Screwdriver ratcheting mechanism

A ratcheting screwdriver comprising a handle, a shaft and a ratchet mechanism between the handle and the shaft, the ratchet mechanism comprising:

• a housing fixed to the handle;
• a ratchet gear mounted in the housing, fixed to the shaft and co-axial therewith, and rotatable about a common axis of the shaft and the ratchet gear;
• first and second pawls movably mounted on the housing, each pawl having a first end and a second end, each pawl being movable between an engaging position in which the first end of the respective pawl is in contact with the ratchet gear so as to prevent rotation of the ratchet gear in one direction relative to the housing while permitting rotation of the ratchet gear in the opposite direction, and a non-engaging position in which the first end of the respective pawl is out of contact with the ratchet gear;
• a pawl-pushing member movably mounted on the housing, the pawl-pushing member having a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned for engagement with the second end of the first pawl and the second end of the pawl-pushing member being positioned for engagement with the second end of the second pawl, the pawl-pushing member being movable between a first position in which the first pawl is pushed by the pawl-pushing member out of its engaging position with the ratchet gear, a second position in which the second pawl is pushed by the pawl-pushing member out of its engaging position with the ratchet gear, and a third position in which both pawls are in their engagement position;
• a pivoting member mounted on the housing, having a first arm, a second arm and a middle section between the first arm and the second arm, the pivoting member being pivotable about its middle section, the second arm of the pivoting member being positioned in a slot in the pawl-pushing member;
• a selector ring rotatably mounted on the housing radially outward of the pawls, the pawl-pushing member and the pivoting member, the selector ring having ridges on an inward side thereof positioned to engage the first arm of the pivoting member;
• whereby clockwise rotation of the selector ring pivots the pivoting member in a first direction that moves the pawl-pushing member to its first position;
• whereby counterclockwise rotation of the selector ring pivots the pivoting member in a second direction that moves the pawl-pushing member to its second position;
• and
• whereby rotation of the selector ring to a point between the full clockwise and counterclockwise positions moves the pawl-pushing member to its third position.