Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a ratchet wrench having a pawl carrier and first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes a groove and is rotatable to cause selection of one of first and second drive directions. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with a toothed portion of a ratchet gear for selecting one of the first and second drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes a projection adapted to engage the groove when the pawl carrier is rotated to cause one of the first and second pawls to disengage from the toothed portion and the other of the first and second pawls to engage the toothed portion.

Abstract: A tool includes a head portion having a cavity, a ratchet gear, a pawl carrier, first and second pawls, and a raised portion. The ratchet gear is rotatably disposed in the cavity and includes a drive portion and a toothed portion. The pawl carrier is rotatably disposed in the cavity and includes a groove. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with the toothed portion for selecting one of either first and second drive directions. The raised portion is disposed on a portion of a perimeter of the cavity and protrudes radially inward towards a center point of the cavity. A first side of the raised portion engages with the pawl carrier to arrest rotation of the pawl carrier in the first drive direction and a second side of the raised portion engages with the pawl carrier to arrest rotation of the pawl carrier in the second drive direction.

Abstract: A tool includes a handle, a yoke coupled to the handle, and a head. The yoke includes a first arm and a second arm defining a receiving portion therebetween. A through hole is defined by the first and second arms. The portion of the through hole defined by the second arm includes a first portion proximal to the receiving portion. The first portion has a first diameter and a first thread dimension. The portion of the through hole defined by the second arm also includes a second portion distal to the receiving portion. The second portion has a second diameter and second thread dimension different than the first portion. The head defines a bore and is disposed within the receiving portion such that the bore aligns with the through hole in the yoke.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combination screw and rivet fastener that couples a cover plate to a ratchet head. The fastener is inserted into the ratchet head and then screwed into a hole of the cover plate. Thereafter, the tip of the fastener opposite the fastener head is deformed in a rivet operation.

Abstract: A flex joint headed tool with a locking mechanism adapted to selectively retain the angle of the head relative to a handle. The locking mechanism may retain the head in at least one of two positions using a bias member and two detent balls disposed at opposite ends of the bias member. The bias member and detent balls may be disposed in a through hole disposed in a locking lever, with one detent ball engaging a joint tang and the other detent ball engaging a detent disposed in a tool body or handle, wherein the detent balls provide tactile response to a user. The locking lever may rotate between locked and unlocked positions, whereby in the locked position, the ratchet head is prevented from rotating relative to the handle, and when in the unlocked position, the head may rotate relative to the handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates broadly to pawl mechanism for a tool, such as a ratchet wrench. The pawl mechanism includes first and second pawls that are selectively engageable with a drive gear to provide first and second rotational drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes an outwardly protruding hook type projections that engage respective recesses or grooves in a pawl carrier to operably couple the pawl carrier to the first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes first and second pawl pockets that receive the respective first and second pawls. The pawl carrier also includes first and second recesses or grooves proximate to the respective first and second pawl pockets, and that receive the hook type projections.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a ratchet wrench having a pawl carrier and first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes a groove and is rotatable to cause selection of one of first and second drive directions. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with a toothed portion of a ratchet gear for selecting one of the first and second drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes a projection adapted to engage the groove when the pawl carrier is rotated to cause one of the first and second pawls to disengage from the toothed portion and the other of the first and second pawls to engage the toothed portion.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a ratchet wrench having a pawl carrier and first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes a groove and is rotatable to cause selection of one of first and second drive directions. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with a toothed portion of a ratchet gear for selecting one of the first and second drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes a projection adapted to engage the groove when the pawl carrier is rotated to cause one of the first and second pawls to disengage from the toothed portion and the other of the first and second pawls to engage the toothed portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates broadly to pawl mechanism for a tool, such as a ratchet wrench. The pawl mechanism includes first and second pawls that are selectively engageable with a drive gear to provide first and second rotational drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes an outwardly protruding hook type projections that engage respective recesses or grooves in a pawl carrier to operably couple the pawl carrier to the first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes first and second pawl pockets that receive the respective first and second pawls. The pawl carrier also includes first and second recesses or grooves proximate to the respective first and second pawl pockets, and that receive the hook type projections.

Abstract: A tool with a handle indexably retained to a pin. The pin is coupled to a head of the tool. The pin allows an angle between the head and the handle to be adjusted, thereby allowing the tool to be used in hard to reach places. The pin is coupled to the head to limit axial movement without the need of a threaded fastener. The reduction of axial movement allows for smooth, consistent operation of the tool.

