Lever actuated ratchet wrench

Claim 2

A ratchet wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a ratchet component support connected with said handle; c. a ratchet gear mounted to said support for substantially 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. actuating means operably connectable with said ratchet gear and movable between a first point and a second point for rotating said ratchet gear; e. a ratchet gear rotation control assembly operably positioned between said actuating means and said ratchet gear, (i) said assembly being positionable in a first position for rotating said ratchet gear in one direction in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point, (ii) said assembly being positionable in a second position for rotating said ratchet gear in an opposite direction in response to the movement of said ac-tuating means from said first point to said second point, and (iii) said assembly being positionable in a third position for freeing said ratchet gear for rotation in either of said opposite directions when said actuating means is at one of said first and second points; and f. a rotation selector arrangement connected with said ratchet gear rotation control assembly for alternatively positioning said rotation control assembly in said first, second and third positions whereby said wrench assembly is adapted alternatively to rotate a work piece in opposite directions utilizing similar actuating motion and whereby the handle of said assembly may be repositioned from one point to another without effecting movement of the work piece and yet without disengaging the wrench assembly from the work piece.

Claim 3

A wrench assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet gear rotation control assembly includes means for substantially completely preventing said ratchet gear from rotating when said rotation selector arrangement is in Said third position and said actuating means is at the other of said first and second points, whereby said wrench assembly is adapted to rotate a work piece by manual movement of said handle.

Claim 4

A wrench assembly according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means is connected for movement with said handle and wherein said support is connected with said handle for substantially 360* rotational movement relative to said handle whereby said handle and actuating means may be advantageously positioned relative to a work piece.

Claim 5

A wrench assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ratchet gear rotation control assembly includes means for rotating said ratchet gear approximately 60* in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point when said rotation selector arrangement is in either said first or second position.

Claim 6

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a rotation coupling member mounted for rotation in either direction upon said handle; c. a locking assembly mounted upon said handle selectively operable to lock said coupling member against rotation in either or both directions of rotation relative to said handle or to permit free rotation of said coupling member in either direction relative to said handle.

Claim 7

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a rotation coupling member mounted for rotation in either direction upon said handle; c. a locking assembly mounted upon said handle selectively operable to lock said coupling member against rotation in either or both directions of rotation relative to said handle or to permit free rotation of said coupling member in either direction relative to said handle.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said locking assembly comprises: a ratchet wheel fixedly coupled to said coupling member for roJation therewith, a pawl carrier mounted for reciprocatory movement relative to said handle between a first and a second position, a pair of ratchet wheel engaging pawls pivotally mounted on said carrier to be located at diametrically opposite sides of said ratchet wheel when said carrier is in said first position, said pawls being biassed into engagement with said wheel, first means for selectively disengaging either or both of said pawls from said wheel when said carrier is in said first position, actuating means for shifting said carrier between said first position and said second position, movement of said carrier from said first position to said second position being operable a. to drive said ratchet wheel in an increment of rotation when one of said pawls is engaged within said wheel when said carrier is in said first position or b. to lock said wheel against rotation when neither pawl is engaged with said wheel when said carrier is in said first position.

Claim 9

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member connected with said handle; c. a rotation coupling member operably connectable with a work piece for imparting rotational movement thereto, said coupling member being mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. actuating means operably connectable with said coupling member and movable between a first point and a second point for rotating said coupling member; e. a coupling member rotation control assembly operably positioned between said actuating means and said coupling member, (i) said rotation control assembly being positionable in a first position for rotating said coupling member in one direction in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point, (ii) said assembly being positionable in a second position for rotating said coupling member in an oposite direction in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point and, (iii) said assembly being positionable in a third position for freeing said coupling member for rotation in either of said opposite directions when said actuating means is at one of said first and second points; and f. a rotation selector arrangement connected with said coupling member rotation control assembly for alternatively positioning said rotation control assembly in said first, second and third positions whereby said wrench assembly is adapted to alternatively rotate a work piece in opposiTe directions utilizing similar actuating motion and whereby the handle of said assembly may be repositioned from one point to another without effecting movement of the work piece and yet without disengaging the wrench assembly from the work piece.

Claim 10

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member connected with said handle; c. a rotation coupling member operably connectable with a work piece for imparting rotational movement thereto, said coupling member being mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. actuating means operably connectable with said coupling member and movable between a first point and a second point for rotating said coupling member; e. a coupling member rotation control assembly operably positioned between said actuating means and said coupling member, (i) said rotation control assembly being positionable in a first position for rotating said coupling member in one direction in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point, (ii) said assembly being positionable in a second position for rotating said coupling member in an oposite direction in response to the movement of said actuating means from said first point to said second point and, (iii) said assembly being positionable in a third position for freeing said coupling member for rotation in either of said opposite directions when said actuating means is at one of said first and second points; and f. a rotation selector arrangement connected with said coupling member rotation control assembly for alternatively positioning said rotation control assembly in said first, second and third positions whereby said wrench assembly is adapted to alternatively rotate a work piece in opposiTe directions utilizing similar actuating motion and whereby the handle of said assembly may be repositioned from one point to another without effecting movement of the work piece and yet without disengaging the wrench assembly from the work piece.

