Ratcheting wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10974373-B2
Application number	US-201816121908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2018
Priority date	Sep 5, 2018
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A ratcheting wrench with ratchet heads coupled to a handle via a pin. The pin includes two ball detents that couple to the teeth of the spline in and an indent inside an opening of the ratchet head. The wrench can therefore be easily used in low profile applications and quickly adjusted due to the dual ball detent configuration of the pin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool comprising:
a handle having opposing first and second handle ends, the handle includes a spline at the first handle end;
a pin having first and second ball detents and first and second portions, wherein the first ball detent is adapted to releasably couple with the handle, and wherein the first portion includes a substantially circular cross-section and the second portion includes a substantially square cross-section.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the spline includes teeth, and wherein the first ball detent engages the teeth.

3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a grip located at the second handle end.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the first ball detent extends across the first and second portions.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the spline includes teeth, and wherein the outer diameter of the first portion is smaller than the internal diameter of the teeth.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive portion includes an opening having a shape corresponding to a shape of the second portion.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the pin includes a head extending from the round portion.

8. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a wrench head releasably coupled to the handle via the pin and having opposing first and second wrench head ends, the wrench head includes a working portion at the first wrench head end and a drive portion at the second wrench head end.

9. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the wrench head includes an indent in the drive portion, and wherein the second ball detent couples with the indent to couple the wrench head and pin together.

10. The tool of claim 8 ,
wherein the spline includes teeth adapted to engage with the first ball detent, and
wherein the wrench head includes an indent in the drive portion adapted to engage the second ball detent couples with the indent.

11. A tool comprising:
a handle;
a pin coupled to the handle,
wherein the pin includes:
first and second ball detents, the first ball detent releasably coupling with the handle;
a round portion and a square portion extending from the round portion, the first ball detent extending at least partially within the round portion and the second ball detent extending within the square portion.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the first ball detent extends across the round portion and the square portion.

13. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a spline at a first handle end and a grip at a second handle end opposite the first handle end, wherein the spline includes teeth, and wherein the outer diameter of the round portion is smaller than the internal diameter of the teeth.

14. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the pin includes a head extending from the round portion.

15. The tool of claim 11 , further comprising a wrench head coupled to the pin, wherein the second ball detent is adapted to couple with the wrench head.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the wrench head has opposing first and second wrench head ends, the wrench head including a working portion at the first wrench head end and a drive portion at the second wrench head end.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the wrench head includes an indent in the drive portion, and wherein the second ball detent releasably couples with the indent to couple the wrench head and pin together.

18. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the drive portion includes a square shape corresponding to a shape of the square portion.

19. A tool comprising:
a pin having first and second ball detents and first and second portions, the first ball detent is disposed at least partially in the first portion and the second ball detent is disposed in the second portion;
a handle having opposing first and second handle ends, the handle includes a spline at the first handle end, wherein the handle is selectively and releasably coupled to the pin at either one of the first and second portions,
wherein when the handle is releasably coupled to the pin at the first portion, the handle is adapted to be rotated relative to the pin, and
wherein when the handle is releasably coupled to the pin at the second portion, rotation of the handle relative to the pin is restricted.

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Thompson Christopher D

Classifications

• B25G1/063

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25B13/06 Primary

  of socket type · CPC title

• B25B23/0035 Primary

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title

• B25B13/58

  Jaw attachments · CPC title

• B25B23/0028 Primary

  Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle · CPC title