Patent ID: 7036399
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. In a screwdriver with ratchet mechanism and including a base assembly having a longitudinal axis, a gear rotatably supported in said base assembly on said axis, pawl mechanism movably disposed on and being included in said base assembly for selective drive engagement with said gear and said base assembly, and an annular cap releasably connected with said base assembly and aligned on said axis and being rotatable on said base assembly about said axis and being arranged for disengaging said pawl mechanism from said gear upon rotation of said cap about said axis and being movable off said base member in a direction parallel to said axis, the improvement comprising: said base assembly and said cap respectively supporting a first set of mutually and releasably engageable contacting surfaces in contact with each other in a circular direction about said axis for limiting the rotation of said cap about said axis, said cap having a groove facing said axis and arcuately extending centered to said axis, an intervening member operatively interposed between said base assembly and said cap and extending into said groove and with said intervening member and said cap supporting a second set of mutually and releasably engageable contacting surfaces in contact with each other in said groove in the direction parallel to said axis for restraining said cap against removal from said base assembly, and said intervening member and said cap supporting a third set of mutually and releasably engageable contacting surfaces contiguous with said groove and in contact with each other in a circular direction centered to said axis for selective rotational releasable restraint of said cap on said base assembly in at least two rotated positions of said cap.