Patent ID: 7263919
Filing Date: 2007-09-04
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
1. A ratcheting tool, said ratcheting tool comprising: a body; a compartment defined by the body; a gear rotatably disposed in the compartment about an axis and defining a plurality of teeth having respective edges aligned generally parallel to the axis on a circumference of the gear; and a pawl defining a plurality of teeth with respective edges aligned generally parallel to the axis and facing the gear so that the gear teeth and the pawl teeth are engagable with each other at an engagement area of the gear teeth and an engagement area of the pawl teeth, wherein the pawl is disposed between the gear and the body so that the body transmits torque through the pawl in a first rotational direction and so that the pawl ratchets with respect to the gear in a second rotational direction, wherein the edges of one of the gear teeth and the pawl teeth are concave at one of the engagement area of the gear teeth and the engagement area of pawl teeth, and the edges of the other of the gear teeth and the pawl teeth are convex at the other of the engagement area of the gear teeth and the engagement area of the pawl teeth, and wherein a radius of curvature of the concave edges of the one of the gear teeth and pawl teeth is greater than a radius of curvature of the convex edges of the other of the gear teeth and pawl teeth.