Craftsman Ratchet Patents

[lauver]

Gang,

I'm trying to build a list of Patent numbers found on Craftsman ratchets. These patent numbers can be useful in estimating the vintage and/or OEM of the ratchets they are found on.

I've started a list from various Crafty ratchets in my tools cab and they are as follows:

2,188,846 filed 1938, issued 1940, Theo Rueb, Sherman-Klove Co, round head ratchet design.

3,172,675 filed 1963, issued 1965, Victor Gonzalez, ball socket detent on drive bit.

3,208,318 filed 1964, issued 1965, Peter Roberts, QR mechanism.

3,467,231 filed 1968, issued 1969, H J Hazner, MDF, pawl reverse mechanism.

3,532,013 filed 1968, issued 1970, H J Hazner, MDF, quick release-pawl mechanism integration.

4,485,700 filed 1983, issued 1984, D S Colvin, reversible ratchet.

4,631,988 filed 1984, issued 1986, D S Colvin, reversible ratchet and detent mechanism.

4,762,033 filed 1987, issued 1988, K Chow, National Hand Tool Corp. round head ratchet with quick disassembly feature.

4,903,554 filed 1989, issued 1990, D S Colvin, reversible ratchet thin head.

5,012,705 filed 1990, issued 1991, K Chow, National Hand Tool Corp. improved quick dissassembly feature.

5,178,047 filed 1991, issued 1993, R Arnold et al, Easco hand Tools, Inc. SLTD ratchet design.

5,913,914 filed 1997, issued 1999, Arnold et al, pawl for thin-profile ratchet

6,065,374 filed 1998, issued 2000, K Taggart, Hand Tool Design Corp, slider pawl mechanism.

6,134,991 filed 1999, issued 2000, P C Chaconas, Hand Tool Design Corp, pawl for ratchet.

D509,707S filed 2003, issued 2005, Folkenroth & Arnold, Easco Hand Tools, Inc. body design for thin-profile ratchet.

This list is by no means complete, so if you've got a patent number on any of your Crafty ratchets that are not on my list, please post it on this thread. If you can also supply a photo of the ratchet, the model number, series code, or any other descriptive information, that would be even better.

 

[lauver]

Gang,

Well it looks like this thread is not destined to be a hot thread, 100+ views and not a single post!

I've added a few more Patents (shown in read above) that were posted by Tool Pants on the GG site... thanks dude, nice sleuth work.

 

[MalibuLX3]

Where do you typically find a patent number on a craftsman ratchet?

 

[lauver]

Where do you typically find a patent number on a craftsman ratchet?

Malibu,

Stamped on the bottom side of the handle below the model number and "made in USA". Not all ratchets have a patent number on them.

BTW-- your user name and avitar are at odds with each other. Don't get me wrong, I like the VW van... I used to own a 1970 VW camper van and had lots of good times in it. I still have fond memories of it. Wished I hadn't sold it.

 

[old salvage]

.... I used to own a 1970 VW camper van and had lots of good times in it. I still have fond memories of it. Wished I hadn't sold it.

Yup, isnt that always the way.
Miss my 84 Ranger. Not the nicest truck but I went on so many adventures in it. sigh.
Anyway thanks for posting this list. It will make for some interesting reading on Google patents.

 

[lauver]

Yup, isnt that always the way.
Miss my 84 Ranger. Not the nicest truck but I went on so many adventures in it. sigh.
Anyway thanks for posting this list. It will make for some interesting reading on Google patents.

old salvage,

Good to hear from you. Yeh, I could kick myself for some of the cars I've sold, including a restored 1954 Porsche speedster.

Do you have any Crafty ratchets patents I've missed? Most of my stuff is 1960 forward. Surely you've got some vintage Crafty rat's in your toolbox.

 

[MalibuLX3]

Malibu,

Stamped on the bottom side of the handle below the model number and "made in USA". Not all ratchets have a patent number on them.

BTW-- your user name and avitar are at odds with each other. Don't get me wrong, I like the VW van... I used to own a 1970 VW camper van and had lots of good times in it. I still have fond memories of it. Wished I hadn't sold it.

All my Craftsman ratchets either say "Patent Pending" or just don't say anything at all. Any idea oh how I can find out how old there are by the model number or maybe that letter on the underside? What about the "-V-" vs "-VV-?

