Patent ID: 7240590
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. A ratchet tool comprising: a head connected with a handle and a cylindrical space defined in the head; a driving mechanism having a cylindrical body and a polygonal driving member extending from the cylindrical body which is rotatably received in the cylindrical space, the driving member having a longitudinal hole defined therethrough and a side hole defined in a side of the driving member, the side hole communicating with the longitudinal hole, a flat surface defined in an outer periphery of the cylindrical body and two radial passages defined radially in the cylindrical body and opening to the flat surface, the two radial passages communicating with a central passage defined in the cylindrical body, the central passage communicating with the longitudinal hole; a quick release device including an enlarged head and a rod which is connected to the enlarged head and movably inserted into the central passage and the longitudinal hole of the driving mechanism, a first spring mounted on the rod and biased between the enlarged head and stepped surface in the central passage, a recess defined in an outer periphery of the rod and a first bead movably received in the side hole of the driving member and the recess, a part of the first bead protruding out from the side hole when the bead is not received in the recess; a hollow shifting member movably mounted on the rod and having two windows defined through a side of a wall of the hollow shifting member, the two windows located at different heights along a longitudinal axis of the rod, two positioning units received in the two radial passages and including two respective end members which retractably and alternatively protrude from two apertures of the two radial passages in the flat surface, and a bar located in an operation space defined between the flat surface of the cylindrical body and a curved inner periphery of the cylindrical space, the operation space having two wedge-shaped areas defined between two ends of the flat surface and the curved inner periphery of the cylindrical space, the bar being sized to be clamped in the two wedge-shaped areas and being freely movable in a mediate area of the operation space, the bar movably located between the two end members of the two positioning units, a second spring mounted on the rod of the quick release device and biased between the shifting member and another stepped surface in the central passage in the driving mechanism.