US 12,257,670 B2
Ratchet wrenches
Nigel Alexander Buchanan, Fife (GB)
Appl. No. 17/275,093
Filed by Nigel Alexander Buchanan, Fife (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 10, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/000129
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 10, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/053539, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1814694 (GB), filed on Sep. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0048165 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B25B 13/46 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 13/463 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ratchet wrench comprising:
a handle having a head end;
a head portion connected to said head end and provided with a circular drive element housing having a circular drive element wall, said head portion having a pawl recess disposed between said drive element housing and said head end and opening into said drive element housing at said circular drive element wall;
a drive element at least partially housed in said drive element housing and having a toothed portion comprising teeth disposed circumferentially about said drive element, said drive element having an axis of rotation, said drive element and said circular drive element wall being configured so that said drive element can move laterally in said drive element housing away from said pawl recess to engage said circular drive element wall opposite said pawl recess; and
a pawl located within the pawl recess, the pawl having a plurality of engagement ramp profiles configured to engage respective ramp surfaces provided in said pawl recess and a toothed face facing into said housing and provided with a plurality of teeth configured to mesh with oppositely disposed teeth of said drive element toothed portion,
wherein the arrangement is such that, in use, when a drive force is applied to said handle, a plurality of said engagement ramp profiles engage with the respective ramp surfaces to urge the pawl into locking engagement with the drive element, and
wherein said circular drive element wall is partially defined by an arcuate wall portion that is configured to resiliently deform when, in use, said pawl lockingly engages said drive element causing said drive element to move laterally in said drive element housing to engage said circular drive element wall opposite said pawl recess, whereby said resilient deformation causes said circular drive element wall to clamp upon the drive element.