Patent Application
20220362909
The present disclosure relates to ratchets. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a ratchet extender that allows a user to access narrow spaces to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts.
Wrenches have been around for years to apply torque and loosen or tighten any size of nut or bolt. In fact, it has been noted that wrenches can be found as far back as the 15th century. Wrenches are an invaluable tool that allow many professions to succeed, especially with many types of wrenches available for numerous tasks. Some of the common wrenches on the market include open-end wrenches, box-end wrenches, combination wrench, flare-nut wrench, and socket and flex-head socket wrenches.
Wrenches are relied on in many professions, particularly in a mechanic's profession. Even though wrenches are essential to a mechanic's job, at times, the wrenches may not function as needed because they cannot fit into or reach a hidden nut or bolt. When nuts and bolts are impossible to reach with standard wrenches, a user may have to spend additional time removing parts of a vehicle to access them, which becomes frustrating and wastes valuable time. To address this issue, some on the market have created longer wrenches and ratchet extensions. However, with these improvements, there are still many shortcomings. For example, a ratchet extension on the market includes a housing with two sprocket gears at each end and a chain connecting the two. A ratchet goes on one end and a socket on the other. This ratchet extension has numerous problems, such as being too thick to reach into tight areas, and because it is chain driven, it is wide and non-extendable. Accordingly, a user would be limited not only in accessing nuts and bolts in narrow spaces but would also be limited in accessing them at certain distances. Further, due to the chain, the strength of the ratchet extension is limited, and multiple failure points are created.
Accordingly, there is a need for an extension for a wrench and/or ratchet that is thin, extendable, limits failure points, and withstands high levels of torque. The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
In some embodiments, a ratchet extender comprises a telescopic length, which may be accomplished using a first housing tube with a first cylindrical housing coupled thereto, a second housing tube, smaller than the first housing tube, may be inserted into and coupled to the first housing tube, allowing the second tube to be extended or retracted in a telescopic fashion. A telescopic drive shaft is received within the first and second housing and drives a plurality of gears.
In some embodiments, a ratchet extender comprises a housing tube with a first cylindrical housing coupled to a first end of the housing tube and a second cylindrical housing coupled to a second end of the housing tube. The first cylindrical housing comprises a first rachet drive square receiver on a first side and second rachet drive square receiver on a second side. The second cylindrical housing comprises a hex head receiver on a first side and a rachet drive square on a second side. A drive shaft drives a gear in each cylindrical housing, thereby rotating
The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
The term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).
As discussed earlier, there is a need for an extension for a wrench and/or ratchet that is thin, extendable, limits failure points, and withstands high levels of torque. The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
Ratchet extensions in the prior art have many shortcomings. For example, the ratchet extensions on the market are too thick to reach into tight areas and are chain driven, which prevents the ratchet extensions from being extendable and thin enough to be maneuverable. These shortcomings severely limit the uses of ratchet extensions in the prior art. Accordingly, the ratchet extender described herein solves the issues found in the prior art. In particular, the ratchet extender comprises a slim housing tube that is capable of fitting into small spaces where access is limited. In addition, the ratchet extender functions by using a shaft within the housing tube. On each end of the shaft is a bevel gear that interacts with housing gears when a ratchet drive is rotated. The ratchet drive may receive a ratchet, and when rotated, take rotational movement and convert it to torsional movement through the center shaft to the opposing housing bevel gear, which allows a nut or bolt to be tightened or loosened. It will be appreciated that the ratchet extender may, in some embodiments, be extendable so as increase length.
Referring now to
The first cylindrical housing 104 comprises a first shaft aperture 110, a first housing aperture 112, and a second housing aperture 114. The second cylindrical housing 108 comprises a second shaft aperture 116, a third housing aperture 118, and a fourth housing aperture 120. A shaft 122 may be interposed between a first shaft tube 124 and a second shaft tube 126. The shaft 122 may be retracted into the first and/or second shaft tubes 124, 126 so as to decrease the length of the ratchet extender 100. Additionally, the distance between the first shaft tube 124 and the second shaft tube 126 may increase, thereby increasing the length of the ratchet extender 100.
