US2300479A

US2300479A - Interchangeable head, ratchet type socket wrench

Info

Publication number: US2300479A
Application number: US404445A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lester O Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-07-29
Filing date: 1941-07-29
Publication date: 1942-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1959-11-03

Description

L. 0. WILSON Nov. 3, 1942.

V INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD, RAT CHETTYPE SOCKET WRENCH Filed July 29, 1941 55752 0. W74 so/v INVENTOR BY W Arroz zvs v Patented Nov. 3, 1942 INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD, RATCHET TYPE SOCKET WRENCH Lester O. Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 29, 1941, Serial No. 404,445

(01. s1-ss 4 Claims.

This invention pertains to a ratchet type wrench provided with interchangeable heads, the wrench being thus adapted for use on nuts and bolts differing in polygonal cross section, size, etc. In its preferred form, the wrench of this invention is of the ratchet type so that the nut or bolt may be tightened or loosened by a repeated oscillating or rocking movement of the handle of the wrench. Moreover, the wrench may be provided with a handle which is movably and angularly connected to the wrench, thereby permitting the wrench to be used in those positions which do not accommodate a rigid or fixed handle.

Generally stated, the wrench of the present invention comprises a body member adapted to receive interchangeable heads, the heads having sockets formed therein, the sockets differing in size and cross section so as to permit the wrench to be used on various types and sizes of nuts. The body member of the wrench is provided with an annular ratchet lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the socket in the interchangeable head. The interchangeable heads are also provided with annular ratchet rings adapted to engage the ratchets on the body member. Means are also provided in the body member for releasably retaining the head against the fixed ratchet of the body member. The body member may then be connected in any suitable manner to a handle, such connection being preferably of the angularly adjustable ratchet type so as to facilitate insertion and use of the wrench in narrow or angularly disposed positions.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a simple, strong, relatively lightweight and positive type of interchangeable head wrench.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide an interchangeable head, ratchet type socket wrench adapted for use with an angularly adjustable handle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an exemplary form of the invention, reference being had to the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a wrench embodying the present invention, the wrench illustrated including an angularly adjustable handle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of an interchangeable head element and shows the bottom or ratchet surface of such head.

Fig. Ii is a vertical section through thewrench. As shown in the drawing, the wrench includes a body member generally indicated at I0 adapted to receive the interchangeable heads ll. These heads H snugly but rotatably fit into a bore I2 formed in the body member, the end of the bore being partly closed by means of an inwardly extending circularlip l3 whichmay be integral with the body portion i0. Thev inner transverse surface of the lip I3 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth M. The lower end i 5 of the removable head I l is also provided with an annular ring of ratchet teeth is adapted to I a of the head, such groove being generally indicated at l8, said groove having one virtually transverse side I 9 adjacent the end P5 of the head H.

The body member it! may be connected to a handle 20 or it may be integral with such handle. Preferably, however, the handle 20 is attached to the body member It! by means of a universal or angularly adjustable joint or connection such as is generally indicated at 2!. Details of this joint or connection need not be shown since such connections or joints are well known.

In the body member 10 adjacent the handle 20 or the connection 2| spring actuated means are provided for releasably holding the head 'll within the bore l2 of the body member [0. As more specifically shown in Fig. 3 the body portion [0 may be provided with an angularly disposed bore 22 directed inwardly and downwardly toward the inner surface of the lip l3, said bore being adapted to slidably receive a pin 23 provided with a blunt end adapted to rest against the transverse side IQ of the groove [8 in the head II. The bore 22 may merge into an enlarged bore portion 24 adapted to threadedly receive a stop 25 and a spring 26 which bears thereagainst and against a stop carried by the pin 23 so as to yieldably urge said pin against the side [9 of the head I l.

The body member I0 adjacent the upper end of the enlarged bore 24 may be provided with a slight boss 28 adapted to protect the head of the pin 23 against accidental breakage.

It will be evident that various heads H may be inserted into the body member H] of the wrench by pulling the pin 23 so as to withdraw it into the bore 22, inserting the head H and then releasing the pin 23. The spring actuated pin bears against the side 19 of the removable head II and causes the ratchet teeth l4 and IE; to engage. Since the ratchet teeth are arranged around the periphery of the head I! and in a plane transverse to the axis of the socket H, a large gripping area functions at all times so that all necessary force may be exerted by the handle 20 of the wrench in tightening nuts with the socket wrench. The pin 23 gives somewhat when the handle is oscillated, however, so that the ratchet action may be employed in actually using the wrench. It is also to be noted that the pin 23 bears downwardly toward the inwardly exable pin does not extend into the handle 20 and does not interfere with the angularly adjustable joint or connection between the body member l0 and the handle-20.

The twelve-sided socket I'I illustrated may be used on square or hexagonal nuts and may also be used to receive and hold an extension bar carrying a socket wrench on its end, such arrangement permitting the use of the device in difficultly accessible positions.

Although an angularly adjustable handl has been shown," it is to be understood that handles integral with the body member may also be employed. Moreover, body members [0 may be attached to or formed as a part of both ends of a handle, thereby giving rise to double-ended wrenches.

I claim:

1. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of: a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted to receive a socket head; a circular lip extending inwardly at one end of said bore and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the inner transverse face of said lip; a cylindrical socket head having an axiallydi'sposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of the head,

said groove having one virtually transverse side adjacent the end of the head and a spring actuated pin angularly disposed in the body member adjacent said head receiving bore and adapted to extend into the groove formed in the head and press against the side of said groove to hold a socket head'in said body member.

2. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of: a body member provided witha cylindrical bore therethrough adapted to receive a socket head; a circular lip extending inwardly at one end of said bore and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the inner transverse face of said lip; a cylindrical socket head having an axially disposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of the head, said groove having one virtually transverse side adjacent the end of the head and a bore in the body member angularly directed inwardly toward the inner face of said lip, and a spring-actuated releasable pin movably held in said bore and adapted to extend into the groove formed in the head to press against the side of said groove to hold the head in said body member.

3. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of: a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted to receive a socket head; a circular lip integral with the body member and extending inwardly at one end of said bore and a-plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the inner transverse face of said'lip; a cylindrical socket head having an axially disposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of the head, said groove having one virtually transverse side adjacent the end of the head and a bore in the body member directed angularly, downwardly and inwardly toward the inner face of said lip, a spring actuated releasable pin movably held in said bore and adapted to extend into the groove formed in the head to press against the side of said groove to hold the head in said body member, and handle means attached to said body member.

4. In an interchangeable head, ratchet type wrench, the combination of: a body member provided with a cylindrical bore therethrough adapted to receive a socket head; a circular lip inte gral with the body member and extending inwardly at one end of said bore, and a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the inner transverse face of said lip; a cylindrical socket head having an axially disposed socket, ratchet teeth in one end of said head, and a seating groove formed in the outer surface of the head; a bore in the body member directed angularly, downwardly and inwardly toward the inner face of said lip, and a spring-actuated releasable pin movably held in said bore and adapted to extend into the seating groove to hold the head in said body member, the said pin being provided with a head extending above the surface of the body portion adjacent the cylindrical bore whereby the pin may be manually released to permit removal of the socket head from the body member.

LESTER 0. WILSON.