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:
Oct. 24, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 05, 1999
David Ling, Taichung, TW;
Hsien-Chung Tuan-Mu, Taichung, TW;
Hand Tool Design Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A ratcheting tool includes a handle and a box end extending from the handle. The box end has a first compartment and a second compartment communicating with the first compartment, a wall defining the second compartment having a cavity. A gear wheel is rotatably mounted in the first compartment and includes an inner periphery for engaging with a fastener and an outer periphery with a number of first teeth. A pawl is mounted in the second compartment and includes a first side with a number of second teeth facing the first teeth of the gear wheel and a second side facing away from the gear wheel. The second side of the pawl includes an eccentrically located groove with a rectilinear section that is at an angle with a longitudinal direction of the handle. A ball is partially received in the cavity and contacts with the groove of the second side of the pawl. An elastic member is mounted in the cavity for biasing the ball toward the groove of the second side of the pawl. The pawl is moved toward the gear wheel to cause the second teeth of the pawl to securely mesh with the first teeth of the gear wheel. The pawl is also moved to bear against a wall defining the second compartment.