Ratcheting Mechanism

Abstract

A ratcheting mechanism for a hand-held tool is provided. The mechanism includes a housing having a central opening and a pair of slots disposed on opposite sides of the opening. Each slot has an arcuate or circular end portion opposite the central opening which circumscribes an arc of greater than 180° in order to pivotally retain a generally circular stem of a pawl therein. Due to the presence of a pair of biasing members within the housing, each pawl is biased inwardly towards the central opening and into engagement with teeth located on the exterior of a gear rotatably disposed within the central opening. A cap rotatably connected to the housing over the pawls and the central opening is able to selectively disengage one of the pawls to allow the rotation of the gear within the central opening in a specified direction.

1 . A ratcheting mechanism for a tool, the ratcheting mechanism comprising:
 (a) a housing including at least one slot including a generally arcuate portion and at least one open end spaced from the arcuate portion;   (b) at least one pawl disposed within the at least one slot, the at least one pawl including an arcuate stem that is rotatably engaged within the arcuate portion of the at least one slot and at least one engaging arm extending outwardly from the arcuate stem;   (c) at least one biasing member operably secured to the housing and engaged with the at least one pawl; and   (d) a cap rotatably connected to the housing, the cap including at least one recess aligned with and disposed at least partially above the at least one slot in the housing and including an engagement surface engageable with the at least one pawl to selectively move the at least one pawl against the bias of the at least one biasing member.   
   
   
       2 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the at least one engaging member extends away from the arcuate portion of the at least one slot towards the at least one open end of the at least one slot. 
   
   
       3 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the at least one biasing member includes a coil section operably secured to the housing and at least one outwardly extending leg portion engageable with the at least one pawl. 
   
   
       4 . The mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the at least one leg portion engages the at least one arm of the at least one pawl. 
   
   
       5 . The mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the coil portion of the at least one biasing member is secured to the housing by a stop member engageable with the cap to limit the rotation of the cap with respect to the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the at least one biasing member is secured to the housing at a location spaced from the at least one slot. 
   
   
       7 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the at least one biasing member biases the at least one pawl into engagement with a gear disposed within the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pawl extends outwardly from the at least one slot into engagement with the cap.