Ratchet, ratchet accessory, and kit including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12097595-B2
Application number	US-202218145593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2022
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

A tool kit is provided that includes a tool including a handle and a tool head and a set of tool accessories configured to be coupled to the tool head. The tool accessories each including a drive end that is configured to be coupled to the tool head and a working end opposite the drive end. The tool kit includes a container that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The container includes a first portion including a first retainer that supports the tool, a second portion and a middle portion dividing the first portion from the second portion. The middle portion including a second retainer that supports the tool accessories and the container is selectively stored in a closed position where the middle portion supports the container on a surface in an upright position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool kit, comprising:
a set of tool accessories, the tool accessories each including a drive end that is configured to be coupled to a tool head, and a working end opposite the drive end, each of the tool accessories comprising:
a first section including the drive end and a first aperture located at the drive end;
a second section including the working end and a second aperture located at the working end;
a tipping axis extending from the drive end to the working end;
a tipping point disposed between the first portion and the second portion; and
a center of mass defined at a location closer to the drive end than the working end such that, when the tool accessory is rested on a surface with the tipping axis oriented in a horizontal direction, the center of mass causes the tool accessory to tip at the tipping point and to rest on a portion of the first section; and

a container that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the container including:
a first portion;
a second portion connected to the first portion; and
a plurality of projections aligned between the first portion and the second portion along a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the tool accessories are coupled to one of the plurality of projections;
wherein, in the open position, the tool accessories extend away from both the first portion and second portion, and wherein, in the closed position, the tool accessories extend along the first and second portions of the container; and
wherein, in the closed position, the first portion is coupled to the second portion around at least two sides of an outer edge of the first portion.

2. The tool kit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tool including a handle and a tool head; and
a retainer located on the first portion that supports the tool in a position such that the handle of the tool is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The tool kit of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of projections defines a longitudinal projection axis, wherein the longitudinal projection axis of each of the plurality of projections is aligned with the tipping axis of the tool accessory coupled to the projection.

4. The tool kit of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of projections extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container.

5. A tool kit, comprising:
a tool including a handle and a tool head;
a set of tool accessories, the tool accessories each including a drive end configured to be coupled to the tool head and a working end opposite the drive end, each of the tool accessories comprising:
a first section including the drive end and a first aperture located at the drive end;
a second section including the working end and a second aperture located at the working end;
a tipping axis extending from the drive end to the working end;
a tipping point disposed between the first portion and the second portion; and
a center of mass defined at a location closer to the drive end than the working end such that, when the tool accessory is rested on a surface with the tipping axis oriented in a horizontal direction, the center of mass causes the tool accessory to tip at the tipping point and to rest on a portion of the first section; and

a container including:
a first portion including a first retainer that supports the tool;
a second portion;
a middle portion connecting the first portion and the second portion;
a plurality of projections extending from the middle portion, wherein each of the tool accessories is coupled to one of the plurality of projections;
a first folding hinge on a first side of the middle portion; and
a second folding hinge on a second side of the middle portion, opposite the first side, wherein the container is moveable between an open position and closed position by pivoting the first portion and the second portion along the first folding hinge and the second folding hinge, respectively;

wherein, when in the closed position, a width of the middle portion is substantially the same as a distance between the first portion and the second portion.

6. The tool kit of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of projections are coupled to an inner surface of the middle portion.

7. The tool kit of claim 6 , wherein the middle portion defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of projections are aligned along the longitudinal axis and the first hinge and second hinge are parallel to the longitudinal axis.

8. A socket accessory kit, comprising:
a set of socket accessories each configured to be couple to a tool head, each socket accessory comprising:
a first section comprising a first end and a first aperture located at the first end, the first aperture configured to receive a tool head;
a second section comprising a second end and a second aperture located at the second end, the second aperture configured to receive and to engage a work piece;
a tipping axis extending from the first end to the second end;
a tipping point disposed between the first section and the second section; and
a center of mass defined at a location closer to the first end than the second end such that, when the socket accessory is rested on a surface with the tipping axis oriented in a horizontal direction, the center of mass causes the socket accessory to tip at the tipping point and to rest on a portion of the first section; and

a container, the container including a first portion connected to a second portion, and a plurality of projections, the plurality of projections aligned between the first portion of the container and the second portion of the container, wherein each of the socket accessories are coupled to one of the plurality of projections.

9. The socket accessory kit of claim 8 , further comprising:
a tool including a handle and a tool head; and
a retainer located on the first portion that supports the tool.

10. The socket accessory kit of claim 8 , wherein each socket accessory includes a wall portion located between and transitioning from the second section to the first section; an outer cross-sectional dimension of the second section perpendicular to the tipping axis; and an outer cross-sectional dimension of the first section perpendicular to the tipping axis, wherein the outer cross-sectional dimension of the second section is greater than the outer cross-sectional dimension of the first section.

11. The socket accessory kit of claim 10 , wherein the wall portion is an angled wall portion that transitions from the greater outer cross-sectional dimension of the second section to the outer cross-sectional dimension of the first section.

12. The socket accessory kit of claim 11 , wherein, for each socket accessory, the tipping point is defined at an intersection of the wall portion and the second section.

13. The socket accessory kit of claim 12 , wherein, for each socket accessory, a length of the first section in the direction of the tipping axis is less than a length of the second section in the direction of the tipping axis.

14. The socket accessory kit of claim 12 , wherein, for each socket accessory, the wall portion includes at least one planar, angled side surface section extending between the first section and the second section.

15. The socket accessory kit of claim 11 , each socket accessory further includes a cylindrical portion that extends from the second end towards the first end, wherein the first aperture is a square opening configured to receive a ratchet and the second aperture is defined by at least six flat sides located at the second end configured to engage a fastener.

16. The socket ac

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Feuerstein Jacob
• Hyma Steven W

Classifications

• B25B23/0021

  Prolongations interposed between handle and tool · CPC title

• B25B13/56 Primary

  Spanner sets · CPC title

• B25H3/003

  Holders for drill bits or the like · CPC title

• B25G1/063

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25G3/38

  Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints · CPC title