Sandra L Wolfe

US Patent:

20040089106, May 13, 2004

Filed:

Nov 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/292113

Inventors:

Sandra Wolfe - Roaring Gap NC, US
Garrett Bryant - Ennice NC, US
Johnny Phillips - Woodlawn VA, US

International Classification:

B25B013/00

US Classification:

081/058300

Abstract:

A compact high-torque ratcheting box wrench is disclosed. The ratcheting box wrench includes a wrench housing and a drive member having a front face and a rear face. The drive member is rotatably mounted in the housing and has a nut-receiving or head-receiving aperture therethrough. A drive/ratchet mechanism includes a drive coupling that selectively engages the drive member at a plurality of discrete points that substantially surround the hex-receiving aperture, and thereby prevents rotation of the drive member relative to the housing in a first direction of rotation. The drive/ratchet mechanism also permits substantially free rotation of the drive member relative to the housing in an opposite second direction of rotation. The full circumferential engagement between the drive coupling and the drive member permits the wrench to withstand much greater torsional loads than conventional ratcheting box or socket wrenches, thereby permitting the wrench to be used to both torque and untorque bolts, screws, nuts, and the like at high torque values.