Abstract: A ratcheting driver has a shaft rotatable relative to a handle, and a ratchet mechanism between the handle and the shaft. The ratchet mechanism has a body fixed to the handle. A spur gear coaxial with the shaft is mounted in the body so as to be rotatable about a common rotation axis of the shaft and the spur gear. First and second pawls are mounted on the body so as to be tiltable about axes parallel to the rotation axis and on opposite sides of an imaginary plane containing the rotation axis. Each pawl has a free end between its tilting axis and the said plane, and is tiltable between an engaging position, in which its free end intersects the tip cylinder of the spur gear and can abut against the flank of a gear tooth to prevent rotation of the gear in one direction relative to the body, and a non-engaging position, in which its free end lies outside the tip cylinder.

Abstract: A sleeve is rotated to a position in which an aperture is in register with a tool-bit receiving recess in a body rotatably mounted on the shaft of a hand tool such as a screwdriver, so that a tool-bit can be removed from or inserted into that recess in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft. The sleeve surrounds a rear end portion of the body so as to prevent escape of tool-bits from the recesses while leaving the tool-bits partly visible.

Abstract: A hand held utility knife (20) is provided internally with a rectilinear guidance track (42) for the cutting blade (28), while the operating button (38) for advancing and retracting the blade (28) is guided in a curved slot (40). The mechanism (36) for advancing and retracting the blade (28) comprises a member (44) with a spigot (46) at the front end of member (44) and the operating button (38) at the rear end of member (44), which pivots on the spigot (46) relative to the blade (28). The spigot (46) is rectilinearly guided by internal ribs (64, 66) within the handle (22), independently of the rectilinear track (42) for guiding the blade (28).

Abstract: A hand-held utility knife (20) has two handle portions (22, 23) hinged together at the rear end (26) of the handle (21) by means of two lugs (36, 37) of one handle portion (22) projecting into two recesses or cavities (38, 39) of the other handle portion (23) and retained therein behind two lips (53a, 53b) except when almost closed together, when the two handle portions (22, 23) can be separated and reconnected. In order to prevent inadvertent separation of the two handle portions (22, 23) at their rear ends (24, 25) when the handle is closed and the clamping device (27) is screwed up tight, the lugs (36, 37) have abutment portions (61, 62) which engage abutments (65, 66) inside the two recesses or cavities (38, 39). The abutments (61, 62, 65, 66) are positioned on one side of the hinging axis (34) so that they move apart when the handle (21) is opened. Hence the abutments (61, 62, 65, 66) do not interfere with the hinging of the handle portions (22, 23) nor with their separation and reconnection.

Abstract: A replaceable blade knife comprises two elongate handle portions and a blade carrier assembled together; the blade protruding, or being arranged to protrude, from a front end of the handle, between respective front ends of the two handle portions. The upper handle portion has a thumb-nail-sized aperture through a rear end part thereof. When the knife is assembled, the two handle portions are slid relatively longitudinally of one another, the upper handle portion moving forwardly of the lower handle portion, until a latch part near the rear end of the lower handle portion clicks into latching engagement with the front edge of the aperture in the upper handle portion. The upper handle portion is formed near its front end with two downwardly projecting flank portions, each flank portion having an integral, forewardly projecting piece at the bottom of the flank portion.

Abstract: A utility knife comprises a lower elongate part shell 1 and an upper such part shell 3 forwardly fitted with interengaging wedging surfaces whereby they clamp together on relative longitudinal movement. This movement is achieved by turning nut 2 on shank 8 to bear on wall 30. The loosening of the nut 2 to unclamp the part shells and thus permit blade 43 to be pushed forward with slider 42 by pushbutton 41 does not separate the part shells 1 and 3 since the end spur 9 of the shank 8 still rides on arresting web 37. Maximum unscrewing of the nut, however, permits separation e.g. for access to stack of spare blades 60 resiliently held at 59 in the rearward part of shell 1 (now unencumbered by the conventional screw-shank), but does not lead to loss of nut 2 because of a complementary detent configuration 25 at the end of the shank and in the end wall 2a of the nut prevents complete nut/shank separation.

Abstract: A utility knife comprises a lower elongate part shell 1 and an upper such part shell 3 forwardly fitted with interengaging wedging surfaces whereby they clamp together on relative longitudinal movement. This movement is achieved by turning nut 2 on shank 8 to bear on wall 30. The loosening of the nut 2 to unclamp the part shells and thus permit blade 43 to be pushed forward with slider 42 by pushbutton 41 does not separate the part shells 1 and 3 since the end spur 9 of the shank 8 still rides on arresting web 37. Maximum unscrewing of the nut, however, permits separation e.g. for access to stack of spare blades 60 resiliently held at 59 in the rearward part of shell 1 (now unencumbered by the conventional screw-shank), but does not lead to loss of nut 2 because of a complementary detent configuration 25 at the end of the shank and in the end wall 2a of the nut prevents complete nut/shank separation.

Abstract: A utility knife comprises a lower elongate part shell 1 and an upper such part shell 3 forwardly fitted with interengaging wedging surfaces whereby they clamp together on relative longitudinal movement. This movement is achieved by turning nut 2 on shank 8 to bear on wall 30. The loosening of the nut 2 to unclamp the part shells and thus permit blade 43 to be pushed forward with slider 42 by pushbutton 41 does not separate the part shells 1 and 3 since the end spur 9 of the shank 8 still rides on arresting web 37. Maximum unscrewing of the nut, however, permits separation e.g. for access to stack of spare blades 60 resiliently held at 59 in the rearward part of shell 1 (now unencumbered by the conventional screw-shank), but does not lead to loss of nut 2 because of a complementary detent configuration 25 at the end of the shank and in the end wall 2a of the nut prevents complete nut/shank separation.

Abstract: A method and product in which a stud or rivet-like element is secured in a base or two elements are hingedly connected by means of a pin, in which the stud or pin is prevented from rotating relative to at least one element. The at least one element is provided with a non-circular hole into which the pin is inserted and then upset so as to assume the non-circular shape. The stud or pin is of the semi-tubular type having a bore of critical length, relative to the thickness of the at least one element, so as to confine upsetting substantially to the depth of the non-circular hole.