Abstract:
A geared socket wrench hand tool is disclosed. The socket wrench is a clickless wrench allowing for more precise movement of the socket. The socket wrench, through a series of gears, can rotate in infinitesimally small rotations.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/786,847 filed May 25, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to the field of hand tools. In particular, the present invention is directed to a new socket wrench used for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts. 
         [0003]    The available socket wrenches are provided with a driver for a socket extending perpendicular from a front surface of the wrench. The socket is adapted to engage the head of a bolt or nut in order to tighten or loosen the bolt or nut. The wrench generally operates by rotating the wrench handle in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to either tighten or loosen the bolt or nut. The rotation of the wrench handle is translated into a fixed circular movement of the socket. Normally, the mechanism in the wrench handle causes an audible click. Thus, for each click of the mechanism the socket rotates a fixed amount. In certain circumstances, more precise rotation is required. 
         [0004]    The primary object of the present invention is to solve the problem where a socket wrench must rotate a precise amount for each movement of the handle. The present invention solves this problem by providing a clickless socket wrench that is capable of continuous rotation in any desired incremental steps. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    A geared rotating socket wrench capable of infinitesimally small incremental rotations, comprising a handle with a proximal end, a distal end, a front surface and a rear surface; a rotating driver head disposed perpendicular to the front surface of the distal end wherein a socket can be disposed thereon and the rotating driver can rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; a lever mounted on the rear surface of the handle near the distal end thereof for selecting clockwise or counterclockwise direction of the rotating driver head; a first rotating gear with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter connected by a first shaft to the rotating driver head; a second rotating gear with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter mounted to a second shaft on the handle wherein the teeth on the first gear rotatingly mate with the teeth on the second gear; two third gears fixed to the handle mounted laterally to the second rotating gear wherein the third gears engage the second gear if the user attempts to rotate the socket in a direction not selected and thereby preventing the driver head from rotating in a direction not selected by the lever. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cut-away plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the appended drawings. This description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0016]    The geared socket wrench  10  of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings. The wrench  10  comprises a handle  12  with a proximal end  14  and a distal end  16 . A user will grip the proximal end  14 . The distal end  16  comprises a plate  17  with a rotating driver head  18  perpendicular to the distal end  16  and adapted to engage a socket  20  or other similar device. 
         [0017]    A lever  22  is disposed on the exterior surface of the handle  12  near the distal end  16  and opposite to the driver head  18 . The lever  22  rotates from left to right and engages through hole  33  or  36  in plate  17 . As explained below, the lever  22  is adapted to change the direction of rotation of the driver head  18  between a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction. 
         [0018]    The cutaway view of the socket wrench  10  shown in  FIG. 1  illustrates the internal mechanism of the socket wrench  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a rotating shaft  24  is mounted between the driver head  18  and a first rotating gear  26  with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter. A second rotating gear  27 , with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter, is mounted on a shaft  19  to plate  34  and engages the first rotating gear  26 . Disposed on either side of the second rotating gear  27  is a first small gear  28 , with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter, and a second small gear  30 , with a plurality of teeth disposed on its perimeter. Both the first small gear  28  and the second small gear  30  are fixed in position and do not rotate. The first small gear  28  and the second small gear  30  can be rigidly attached to plate  17  or integrally formed as one piece with the plate  17 . As explained further below, the purpose of the first small gear  28  and the second small gear  30  is to act as a stop to prevent rotation of the first rotating gear  26  in the wrong direction. 
         [0019]    The operation of the socket wrench  10  is illustrated further in the Figures. As shown therein, a socket  20  is attached to the driver head  18  as in a conventional available socket wrench. The user will engage a bolthead and rotate the wrench  10  in the desired direction to either loosen or tighten the bolthead as required. The lever  22  is connected to a second plate  34 . The second plate  34  can pivot about the drag ring  31  which is attached to plate  17 . By moving the lever  22  from one side to the other, the user can select the proper direction of rotation of the driver head  18 . The lever  22  engages the second rotating gear  27  which in turn rotates the first gear  26  in the appropriate direction. If the user attempts to rotate the socket in the wrong direction, the second gear  27  will engage either the first or second small gear  28  or  30 . Since the small gears are fixed and do not rotate, the second gear  27  and consequently the first gear  26  will be prevented from rotating in the unintended direction when it engages one of the smaller gears as explained further below. Further, the driver head  18  is capable of rotation in infinitesimally small increments as opposed to existing socket wrenches which rotate a fixed amount for each click of the wrench. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 6 , the lever  22  engages through hole  33  which selects counter clockwise rotation for the socket  18 . The drag ring  31  holds plate  34  in the same position as handle  12 . As a result, plate  34  moves to the left and lever  22 . does not stop the plate  34  from moving to that side. As shown in  FIG. 6 , gear  27  engages with gear  30  and is locked. Gear  27  is always engaged with gear  26 , and locks drag ring  31  and moves the socket  18  in the direction of the handle  12 , i.e. counter clockwise. In this position, the ratchet is locked. In the reverse stroke when handle  12  moves back, the direction of rotation of the handle  12  is clockwise. In this case, lever  22  is selected to the side so as not to hinder the movement of plate  34  towards the left. In the reverse stroke, plate  34  tries to move towards the right but lever  22  stops in the middle and the gear  27  spins free. When the handle  12  moves again in the reverse direction, that is counter clockwise, gear  27  moves and engages with gear  30  and is locked. Thereby drag ring  31  moves along with the handle  12 . In the reverse stroke, plate  34  cannot be locked and will spin free and the socket  18  will not rotate. As the handle  12  moves, drag ring  31  moves counter clockwise. As the drag ring  31  is attached to the socket  18 , the handle  12  spins free as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0021]    The lever  22  is selected for clockwise rotation of the socket  18  and engages through hole  36 , in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . When the handle  12  moves clockwise the plate  34  moves towards the right side engaging with gear  28  and is locked. Since gear  26  is always engaged with gear  27 , both get locked and move with the handle  12 . Thus turning the socket  18  in the required clockwise direction. When the handle  12  moves in the reverse direction, counter clockwise, plate  34  tries to move left but it cannot move towards complete left but rests in the center and cannot engage with any part, and moves freely and the socket  18  does not rotate. When the direction of the handle  12  is reversed again, the plate  34  engages with gear  28  and gets locked and thereby gear  26  is also locked and moves with the handle  12 . Thus the socket  18  moves clockwise and in the other direction, the handle  12  spins free. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing merely represents an embodiment of the present invention. Many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the applied application.