Patent ID: 6134991
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A pawl for use in a ratchet wrench having a handle and a head connected thereto, the ratchet wrench having a gear opening and a pawl opening in the head of the ratchet wrench, the pawl opening having an inner wall, a ratchet gear being disposed in the gear opening and a pawl being disposed in the pawl opening juxtapositioned to one another with the pawl proximal to the handle, a detent means contacting the pawl to urge the pawl into engagement with the ratchet gear, the pawl comprising:a front face having at least a first tooth and a spaced-apart at least a second tooth, a back face, a pair of opposite side surfaces between the front face and the back face,each side surface of the pawl having a relief surface formed thereon, the respective relief surfaces each extending from the front face of the pawl between the front face and the back face of the pawl providing increased forward radial clearance between the respective relief surfaces and the inner wall of the opening in the head,wherein dirt within the head of the wrench between the respective relief surfaces and the wall of the opening in the head is less frictionally effective, andthe relief surfaces promoting longitudinal translational movement of the pawl between the detent means and the ratchet gear within the pawl opening.