CA2806944C

CA2806944C - Open-ended ratchet wrench

Info

Publication number: CA2806944C
Application number: CA2806944A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Macdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-19
Filing date: 2013-02-19
Publication date: 2017-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-19
Also published as: CA2806944A1

Abstract

An open-ended ratchet wrench having interchangeable jaws and selectable free rotation of the jaws.

Description

YABEH0114593 CAlSpec & Dwgs\Spec & Clms RVSD 130218.wpd OPEN-ENDED RATCHET WRENCH
Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to a wrench and, more particularly, a ratchet wrench wherein at least one end of the wrench is open and operates as a ratchet wrench.
Background of the Invention

[0002] Known ratchet wrenches are essentiallly made with an elongated main body, a rotary ratchet wrench head and additional parts to rotatively secure the ratchet wrench head at one end of the elongated body. Those additional parts add to the complexity and cost of the wrench and make the end of the wrench relatively bigger than otherwise necessary, thereby limiting the use of the wrench in tight spots.
Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect the present invention provides: the ability to spread the pawls, or release them from contact with the teeth of the sprocket; the "C"-shaped "C"-channel forming an arcuate recess to hold the flange on the outer edge of the sprocket; the exposed sprocket; and the ability to rotate the sprocket head up to 55 degrees and still have a fully open and useful radial slot with which to engage a nut or- bolt head in a tight spot.

[0004] It is a general object of the present invention to provide an open-ended ratchet wrench of the above type of which the ratchet head may rotate freely from contact by the pawls on its teeth, allowing it to be easily slipped off tightened hoses and other objects of the like.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an open-ended ratchet wrench of the above type which produces a simple and rugged combination of the ratchet wrench head with the body of the wrench in which the sprocket is largely exposed in order to be able to attached to, and detach from, a nut or bolt head through a bread ranges of angles.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide the ability to spread the pawls and detach them from the sprocket enabling the sprocket to spin freely and release itself from a hose or similar object when necessary.