That's awesome you used to own a VW Bus. I love mine and am never going to sell it. I bought mine from the original owner when I was 16 and spent 2 years restoring it. I can't imagine life with out it!

 

[kc-steve]

He-he, well since no one can accuse me of hyjacking the thread, I kick myself for selling a 1972 Ford Ranchero 351 Cleveland for $150 around 1983. At the time I had a company car and out of town all the time.

As far as the ratchets, none of mine have pat #s. Some of my ratchets won't even admit to being sold by Craftsman, ie, no name, nuthin. Probably came in a cheap packaged set and made in Taiwan.

Steve

 

[old salvage]

Negative. I've got one with the quick release number on it and all my others have just the model numbers or patent pending.

 

[lauver]

All my Craftsman ratchets either say "Patent Pending" or just don't say anything at all. Any idea oh how I can find out how old there are by the model number or maybe that letter on the underside? What about the "-V-" vs "-VV-?

Malibu,

I can probably get you in the ball park but I need a little more information.

1) What is the alphabetic code on the top ratchet? V, VV, or something else?

2) Do all 4 ratchets have an oil hole on the end of the ratchet head? If not, which ones don't have the oil hole?

PS-- Your VW van looks very straight and clean. Since you live in MI, I'm guessing you don't drive it in the winter. That's probably a good plan with all the road salt and freezing weather up there.

 

[MalibuLX3]

Malibu,

I can probably get you in the ball park but I need a little more information.

1) What is the alphabetic code on the top ratchet? V, VV, or something else?

2) Do all 4 ratchets have an oil hole on the end of the ratchet head? If not, which ones don't have the oil hole?

1) Top ratchet is 1/2" -V- 44985 with the letter "F" bellow the drive.

2) Actually none of the ratchets have an oil hole on the end of them.

All the Craftsman ratchets were my Grandfathers and he was always picking up random tools. They could be only a couple years old or 20 years old, I really have no idea.

Thanks for the complement on the Bus. I definitely don't drive it in the winter up there, that's what the Volvo 245 is for!

 

[lauver]

Malibu,

OK, based on what we know at this point in time, and the information you have provided, all four of your Crafty ratchets appear to have been sold between 1980 and 1986, perhaps a year or two later as NOS (i.e. old stock still on the shelves or the clearance tables at Sears). So your ratchets are roughly 24 - 30 old, and should last you a lifetime (unless you're one of those guys who likes to use his ratchets to hammer on things). Who knows, you might even pass these ratchets on to your kids.

 

[MalibuLX3]

Awesome, thanks for the information

 

[ron350]

This is the only one that I have and you already list it.

Here is a picture of the front of the ½ ratchet.

 

[lauver]

Ron350,

Just out of curiosity, do you remember when you purchased that ratchet?

Did you purchase it new?

Does it have an oil port on the head?

 

[ron350]

Sorry not much help I purchased the ratchet off ebay and it does not have the oil hole in the head.

 

[lauver]

Sorry not much help I purchased the ratchet off ebay and it does not have the oil hole in the head.

No problem Ron, I'm just trying to verify my dating methods. Just noticed your ratchet is a RHFT model... none of the round heads had oil holes. From the various details of your ratchet, it looks like it dates back to the about 1975 - 1986.

Thanks for the info.

 

[chopper1]

3,208,318 filed 1964, issued 1965,
3,467,231 filed 1968, issued 1969,
3,532,013 filed 1968, issued 1970

I have a lot of Cman ratchets and they're all older. The only one's that have patent #'s are the patent #'s you showed above. A 3/8 dr 3208318 and both 1/4 & 1/2 dr that have both of the other two patents on them as well as 'Can Patented 1971.
All the others ratchets only either have the stock #'s [i.e. 43178] or just =V= or -V-.

 

[lauver]

chopper1,

Thanks for checking.

 

[Tennesseepowerstroke]

Gary,
I have several RHFT 1/2" drive ratchets. I have an older one that is made like the ones with the patent numbers on them and the extruding quick release pin that only says CRAFTSMAN on one side and FORGED IN THE USA and PATENT PENDING on the other side. It is V code ratchet without a number on it. Would this ratchet appear to have been made before or after the ones with the patent numbers on it?