Flexible head joints for cordless ratchet tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11806844-B2
Application number	US-202117229179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2021
Priority date	Apr 13, 2021
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A flexible head joint for a tool, such as a motorized ratcheting-type tool. The flexible joint also allows an output mechanism of the tool, such as a ratchet head, to be disposed at an angle with respect to a housing to the tool, which houses a motor. For example, the first shaft is pivotably coupled to a first connector, which may have a tongue shaped portion. The second shaft is pivotably coupled to a second connector, which may have a slotted portion adapted to receive the tongue portion. This provides two pivot points that have parallel axes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head joint for a tool with a motor, the head joint comprising:
a first head housing portion;
a second head housing portion pivotably coupled to the first head housing portion;
a first shaft disposed in the first head housing portion and adapted to operably couple to the motor;
a second shaft disposed in the second housing portion;
a first connector pivotably coupled to the first shaft; and
a second connector matingly engaged with the first connector and pivotably coupled to the second shaft.

2. The head joint of claim 1 , wherein the first head housing portion includes a first arm, and the second head housing portion include a second arm, and the first and second arms are pivotably coupled together.

3. The head joint of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second arms includes a through-hole.

4. The head joint of claim 3 , further comprising a fastener disposed in the through-hole in each of the first and second arms.

5. The head joint of claim 1 , further comprising a first pivot pin coupling the first connector to the first shaft.

6. The head joint of claim 5 , further comprising a second pivot pin coupling the second connector to the second shaft.

7. The head joint of claim 6 , wherein the first and second pivot pins are substantially parallel.

8. The head joint of claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a slot, and the second connector includes a protrusion disposed in the slot.

9. The head joint of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing having a tapered shape disposed around the second shaft.

10. A tool, comprising:
a tool housing adapted to house a motor;
a first head housing portion coupled to the tool housing;
a second head housing portion pivotably coupled to the first head housing portion;
a first shaft disposed in the first head housing portion and operably coupled to the motor;
a second shaft disposed in the second housing portion;
a first connector pivotably coupled to the first shaft; and
a second connector matingly engaged with the first connector and pivotably coupled to the second shaft.

11. The tool of claim 10 , wherein the first head housing portion includes a first arm extending away from the tool housing, and the second head housing portion include a second arm, and the first and second arms are pivotably coupled together.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second arms includes a through-hole.

13. The tool of claim 12 , further comprising a fastener disposed in the through-hole in each of the first and second arms.

14. The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a first pivot pin coupling the first connector to the first shaft.

15. The tool of claim 14 , further comprising a second pivot pin coupling the second connector to the second shaft.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the first and second pivot pins are substantially parallel.

17. The tool of claim 10 , wherein the first connector includes a slot, and the second connector includes a protrusion disposed in the slot.

18. The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a ratchet drive portion operably disposed in the second head housing portion, and operably coupled to the second shaft.

19. The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a bearing disposed around the second shaft.

20. The tool of claim 19 , wherein the bearing has a tapered shape.

21. A head joint for a tool, comprising:
a first head housing portion;
a second head housing portion pivotably coupled to the first head housing portion;
a first shaft disposed in the first head housing portion;
a second shaft disposed in the second housing portion;
a bearing having a tapered shape disposed around the second shaft;
a first connector pivotably coupled to the first shaft; and
a second connector matingly engaged with the first connector and pivotably coupled to the second shaft.

Assignees

• Snap On Incorporated

Inventors

• Beer Joshua M

Classifications

• B25B23/0014 Primary

  Screwdriver- or wrench-heads provided with cardan joints or the like · CPC title

• B25B13/481

  for operating in areas having limited access · CPC title

• B25B21/004 Primary

  of the ratchet type · CPC title

• B25F5/00 Primary

  Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25F5/001

  Gearings, speed selectors, clutches or the like specially adapted for rotary tools · CPC title