Patent ID: 7472629
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. A ratchet wrench comprising: a handle comprising a head; a drive-stud element comprising a drive stud at a first end and a drive recess at a second end; a one-way drive transmitting wheel having a recess, the wheel being separately formed from and coupled to the drive-stud element to rotate in unison therewith, the one-way drive transmitting wheel and drive-stud element rotatably mounted in the head to rotate about an axis, wherein the one-way drive transmitting wheel coupled to the drive-stud element form a wheel/drive-stud element combination; and a ratchet mechanism coupled between the one-way drive transmitting wheel and the handle; wherein the wheel/drive-stud element combination and the recess comprise a first face opposite the drive stud, the first face comprising a load-bearing surface extending at least partly around the axis, the one-way drive transmitting wheel extending farther than the load-bearing surface from the axis; and wherein the head comprises a non-rotating centering element engaging the load bearing surface and positioned to resist movement of the one-way drive transmitting wheel in at least one direction away from the axis, the centering element shaped to expose the drive recess for connection to an axially-aligned driving tool.