Importance

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Abstract

A ratchet mechanism includes a base and a shaft having gear teeth rotatably mounted on the base. A bearing is mounted on the base and is rotatable to clockwise and counterclockwise positions, and includes first and second bearing magnets. First and second pawls are slidably positioned on the base, and are slidable between engaged and disengaged positions in which the pawls engage and disengage, respectively, the gear teeth. First and second pawl magnets are embedded in the first and second pawls in magnetic relation to the first and second bearing magnets such that when the bearing is rotated to the clockwise or counterclockwise positions, the first and second bearing magnets bias the first and second pawl magnets to cause the first and second pawls to slide to respective engaged and disengaged positions, or disengaged and engaged positions, thereby enabling the shaft to rotate one of clockwise or counterclockwise directions.

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First Claim