[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an open-ended ratchet wrench of the above type wherein the ratchet wrench head may be easily replaced by one of another socket size to form a handy weight and space saver and economical wrench assembly for the convenience of motorists motorcyclisists, etc.
[0007a] The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventive concept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to restrict key or critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to delineate their scope beyond that which is explicitly or implicitly described by the following description and claims.
[0007b] In one aspect, there is provided an open-ended ratchet wrench assembly for use with rotatable fittings where the wrench assembly comprises:
a plurality of interchangeable wrench heads with each wrench head having a head arcuate mating feature and a fitting engagement opening, and a wrench body having a body arcuate mating feature for receiving in operable rotatable 2a communication the head arcuate mating feature of one of the wrench heads when the wrench head is in a working position, such that the wrench head is rotatable relative to the wrench body about an axis of rotation defined by the arcuate mating features, and movement of the wrench head is impeded in one direction along the axis of rotation and laterally with respect to the axis of rotation. There is further provided a cover affixed to the wrench body and resiliently biased in a head retention position in which the cover overlies one of the wrench heads in the working position so as to impede movement of the wrench head in the other direction along the axis of rotation. The cover is hand manipulable from the head retention position in a plane of movement to which the axis of rotation is substantially normal, to a position in which the cover does not overlie one of the wrench heads in the working position so as to permit the installation and removal of wrench heads in the working position. A ratchet assembly configured to permit rotation of the wrench head in the working position relative to the wrench body in one direction about the axis of rotation and impede rotation in the other direction is also provided where the ratchet assembly comprises multiple teeth arrayed about the periphery of each of the wrench heads and two longitudinally extending pawls where each pawl has a pawl end configured for engagement with the teeth and a pivot end opposite the pawl end. The two pivot ends are pivotally mounted to the wrench head proximate to one another such that the pawls together define a generally V
configuration. Each pawl is resiliently biased with respect to the wrench body so as to tend to bring the pawl end into engagement with the adjacent periphery of the wrench head in the working position. There is further provided a manually rotatable pawl spreader which has a variable lateral dimension. The pawl spreader is interposed between the pawls in the vicinity of the pivot ends such that manual rotation of the pawl spreader in a release direction brings a larger lateral dimension of the pawl spreader into contact with the pawls, thus spreading the pawls to disengage the pawls from the teeth so as to permit the wrench head in the working position to rotate relative to the wrench body in either direction about the axis of rotation. The pawls are further provided with 2b projections and the pawl spreader has two opposite facing planar surfaces that engage the projections where the larger lateral dimension of the pawl spreader is provided by the relative angling of the planar surfaces during manual rotation of the pawl spreader whereby the resilient biasing of each pawl with respect to the wrench body tends to cause the pawl spreader to rotate to an unreleased position once the user ceases manipulating the pawl spreader.
[0007c] In some embodiments, the ratchet assembly is manually releasable whereby when the ratchet assembly is released the wrench head in the working position is permitted to rotate relative to the wrench body in either direction about the axis of rotation.
[0007d] In some embodiments, each pawl is resiliently biased with respect to the wrench body by a spring interposed between the pawl and the wrench body.
[0007e] In some embodiments, the wrench body is longitudinally extending and the hand manipulable movement of the cover is linear and generally aligned with the longitudinal extent of the wrench body.
[0007f] In some embodiments, the wrench body has a slot therethrough and the cover is affixed to the wrench body by means of a cover sub-member extending through the slot, wherein the cover may be moved by hand manipulation of the cover on one side of the wrench body or by manipulation of the cover sub-member on an opposite side of the wrench body.
[0007g] In some embodiments, the cover is resiliently biased in the head retention position by a spring within the slot.
[0007h] In some embodiments, the fitting engagement opening of each wrench head comprises two opposed planar surfaces suitable for engaging fittings with conventional parallel outward facing planar surfaces 2c [00071] In some embodiments, the head arcuate mating feature of each wrench head comprises an arcuate ridge and wherein the body arcuate mating feature comprises an arcuate channel.
[0007j] In another aspect, there is provided an open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings. The open-ended ratchet assembly has at least a handle portion and an opposed fitting engaging region which defines a wrench body. The fitting engaging region has a body arcuate mating feature for receiving in operable rotatable communication a head arcuate mating feature of a fitting engageable wrench head such that the wrench body and the wrench head are rotatable relative to one another about an axis of rotation with the head arcuate mating feature and the body arcuate mating feature in communication. The wrench head has a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart teeth located about the periphery thereof for engaging with a distal end region of at least a first pawl and/or a second pawl. The distal end regions of the pawls are resiliently biased to engage the teeth and are characterized in that the distal end region of the first pawl comprises a hooking distal end and the distal end region of the second pawl comprises an abutting distal end. The first and second pawls are furthermore arranged in the wrench body in spreadable V-shaped configuration with each pawl being independently pivotable about a respective proximal end region thereof wherein, when the distal end regions are engaged with the teeth in a working position, the wrench body may only rotate relative the wrench head in a direction towards the first pawl.
[0007k] In some embodiments, the hooking distal end and the abutting distal end are manually releasable from the spaced-apart teeth by spreading the V-shaped configuration from the working position to a wrench head free rotating position wherein the wrench head is able to freely rotate in either direction relative to the wrench body in a direction towards the first or the second pawl.
[00071] In some embodiments, the open-ended ratchet assembly for use with 2d rotatable fittings further comprises a manually operable pawl spreader interposed between the first and second pawls near the proximal end regions for spreading the hooking distal end and the abutting distal end between the working position and the wrench head free rotating position.
[0007m] In some embodiments, the pawl spreader has a variable lateral dimension adjacent to the first and second pawl such that manual rotation of the manually operable pawl spreader brings a larger dimension of the pawl spreader into contact with the first and second pawls so as to spread the V-shape configuration to the wrench head free rotating position and release the hooking distal end and the abutting distal end from the spaced-apart teeth.
[0007n] In some embodiments, the first and second pawls each further comprise projections for each communicating with opposed directries of the larger dimension as the manually operable pawl spreader is rotated so as to effect spreading of the V-shape configuration.
[00070] In some embodiments, wherein the resilient biasing of the distal end regions tends to cause the manually operable pawl spreader to move such that the hooking distal end and the abutting distal end move to the working position once a user ceases manipulation of the manually operable pawl spreader.
[0007p] In some embodiments, the resilient bias of the distal end regions is provided by a first spring in communication the first pawl and second spring in communication with the second pawl where each of the first and second springs are respectively interposed between the first and second pawls and the wrench body.
[0007q] In some embodiments, the open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings further comprises a slidable cover portion coupled to the wrench body and resiliently biased in a wrench head retention position toward 2e the fitting engaging region along an axis in line with the handle portion wherein the cover portion overlies a portion of the wrench head in the working position so as to maintain the wrench head in the fitting engaging region.
[0007r] In some embodiments, sliding of the cover portion from the wrench head retention position against the bias to a wrench head installation position permits installation and removal the wrench head to and from the fitting engaging region. Furthermore, in some embodiments, sliding the cover portion is hand manipulable.
[0007s] In some embodiments, the open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings further comprises a slot through the handle portion and wherein the cover portion being coupled to the handle portion is provided by means of a cover portion sub-member extending through the slot and coupled to the cover portion. The cover portion, is some embodiments, is hand manipulable between the wrench head retention position and the wrench head installation position by sliding the cover portion or the cover portion sub-member.
[0007t] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the cover portion sub-member is knurled. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cover portion is resiliently biased in the wrench head retention position by a spring located in the slot.
Summary of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first wrench embodiment of the present invention.
,