As illustrated, the shaft may be hexagonal in shape so as to allow rotation of the first and second shaft tubes 124, 126 simultaneously, as well as the ability of the first and second shaft tubes 124, 126 to slide along the shaft 122 so as to be extendable. In some embodiments, the shaft 122 is a splined shaft with grooves cut into the shaft. A splined shaft, similar to the hexagonal shaft, allows the shaft 122 to slide within the first and second shaft tubes 124, 126 as well as grip grooves or channels within the tubes 124, 126 so as to allow rotation. The first and second shaft tubes 124, 126 and the shaft 122 are positioned inside of the first and second housing tubes 102, 106 and extend out of the first shaft aperture 110 and the second shaft aperture 116. Accordingly, the shaft 122 and first and second shaft tubes 124, 126 work in conjunction with the first and second housing tubes 102, 106.
The first shaft tube 124 comprises a first bevel gear 128 coupled thereto and the second shaft tube 126 comprises a second bevel gear 130 coupled thereto, both of which extend into the first cylindrical housing 104 and the second cylindrical housing 108, respectively. The first bevel gear 128 may comprise a plurality of first teeth 132 and the second bevel gear 130 may comprise a plurality of second teeth 134. In addition, the first cylindrical housing 104 may comprise a first cylindrical housing gear 136 with a plurality of first housing gear teeth 138 and a ratchet drive 140 coupled to the first cylindrical housing gear 136. The plurality of first housing gear teeth 138 may be configured to interact with the plurality of first teeth 132 on the first bevel gear 128.
Likewise, as best seen in
As shown in
Referring to
As appreciated, a user may insert a ratchet drive square of a ratchet (not shown) into one of either of the first or second ratchet drive square receivers 212, 214, respectively. As a user actuates the ratchet, first and second ratchet drive square receivers 212, 214 rotate, which likewise rotates the first drive gear 230. The first drive gear 230 causes the first pinion gear 222 to rotate, which thereby rotates the drive shaft 220. Rotation of the drive shaft 220 likewise rotates the second pinion gear 226, which is meshed with second drive gear 232, causing the second drive gear 232 to rotate. The second drive gear 232 thereby causes both the ratchet drive square 218 and hex head receiver 216 to rotate. It will be appreciated that ball bearings may be used to ensure rotation of any gears disclosed herein (e.g., ball bearings may be positioned between moving parts (e.g., gears) and stationary parts).
For example, in one method of use, a user would couple a ratchet to either the first or second ratchet drive square receiver 212, 214, respectively. On the second end 210, a user may couple a socket to the ratchet drive square 218. As the user actuates the ratchet on the first end 206, the socket coupled to the second end 210 rotates accordingly. Likewise, a user may couple a tool having a hex head to the hex head receiver 216, wherein when a user rotates a ratchet on the first end 206, the hex head receiver 216 likewise rotates. While shown and described as a hex head, it will be appreciated that other configurations/shapes may be used that are adapted to fit other tools. This allows a user to use multiple tools, sockets, as well as utilize either side with a ratchet by having two ratchet drive square receivers 212, 214, overcoming limitations in the prior art.
Referring to
It will be appreciated that the ratchet extender 100, 200 allows a user to reach into locations where space is limited. By utilizing a drive shaft 122, 220, the housing tube 102, 202 remains narrow, allowing a user to insert it into spaces not reachable by tools in the prior art. Additionally, the ratchet extender 100, 200 allows a user to couple a ratchet to either side and allows for hex head tools in addition to sockets. The ratchet extender 100 is extendable (telescopic) so as to reach nuts, bolts, or other objects that can not be reached by the extenders shown in the prior art. Specifically, the prior art teaches ratchet extenders that utilize internal chains, thereby preventing any sort of extension of the body and that require wider housings as a result of the looped chain.
It will also be appreciated that systems and methods according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include, incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties or features (e.g., components, members, elements, parts, and/or portions) described in other embodiments. Accordingly, the various features of certain embodiments can be compatible with, combined with, included in, and/or incorporated into other embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, disclosure of certain features relative to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting application or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment unless so stated. Rather, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can also include said features, members, elements, parts, and/or portions without necessarily departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, unless a feature is described as requiring another feature in combination therewith, any feature herein may be combined with any other feature of a same or different embodiment disclosed herein. Furthermore, various well-known aspects of illustrative systems, methods, apparatus, and the like are not described herein in particular detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the example embodiments. Such aspects are, however, also contemplated herein.
Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/189,286, filed May 17, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63189286 | May 2021 | US |
