RATCHET WRENCH

Abstract

A ratchet wrench includes a ratchet wheel made of metal and having a ratchet teeth section and a driving section. A pawl made of metal engages with the ratchet teeth section and is controlled by a switch to control the rotation direction of the ratchet wheel. A plate made of metal includes a coupling portion to which the ratchet wheel is coupled. The coupling portion includes a first through-hole through which the ratchet wheel extends. The pawl presses against an inner periphery of the first through-hole. The inner periphery of the first through-hole has a length in an axial direction smaller than a thickness of the ratchet teeth section. A stopper made of plastic material is mounted around a peripheral edge of the coupling portion and includes second and third through-holes respectively located corresponding to the driving section of the ratchet wheel and the switch of the direction changing unit.

Claims

1. A ratchet wrench comprising: a ratchet wheel device including a ratchet wheel and a direction changing unit, with the ratchet wheel made of metal and including a ratchet teeth section and a driving section, with the direction changing unit including a pawl made of metal and engaged with the ratchet teeth section of the ratchet wheel, and with the direction changing unit further including a switch operable to control movement of the pawl to thereby permit the ratchet wheel to rotate in a single direction; a plate made of metal and including a first end having a coupling portion, with the ratchet wheel device coupled to the coupling portion, with the plate further including a second end having a handle portion, with the coupling portion including a first through-hole through which the ratchet wheel device extends, with the first through-hole including an inner periphery, with the pawl pressing against the inner periphery of the first through-hole, and with the inner periphery of the first through-hole having a length in an axial direction smaller than a thickness of the ratchet teeth section in the axial direction; and a stopper made of plastic material and mounted around a peripheral edge of the coupling portion of the plate, with the stopper including second and third through-holes respectively located corresponding to the driving section of the ratchet wheel device and the switch of the direction changing unit, and with the stopper preventing the ratchet wheel device from disengaging from the plate while permitting rotation of the ratchet wheel relative to the plate.

2. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, with the ratchet wheel device further including a first abutment edge and a second abutment edge spaced from the first abutment edge in the axial direction, and with the stopper further including a first stop edge abutting the first abutment edge and a second stop edge abutting the second abutment edge, preventing the ratchet wheel device from disengaging from the plate.

3. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the ratchet wheel device is mounted to the coupling portion of the plate, the stopper is formed on the coupling portion of the plate by injection molding and envelops and engages with the coupling portion of the plate.

4. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 2, with the stopper including first and second covers, with the first stop edge provided on the first cover, with the second stop edge provided on the second cover, with the first cover and the second cover enveloping the coupling portion of the plate, with each of the first and second covers having a peripheral edge, and with the peripheral edge of the first cover coupled with the peripheral edge of the second cover.

5. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper envelops the handle portion of the plate.

6. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate has a uniform thickness.

7. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle portion of the plate includes an operative end.

8. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operative end is a fastener driving hole, a bottle opener, or a can opener.

9. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, with the direction changing unit of the ratchet wheel device further including a spring, with the switch operatively coupled to the spring, with the spring having an end pressing against the pawl, with the switch operable to make the spring press against the pawl to thereby move the pawl to different angular positions relative to the ratchet teeth section, controlling the ratchet wheel to rotate relative to the plate in only one direction.

10. The ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 9, with the direction changing unit further including a stop ring and a retaining ring, with the stop ring abutting a side of the direction changing unit, with the retaining ring coupled to the ratchet wheel and abutting the stop ring, with the retaining ring including a side forming the second abutment edge, and with the first abutment edge provided on a side of the ratchet wheel opposite to the retaining ring.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a ratchet wrench of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ratchet wrench of FIG. 1 after assembly.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of FIG. 2.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line C-C of FIG. 2.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of a ratchet wrench of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the ratchet wrench of FIG. 6 after assembly.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ratchet wrench of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ratchet wrench of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of a conventional ratchet wrench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a ratchet wrench of a first embodiment according to the present invention includes a ratchet wheel device 1, a plate 2, and a stopper 3. The ratchet wheel device 1 includes a ratchet wheel 11 and a direction changing unit 12. The ratchet wheel 11 is made of metal and includes a ratchet teeth section 111 and a driving section 112. The direction changing unit 12 includes a switch 121, a spring 122, and a pawl 123. The pawl 123 is made of metal having a good strength and engages with the ratchet teeth section 111 of the ratchet wheel 11. The switch 121 is operatively coupled to the spring 122. The spring 122 has an end pressing against the pawl 123. The switch 121 can be operated to make the spring 122 press against the pawl 123 to thereby move the pawl 123 to different angular positions relative to the ratchet teeth section 111, controlling the ratchet wheel 11 to rotate relative to the plate 2 in only one direction. The switch 121 can be made of metal or non-metal material.

