Abstract: A power recoilable rule includes an elongated housing with a longitudinal dimension which is greater than its height dimension and having a width dimension which is lesser than the height dimension to enable comfortable gripping of the housing by the hand of a user. Mounted in the chamber at its forward end is a blade reel and at its rearward end is a spring motor with a casing and a spring coiled about its hub. Both hubs are mounted on the housing for rotation about transverse parallel axes. Gears on the hubs of the blade reel and spring motor are drivingly engaged with a drive transfer gear and the gear ratio of the blade reel gear to the drive motor gear is at least 2:1. The housing is desirably configured with a reduced height at its rearward end to facilitate gripping.

Abstract: A power recoilable rule has an elongated bumper for cushioning the recoil impact of the blade hook when the blade is refracted into the casing. The casing has an opening at a juncture between the bottom wall and front wall, and a bumper is mounted in the casing within the opening for linear sliding movement relative to the casing in a path along the bottom wall. The opening in the front wall and the outer end of the bumper cooperate to provide an exit aperture for the elongated blade which extends outwardly through the exit aperture and has a hook on its outer end. A shock absorbing compression spring acts between the inner end of the bumper and the housing, and it is compressed by the inward movement of the bumper to absorb energy imparted by the hook when it impacts the bumper.

Abstract: A hacksaw has an adjustable frame with an elongated rear frame member having an inverted U-shaped cross section and providing a downwardly opening channel. The rear frame rearward end portion is secured in the upper portion of the hand grip and its side walls adjacent the forward end have lower portions which extend inwardly and incline upwardly towards the forward end to provide an upwardly inclined ramp. This ramp substantially closes the channel and terminates in a lip at the forward end of the frame member, and the top wall and side walls adjacent thereto are relieved above the ramp. A front frame member of bar-like configuration having a bridge portion seated in the channel of the rear frame section, and a depending leg portion at its forward end which has a blade mounting element adjacent its lower end. The bridge portion has spaced recesses in its bottom edge in which the lip of the ramp is seated.

Abstract: A folding pocket saw or other tool having interchangeable blades employs a handle in which is pivotally mounted a head member on which the blades are affixed. The head member has means thereon which cooperates with a slide lock to alternatively secure it in its open and closed positions, and the handle is of hollow construction to provide both an underlying cavity for containment of the folded blade and also a storage compartment for holding a supply of replacement blades.

Abstract: A rotary hand tool of the ratchet type and method for assembling same comprises an elongated wide mouth ratchet housing provided with a shaft rotatably mounted therein having a ratchet mechanism operatively associated therewith and a bushing coaxially mounted on the shaft, which bushing interlocks with the housing for securing the shaft and ratchet mechanism within the housing and aligning and supporting the shaft.

Abstract: A mitre box includes a base member upon which is detachably secured a corner clamp providing a pair of movable jaw members movable at right angles to each other and relative to cooperating fixed clamp faces on opposite sides of a guide channel therein. The base member has a work support surface which is aligned with the guide channel and coplanar with the support surfaces of the corner clamp. Cooperating locating means are provided on the base member and corner clamp to position the members in predetermined alignment, and releasable fastening means secure the two members in assembly. Also included are a pair of guide posts upon which is slidably carried saw guide means to position an associated saw in alignment with the guide channel in the corner clamp.