Locking flex-head ratchet wrench

Abstract

A ratcheting tool including a handle formed with an integral yoke at a first end and a tool head coupled to the yoke at a pivot. The tool head has a toothed hub facing rearwardly of the pivot and into the yoke. A locking spool is rotatably carried in the yoke adjacent the toothed hub. The locking spool has a first face, a second face, and a first tooth extending along both the first face and the second face and engaging the toothed hub. The locking spool is rotatable between a first position in which the first face is adjacent the toothed hub, thereby locking the tool head in a selected angular position with respect to the handle, and a second position in which the second face is adjacent the toothed hub such that the tool head is pivotable about the pivot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ratcheting tool comprising:
 a handle formed with an integral yoke at a first end, and a bearing surface at a rear end of said yoke;   a tool head coupled to said yoke at a pivot, said tool head having a toothed hub extending rearwardly of said pivot, said toothed hub including a plurality of transverse teeth; and   a locking spool rotatably carried between said handle and said tool head, said locking spool including a first face with a first tooth portion, a second face with a second tooth portion, said locking spool being rotatable between a first position and a second position,   wherein in said first position said first face opposes said toothed hub such that said first tooth portion is parallel to and engages said transverse teeth of said toothed hub and said locking spool is disposed in an axially-fixed position between said toothed hub and said bearing surface of said handle, thereby preventing said tool head from pivoting relative to said handle, and   in said second position said second face opposes said toothed hub such that said second tooth portion is parallel to and engages said transverse teeth of said toothed hub and said locking spool is disposed in an axially-slidable position, such that pivoting said tool head relative to said handle causes said toothed hub to override said second tooth portion.