Abstract: A socket wrench comprises a handled hollow head receiving a torque transmitting sleeve member which is provided with peripheral teeth to engage with inwardly extending teeth of the hollow head. The teeth of both the hollow head and the sleeve member are elongated axially and formed in such a manner that their height from their intermediate portion gradually reduces towards the two ends thereof and their intermediate portion is notched to receive a C-shaped locking ring that interengages the hollow head and the sleeve member. The teeth can engage with each other when the handle is turned upward or downward to cause the axis of the hollow head to incline the axis of the sleeve, and to disengage from each other when the axis of the hollow head is in alignment with that of the sleeve.

Abstract: A direction-changeable structure of the hand tool handles comprises mainly a body, a coupling tube, and a sleeve. The hand tools of different functions, such as screw driver, thread tapper, socket wrench, etc., can be fixed on the front of the body by a chuck, chucking blocks and a clip to function differently. The body is fixed inside a coupling tube by an arc key which is placed in a key way forming in the inside of the coupling tube. Having a direction selective mechanism attached to it, the main function of the coupling tube is to transmit torque and to select torque transmission direction. The coupling tube can insert into a sleeve which can receive every parts constituting the device according to this invention and fix them together. A handle bar can pass the holes forming in the coupling and sleeve to transmit large torque if necessary.

Abstract: An adjustable socket wrench in which the ratchet head is orthogonally pivotable with respect to the wrench handle. A ratchet housing is integral with one end of the handle and has a substantially circular hole therein. The hole has a partially spherical interior surface with first and second flat portions on opposite sides of the hole so that the flat portions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. A ratchet head is mounted within the hole and has a partially spherical exterior surface which movably fits within the ratchet housing interior surface. The exterior surface has third and fourth flat portions which slidably abut the first and second flat portions. The ratchet head is pivotable within the ratchet housing about an axis orthogonal to the flat portions and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. A conventional ratchet device is mounted within the ratchet head and has a drive member which is movable, with a ratchet action, with respect to the ratchet head.

Abstract: A friction mechanism and a fixture-securing and releasing mechanism, disclosed in the context of a stepless, free-wheeling wrench with thumb-actuated reverse mechanism, speed-wheel, and socket release. The wrench includes a driving member in the form of a wrench head. Mounted for relative rotational movement within a cavity provided in the head is a driven member in the form of a friction wheel assembly which terminates in a drive tang for releasably receiving a hollow socket member. The wrench also includes a speed-wheel forming part of the friction wheel assembly. The speed-wheel is conveniently located on the side of the wrench opposite to that of the drive tang. Concentric with the speed-wheel is a plunger, which together with a disc located in the drive tang, forms a part of a quick release mechanism that allows a socket to be simply pushed into position with relatively low force, while requiring relatively high force to pull the socket off the tang prior to pushing a release button.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench has a member provided with a graspable handle. Two toothed racks are mounted on the member and biased to move inwardly of a slot. A socket has a pawl-like toothed portion extending circumferentially thereabout and engaging both racks. The teeth of the racks are arranged to face in opposite directions. In use, the operator may move the member-handle combination linearly to impart rotary motion to the socket when in engagement with a workpiece.

Abstract: A friction mechanism and a fixture-securing and releasing mechanism, disclosed in the context of a stepless, free-wheeling wrench with thumb-actuated reverse mechanism, speed-wheel, and socket release. The wrench includes a driving member in the form of a wrench head. Mounted for relative rotational movement within a cavity provided in the head is a driven member in the form of a friction wheel assembly which terminates in a drive tang for releasably receiving a hollow socket member. The wrench also includes a speed-wheel forming part of the friction wheel assembly. The speed-wheel is conveniently located on the side of the wrench opposite to that of the drive tang. Concentric with the speed-wheel is a plunger, which together with a disc located in the drive tang, forms a part of a quick release mechanism that allows a socket to be simply pushed into position with relatively low force, while requiring relatively high force to pull the socket off the tang prior to pushing a release button.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel ratchet wrench assembly comprised of a barrel assembly visa-versa. a clutching mechanism positioned for rotational movement about a drive shaft of the ratchet wrench assembly including a drive stud and gear assembly. The clutching mechanism of the barrel assembly is interconnected to the drive shaft whereby rotation of the barrel assembly about the axis of the drive shaft in either direction causes the drive shaft to rotate in response thereto and thereby rotate the drive stud through the drive stud and gear assembly in a responsive rotational direction. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clutching mechanism is designed such that the rotational movement of the barrel assembly and the drive stud are coincident, i.e. counter-clockwise rotational movement of the barrel assembly results in a counter-clockwise rotational movement of the drive stud, and thus loosening of a bolt or nut mounted on a right hand threaded stud, and vice-versa.

Abstract: A coupling used between a handle and a tool having outwardly-opening tool-receiving sockets at its opposed ends for selectively receiving a tool shank and a separate intermediate torque-applying sleeve having outwardly-opening sockets at its opposed ends for selectively receiving a driving handle shank after it is passed through the cooperative tool socket. A pair of reversely-wound springs surround the sleeve and when the handle shank is in one end socket of the sleeve and is turned in one direction, it will drive the tool socket at the other end, but the handle shank and socket can be freely turned in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A tool kit for use in combination with standard socket, open-end and box-end wrenches to provide a number of special obstruction by-pass tools whereby the wrenches may be releasably and fixedly disposed at any relative angle continuously between 0.degree. and 180.degree. with respect to one another. The tool kit comprises specially constructed elements, including one or more flex adapters and one or more bar extenders. Each flex adapter has a head and a base pivotally connected by means of a special clevis joint having cooperative means on the clevis tongue and the clevis pin for releasably engaging and securing the clevis tongue to the inside of one arm of the clevis yoke at any relative angle of alignment continuously through a total included angle of 180.degree.. The head is adapted to receive a standard socket extender. The base is adapted to removably support a conventional wrench handle or a bar extender. The bar extender is preferably an elongated handle secured to a male socket member.