Abstract: A low profile ratchet wrench which includes a handle, a housing shaped in one end of the handle, a ratchet drum rotatably mounted in the housing and provided with external teeth and a recessed tang drive, and a ratchet mechanism positioned in the housing and selectively engaging the drum teeth to facilitate rotation of the ratchet drum in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction responsive to rotation of the handle.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench having a top housing and a first handle cooperating with the top housing; a bottom housing with a cooperating second handle; a ratchet drum disposed within the top housing and the bottom housing and provided with exterior teeth and a pair of side bevel gears rotatably mounted on a shaft in opposed relationship inside the ratchet drum; a top bevel gear disposed inside the top housing and extending inside the ratchet drum to engage the side bevel gears; a drive bevel gear rotatably positioned in the bottom housing opposite the top bevel gear and also engaging the side bevel gears and carrying a socket drive extending from the bottom housing; top and bottom ratchet means mounted on the first and second handles, respectively and selectively cooperating with the teeth on the ratchet drum; and pivoting handle lock means for selectively allowing the first and second handles to be manipulated as one handle or separately, to operate the ratchet wrench in a more efficient manner.