Easco Hand Tools, Inc.

Stanley Orszulak

Michael L Bodnar

Louis Pawloski

Richard Gagnon

A ratcheting tool has a handle mounted on a ratchet housing. The ratchet housing has a blind axial bore formed therein. A driven shank has a rearward portion nested partially in the bore, and a ratchet is formed externally on the rearward portion of the shank. A cam is seated in the bore, rearwardly of the ratchet, and is pivotable substantially about the axis of the bore. The cam has a bore formed therein, and a thrust ball is seated in the cam bore axially between the bottom of the blind axial bore in the ratchet housing and the rearward portion of the shank, thereby accommodating axial thrust loads on the tool. A selector pin is carried by the cam and extends radially therefrom through an arcuate slot in the ratchet housing. A pair of L-shaped pawls are alternately actuated by the cam. The pawls have respective leg portions extending forwardly to engage the ratchet, thereby alternately keying the ratchet to the ratchet housing. The cam has a three-position detented connection with the ratchet housing, thereby establishing clockwise and counterclockwise ratchet drive positions and an intermediate locked position, respectively. A knurled spinner is rotatably piloted on the ratchet housing for optional manual use, and the spinner is suitably keyed to a intermediate portion of the shank.

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Springfield, MA, United States of America

Stanley Orszulak