IP Library Granted Patent US 6,918,477
Granted Patent B2
US 6,918,477 · App. 10/460,335 · Granted Jul 19, 2005

Direction switch for hand tool and reversible gear wrench

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,918,477
App. No.
10/460,335
Granted
Jul 19, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A direction switch for a wrench has first and second control members. The first control member includes a first pivot and a first lever. The second control member includes a second pivot and a second lever. The first control member and the second control member are mounted to first and second side of the wrench, respectively. The first and second control members are operatively connected to each other by a coupling provided between the control members to allow simultaneous actuation of the control members.

Claims (28)

1. A direction switch for a hand tool for switching an operative direction of a gear ring of the hand tool having a first side and a second side, the direction switch comprising:

a shaft;

a first lever and a second lever extending from the shaft and spaced apart from one another to straddle over the first side and the second side of hand tool,

wherein the shaft includes:

a first control member, having a first pivot and the first lever, the first pivot being pivotally mounted to the first side of the hand tool;

a second control member, having a second pivot and the second lever, the second pivot being pivotally mounted to the second side of the hand tool;

a coupling means provided between the first and second control members for operatively connecting the first control member to the second control member to allow simultaneous actuation of the first and second control members; and

the first pivot and the second pivot are each formed with a halved semicircular recess jointly constructing a radial bore.

2. The direction switch for a hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling means includes at least one projection and at least one recess matching the projection, provided on the first and second control members, respectively, for operatively connecting the first and second control members.

3. The direction switch for a hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot is formed with a radial bore.

4. The direction switch for a hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever extends from the first pivot along a surface of the first side, and the second lever extends from the second pivot along a surface of the second side.

5. The direction switch for a hand tool according to claim 1 , further comprising: a screw, for retaining the second control member to the first control member.

6. A reversible gear wrench formed with a first side, a second side, a gear opening, a receiving hole in communication with the gear opening and penetrating through the reversible gear wrench, comprising:

a gear ring, placed in the gear opening;

a direction switch, placed in the receiving hole, the direction switch including: a shaft; a first lever and a second lever extending from the shaft; the shaft being formed with a radial bore on an end thereof opposing an end which the first and second levers extend from, and the first and second levers being spaced apart from one another to straddle over the first side and the second side of reversible gear wrench;

an urging spring and an urging pin, placed in the radial bore;

an urging pawl, placed between the gear ring and the direction switch; and

an annular lid, for covering a side of the gear opening for retaining the urging spring, urging pin, urging pawl and gear ring in the reversible gear wrench,

wherein the shaft includes:

a first control member, pivotally mounted to the first side of the reversible gear wrench and formed with a first halved recess;

a second control member, pivotally mounted to the second side of the reversible gear wrench and formed with a second halved recess for constructing the radial bore with the first halved recess; and

wherein the first control member is operatively connected to the second control member to allow simultaneous actuation of the first and second control members.

7. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second control members include at least one projection and at least one recess matching the projection, respectively, for operatively connecting the first and second control members.

8. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 6 , further comprising: a screw, for retaining the second control member to the first control member.

9. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 6 , wherein the first control member and the second control member each include a pivot and a lever, the pivot being pivotally mounted to the reversible gear wrench.

10. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 6 , wherein the first control member and the second control member each include a pivot and a lever, the pivot being pivotally mounted to the reversible gear wrench.

11. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 7 , wherein the first control member and the second control member each include a pivot and a lever, the pivot being pivotally mounted to the reversible gear wrench.

12. The reversible gear wrench according to claim 8 , wherein the first control member and the second control member each include a pivot and a lever, the pivot being pivotally mounted to the reversible gear wrench.

Assignments (5)
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2013
From: APEX TOOL (HK) LIMITED
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 030488/0456 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 11, 2012
From: DANAHER TOOL LIMITED
To: APEX TOOL (HK) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028352/0204 →
RE-RECORD TO CORRECT THE NAMES OF BOTH THE ASSIGNEE AND ASSIGNOR, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 021523 FRAME 0041. Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: LEA WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION
To: LEA WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
Reel/Frame 022203/0660 →
GENERAL TRANSFER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 12, 2008
From: LEE WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION
To: LEE WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
Reel/Frame 021523/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2008
From: LEA WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
To: DANAHER TOOL LIMITED, TAIWAN BRANCH
Reel/Frame 021523/0110 →