[0027] The ratchet wheel device 1 further includes a first abutment edge 13 and a second abutment edge 14 spaced from the first abutment edge 13 in an axial direction. In this embodiment, the direction changing unit 12 further includes a stop ring 124 and a retaining ring 125. The stop ring 124 abuts a side of the direction changing unit 12. The retaining ring 125 is coupled to the ratchet wheel 11 and abuts the stop ring 124. The retaining ring 125 includes a side forming the second abutment edge 14. The first abutment edge 13 is provided on a side of the ratchet wheel 11 opposite to the retaining ring 125.

[0028] The plate 2 is a flat block with a uniform thickness and made of metal. The plate 2 includes a first end having a coupling portion 21 and a second end having a handle portion 22. The coupling portion 21 is punched to form a first through-hole 211 through which the ratchet wheel device 1 extends. The first through-hole 211 includes an inner periphery 212 having a length in the axial direction smaller than a thickness of the ratchet teeth section 111 in the axial direction. The pawl 123 presses against the inner periphery 212 of the first through-hole 211. The handle portion 22 of the plate 2 includes an operative end 23. In this embodiment, the operative end 23 is punched to form a fastener driving hole 231 for driving a fastener, such as a bolt.

[0029] The stopper 3 is made of plastic material and is mounted around and envelops a peripheral edge of the coupling portion 21 of the plate 2. In this embodiment, the ratchet wheel device 1 is firstly mounted in the first through-hole 211 of the coupling portion 21 of the plate 2 and is then placed in a mold (not shown) to integrally form the stopper 3. The stopper 3 includes second and third through-holes 31 and 32 respectively located corresponding to the driving section 112 of the ratchet wheel device 1 and the switch 121 of the direction changing unit 12. The stopper 3 further includes a first stop edge 33 abutting the first abutment edge 13 and a second stop edge 34 abutting the second abutment edge 14, preventing the ratchet wheel device 1 from disengaging from the plate 2.

[0030] The coupling portion 21 of the plate 2 according to the present invention is without a sleeve having a depth for receiving the ratchet wheel device 1, such that the weight at the coupling portion 21 is reduced. Furthermore, the stopper 3 has a light weight, such that the ratchet wrench has a uniform weight distribution to provide convenient operation. Furthermore, the torque resulting from the driving section 112 driving a fastener can be transmitted through the ratchet teeth section 111 of the ratchet wheel 11 and the pawl 123 to the inner periphery 212 of the first through-hole 211 of the plate 2. The plate 2 made of metal provides a sufficient strength to withstand a larger torque. Thus, the stopper 3 according to the present invention is not the main torque-receiving element, such that the ratchet wrench provides better operational stability. Furthermore, the plate 2 is a flat block that can easily be punched to form the first through-hole 211 and the fastener driving hole 231, permitting easy manufacture. Furthermore, the stopper 3 can have any desired shape and can envelop the handle portion 22 to provide an aesthetic appearance and touching comfort.

[0031] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a ratchet wrench of a second embodiment according to the present invention. The second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the stopper 3 is shaped to include a first cover 35 and a second cover 36. The first stop edge 33 is provided on the first cover 35, and the second stop edge 34 is provided on the second cover 36. The first and second covers 35 and 36 envelop the coupling portion 21 and the handle portion 22 of the plate 2. A peripheral edge of the first cover 35 is coupled with a peripheral edge of the second cover 36 by high frequency welding or other suitable provision.

[0032] FIGS. 8 and 9 show ratchet wrenches of third and fourth embodiments according to the present invention. The third embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the operative end 23 is punched to form a bottle opener 232. The fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the operative end 23 is punched to form a can opener 233. Nevertheless, other shapes of the operative end 23 are still possible according to needs.

[0033] In view of the foregoing, the ratchet wrench according to the present invention has a reduced, uniform weight, is easy to manufacture, and has better applications and a sense of quality. Furthermore, the ratchet wheel 11 and the direction change unit 12 of the ratchet wheel device 1 can be of other structures and should not be restricted to the structures shown.

[0034] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.