Socket wrench with improved handle

• US 4,991,470 A
• Filed: 11/13/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sidewinder Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sidewinder Products Corporation
• Inventors: Singleton, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US07/434,302
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 81/177.1, 81/177.2, 81/177.5-177.9, 81/58.1, 81/57.29, 81/73, 81/35, 81/37, 81/29, 81/28
• US Class Current: 81/177.7
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 17/00 Hand-driven gear-operated wrenches or screwdrivers ratchet-operated B25B13/46 B25B13/467, B25B15/04; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/005

Abstract

A speed socket wrench which substantially reduces the work required to remove nuts or bolts is disclosed. The wrench includes a bevel gear and mating bevel pinion mounted respectively on a gear shaft and pinion shaft. A drive shaft is provided on the outer end of the pinion shaft. A reversing ratchet mechanism is employed to lock the drive shaft. The specific construction and arrangement of components provides a socket wrench has been found to substantially reduce the work required to remove nuts or bolts, as compared with conventional wrenches. The present invention provides an improved T-handle for use with a tool having a shaft which rotates about its longitudinal axis. The T-handle is constructed with a generally L-shaped end member, having the shorter leg of the end member extending outwardly at an angle such as about 45 degrees and with the end member being pivotable at its center about the shaft so as to form an angle with the shaft which is complementary to the angle formed by the shorter leg of the end member with the main portion of the end member. In this manner, there is obtained a lever arm that is parallel to the shaft in the operating mode.

Claims

1. A handle for use with a tool having an elongated shaft which rotates about the longitudinal axis of said shaft, comprising:

a transverse bar member having a main portion and being pivotally mounted at its center portion on said shaft along the longitudinal axis of said shaft adjacent one end of said shaft;

at least one end portion of said bar member extending at an angle relative to the main portion of said bar member;

stop means on said shaft for preventing said bar member from moving pivotally beyond a certain angle relative to the normal to said shaft, the angle of said at least one end portion of said bar member relative to an extension of said bar main portion being complementary to said certain angle, said at least one end portion thus being parallel to said shaft when said bar member engages said stop means, so that said at least one end portion will be parallel to said shaft in the operating mode.

2. The handle of claim 1 wherein said tool is a socket wrench.

3. The handle of claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a longitudinal slot in the outer end of said shaft with an inner end surface of said slot extending at said certain angle relative to the normal to said shaft, and wherein said bar member is pivotally mounted between parallel shaft end portions which define said slot.

4. The handle of claim 1 wherein said angle of said at least one end portion of said bar member and said certain angle are each 45 degrees.