Pawl-less ratchet wrench

1. A wrench comprising:

a handle;

a ratchet head integral with said handle;

said ratchet head defining a chamber having a generally circular sidewall;

a set of sidewall teeth located in said chamber and extending radially inward;

an annular rotor located in said chamber, said rotor having rotor teeth about an outer surface thereof for engaging said sidewall teeth;

a biasing element configured to urge said rotor teeth into engagement with said sidewall teeth; and

wherein said sidewall teeth are configured having progressively increasing heights in the direction in which said rotor turns during ratcheting.

2. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said biasing element comprises a leaf spring.

3. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said sidewall teeth are located in a distal hemisphere of said ratchet head.

4. A wrench as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said biasing element is located in said distal hemisphere of said ratchet head.

5. A wrench as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said biasing element comprises a leaf spring.

6. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said progressively increasing heights of said sidewall teeth follow the path of a gradual spiral originating ahead of a first tooth in said set.

7. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said rotor teeth are configured having a front surface and a back surface interconnected by a top surface.

8. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising first and second end plates located on respective sides of said ratchet head to maintain said rotor in said chamber.

9. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said rotor defines a central opening therethrough.

10. A wrench as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said central opening has a multi-point surface for engaging a fastener.

11. A wrench comprising:

a handle;

a ratchet head integral with said handle;

said ratchet head defining a chamber having a generally circular sidewall;

a set of sidewall teeth located in said chamber and extending radially inward;

an annular rotor located in said chamber, said rotor having rotor teeth about an outer surface thereof for engaging said sidewall teeth;

a biasing element configured to urge said rotor teeth into engagement with said sidewall teeth; and

wherein said rotor teeth are configured having a front surface and a back surface interconnected by a top surface, said back surface of each said rotor tooth having a more gradual slope in comparison with said front surface thereof.

12. A wrench as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said front surface has a slope canted forward of perpendicular.

13. A ratcheting tool comprising:

a ratchet head defining a chamber having a generally circular sidewall;

a set of sidewall teeth located in said chamber and extending radially inward;

an annular rotor located in said chamber, said rotor having rotor teeth about an outer surface thereof for engaging said sidewall teeth; and

said sidewall teeth being configured having progressively increasing heights in the direction in which said rotor turns during ratcheting.

14. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising a biasing element configured to urge said rotor teeth into engagement with said sidewall teeth.

15. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said biasing element comprises a leaf spring.

16. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said progressively increasing heights of said sidewall teeth follow the path of a gradual spiral originating ahead of a first tooth in said set.

17. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said rotor teeth are configured having a front surface and a back surface interconnected by a top surface.

18. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said back surface of each said rotor tooth has a more gradual slope in comparison with said front surface thereof.

19. A ratcheting tool as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said front surface has a slope canted forward of perpendicular.