[0009] Figure 2 is a partial detailed closed-up view of the one end of the first wrench embodiment shown in Figure 1, to better illustrate the head of the wrench.

[0010] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one end of the first wrench embodiment shown in Figure 1, showing the internal details of the corresponding head of the wrench, showing the pawls spread apart, disengaging from the 2g teeth of the sprocket and having the sprocket in a rotated position.

[0011] Figure 4 is a view of the first wrench embodiment generally corresponding to the view of figure 3 but having the pawls in ratchet mode and being engaged with the teeth of the sprocket and having the sprocket in a starting position.

[0012] Figure 5 is a side view of the first wrench embodiment showing one "C"-shaped "C"-channel and sprocket at one end of the wrench as seen from the inner side thereof, having a cut-out view of the pawl 1 0, and cavity 9.

[0013] Figure 6 shows an exposed view of the first wrench embodiment showing one side of the wrench head where the sprocket is in ratchet mode and is rotated to a 55 degree angle while still having a completely exposed and useable radial slot.

[0014] Figure 7 is a plan view of the knurled cover face of the second wrench embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

[0016] Figure 9 is a plan view of the knurled slider face of the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

[0017] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the knurled cover face and side of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, with the view generally towards the grip end of the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, with the view generally towards the grip end of the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, with the view towards the working end of the embodiment and with jaws not shown for clarity.

[0020] Figure 13 is an isolation exploded perspective view showing the knurled cover and cover spring of the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

[0021] Figures 14 - 16 are perspective views of the knurled cover face and side of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, with the view generally towards the grip end of the embodiment, showing the knurled cover retracted and a jaws aligned for installation (figure 14); the jaws partially installed (Figure 15); and the jaws fully installed so as to permit the knurled cover to return to the operative position (Figure 16).

[0022] Figures 17 - 19 are plan views of the knurled cover face of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, showing a small jaws (Figure 17), a medium jaws (Figure 18) and a large jaws (Figure 19).

[0023] Figures 20 - 22 are transparent isolation plan views showing the working end of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, illustrating the ratcheting rotational movement and associated pawl positions at the jaw opening of a large jaws.

[0024] Figure 23 is an isolation plan view of the knurled slider face of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, showing the working end with the pawl control in the operative position.

[0025] Figure 24 is a transparent isolation plan view of the knurled cover face of the working end as shown in Figure 23.

[0026] Figure 25 is an isolation plan view of the knurled slider face of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, showing the working end with the pawl control in the disengaged position.

[0027] Figure 26 is a transparent isolation plan view of the knurled cover face of the working end as shown in Figure 25.
Detailed Description with Reference to the Drawings

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the first wrench embodiment of the present invention includes: a handle or elongated wrench body 1 having opposite end proportions each forming a "C"-shaped "C" channel 2. The "C" channel 2 forms an intermediate space and an annular recess 3 communicating with and extending around the circumferential flange on the ratchet wrench head sprocket. Each channel communicates with, and holds firmly, a flange 4 comprising the outer rim and teeth of the sprocket, as best shown in figure 2. In fact, the annular recess 3 is defined by the corresponding flange 4.

[0029] The elongated wrench body 1 may be horizontally split at each end by way of a hinged body segment, which is releasably connected to the main body and includes each one half of channel 2 at each end. Said hinged segment may be held in place by a sliding clamp. The ratchet wrench head 7 is rotatably held by the channel 2 in its rotative sliding engagement in the corresponding annular recess 3 and by the corresponding flange 4. The periphery of each ratchet wrench head 7 is formed with a flange 4 and ratchet teeth 8. A cavity 9 is formed from the main body 1 and extends into the channel 2 at each end of the wrench. In each cavity 9, there is mounted a set of pawls which is biased by a spring 11 toward engagement with the ratchet teeth 8. The two pawls 10 at each end of the wrench are substantially diametrically spaced apart to ensure that at least one pawl will engage a tooth in any angular position of the ratchet wrench head 7.

