Patent Application
20110030514
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handheld wrench apparatus, and more particularly to a ratchet wrench assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to
1. Easily Damaged
The bolts (90) bears most of the load during the operation of the conventional ratchet wrench assembly so the bolts (90), connecting holes (73) and threaded holes (811) are easily damaged and worn off and a useful life of the bolts (90) is reduced. Moreover, the bolts (90) are two individual components so a structural strength of the bolts (90) is not sufficient for large loads.
2. Easily Worn
Because the bolts (90) and the threaded holes (811) bear most of the load and contact each other directly, the threaded holes (811) are easily rubbed by the bolts (90) and worn off and gradually enlarged. The worn and enlarged threaded holes (811) reduce efficiency of operation and a useful life of the conventional ratchet wrench assembly.
3. Weak Structural Strength
A structural strength of the ratchet mount (72) is not sufficient to bear a heavy load and the ratchet mount (72) is easily deformed. However, the grip (71) is solid and heavy, so the conventional ratchet wrench assembly is not easily portable and has a high manufacture cost.
4. Inconvenient Use in a Narrow Space
The size of the main body (81) of the ratchet head (80) has to be large enough to contain the ratchet device (82) inside, so the volume of the ratchet mount (72) correspondingly becomes large so prevents the ratchet mount (72) from being used in small or awkward access places.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a ratchet wrench assembly to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the invention is to provide a ratchet wrench assembly which comprises a handle bar, a ratchet head and a connecting rod. The connecting rod is a single component, has a stronger structure and is not easily damaged.
The second objective is to cushion the load applied to the connecting rod and the connecting openings and to keep the connecting rod from directly contacting and rubbing the ratchet head so a useful life of the ratchet head will be increased.
The third objective is to provide an enhanced structural strength of the handle bar.
The forth objective is to allow the ratchet wrench assembly to be operated in small or awkward places more conveniently.
A ratchet wrench assembly has a handle bar, a ratchet head and a connecting rod. The handle bar has a grip and a U-shaped ratchet mount. The U-shaped ratchet mount has two connecting holes. The connecting holes are respectively defined through the U-shaped ratchet mount and align with each other. The ratchet head is detachably mounted on the U-shaped ratchet mount and has a hollow housing, two connecting openings, a ratchet device and a pressing body. The connecting openings are respectively defined through the housing and respectively align with the connecting holes. The ratchet device is mounted in the housing. The pressing body is rotatably mounted through the ratchet device and has a through opening radially defined through the pressing body. The connecting rod is mounted through the connecting holes, the connecting openings and the through opening.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The handle bar (10) has a grip (11), a U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and an aperture (13). The grip (11) is a hollow rod and has a first end, a second end, an outer surface and a handle hole (111). The handle hole (111) is radially defined through the outer surface near the first end of the grip (11). The U-shaped ratchet mount (12) is mounted securely on the second end of the grip (11) and has two ends, an inner side, an outer side, two planes (121), at least one groove (126), at least one rib (127) and two connecting holes (128). The planes (121) are flat, are formed on the inner side respectively near the ends of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and are parallel to each other. The outer side of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) has a central part. The central part of the outer side of the U-shaped mount (12) is securely attached to the second end of the grip (11). The at least one groove (126) is recessed in the inner side of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) from one plane (121) to the other. The at least one rib (127) is formed on the outer side of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and respectively corresponds to and aligns with the at least one groove (126). Preferably, two grooves (126) and two ribs (127) are implemented. The connecting holes (128) are respectively defined through the planes (121) and align with each other. One of the connecting holes (128) is threaded, and the other is a through hole. The aperture (13) is defined axially through the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and the grip (11), is defined through the inner side and the outer side of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and communicates with the handle hole (111).
With further reference to
The connecting rod (30) is mounted through the connecting holes (128), the cushion holes (2151) and the through opening (251) and has a diameter and a threaded end (31). The diameter of the connecting rod (30) is smaller than the width and the height of the through opening (251), as shown in
From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:
1. Enhanced Structural Strength of the Connecting Rod (30)
The connecting rod (30) is a single component and a structural strength of the connecting rod (30) is stronger than that of two individual bolts (90) as shown in
2. Larger Contact Area
The abutment of the planes (121) and the flanks (212) can increase the contact area between the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) and the ratchet head (20). This can share and reduce force and load applied to the connecting rod (30).
3. Cushion the Load
The cushions (215) can cushion the load applied to the connecting rod (30) and the connecting openings (213), and prevent the connecting rod (30) from directly contacting the ratchet head (20). Therefore, the connecting openings (213) are not easily worn off or gradually enlarged so a useful life of the ratchet head (20) will be prolonged.
4. Improved Structure of the Handle Bar (10)
The structural strength of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) can be strengthened with the ribs (127) and the grooves (126), so the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) is not easily deformed. With the hollow grip (11), the weight of the handle bar (10) can be efficiently reduced to make the ratchet wrench assembly easily portable and to reduce the cost for manufacturing the ratchet wrench assembly.
5. Convenient Use in a Narrow Space:
Because the extending section (211) is a narrower section of the housing (21), the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) can correspondingly become smaller. The reduced volume of the U-shaped ratchet mount (12) is easily put in a narrow or awkward access places.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
