US 12,390,905 B2
Ratchet tool with improved pawl
Casper Wypych, Calabasas, CA (US)
Assigned to Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc., Calabasas, CA (US)
Filed by Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc., Calabasas, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,032.
Application 17/723,032 is a continuation of application No. 16/588,490, filed on Sep. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,331,774.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234176 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B25B 13/46 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 13/463 (2013.01) [B25B 13/467 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ratchet tool comprising:
a head including:
a ratchet gear disposed in the head, wherein the ratchet gear includes a plurality of gear teeth;
a single-piece pawl disposed in the head, wherein the pawl includes a plurality of pawl teeth configured to mechanically engage with the plurality of gear teeth of the ratchet gear;
a selector switch disposed in the head and configured to move the pawl between a first position and a second position, wherein the selector switch includes a retaining clip aperture and a pusher aperture for receiving a pusher configured to engage the pawl; and
a retaining clip at least partially disposed in the retaining clip aperture and configured to retain the selector switch in the head;
wherein:
the pawl includes a first extended portion and a second extended portion extending from a lower end of the pawl and defining a recess between the lower end of the pawl, the first extended portion, and the second extended portion, wherein the recess extends from a front end of the pawl to a rear end of the pawl; and
at least a portion of the retaining clip is disposed in the recess and between the first extended portion and the second extended portion.