Claim 11

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member connected with said handle; c. a rotation coupling member operably connectable with a work piece for imparting rotational movement thereto, said coupling member being rotatably mounted to said support member; d. an actuator movable between a first point and a second point relative to said handle; e. means operably located between said actuator and said coupling member and movable between a first position for rotating said coupling member in response to the movement of said actuator from said first point to said second point and a second position for allowing said coupling member to freely rotate when said actuator is at one of said two points and for preventing said coupling member from rotating when said actuator member is at the second point; and f. means for moving said last-mentioned means between said two positions.

Claim 12

A wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member connected with said handle; c. a rotation coupling member operably connectable with a work piece for imparting rotational movement thereto, said coupling member being rotatably mounted to said support member; d. an actuator movable between a first point and a second point relative to said handle; e. means operably located between said actuator and said coupling member and movable between a first position for rotating said coupling member in response to the movement of said actuator from said first point to said second point and a second position for allowing said coupling member to freely rotate when said actuator is at one of said two points and for preventing said coupling member from rotating when said actuator member is at the second point; and f. means for moving said last-mentioned means between said two positions.

Claim 13

A lever actuated wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member mounted with said handle; c. a ratchet gear mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. a lever movable between first and second points relative to said handle; e. a pair of pawls positioned adjacent said ratchet gear and movable in arcuate paths towards and away from each other; f. linking means connecting said pawls with said lever for substantially simultaneously moving said pawls in said arcuate paths in response to the movement of said lever; and g. means forcing one of said pawls into engagement with said ratchet gear, at least throughout a portion of the arcuate path when said engaged pawl is moved towards the other pawl, for rotating said ratchet gear.

Claim 14

A lever actuated wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member mounted with said handle; c. a ratchet gear mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. a lever movable between first and second points relative to said handle; e. a pair of pawls positioned adjacent said ratchet gear and movable in arcuate paths towards and away from each other; f. linking means connecting said pawls with said lever for substantially simultaneously moving said pawls in said arcuate paths in response to the movement of said lever; and g. means forcing one of said pawls into engagement with said ratchet gear, at least throughout a portion of the arcuate path when said engaged pawl is moved towards the other pawl, for rotating said ratchet gear.

Claim 15

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 9 wherein said support member includes an arcuate surface portion and wherein said linking means includes two pawl carriers respectively supporting said pawls for movement in said arcuate paths, said pawl carriers being movable along the arcuate surface portion in response to the movement of said lever.

Claim 16

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 10 wherein said pawls are respectively pivotally mounted to said pawl carriers and wherein said forcing means includes means for biasing said pawls in engaging relationship with said ratchet gear.

Claim 17

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 11 including means for selectively disengaging one or both of said pawls from said ratchet gear when said lever is at said first point.

Claim 18

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 12 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a cam member mounted to said support member for movement between a first position for disengaging one of said pawls, a second position for disengaging the other of said pawls, and a third position for simultaneously disengaging both of said pawls.

Claim 19

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 13 wherein said cam member when in its third position allows reengagement of said pawls with said ratchet gear when said lever is at said second point.

Claim 20

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 9 including a friction producing washer for partially inhibiting the rotation of said ratchet gear thereby preventing unresponsive rotation of said gear.

Claim 21

A lever actuated wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member mounted with said handle; c. a ratchet gear mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. a lever movable between first and second points relative to said handle; e. first and second pawls pivotally mounted adjacent said ratchet gear and movable between first and second poSitions; f. linking means connecting said pawls with said lever for substantially simultaneously moving said pawls in response to the movement of said lever; g. means for biasing said pawls in engaging relationship with said ratchet gear; and h. means for selectively disengaging one or both of said pawls from said ratchet gear when said lever is at said first point, said last-mentioned means including a cam member mounted to said support member for movement between a first position for disengaging one of said pawls, a second position for disengaging the other of said pawls and a third position for simultaneously disengaging both of said pawls.

Claim 22

A lever actuated wrench assembly comprising: a. a handle; b. a support member mounted with said handle; c. a ratchet gear mounted to said support member for 360* rotation in either of two opposite directions; d. a lever movable between first and second points relative to said handle; e. first and second pawls pivotally mounted adjacent said ratchet gear and movable between first and second poSitions; f. linking means connecting said pawls with said lever for substantially simultaneously moving said pawls in response to the movement of said lever; g. means for biasing said pawls in engaging relationship with said ratchet gear; and h. means for selectively disengaging one or both of said pawls from said ratchet gear when said lever is at said first point, said last-mentioned means including a cam member mounted to said support member for movement between a first position for disengaging one of said pawls, a second position for disengaging the other of said pawls and a third position for simultaneously disengaging both of said pawls.

Claim 23

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 16 wherein said cam member when in its third position allows reengagement of said pawls with said ratchet gear when said lever is at said second point.

Claim 24

A lever actuated wrench assembly according to claim 17 including means for locking said lever at said second point.