Patent ID: 6164166
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A low-profile ratchet wrench system comprising, in combination:a wrench body including a head and an integral handle extending from the head, said head having a thickness defined by opposing upper and lower faces, a circular socket opening having a cylindrical wall extending inwardly form saidlower face substantially through said head, and a circular pawl-receiving opening extending inwardly from said upper face and partially overlapping the circular socket opening;pawl means supported within the pawl-receiving opening and including teeth extending into the circular socket opening;a socket comprising a cylindrical body having first and second collinear portions, said first portion having an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of said circular socket opening and a length corresponding to the thickness of the wrench head adapted to be received in said circular socket opening, said first portion having a multiplicity of gear-like teeth uniformly spaced around its periphery for cooperating with the teeth of said pawl means, and said second portion having an axial opening therein having surfaces for engaging a fastener of a predetermined size; andmagnet means including permanent magnets supported in the wall of said circular socket opening at a location proximate the points at which said circular opening intersects said pawl-receiving opening to magnetically attract the first portion of a socket received in said socket opening for maintaining the socket in easily removable operative engagement with the wrench,whereby a plurality of sockets all having like first portions and each having an axial opening in the second portion dimensioned to engage fasteners of different predetermined sizes may easily be interchangeably inserted and removed form the socket opening in the wrench head.