US Patent 7975574 Ratchet wrench with switch moving in transverse direction

A ratchet wrench includes a head and a handle interconnected to the head. The head includes a first compartment rotatably receiving a drive member. Two pawls are slideably received in a compartment of the head. A switch is slideably received in a third compartment of the head between first, second, and third operative positions to change the driving direction of the ratchet wrench. An actuator is slideably received in the second compartment and includes two guiding portions selectively engaged with one of the pawls when the switch is in one of the first and second operative positions. The pawls are disengaged from the guiding portions and engaged with the drive member when the switch is in the third operative positions, allowing the handle and the drive member to rotate in either of two directions driving a fastener, and not allowing free rotation of the handle relative to the drive member in either of the two directions without driving the fastener.