[0030] Each ratchet wrench head is radially slotted and forms a socket to operatively engage either a nut the head of a bolt or a fitting on an hydraulic hose or the like. The radial slot 12 thus formed in each ratchet wrench head 7 operatively held in place by the channel 2 and circumferential flange 4 forms an open-ended ratchet wrench. The pawls are spread apart freeing the ratchet head 7 and allowing it to spin in either direction freely by pulling on a spring-loaded button 13 located toward the end one-third of the main body 1. The button 13 is shown in normal position in figure 4 and engaged in figure 3. Figure 4 illustrates the wrench in ratchet wrench mode and the arrows indicate the direction of rotation for loosening of a nut or bolt. The rotation of the wrench upside down allows the operation of the wrench for tightening.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, with the first wrench embodiment the sprocket may be rotated to a 55 degree angle while still having a completely exposed and useable radial slot. The advantage of the wrench being able to work in this way is that it can be better used in tight spaces where it needs to be engaged with a nut or bolt head at an odd angle.

[0032] In some, cases, such as for motorists, it is not convenient to carry as many different wrenches as is required. With the afore-described wrench, this is not required. A single body 1 may be provided with a variety of ratchet wrench heads 7 of different socket sizes and the user may readily 'change one head for another when desired with no need for other tools to do so.

[0033] As shown in Figures 7 through 26, the second wrench embodiment 200 includes a wrench body 202, a knurled cover 210, a knurled slider 212, a slider-cover retention screw 214, a cover spring 216, a hooking pawl 220, an abutting pawl 222, two pawl springs 224, and a pawl control 230. The second wrench embodiment also includes a selection of jaws of different sizes, which for purposes of illustration are described and shown herein large jaws 240, medium jaws 242 and small jaws 244.

[0034] The wrench body 202 includes a grip end 250, a slider slot 252 and a working end 254.

[0035] The knurled cover 210 and knurled slider 212 are attached one to the other, and thereby slidably engage with the wrench body 202 at the slider slot 252, by the slider-cover retention screw 214. The knurled cover 210 and knurled slider 212 are biased towards the working end 254 by the cover spring 216 which is interposed between the cover spring seat 260 in the knurled cover 210 and the adjacent inner wall of the slider slot 252.

[0036] The working end 254 includes a pawl control recess 270, a pawl control hole 272, two pawl seats 274, two pawl spring seats 276 and a jaws retention groove 278. The jaws retention groove 278 is a curve of a constant radius, that is, it defines an arc of a circle.

[0037] Each of the pawls 220, 222, has a pawl proximal end 280 configured for pivotal engagement with a respective pawl seat 274. Each of the pawls 220, 222 has a pawl protrusion 282. The hooking pawl 220 has a hooking distal end and the abutting pawl 222 has an abutting distal end 286.

[0038] The pawl control 230 includes a pawl lever 290, which in use resides within the pawl control recess 270, and two opposed pawl flats 292 on a pawl control shaft 294. The pawl control shaft 294 extends through the pawl control hole 272. In use, the pawl flats 292 engage the pawl protrusions 282, and the pawl control 230 is retained in location by the engagement with the pawls 220, 222 as biased by the pawl springs 224.

[0039] Each of the jaws 240, 242, 244, has a jaws opening 300, a plurality of teeth 302 and a retention ridge 304. Each retention ridge 304 is configured to releasably and slidably mate with the jaws retention groove 278 such that when the retention ridge 304 and jaws retention groove 278 are mated, the jaws 240, 242, 244 may be rotated relative to the wrench body 202, about the arc of the circle defined by the jaws retention groove 278, but relative non-rotational movement of the jaws 240, 242, 244 and wrench body 202 within the plane of the circle defined by the jaws retention groove 278 is impeded by the mating of the retention ridge 304 and jaws retention groove 278.

[0040] Figures 14- 16 show stages in the installation of the large jaws 240 (the same stages apply to other jaws 242, 244). To be clear, in Figures 14- 16 the knurled cover 210 is shown in the retracted position that in normal use would be achieved and maintained against the bias imparted the cover spring 216, by hand manipulation of the knurled cover 210 or knurled slider 212, but a hand is not shown in the drawings. Once the jaws 240 is in the location shown in Figure 16, release of the knurled cover 210 or knurled slider 212 would permit the knurled cover to slide (under the bias imparted the cover spring 216) so as to cover a portion of the jaws 240 and thus retain the jaws 240 in the installed location. Removal of the large jaws 240 is effected by reversal of the above outlined steps.

