The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 24, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 15, 2003
Gordon A. Putney, Lake Geneva, WI (US);
Daniel M. Eggert, Kenosha, WI (US);
Gordon A. Putney, Lake Geneva, WI (US);
Daniel M. Eggert, Kenosha, WI (US);
Snap-on Incorporated, Pleasant Prairie, WI (US);
Abstract
A ratchet wrench is provided having a flexible ring forming the head where the flexible ring may have serrations on its inner surface and forms a free end having a pawl thereon. The flexible ring is formed as one piece with the handle of the wrench. Upon tightening, the flexible ring will tighten down on a fastener and upon a non-tightening rotation, the pawl will ratchet against the corners of the fastener according to the self energizing geometry of the wrench where an arc is provided on a shoe of the handle which is eccentric to the arc of the flexible ring. In an embodiment, a gear insert is provided within the flexible ring for engagement with the fastener, torquing and ratcheting of the flexible ring being relative to the gear insert. In an embodiment, the a insert may be provided that has a substantially smooth outer surface including circumferential engagement features for engaging a substantially smooth facing surface of the flexible ring.