Patent Application
20210268629
The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench, and more particularly, to a switch member of a ratchet wrench.
The conventional ratchet wrench as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. I 670147, which discloses a switch member that is able to be pivoted to change the ratcheting direction of the ratchet wrench. The switch member includes an insertion portion inserted into the head of the wrench, and the insertion portion is located between two pawls. Each pawl is biased by a spring to clamp the insertion portion between the two pawls. The spring force of each spring has to be strong enough to avoid the switch member from being pivoted by impact or the like. However, the strong springs make the switch member difficult to be operated. Besides, the switch member does not have a proper mechanism to avoid it from dropping out from the head of the wrench
The present invention intends to provide a ratchet wrench to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.
The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench and comprises a handle and a head which is formed to one end of the handle. The head includes a through hole which forms a first opening and a second opening in two opposite sides of the head. A recess is defined in the inner periphery of the through hole. A circular hole is defined through a neck of the head and communicates with the recess. A ratchet wheel is rotatably received in the through hole of the head and located corresponding to the first and second openings. A switch member has a head end, a tail end and a connection portion that is formed between the head end and the tail end. A lever extends from the head end. The tail end has an extension portion extending therefrom and toward the head end. The tail end, the extension portion and a portion of the connection portion are inserted into the circular hole, and are located in the recess. The head end and the lever are located outside of the head. A first width of the head end is larger than a second width of the tail end. The connection portion is tapered from the head end toward the tail end. A gap is formed between the connection portion and the inside of the recess.
A pawl is movably located in the recess, and has a toothed front face and a curved-recessed back which is located opposite to the toothed front face. The pawl is located between the ratchet wheel and the switch member. The toothed front face of the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel. A flange extends from the curved-recessed back and is located between the head end and the extension portion. The flange restricts the switch member from dropping from the circular hole. A tubular member has a first end thereof contacting the curved-recessed back, and a spring is biased between a second end of the tubular member and the extension portion.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
A ratchet wheel 4 is rotatably received in the through hole of the head 3 and located corresponding to the first and second openings 31, 35. A C-clip is used to position the ratchet wheel 4 in the head 3 and prevents the ratchet wheel 4 from dropping from the first opening 31. The ratchet wheel 4 includes a mounting hole 41.
A switch member 5 includes a head end 51, a tail end 54 and a connection portion 53 that is formed between the head end 51 and the tail end 54. A lever 52 extends perpendicularly from the head end 51. The tail end 54 has an extension portion 541 extending therefrom and toward the head end 51. The extension portion 541 is not connected to the head end 51. The tail end 54, the extension portion 541 and a portion of the connection portion 53 are inserted into the circular hole 32 and located in the recess 34. The head end 51 and the lever 52 are located outside of the head 3. As shown in
The head 3 of the ratchet wrench 1 includes a fan-shaped recessed area 33 which is formed to communicate with the circular hole 32. The head end 51 and the lever 52 are located in the fan-shaped recessed area 33. The lever 52 is pivoted between two insides of the fan-shaped recessed area 33. The lever 52 includes two stops 521 respectively protruding from two sides thereof. When either of the stops 521 contact the insides of the fan-shaped recessed area 33, the lever 52 is stopped.
A pawl 6 is movably located in the recess 34. The pawl 6 has a toothed front face and a curved-recessed back 61 which is located opposite to the toothed front face. The pawl 6 is located between the ratchet wheel 4 and the switch member 5, and the toothed front face of the pawl 6 is engaged with the ratchet wheel. A flange 62 extends from the curved-recessed back 61 and located between the head end 51 and the extension portion 541, so that the flange 62 restricts the switch member 5 from dropping from the circular hole 32. A tubular member 7 has a first end thereof contacting the curved-recessed back 61. A spring 8 is biased between a second end of the tubular member 7 and the extension portion 541. Specifically, the second end of the tubular member 7 has a reception hole 71. A dent 542 is defined in the outside of the extension portion 541. The spring 8 has one end thereof inserted in the dent 542, and the other end of the spring 8 is received in the reception hole 71.
It is noted that because the first width “a” of the head end 51 is larger than the second width “b” of the tail end 54, so that the switch member 5 is like a cone-shaped member which is easily inserted into the circular hole 32 of the head 3. As shown in
As shown in
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