Abstract: A push button release mechanism for coupling together two portions of a tool, such as pliers. The push button release mechanism can include a push button and one or more balls pushed in a radially-outward direction by geometry of the push button to pivotally couple the two portions together. The balls are normally pushed outward by an engagement portion. Depressing a push button head axially downward causes the balls to align with a receiving portion, which allows the balls to descend into the interior of the mechanism. The push button release mechanism is also threadably coupled with a threaded opening of one of the portions. The threaded opening can have deformed threads to increase the retention torque required to rotate the push button release mechanism.

Abstract: A crimping tool with a crimping opening extending at an angle to the axial direction of the tool. The tool can include jaws with multiple crimping openings cooperatively defined thereby at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. For example, the crimping openings can begin at a respective faces of the jaw and such faces can extend at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. In this manner, the tool can allow crimping of connectors at a variety of different angles, reduce jaw length and width, and improve the leverage of the crimpers.

Abstract: A tool with a drive lug having groove formed on the drive lug to promote failure of the drive lug before internal component failure. The groove has a predetermined diameter and is formed on the drive lug or ratchet square to cause failure of the drive lug, due to a torsional ductile fracture, before any internal component failure of the tool, such as, for example, gear and/or pawl failure in a ratchet wrench.

Abstract: A button lock that selectively retains the angle of an object relative to a handle. The button lock is rotatable between an engaged position, where the angle is retained, and a disengaged position, where the object is disengaged from the handle and can pivotally move about the handle to change the angle. In the engaged position, button teeth on the button engage with handle teeth on the handle. In the disengaged position, the button teeth disengage the handle teeth to space the button from the handle and therefore allow free movement of the handle about the button. The button therefore quickly and easily retains the angle between the object and the handle.

Abstract: A retaining structure for a drive gear of a ratchet wrench. The drive gear has a partial internal bore that receives a gear retainer that is coupled to the tool housing via screws. The gear retainer can further be rotatably coupled to the drive gear to retain the drive gear within the head of the tool without requiring a cover plate. By potentially avoiding the cover plate, the ratchet wrench head can be thinner compared to conventional ratchet wrenches and the ratchet wrench seal can be improved.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a ratchet wrench having a pawl carrier and first and second pawls. The pawl carrier includes a groove and is rotatable to cause selection of one of first and second drive directions. The first and second pawls are adapted to selectively engage with a toothed portion of a ratchet gear for selecting one of the first and second drive directions. Each of the first and second pawls includes a projection adapted to engage the groove when the pawl carrier is rotated to cause one of the first and second pawls to disengage from the toothed portion and the other of the first and second pawls to engage the toothed portion.

Abstract: A tool, such as a ratchet tool, including a head portion having a cavity adapted to at least partially enclose a ratchet gear for providing torque to a working piece. Surfaces of the cavity and/or ratchet gear are provided with a compressive residual stress layer by a cold working process, such as, for example, shot peening.

Abstract: A crimping tool with a crimping opening extending at an angle to the axial direction of the tool. The tool can include jaws with multiple crimping openings cooperatively defined thereby at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. For example, the crimping openings can begin at a respective faces of the jaw and such faces can extend at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. In this manner, the tool can allow crimping of connectors at a variety of different angles, reduce jaw length and width, and improve the leverage of the crimpers.

Abstract: A crimping tool with a crimping opening extending at an angle to the axial direction of the tool. The tool can include jaws with multiple crimping openings cooperatively defined thereby at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. For example, the crimping openings can begin at a respective faces of the jaw and such faces can extend at different angles relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the tool. In this manner, the tool can allow crimping of connectors at a variety of different angles, reduce jaw length and width, and improve the leverage of the crimpers.

Abstract: A push button release mechanism for coupling together two portions of a tool, such as pliers. The push button release mechanism can include a push button and one or more balls pushed in a radially-outward direction by geometry of the push button to pivotally couple the two portions together. The balls are normally pushed outward by an engagement portion. Depressing a push button head axially downward causes the balls to align with a receiving portion, which allows the balls to descend into the interior of the mechanism. The push button release mechanism is also threadably coupled with a threaded opening of one of the portions. The threaded opening can have deformed threads to increase the retention torque required to rotate the push button release mechanism.