Abstract:
A wrench for applying a drive torque at a drive element includes an elongated handle, a clamping element or head having a torque-applying gripping surface, and at least one trigger. The head is adjustably or movably mounted at the handle and is adjustable or movable to impart a clamping force at a drive element received at the gripping surface of the head. The trigger is configured to adjust or move the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element. Responsive to a user actuating the trigger, the trigger adjusts or moves the head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element irrespective of any movement of the handle relative to the drive element.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the filing benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/371,275, filed Aug. 6, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to wrenches or one way drive devices also known as “spanners” and, more particularly, to “ring” type wrenches. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A wrench is a tool for applying torque to a threaded fastener, such as a nut, bolt, screw or the like, for the purpose of tightening or loosening the fastener. Ring type wrenches are known and function to engage a fastener and drive or rotate the fastener in a given direction. Typically, conventional ring type wrenches have a ring-shaped head with a curved, usually substantially circular, external surface and a hexagonally shaped internal surface (or other shaped internal surface depending on the application of the wrench). In use, the internal surface or surfaces of the wrench head substantially engage the flat surfaces of the fastener (such as a hexagonally shaped fastener head) to put pressure on the fastener surfaces and corners when the fastener is tightened or loosened. 
     However, if the nut is undersized, damaged or worn, it is likely that the wrench head will “slip” and rotate around the fastener instead of properly gripping or engaging the flats or corners of the fastener. Ring type wrenches are known that, when a force is exerted on the handle and the fastener resists rotation of the socket or ring, the ring may clamp onto the fastener to limit rotation of the ring or head about the fastener. For example, such ring type wrenches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,418,890, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Typically, such ring type wrenches slip around the fastener unless there is enough resistance to rotation of the head by the fastener to cause the ring or head to clamp around the fastener to limit or substantially preclude relative rotation of the ring or head about the fastener. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a ring type wrench with one or more triggers or levers that function to initially clamp a head portion of the wrench onto a fastener or onto a socket so that the wrench may rotate or drive a fastener with no initial movement or torque required to cause the head portion to clamp onto the fastener or socket. The trigger or triggers may be readily pressed or squeezed or moved by a user of the wrench prior to movement of the handle of the wrench so that the initial movement of the handle rotatably drives the fastener. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a wrench for applying a drive torque at a drive element comprises an elongated handle, a clamping element or head having a torque-applying gripping surface, and a trigger or trigger mechanism. The clamping element or head is adjustably or movably mounted at the handle and is adjustable or movable to impart a clamping force at a drive element received at the gripping surface of the clamping element or head. The trigger is configured to adjust or move the clamping element or head relative to the handle to impart the clamping force at the drive element, whereby, responsive to a user actuating the trigger (such as by squeezing or otherwise moving the trigger relative to the handle), the trigger adjusts or moves the clamping element or head relative to the handle to impart an initial clamping force at the drive element irrespective of and/or before any movement of the handle relative to the drive element. 
     Therefore, the wrench of the present invention provides enhanced rotation of a fastener or drive element via the trigger or triggers and clamping element of the wrench. The trigger provides for an initial clamping force to be generated at the drive element without requiring any handle rotation about an axis of the drive element and without requiring any resistance to rotation by the drive element. Thus, the trigger may be selectively actuated so that, when the trigger is actuated, an initial rotational movement in a selected direction by the wrench handle imparts a corresponding initial rotation of the drive element, thereby enhancing rotational driving or removing of loose fasteners that may not provide enough resistance to otherwise cause the clamping element to clamp onto the drive element. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a torque-tightening wrench with a circular drive socket located within a flexible ring, and with triggers at the ring for initially clamping the flexible ring about the drive socket in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another side elevation of the wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the wrench taken along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the wrench handle portion of the wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the flexible ring and triggers of the wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the circular drive socket of the wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another torque-tightening wrench in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the wrench of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the wrench of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation of the wrench of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of another wrench in accordance with the present invention, with an elongated trigger mechanism disposed within the shaft of the wrench; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevation of the wrench of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a wrench  10  comprises a clamping element or head portion  12  (such as a single flexible ring-like head portion or tension ring or split ring), an elongate handle  14  and a circular socket or drive element  16  rotatably disposed within head portion  12  ( FIGS. 1-4 ). Head portion  12  is pivotably mounted at an end  14   a  of handle  14  via a pair of pins or rivets  18  and is pivotable relative to handle  14  to clamp head portion  12  about circular socket  16  to rotatably drive socket  16  via movement of handle  14 . Head portion  12  includes a pair of arms or tabs or triggers  20 ,  21  extending therefrom that facilitate initial clamping of head portion  12  about socket  16  without having to first move the handle  14  and irrespective of any movement of the handle relative to the socket, while the fit between the head portion and socket allows for substantially free rotation of the socket relative to the head portion when neither of the triggers is moved or squeezed or actuated, as discussed below. 
