Ratchet wrench with improved pawl release means

Claim 1

A RATCHET WRENCH COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE FACES AND A GENERALLY CIRCULAR OPENING ENTERING THE BODY THROUGH A SIDE FACE THEREOF, A RATCHET WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY OPENING INCLUDING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HUB AND A RADIALLY ENLARGED, GENERALLY CIRCULAR FLANGE ABOUT AND PROJECTING RADIALLY FROM SAID HUB, A COVER PLATE SEATING ON SAID SIDE FACE OF SAID BODY AND HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING SAID HUB, MEANS SECURING SAID COVER PLATE TO RATCHET WHEEL PLATE OVERLYING SAID FLANGE TO RETAIN SAID RATCHET WHEEL IN SAID BODY OPENING, MEANS ON SAID WHEEL FOR CONNECTION TO AN ELEMENT TO BE ROTATED, RATCHET TEETH ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FLANGE, A RATCHET PAWL WITHIN SAID BODY OPENING AND PIVOTED ON SAID BODY FOR SWINGING ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE ROTATION AXIS TO LOCK SAID WHEEL AGAINST ROTATION IN RATCHET TEETH TO LOCK SAID WHEEL AGAINST ROTATION IN ONE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TEETH TO PERMIT SAID WHEEL TO TURN FREELY IN EITHER DIRECTION IN SAID BODY, A SPRING ACTING BETWEEN SAID BODY AND PAWL FOR URGING THE LATTER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TEETH, A CIRCULARLY CURVED PAWL RELEASE MEMBER COAXIALLY ENCIRCLING SAID HUB BETWEEN SAID COVER PLATE AND ONE SIDE FACE OF SAID WHEEL FLANGE, SAID MEMBER BEING LOCATED RADIALLY INWARD OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FLANGE AND SLIDABLY SEATING ON SAID ONE SIDE FACE OF SAID FLANGE, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A FINGER EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF THE MEMBER IN THE PLANE THEREOF RADIALLY OUT TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FLANGE AND THEN AXIALLY ACROSS THE PERIPHERY OF THE FLANGE FOR MOVEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PAWL TO RETRACT THE LATTER OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TEETH AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PAWL TO RELEASE THE LATTER FOR MOVEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TEETH BY ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID WHEEL, MEANS ON SAID MEMBER ACCESSIBLE EXTERIORLY OF SAID BODY FOR ROTATING THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER BEING YIELDABLY URGED BY SAID SPRING TOWARD SAID HUB WHEN SAID PAWL IS RETRACTED BY SAID FINGER AND THE MEMBER HAVING AN INNER CYLINDRICALLY CURVED SURFACE FACING AND RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID HUB, AND MEANS PROJECTING FROM SAID COVER PLATE TOWARD SAID ONE FLANGE FACE AND INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID HUB AND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER FOR GUIDING SAID MEMBER IN ITS ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT AND RETAINING SAID MEMBER OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID HUB.