Patent ID: 6955104

Claim:
A ratcheting tool comprising: a handle; a head extending from the handle and having a compartment therein, the head including a hole outside the compartment; a drive member including a first end extending beyond the compartment, a second end, and a gear wheel formed between the first end and the second end, the gear wheel being rotatably mounted in the compartment and including an outer periphery with a plurality of teeth; a pawl mounted in the compartment and including a first side facing the teeth of the gear wheel and a second side facing away from the gear wheel, the first side of the pawl including a plurality of teeth for engaging with the teeth of the gear wheel; a switching plate mounted to the first end of the drive member and pivotable between a first position and a second position, the switching plate including a ring portion and a thumb piece extending from the ring portion, the ring portion defining a hole through which the first end of the drive member extends, the thumb piece including a groove in an underside thereof, a pin having a first end located in the groove of the thumb piece and a second end located in the hole of the head, the groove and the pin being so configured to allow pivotal movement of the switching plate relative to the pin, the thumb piece being operably connected to the pawl such that the pawl is moved when the thumb piece is turned and that the pawl is movable in a radial direction relative to the gear wheel; and means for retaining the switching plate in position.