Patent ID: 7185566

Claim:
A ratcheting tool, said ratcheting tool comprising: a. a head and an elongated handle attached to said head, said head having a first end and an open second end adapted to receive a cover; b. a first compartment defined by said head that opens into said open second end; c. a second compartment defined intermediate said head and said elongated handle, said second compartment opening to said first compartment and to said second open end; d. a gear disposed in said first compartment and defining a plurality of teeth on a circumference of the gear so that the gear teeth define a first arc having a first radius; e. a pawl disposed in said second compartment, said pawl defining a second plurality of teeth on a front face of said pawl for engaging said first plurality of teeth, said front face extending between a first end and a second end of said pawl, and a ledge formed in a back face of said pawl proximate said pawl second end, wherein the pawl teeth define a second arc having a second radius larger than the first radius, and f. a lever disposed intermediate said elongated handle and said pawl in driving engagement with said pawl, said lever defining a first lip protruding therefrom that is received by said pawl ledge.