# US 2014/0196577 A1 · Reversible ratchet wrench

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- Number: US 2014/0196577 A1
- Document ID: US20140196577A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/217,483
- Filed: 2014-03-18
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Inventors: Yi-Fu Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196577A1

## CPC

- B25B 13/463: {a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel}
- B25B 13/04: of ring jaw type
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING

## Abstract

A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body and a ratchet assembly disposed in the wrench body. The ratchet assembly includes a ratchet wheel, a Y-shaped bar, two pawls, a pawl spring and a switch member. The Y-shaped bar has a pair of prongs splayed laterally apart. Each of the pawls is engageable with the ratchet wheel and defines a bore in a lower corner thereof for reception of the respective prong of the Y-shaped bar. The pawl spring is disposed between the pawls. The switch member is partly positioned on an exterior of the wrench body, and operable to drive the Y-shaped bar to direct either one of the pawls to engage with the ratchet wheel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A ratchet wrench comprising a wrench body and a ratchet assembly disposed in the wrench body, wherein the ratchet assembly including:
a ratchet wheel;
a Y-shaped bar having a stem, a first prong and a second prong extending from the stem, the first prong tilted to the left, and the second prong tilted to the right;
a first pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel and defining a first bore in a lower right corner thereof, the first bore being tilted to the left for reception of the first prong of the Y-shaped bar;
a second pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel and defining a second bore in a lower left corner thereof, the second bore being tilted to the right for reception of the second prong of the Y-shaped bar;
a pawl spring disposed between the first and second pawls; and
a switch member partly positioned on an exterior of the wrench body, and operable to drive the Y-shaped bar to move between a first position where the first pawl is moved to the left into engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of the first prong, and a second position where the second pawl is moved to the right into engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of the second prong.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bore of the first pawl has a diameter each slightly greater than that of the first prong of the Y-shaped bar; and the second bore of the second pawl has a diameter each slightly greater than that of the second prong of the Y-shaped bar.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pawl has a generally curved shape to correspond to a curvature of the ratchet wheel for engagement with a lower left side of the ratchet wheel; and the second pawl has a generally curved shape to correspond to the curvature of the ratchet wheel for engagement with a lower right side of the ratchet wheel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch member defines in a top a slot in which the stem of the Y-shaped bar.