CLUTCH WRENCH DEVICE

Abstract

A clutch wrench device is a ratchet wrench that is able to grip when rotated back and forth even in minute radians so that it can be used in very tight spaces for tightening or loosening fasteners. The device uses a sprag mechanism that is able to frictionally lock the rotatable and non-rotatable parts together when rotated one direction and rotate freely when rotated the other direction.

Claims

1. A clutch wrench device comprising: an elongated body including: an elongated center portion; a handle portion; wherein said handle portion at located on a proximal end of said body; and a head portion located on a distal end of said body, comprising: a head encasement; wherein said head encasement is formed having a round central opening therethrough; a race member; wherein said race member is formed having a ring-shape having an interior surface and an outer surface and is adapted to fit within said round central opening; wherein said outer surface of said race member is adapted to include a keyway for holding a key; an engagement member including: an outer circumference having a circular shape and adapted to engage with and rotate with a sprag member; an inner circumference having a polygonal shape adapted to releasably connect with a polygonal head of a bolt member; a sprag member; wherein said sprag member is formed having a ring-shape and is adapted to fit and rotate within said race member; and wherein said sprag member includes a plurality of spaced sprags adapted to pivot and to lock against of said interior surface of said race member and against said outer circumference of said engagement member, such that said sprag member is adapted to frictionally grip to said race member when rotated in one direction, and move freely when turned in an opposing direction; and a key wherein said key is adapted to have a rectangular shape to fit within said keyway of said outer surface of said race member and a notch in said inner surface of said central opening of said head encasement to lock and prevent rotation of said race member in relation to said head encasement.

2. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, further comprising a spring clip member having a C-shape and is adapted to fit between said head encasement and said race member and contact an inner surface of said head encasement around said round central opening and an outer surface of said race member to thereby releasably retain said head encasement and said race member within said head encasement.

3. The clutch wrench device of claim 2, wherein opposite ends of said C-Shape of said spring clip member each includes an aperture therethrough adapted to allow said spring clip member to be deformed and placed within said head encasement and deformed and removed from said head encasement.

4. The clutch wrench device of claim 3, further comprising a retention disk having a ring-shape and is adapted to be placed between said spring clip member and said race member and said sprag member to thereby hold said spring clip member and said race member within said head encasement.

5. The clutch wrench device of claim 4, further comprising a first spacer member having a ring-shape and is adapted to be placed between said retention disk and said engagement member to thereby hold said engagement member within said head encasement.

6. The clutch wrench device of claim 5, further comprising a second spacer member having a ring-shape and is adapted to be placed between said engagement member and an inner back wall of said head encasement to thereby further hold said engagement member within said head encasement.

7. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said polygonal shape of said engagement member is formed as a hexagon.

8. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said polygonal shape of said engagement member is formed as an octagon.

9. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said handle portion is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the engagement member in adjustments of minute radians.

10. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced spags are adapted to have a figure 8 crosssection such that when pivoted, said plurality of spaced spags releasably engage with said interior surface of said race member and said outer circumference of said engagement member via frictional wedging.

11. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said central opening of said head encasement is formed having a first diameter on a front face of said head encasement, and a second diameter on a back face of said head encasement; and wherein said first diameter is larger than said second diameter.

12. The clutch wrench device of claim 1, wherein said head encasement is formed from a corrosion resistant material.

13. The clutch wrench device of claim 12, wherein said corrosion resistant material is 4140 tool steel.

14. The clutch wrench device of claim 12, wherein said elongated center portion and said handle portion are formed from a composite material.

15. The clutch wrench device of claim 14, wherein said composite material is formed from a group of materials consisting of 4140 tool steel, polyester, and fiberglass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, clutch wrench device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a clutch wrench device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the clutch wrench device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating clutch wrench device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating clutch wrench device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0021] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a hand tool and more particularly to a clutch wrench device as used to improve the ease of use in tight spaces.

