Ratchet wrench

In a ratchet wrench of the type comprising:

• a handle, a drive stud rotatably mounted in the handle, and a ratchet mechanism coupled to the drive stud, the improvement comprising:
• a direction control element coupled to the ratchet mechanism and movable to a plurality of positions to select respective ratchet directions for the ratchet mechanism;
• and
• an additional mechanism comprising an actuator;
• wherein the direction control element comprises a first protruding element, wherein the actuator comprises a second protruding element, and wherein the first and second protruding elements are mechanically interlocked when the direction control element is in at least one of said positions to impede inadvertent operation of the additional mechanism.

In a ratchet wrench of the type comprising:

• a handle, a drive stud rotatably mounted in the handle, and a ratchet mechanism coupled to the drive stud, the improvement comprising:
• a direction control element coupled to the ratchet mechanism and movable to a plurality of positions to select respective ratchet directions for the ratchet mechanism, said plurality of positions comprising a forward position and a reverse position;
• and
• an additional mechanism comprising an actuator;
• wherein the direction control element comprises a first protruding element, wherein the actuator comprises a second protruding element, and wherein the first and second protruding elements are mechanically interlocked both when the direction control element is in the forward position and when the direction control element is in the reverse position.

In a ratchet wrench of the type comprising:

• a handle, a drive stud rotatably mounted in the handle, and a ratchet mechanism coupled to the drive stud, the improvement comprising:
• a direction control element coupled to the ratchet mechanism and movable to a plurality of positions to select respective ratchet directions for the ratchet mechanism;
• and
• an additional mechanism comprising an actuator;
• means for coupling the direction control element to the actuator to impede inadvertent operation of the additional mechanism when the direction control element is in at least a selected one of said positions.

In a ratchet wrench of the type comprising:

• a handle, a drive stud rotatably mounted in the handle, and a ratchet mechanism coupled to the drive stud, the improvement comprising:
• an additional mechanism comprising an actuator, said actuator comprising a recess formed therein;
• a direction control element coupled to the ratchet mechanism and movable to forward, non-ratcheting, and reverse positions to select a forward ratchet direction, a non-ratcheting action, and a reverse ratchet direction, respectively, for the ratchet mechanism;
• and
• a protruding element coupled with the direction control element and shaped to fit into the recess when the direction control element is in the forward position, to remain outside the recess when the direction control element is in the non-ratcheting position, and to fit into the recess when the direction control element is in the reverse position, said protruding element impeding inadvertent operation of the additional mechanism when the direction control mechanism is in both of the forward and reverse positions.