Patent ID: 6769328
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A hand tool for applying a torque to a threaded fastener, said hand tool comprising:an elongated tool body having a grippable portion at one end portion thereof configured to be gripped by a hand of a worker and having an opening at an opposite end portion thereof defining a rotational axis; a fastener engaging mechanism rotatably mounted in said opening for bi-directional rotational movement with respect to said tool body about the rotational axis of said opening, said fastener engaging mechanism being configured to be releasably coupled in torque-applying relation to a fastener to which torque is to be applied; a driving direction control assembly comprising a cylindrical roller, a spring assembly and a driving direction control switch, said control switch being mounted for movement with respect to said tool body and said fastener engaging mechanism between first and second operative switch positions, said control switch, said spring assembly and said cylindrical roller being constructed and arranged such that (1) when said control switch is in its first operative switch position and said fastener engaging mechanism is releasably coupled to a fastener, said cylindrical roller is positioned such that (a) rotating said tool body about the rotational axis in a first rotational direction forces said cylindrical roller essentially instantaneously into a first wedged relation between surfaces on said tool body and said fastener engaging mechanism, thereby preventing relative rotational movement between said fastener engaging mechanism and said tool body so that rotational movement of said tool body in the first rotational direction rotates the fastener in the first rotational direction and (b) rotating said tool body about the rotational axis in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction moves the cylindrical roller against the biasing of the spring assembly out of the first wedged relation, thereby allowing said tool body to rotate relative to said fastener engaging mechanism, and (2) when said control switch is in its second operative switch position and said fastener engaging mechanism is releasably coupled to a fastener, said cylindrical roller is positioned such that (a) rotating said tool body about the rotational axis in the second rotational direction forces said cylindrical roller essentially instantaneously into a second wedged relation between surfaces on said tool body and said fastener engaging mechanism, thereby preventing relative rotational movement between said fastener engaging mechanism and said tool body so that rotational movement of said tool body in the second rotational direction rotates the fastener in the second rotational direction and (b) rotating said tool body about the rotational axis in the first rotational direction moves the cylindrical roller against biasing of the spring assembly out of the second wedged relation, thereby allowing said tool body to rotate relative to said fastener engaging mechanism.