Patent ID: 6209423
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A ratchet spanner comprising:a spanner body having a head portion and a handle, which has an end connected fixedly to said head portion, said head portion having a peripheral wall with a top end and a bottom end, a top flange extending integrally and inwardly from said top end of said peripheral wall, and a bottom flange extending integrally and inwardly from said bottom end of said peripheral wall, said top flange defining a top opening therein and having a curved and slotted inner peripheral surface with an open-ended slot that extends circumferentially therealong, said bottom flange having a circular inner peripheral surface, which is formed with an inward flange that extends integrally, radially and inwardly from a bottom end of said circular inner peripheral surface and that defines a bottom opening therein;a stepped insert member inserted into said head portion of said spanner body between said top and bottom flanges, and having a lower portion with a top surface, an upper portion extending integrally and upwardly from said top surface of said lower portion, and a curved shoulder defined between said upper and lower portions, said upper portion having a curved side surface, which is formed with an open-ended slot that extends circumferentially therealong and that cooperates with said open-ended slot in said head portion of said spanner body to form an annular slot unit, said upper portion extending into said top opening in said head portion of said spanner body, said curved shoulder of said insert member abutting against said top flange of said head portion of said spanner body for preventing upward removal of said insert member from said head portion of said spanner body, said lower portion having a side surface with two chamber units and abutting against said bottom flange for preventing downward removal of said insert member from said head portion of said spanner body;a vertical cylindrical ratchet wheel disposed rotatably within said head portion of said spanner body, and having a diameter-reduced bottom end that extends into said bottom opening in said head portion of said spanner body and that defines a circular shoulder, a toothed portion with a plurality of ratchet teeth, and a top end portion that is formed with an annular groove, said circular shoulder of said ratchet wheel abutting against said inward flange of said head portion of said spanner body for preventing downward removal of said ratchet wheel from said head portion of said spanner body;a C-shaped retaining ring engaging said annular groove in said ratchet wheel, said open-ended slot in said head portion of said spanner body and said open-ended slot in said insert member for preventing removal of said ratchet wheel and said insert member from said head portion of said spanner body;a spring-biased pawl assembly including a first pawl unit and a second pawl unit, which are received respectively within said chamber units in said insert member and which are biased by a spring action to engage said toothed portion of said ratchet wheel, engagement between said toothed portion and said first pawl unit preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel within said head portion of said spanner body in a first direction, engagement between said toothed portion and said second pawl unit preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel within said head portion of said spanner body in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction; anda pawl control element mounted operably on said insert member and pressing selectively against one of said first and second pawl units against the spring action, thereby permitting rotation of said ratchet wheel within said head portion of said spanner body in a selected one of said first and second directions.