[0041] Figures 20 - 22 show the ratcheting rotational movement (being counter-clockwise in Figures 20 - 22) and associated positions of the hooking pawl 220 and abutting pawl 222 at the jaws opening 300 of the large jaws 240, in a sequence of incremental rotational movements, each such movement equivalent to the span between one of the teeth and the next . In Figure 20, the abutting distal end 286 is interposed between two teeth 302 in a position to impede clockwise rotation of the large jaws 240 and the hooking distal end 284 is not contacting the large jaws 240. In Figure 21, the abutting distal end 286 is abutting the large jaws 240 adjacent the jaws opening 300 so as to impede clockwise rotation of the large jaws and the hooking distal end 284 is abutting the large jaws 240 (though not so as to impede clockwise rotation of the large jaws 240. In Figure 22, the abutting distal end 286 is not contacting the large jaws 240 and the hooking distal end 284 is interposed between two teeth 302 in a position to impede clockwise rotation of the large jaws 240.

[0042] Figures 23 to 26 show the operation of the pawl control 230, with the large jaws 240 installed in the working end 254. In Figures 23 and 24, the pawl control 230 and pawls 220, 222 are in the ratcheting position, in which the pawl springs 224 cause the pawls 220, 222 to be resiliently engaged with the teeth 302, so as to permit rotation of the large jaws 240 relative to the working end 254 in one direction and impede rotation in the other direction. In Figures 25 and 26, the pawl control 230 has been moved, (in use, this movement would be by hand manipulation of the pawl lever 290), so as to cause the pawl flats 292 to rotate relative to the pawl protrusions 282, thus pivoting the pawls 220, 222 away from engagement with the teeth 302 (and compressing the pawl springs 224), such that rotation of the large jaws 240 in either direction is not impeded by the pawls 220, 222.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An open-ended ratchet wrench assembly for use with rotatable fittings, the wrench assembly comprising:
a plurality of interchangeable wrench heads, each wrench head having.
a head arcuate mating feature; and a fitting engagement opening; and a wrench body having:
a body arcuate mating feature for receiving in operable rotatable communication the head arcuate mating feature of one of the wrench heads when the wrench head is in a working position, such that the wrench head is rotatable relative to the wrench body about an axis of rotation defined by the arcuate mating features, and movement of the wrench head is impeded in one direction along the axis of rotation and laterally with respect to the axis of rotation; and a cover affixed to the wrench body and resiliently biased in a head retention position in which the cover overlies one of the wrench heads in the working position so as to impede movement of the wrench head in the other direction along the axis of rotation, the cover being hand manipulable from the head retention position, in a plane of movement to which the axis of rotation is substantially normal, to a position in which the cover does not overlie one of the wrench heads in the working position so as to permit the installation and removal of wrench heads in the working position;
and a ratchet assembly configured to permit rotation of the wrench head in the working position relative to the wrench body in one direction about the axis of rotation and impede rotation in the other direction, the ratchet assembly comprising multiple teeth arrayed about the periphery of each of the wrench heads; two longitudinally extending pawls, each having a pawl end configured for engagement with the teeth and a pivot end opposite the pawl end, wherein the two pivot ends are pivotally mounted to the wrench head proximate to one another such that the pawls together define a generally V configuration, each pawl being resiliently biased with respect to the wrench body so as to tend to bring the pawl end into engagement with the adjacent periphery of the wrench head in the working position; and a manually rotatable pawl spreader having a variable lateral dimension, the pawl spreader being interposed between the pawls in the vicinity of the pivot ends such that manual rotation of the pawl spreader in a release direction brings a larger lateral dimension of the pawl spreader into contact with the pawls, thus spreading the pawls to disengage the pawls from the teeth so as to permit the wrench head in the working position to rotate relative to the wrench body in either direction about the axis of rotation; and wherein the pawls have projections and the pawl spreader has two opposite facing planar surfaces that engage the projections, the larger lateral dimension of the pawl spreader being provided by the relative angling of the planar surfaces during manual rotation of the pawl spreader, whereby the resilient biasing of each pawl with respect to the wrench body tends to cause the pawl spreader to rotate to an unreleased position once the user ceases manipulating the pawl spreader.

2. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the ratchet assembly is manually releasable whereby when the ratchet assembly is released the wrench head in the working position is permitted to rotate relative to the wrench body in either direction about the axis of rotation.

3. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in either one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each pawl is resiliently biased with respect to the wrench body by a spring interposed between the pawl and the wrench body.

4. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wrench body is longitudinally extending and the hand manipulable movement of the cover is linear and generally aligned with the longitudinal extent of the wrench body.

5. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the wrench body has a slot therethrough; and the cover is affixed to the wrench body by means of a cover sub-member extending through the slot, wherein the cover may be moved by hand manipulation of the cover on one side of the wrench body or by manipulation of the cover sub-member on an opposite side of the wrench body.

6. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in either one of claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover is resiliently biased in the head retention position by a spring within the slot.

7. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fitting engagement opening of each wrench head comprises two opposed planar surfaces suitable for engaging fittings with conventional parallel outward facing planar surfaces.

8. The open-ended ratchet wrench assembly in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the head arcuate mating feature of each wrench head comprises an arcuate ridge and wherein the body arcuate mating feature comprises an arcuate channel.

9. An open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings, said open-ended ratchet assembly having at least a handle portion and an opposed fitting engaging region defining a wrench body;
said fitting engaging region having a body arcuate mating feature for receiving in operable rotatable communication a head arcuate mating feature of a fitting engageable wrench head, said wrench body and said wrench head being rotatable relative to one another about an axis of rotation with the head arcuate mating feature and the body arcuate mating feature in communication;
the wrench head having a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart teeth located about the periphery thereof for engaging with a distal end region of at least a first pawl and/or a second pawl;
said distal end regions resiliently biased to engage said teeth being characterized in that the distal end region of said first pawl comprises a hooking distal end and the distal end region of said second pawl comprises an abutting distal end, said first and second pawls being arranged in the wrench body in spreadable V-shaped configuration with each pawl being independently pivotable about a respective proximal end region thereof wherein when said distal end regions are engaged with said teeth in a working position, the wrench body may only rotate relative said wrench head in a direction towards said first pawl.

10. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 9, said hooking distal end and said abutting distal end being manually releasable from said spaced-apart teeth by spreading the V-shaped configuration from the working position to a wrench head free rotating position wherein the wrench head is able to freely rotate in either direction relative to the wrench body in a direction towards said first or said second pawl.

11. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 10, further comprising a manually operable pawl spreader interposed between said first and second pawls near said proximal end regions for spreading said hooking distal end and said abutting distal end between said working position and said wrench head free rotating position.

12. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 11, wherein said pawl spreader has a variable lateral dimension adjacent to said first and second pawl such that manual rotation of said manually operable pawl spreader brings a larger dimension of said pawl spreader into contact with said first and second pawls so as to spread the V-shape configuration to said wrench head free rotating position and release said hooking distal end and said abutting distal end from said spaced-apart teeth.

13. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in either one of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said first and second pawls each further comprise projections for each communicating with opposed directries of said larger dimension as said manually operable pawl spreader is rotated so as to effect spreading of said V-shape configuration.

14. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said resilient biasing of said distal end regions tends to cause said manually operable pawl spreader to move such that said hooking distal end and said abutting distal end move to said working position once a user ceases manipulation of said manually operable pawl spreader.

15. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 9, wherein said resilient bias of said distal end regions is provided by a first spring in communication said first pawl and second spring in communication with said second pawl, each of said first and second springs respectively interposed between said first and second pawls and said wrench body.

16. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in any one of claims 9 to 15, further comprising a slidable cover portion coupled to said wrench body and resiliently biased in a wrench head retention position toward the fitting engaging region along an axis in line with said handle portion wherein the cover portion overlies a portion of the wrench head in said working position so as to maintain the wrench head in the fitting engaging region.

17. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 16, wherein sliding said cover portion from said wrench head retention position against said bias to a wrench head installation position permits installation and removal of said wrench head to and from said fitting engaging region.

18. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in either one of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said sliding said cover portion from said wrench head retention position to said wrench head installation position so as to permit installation of said wrench head is hand manipulable.

19. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising a slot through said handle portion and wherein said cover portion being coupled to said handle portion is provided by means of a cover portion sub-member extending through said slot and coupled to said cover portion, said cover portion being hand manipulable between said wrench head retention position and said wrench head installation position by sliding said cover potion or said cover portion sub-member.

20. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said cover portion sub-member is knurled.

21. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein at least a portion of said cover portion is knurled.

22. The open-ended ratchet assembly for use with rotatable fittings as defined in any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein said cover portion is resiliently biased in said wrench head retention position by a spring located in said slot.