The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1999
William A Nurmi, Racine, WI (US);
Snap-on Tools Company, Kenosha, WI (US);
Abstract
A biasing structure for maintaining a pawl in engagement with a toothed gear of a ratchet wrench is provided. The structure includes an elongated plunger having an axis, a pawl engagement end, a spring insertion portion having a free end, a central portion connecting the engagement end to the spring insertion portion, and an annular first shoulder having a shoulder diameter formed between the spring insertion portion and the central portion. The spring insertion portion is tapered from a maximum diameter at the first shoulder to a minimum diameter at the free end. The structure also includes a compression spring coupled to the plunger assembly and having a plurality of coils, wherein at least one of the coils has a diameter less than the shoulder diameter and is disposed about the central portion. A reversible ratchet wrench having a pawl and using the biasing structure is also provided.