Patent ID: 7997168

Claim:
An adjustable ratchet head assembly comprising: first and second opposing elongate jaw members, each jaw member having: a working engaging distal end; a central section; a proximate end; a threaded pinion shaft receiving bore through said central section; and a threaded cogwheel shaft receiving bore through said proximate end; a pinion shaft having oppositely threaded end portions in threaded engagement with a respective jaw member threaded pinion shaft receiving bore; a pinion gear concentric with said pinion shaft; a cogwheel shaft having oppositely threaded end portions in threaded engagement with a respective cogwheel shaft receiving bore; a cogwheel gear concentric with said cogwheel shaft, said cogwheel gear in driving engagement with said pinion gear, such that driving of the cogwheel gear will cause rotation of the cogwheel shaft, pinion gear and pinion shaft, and will cause the jaw members to move toward or away from each other; a generally cylindrical ratchet head body having a diametrical jaw member/cogwheel shaft receiving slot, said cylindrical body positioned around said jaw member proximate ends, said cogwheel shaft, and said cogwheel such that said jaw member proximate ends and said cogwheel shaft are received in said jaw member/cogwheel shaft receiving slot, and such that a portion of said cogwheel gear protrudes from said ratchet head body to act as a thumbwheel; and a gear shield member for covering and protecting said pinion gear, wherein said ratchet head body further has a cogwheel gear receiving slot and a diametrical gear shield receiving bore, said cogwheel gear receiving slot positioned transverse to said diametrical jaw member/cogwheel shaft receiving slot for receiving said cogwheel gear, said gear shield receiving bore aligned with said cogwheel gear receiving slot along a lower portion of said ratchet head body, said gear shield received in openings of said ratchet head body gear shield receiving bore on the inside of said cogwheel gear receiving slot.