Reversible ratchet wrench with interlocked assembly

Claim 2

In a reversible drive wrench of the type having ratchet and pawl members, the combination comprising a one-piece body having respective apertures for receiving said ratchet and pawl members disposable in reversible driving engagement, a retainer inserted within said one-body, and means on said ratchet and pawl members interacting solely with said inserted retainer for positively holding said members in said one-piece body independent of the disposition of said members.

Claim 3

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has an internal surface, one of said members has opposing cylindrical edges, and said interacting means comprise a circumferential groove on the exterior of the other of said members, said inserted retainer cooperating with said groove and one said edge, said other edge of said one member abutting against said internal surface.

Claim 4

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 2 wherein said ratchet has a substantially cylindrical portion and said ratchet member receiving aperture is correspondingly cylindrical, said inserted retainer being mounted within said body by means of a circumferential groove in one said aperture.

Claim 5

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said ratchet member has said cylindrical edges and said pawl member has said exterior groove, said members being received in said body in axially parallel alignment, with said one ratchet edge and said pawl groove adjacently positioned, and said retainer is a substantially circular C-ring having inner and outer diameters, the one ratchet edge cooperating with said C-ring inner diameter and the pawl groove cooperating with said C-ring outer diameter for retention of the members in the body.

Claim 6

In a reversible drive wrench of the type having ratchet and pawl members, the combination comprising a one-piece body having respective apertures for receiving said ratchet and pawl members disposed in a normal driving engagement, a member movably mounted within said one-piece body for reversing the driving engagement of the ratchet and pawl members, and means on said ratchet and pawl members interacting solely with a portion of said reversing member for positive retention of said members in said one-piece body.

Claim 7

In a reversible drive wrench of the type having ratchet and pawl members, the combination comprising a one-piece body having respective apertures for receiving said ratchet and pawl members disposed in a normal driving engagement, a member movably mounted within said one-piece body for reversing the driving engagement of the ratchet and pawl members, and means on said ratchet and pawl members interacting solely with a portion of said reversing member for positive retention of said members in said one-piece body.

Claim 8

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 5, wherein said interacting means comprIse a circumferential groove on said ratchet member and a hole in said pawl member, and said portion of said reversing member interlocks with said groove and said hole.

Claim 9

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 6, wherein said reversing member is movable to at least two positions relative to said body by manual selection, said reversing member in one position yieldably urging said ratchet and pawl into said normal driving engagement, and in the other position yieldably urging said ratchet and pawl into reverse driving engagement, and the interlocking of said portion, said groove, and said hole is independent of said position of the reversing member.

Claim 10

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 7, wherein said reversing member is rotatable to at least two angular positions; said ratchet member has opposing coaxial cylindrical portions of differing diameters with said circumferential groove substantially centrally located between said portions, the ratchet portion of said ratchet member being adjacent said groove; said pawl similarly has opposing coaxial cylindrical ends of differing diameter with a pair of teeth extending therebetween, each tooth being cooperable alternatively with said ratchet; resilient means on said reversing member urge a first of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said reversing member is in a discrete one of said angular positions and urge the other of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said reversing member is in the other one of said angular positions; and the apertures in said body are adapted to receive the ratchet and pawl with the larger of their respective cylindrical portions located on opposite sides of said body.

Claim 11

In a reversible drive wrench of the type having ratchet and pawl members, the combination comprising a handle, a one-piece head having apertures for receiving said ratchet and pawl members in cooperable relationship and for movably receiving said handle, means urging said ratchet and pawl members into reversible driving engagement, and means on said ratchet and pawl members interacting solely with a portion of said handle for positive retention of said members within the head.

Claim 12

In a reversible drive wrench of the type having ratchet and pawl members, the combination comprising a handle, a one-piece head having apertures for receiving said ratchet and pawl members in cooperable relationship and for movably receiving said handle, means urging said ratchet and pawl members into reversible driving engagement, and means on said ratchet and pawl members interacting solely with a portion of said handle for positive retention of said members within the head.

Claim 13

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 9, wherein said portion is an extension member at one end of said handle.

Claim 14

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 10, wherein said handle is movable to at least two positions relative to said head by manual selection and said means urging said members into driving engagement provide for driving the ratchet in one direction when the handle is in a discrete one of said two positions and provide for driving the ratchet in the reverse direction when the handle is in the other of said two positions.

Claim 15

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 9, wherein said head has a longitudinal axis, said handle is coaxial with said head and manually rotatable to at least two angular positions relative to said axis and said means urging said members into driving engagement provide for driving the ratchet in one direction when the handle is in a discrete one of said angular positions and provide for driving the ratchet in the reverse direction when the handle is in the other of said angular positions.

Claim 16

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 12, wherein said portion of the handle is a cylindrical extension at the end of the rotatable handle inserted in the one-piece head.

Claim 17

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 12, wherein said pawl member has two teeth and is reciprocably pivotable to bring one of said teeth and alternatively the other of said teeth into engagement with the ratchet and said means urging said members into driving engagement comprises resilient means mounted eccentrically in the inserted end of said rotatable handle and cooperating with said pawl member.

Claim 18

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 14 together with a detent for holding said handle in the selected one of said angular posiTions.

Claim 19

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 15 wherein said head has an internal circumferential groove in the aperture receiving said handle, said detent comprises a spring-driven pin mounted on said handle and cooperating with said groove to lock the handle to the one-piece head.

Claim 20

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 12, wherein said interacting means comprise a circumferential groove on said ratchet member and a hole in said pawl member, and said portion of said reversing member interlocks with said groove and said hole.

Claim 21

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 14, wherein said ratchet member has opposing coaxial cylindrical portions of differing diameters, with said circumferential groove substantially centrally located between said portions and the ratchet portion of said ratchet member being adjacent said groove; said pawl similarly has opposing coaxial cylindrical ends of differing diameter with a pair of teeth extending therebetween, each tooth being cooperable alternatively with said ratchet; resilient means on said handle urge a first of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said handle is in a discrete one of said angular positions and urge the other of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said handle is in the other one of said angular positions; and the apertures in the head are adapted to receive the ratchet and pawl with the larger of their respective cylindrical portions located on opposite sides of said head.

Claim 22

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 12, wherein said pawl member has two teeth and is reciprocably pivotable to bring one of said teeth and alternatively the other of said teeth into engagement with the ratchet and said means urging said members into driving engagement comprises resilient means mounted askew in the inserted end of said rotatable handle and cooperating with said pawl member.

Claim 23

A reversible drive wrench as defined in claim 19, wherein said ratchet member has opposing coaxial cylindrical portions of differing diameters; said pawl similarly has opposing coaxial cylindrical ends of differing diameter with a pair of teeth extending therebetween, each tooth being cooperable alternatively with said ratchet; resilient means on said handle urge a first of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said handle is in a discrete one of said angular positions and urge the other of said teeth into engagement with said ratchet when said handle is in the other one of said angular positions; and the apertures in the head are adapted to receive the ratchet and pawl with the larger of their respective cylindrical portions located on opposite sides of said head.