0025]     As can be seen, a top view of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 ; and a bottom view of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  may be a conveniently sized compact ratchet wrench. For example, a pocket sized compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  in that compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  may be carried about in ones pocket instead of placed within and carried about in a tool box. Compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  may be a compact ratchet wrench for tightening and loosening any nuts and bolts. Compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  may be able to fit into the palm of a hand. A user may use her hand to operate wrench  10  by placing some of her fingers in-between the notches at the outer circumference of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  and twisting the same, i.e. disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 .  
         [0026]     A user may also use the circular shaped compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  for tightening and loosening a worked upon piece by spinning the disc shaped compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . By manipulating one&#39;s fingers in an efficient manner, the user turns or manipulates her fingers in an easier or quicker manner than moving her wrist and/or elbow. However, if wrist or elbow power is required, a handle  25  may also be provided in the present invention for greater leverage. Therefore, a handle engagement square socket  26  is formed on the outer circumference of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  for receiving and engaging the handle  25 . Handle engagement square socket  26  may be formed in an opening on a tooth  13  of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 .  
         [0027]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , handle  25  is disposed to attachably engage compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  via the handle engagement square socket  26  on the side of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . Handle  25  has a generally elongated shape and comprises a distal end  25   a  and a proximal end  25   b . On the distal end  25   a , a square drive  28  is formed for engaging the handle engagement square socket  26  of compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . On the proximal end  25   b , a handle  30  is formed with the surface of the same operable for suitable hand griping. If the handle  25  is not at hand or easily reached or accessible, any other similar elongated tools with a suitable drive for engaging the handle engagement square socket  26  may be used.  
         [0028]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view of  FIG. 2  is depicted. Square drive  22  is intersected diagonally. Also note the cylindrical space or recess defined by inner surface  20 , and the inner surface  15  of inner ring  14  for providing more manipulating space.  
         [0029]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 5 , a limited angular space for applying the handle  25  of  FIG. 3  is shown. An angle α depicts the angular limitation of applying handle  25  on compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10 . Angle α ordinarily is an acute angle, but it may be an obtuse angle. Therefore, when handle  25  or any other suitable lever is limited in angular movement as such, handle engagement square socket  26  may be placed within the proximity of angle α for suitable engagement with handle  25 . Compact disc shaped ratchet wrench  10  may be comprised of various materials such as metals, metal alloys, and other suitable materials.  
         [0030]     Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.