Reversible ratchet wrench with direction indicia

A reversible ratchet mechanism comprising:

• first and second bodies rotatable about a common axis, said first body having a cylindrical array of ratchet teeth, a pawl mechanism carried by said second body for movement between forward and reverse conditions of engagement with said ratchet teeth, said pawl mechanism in its forward condition accommodating relative rotational movement of said bodies in only a first manner, said pawl mechanism in its reverse condition accommodating relative rotational movement of said bodies in only a second manner opposite to said first manner, a reversing lever having an opening therein and coupled to said pawl mechanism and manually movable relative to said bodies for effecting movement of said pawl mechanism between the forward and reverse conditions thereof, a bushing extending through said opening in said reversing lever and coupled to said second body for rotation therewith and cooperating with said first body for retaining said reversing lever thereon, first indicia on said bushing, second indicia on said reversing lever disposed for cooperation with said first indicia to indicate the condition of said pawl mechanism, and a fastener connecting said bushing to said second body.

A ratchet wrench comprising:

• a wrench handle having a ratchet head at one end thereof provided with a cylindrical array of ratchet teeth, a drive body carried by said ratchet head for rotation therewith and relative thereto about a common axis, a pawl mechanism carried by said drive body for movement between forward and reverse conditions of engagement with said ratchet teeth, said pawl mechanism in its forward condition accommodating relative rotational movement of said ratchet head and said drive body in only a first manner, said pawl mechanism in its reverse condition accommodating relative rotational movement of said ratchet head and said drive body in only a second manner opposite to said first manner, a reversing lever coupled to said pawl mechanism and manually movable relative to said drive body and to said ratchet head for effecting movement of said pawl mechanism between the forward and reverse conditions thereof, said lever and said second body respectively having first and second external surfaces, and indicia disposed on said first and second surfaces so as to be at all times exposed in their entirety to view by a user for cooperation to indicate the condition of said pawl mechanism.