Patent ID: 7137320

Claim:
A ratcheting tool driver, said ratcheting tool driver comprising: a. a hand-actuatable body comprising a first axial bore having a central longitudinal axis, an end face transverse to said first axial bore, and a first chamber recessed from and opening into said end face and said first axial bore, said first chamber extending longitudinally transverse to said central longitudinal axis on opposite sides of said first axial bore; b. a socket ring disposed in, and rotatable about the axis of, said first axial bore, said socket ring defining teeth about an outer circumference thereof and defining a second axial bore that receives a tool shank in rotational driving engagement therein; and c. a second chamber recessed from and opening into said end face and said first axial bore, said second chamber being located on an opposite side of said first axial bore from said first chamber, said second chamber extending longitudinally transverse to said central longitudinal axis on opposite sides of said first axial bore, and d. a first pawl having a first end defining at least one pawl tooth and an opposite second end, wherein said first pawl is disposed in said first chamber so that said first pawl first end is received on one side of said first axial bore and said first pawl second end is received on an opposite side of said first axial bore, wherein said first pawl is slidable transversely to said first axial bore between a first pawl first position in which said at least one first pawl tooth engages said socket ring teeth so that said first pawl blocks relative rotation between said body and said socket ring in a first rotational direction, and 2 first pawl second position in which said at least one first pawl tooth is disengaged from said socket ring teeth, e. a second pawl having a first end defining at least one pawl tooth and an opposite second end, wherein said second pawl is disposed in said second chamber so that said second pawl first end is received on one side of said first axial bore and said second pawl second end is received on an opposite side of said first axial bore, wherein said second pawl is slidable transversely to said first axial bore between a second pawl first position in which said at least one second pawl tooth engages said socket ring teeth so that said second pawl blocks relative rotation between said body and said socket ring in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction, and a second pawl second position in which said at least one second pawl tooth is disengaged from said socket ring teeth, wherein said first pawl is biased toward said first pawl first position wherein said second pawl is biased toward said second pawl first position.