[0023] Generally speaking, a clutch wrench device is a ratchet wrench that is able to grip when rotated back and forth even in minute radians so that it can be used in very tight spaces for tightening or loosening fasteners. The device uses a sprag mechanism that is able to frictionally lock the rotatable and non-rotatable parts together when rotated one direction and rotate freely when rotated the other direction.

[0024] In greater detail now, referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating clutch wrench device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Clutch wrench device 100 preferably comprises elongated body 105 including elongated center portion 110, handle portion 115 located on proximal end 106 of elongated body 105, and head portion 119 located on distal end 107 of elongated body 105 comprising head encasement 120 formed having a round central opening 123 therethrough, and race member 125 formed having a ring-shape with interior surface 126 and outer surface 128 and is adapted to fit within round central opening 123. Outer surface 128 of race member 125 is adapted to include key way 165 for holding key 166. Engagement member 135 is included having outer circumference 136 with a circular shape that is adapted to engage with and rotate within sprag member 130. Engagement member 135 has inner circumference 137 having a polygonal shape adapted to releasably connect with a polygonal head of a bolt member. Inner circumference 137 may be octagonally shaped or may be adapted to have any fastener head shape either imperial or metric. Sprag member 130 is formed having a ring-shape and is adapted to fit and rotate within, and to lock in relation to race member 125. Sprag member 130 includes a plurality of spaced sprags 127 adapted to pivot and to lock against interior surface 126 of race member 125 and against outer circumference 136 of engagement member 135 such that sprag member 130 is adapted to frictionally grip to race member 125 when rotated in one direction and move freely when turned in an opposing direction. Key 166 is adapted to have a rectangular shape to fit within key way 165 of outer surface 128 of race member 125 and align with and fit within notch 170 in inner surface 121 of central opening 123 of head encasement 120 to lock and prevent rotation of race member 125 in relation to head encasement 120. Inner circumference 137 of engagement member 135 is formed having a polygonal shape adapted to releasably connect with the polygonal shaped head of a bolt member. Inner circumference 137 may be adapted to fit any size or shape of fastener head.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, a front view illustrating clutch wrench device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0027] The polygonal shape of engagement member 135 may be formed as a hexagon but can be shaped as an octagon or any fastener shape including imperial or metric sizes. Handle portion 115 is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the engagement member in adjustments of minute radians. Teeth 132 releasably engage the spaced sprags 127 via frictional wedging.

[0028] Central opening 123 of head encasement 120 is formed having first diameter 161 on front face 160 of head encasement 120, and second diameter 163 on back face 162 of head encasement 120 with first diameter 161 being larger than second diameter 163.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, is a side view illustrating clutch wrench device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0030] Head encasement 120 is preferably formed from a corrosion resistant material which may be 4140 tool steel or may be made of a material having a corrosion resistance and tensil strength equivalent or greater than 4140 tool steel. Elongated center portion 110 and handle portion 115 may be formed from a high strength composite material. The composite material may be formed from the group of materials consisting of 4140 tool steel, polyester, and fiberglass.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4, is an exploded view illustrating clutch wrench device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0032] Spring clip member 140 having a C-shape is adapted to fit between head encasement 120 and race member 125 and contact inner surface 121 of head encasement 120 around the round central opening 123 and outer surface 128 of race member 125 to thereby releasably retain head encasement 120 and race member 125 within head encasement 120. Opposite ends of the C-Shape of spring clip member 140 each include aperture 141 therethrough adapted to allow spring clip member 140 to be deformed and placed within or removed from head encasement 120. Retention disk 145 having a ring-shape is adapted to be placed between spring clip member 140 and race member 125 and sprag member 130 to thereby hold spring clip member 140 and race member 125 within head encasement 120.

[0033] First spacer member 150 having a ring-shape is adapted to be placed between retention disk 145 and engagement member 135 to thereby hold engagement member 135 within head encasement 120. Second spacer member 155 having a ring-shape is adapted to be placed between engagement member 135 and inner back wall 122 of head encasement 120 to thereby further hold engagement member 135 within head encasement 120.

[0034] Clutch wrench device 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less tools in combination with clutch wrench device, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

[0035] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.