Hand tool aided screwdriver

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand tool aided screwdriver, and more particularly to a ratchet screwdriver allowing extra force to be jointly applied on a work piece from another hand tool such as a spanner by leverage.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

As taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,446 for a ratchet screwdriver that permits application of extra force to drive a screw or a bolt in one direction or in a changed direction. However, as the force applied is limited only to that from the wrist of the user, more efforts are still needed for a job involving greater torque.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a hand tool aided screwdriver to apply extra force on a work piece that requires greater torque. It saves efforts, allows one-way application of force, adaptable to socket with different recesses on both ends for connection with a screwdriver tip or socket depending on the type of the user to apply force using one hand or a spanner. To achieve the purpose, a socket is inserted into a ratchet holder; a chock having a hexagon outer surface is secured on the ratchet holder.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing that a spanner is used to help the preferred embodiment of the present invention to apply force on a work piece.

Referring to FIGS. 1 , and 2 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle ( 1 ), a ratchet holder ( 2 ), a socket ( 3 ), and a chock ( 4 ).

The handle ( 1 ) includes a chamber ( 11 ) containing two stoppers ( 12 ) each inserted with a spring ( 13 ). The chamber ( 11 ) is capped with a locking ring ( 14 ). The locking ring ( 14 ) contains two studs ( 15 ) to respectively hold against the stoppers ( 12 ) as the locking ring ( 14 ) is turned around. The locking ring ( 14 ) is inserted inside with a dust lid ( 16 ) and a gasket ( 17 ).

The ratchet holder ( 2 ) is secured into the chamber ( 11 ) of the handle ( 1 ). A ratchet ( 21 ) is provided on the middle section of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) to turn in one-way direction when held against by the stoppers ( 12 ). The top of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) exposes out of the locking ring ( 14 ) of the handle ( 1 ) and has on its outer circumference provided with an outer ratchet ( 22 ). A through hole ( 23 ) is provided in the ratchet holder ( 2 ). Two slots ( 24 ) are axially provided inside the through hole ( 23 ).

The socket ( 3 ) with two ends each disposed with a recess ( 31 ) is adjustably inserted into the through hole ( 23 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ). Two locking bits ( 32 ) opposite to each other are provided on the middle section of the socket ( 3 ). A bead ( 33 ) containing a spring ( 331 ) to provide elastic expansion for the bead ( 33 ) is provided also on the middle section of the socket ( 3 ).

The chock ( 4 ) secured on the ratchet holder ( 2 ) contains an inner ratchet ( 41 ) to engage with the outer ratchet ( 22 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The outer surface of the chock ( 4 ) is made in the form of a hexagon outer surface ( 42 ) for another hand tool to hold onto it.

When assembled, the ratchet holder ( 2 ) is inserted into the chamber ( 11 ) of the handle ( 1 ) with the ratchet ( 21 ) held against by the stoppers ( 12 ). The dust lid ( 16 ) and the gasket ( 17 ) are inserted onto the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The locking ring ( 14 ) is inserted onto the opening of the chamber ( 11 ) of the handle ( 1 ) to expose the outer ratchet ( 22 ) out of the locking ring ( 14 ). Either end of the socket ( 3 ) is inserted into the through hole ( 23 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ), as illustrated in FIG. 3 . The locking bits ( 32 ) of the socket ( 3 ) are respectively engaged with the slots ( 24 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The bead ( 33 ) of the socket ( 3 ) is elastically holding against the inner edge of the through hole ( 23 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) so as to secure the socket ( 3 ) inside the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The chock ( 4 ) is then inserted onto the ratchet holder ( 2 ) so that the inner ratchet ( 41 ) of the chock ( 4 ) and the outer ratchet ( 22 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) are tightly adapted to and locked in place with each other. Accordingly, the chock ( 4 ) is firmly secured to the ratchet holder ( 2 ) to complete the assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

When a job involving a work piece (B) demanding much greater torque for installation or removal as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the user has one hand holding the handle ( 1 ) to plunge against the work piece (B) and another hand holding another hand tool, a spanner (C) as illustrated, with its open end (C 1 ) to clip the hexagon outer surface ( 42 ) of the chock ( 4 ) to apply force by turning the spanner (C) thus to provide greater torque to the work piece (B). Upon turning the chock ( 4 ), greater torque is produced and applied on the socket ( 3 ) since the chock ( 4 ) is secured to the ratchet holder ( 2 ) and the ratchet holder ( 2 ) in turn is coupled with the socket ( 3 ) to mount or dismount the work piece (B). Therefore, the present invention by providing extra force applied to a work piece at less effort eliminates the insufficient force applied to the work piece (B) only by the handle ( 1 ) using one's wrist.

When the socket ( 3 ) has to work with a screwdriver bit or another socket in different specification, the socket ( 3 ) is pulled out of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) and has another end of the socket ( 3 ) inserted into the through hole ( 23 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The locking bits ( 32 ) of the socket ( 3 ) are respectively engaged with the two slots ( 24 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ), and the bead ( 33 ) of the socket ( 3 ) holds against the inner edge of the through hole ( 23 ) of the ratchet holder ( 2 ) so to secure the socket ( 3 ) inside the ratchet holder ( 2 ). The recess ( 31 ) provided on the other end of the socket ( 3 ) is to receive the screwdriver bit or another socket to mount or dismount a work piece.