     For example, a user may position the socket at a fastener (such as a head of a bolt or a nut or the like), and may press or urge or squeeze or otherwise move one of the triggers  20 ,  21  toward the wrench handle  14  to impart a clamping force of the head portion  12  about the socket  16  to limit or substantially preclude rotation of the socket within the head portion, whereby the user may rotate or move the handle to rotate the fastener, as also discussed below. The user may actuate the trigger to initially clamp the head portion or ring about the socket with little or no movement of the handle, such that the user, when squeezing or otherwise actuating the trigger, may have the first or initial movement of the handle operate to rotatably drive the fastener. Thus, there is little or no play or slack in the wrench and clamping/driving mechanism such that the handle of the wrench does not have to be initially pivoted or rotated about the fastener an initial amount before the head portion will clamp onto the fastener. Thus, the trigger and head portion and socket cooperate to provide initial clamping of the head portion about the socket irrespective of any movement or rotation of the handle relative to the socket or fastener. 
     The handle portion  14  of wrench  10  may comprise any suitable shape and material (such as any suitable metallic material, such as drop forged steel and/or such as nickel and/or chrome plated metallic material or the like). In the illustrated embodiment, the end portion  14   a  of handle portion  14  is flattened in a plane that is generally normal to an axis of rotation of the socket  16 , while the opposite end portion  14   b  of handle portion  14  may be flattened in a plane that is generally normal to the plane of the first end portion  14   a . Optionally, the opposite end portion  14   b  may include a box-end wrench  14   c  or the like (such as a box-end wrench of the same size as the size of the socket so that either end of the wrench  10  may be used on the same fastener). 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , end portion  14   a  of handle  14  comprises a pair of spaced apart flanges  22  with a pair of apertures  24 ,  26  formed or established therethrough. The plates or flanges  22  extend parallel outwardly from the handle in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, with the gap between the plates being selected or sized for receiving the head portion  12  therein. The spaced apart flanges  22  are thus configured to receive a base portion of head portion  12  therebetween, whereby pins or rivets  18  are located in the apertures  24 ,  26  and through apertures or slots  28 ,  30  ( FIG. 6 ) of head portion  12  for attaching head portion  12  to the handle  14 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , head portion  12  comprises a split ring-like configuration having a substantially circular ring portion  12   a  extending on opposite sides into a pair of arm or base portions  12   b  separated by a gap  12   c  therebetween. The wall thickness of the ring portion  12   a  is thinnest at its outermost closed end and gradually increases in thickness towards base portions  12   b . Slots  28 ,  30  are formed or established at or in or through the respective sides of base portion  12   b . The slots  28 ,  30  diverge outwardly from near the gap  12   c  and ring portion  12   a  towards the outermost extremities of the base portions  12   b  distal from the ring portion  12   a . Rivets  18  extend freely through each slot  28 ,  30  and through apertures  24 ,  26 , respectively, and function to hold the head portion  12  between the plates  22  of handle  14  for pivotal movement of the head portion  12  relative to the handle  14 . Because the rivets  18  extend through the generally circular apertures  24 ,  26  of handle portion  14  (which may be sized to receive rivets therethrough while limiting relative movement of the rivets in the apertures), the rivets  18  are fixed relative to one another and relative to handle portion  14 , while head portion  12  may pivot relative to the end portion  14   a  of handle portion  14  (via movement of the slotted base portion at the rivets) to close or narrow the gap  12   c  and thus to clamp the ring portion  12   a  of head portion  12  around the socket  16 . 
     Ring portion  12   a  of head portion  12  includes an internal circular surface  12   d  that receives and slidably engages on outer circular surface  16   a  of socket  16  when socket  16  is loosely received in head portion  12  and head portion  12  is not clamped onto socket  16 . The inside diameter of the head portion and the outside diameter of the outer circular surface of the socket are dimensioned to provide substantially free rotation of the socket relative to the head portion when neither of the triggers is actuated (with limited or reduced interference between the inner surface of the head portion and the outer surface of the socket). As best shown in  FIG. 7 , circular surface  16   a  is recessed within and between outer flanges or portions  16   b  of socket  16 , such that ring portion  12   a  is received in the recessed surface  16   a  to retain socket  16  at head portion  12 . 
     Socket  16  may comprise any suitable drive member for engaging or receiving a fastener portion therein (such as a nut or a head of a bolt or the like) to rotatably drive the fastener via rotation of the socket. Socket  16  includes an internal polygonal-shaped surface  16   c  (which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a hexagonal configuration, but could be any suitable non-circular shape depending on the particular application of the wrench), with each side of the surface  16   c  comprising a generally flat planar surface for engaging a respective generally flat surface of the fastener received in socket  16 . The socket or drive member may comprise any suitable material, such as any suitable metallic material, such as steel and/or such as nickel and/or chrome plated metallic material or the like. 
     Head portion  12  further includes wings or tabs or arms or triggers  20 ,  21  extending from respective base portions  12   b . In the illustrated embodiment, triggers  20 ,  21  extend generally along the handle portion  14  and may be curved to form a curved trigger-like shape for receiving or partially receiving a user&#39;s finger therein. When a user depresses or squeezes one of the triggers  20 ,  21  toward the handle portion  14 , the force imparted at the trigger  20 ,  21  causes rotation or adjustment or movement or flexing of head portion  12  relative to handle portion  14  with the movement controlled by the pins or rivets  18  moving along slots  28 ,  30  of head portion  12 . 
     During use of wrench  10 , the socket  16  is positioned at a fastener (such as a hexagonal nut or head of a bolt or the like), with the internal surface  16   c  of the socket  16  engaging the fastener. If the fastener resists rotation and the handle is moved in a manner that pivots the handle relative to the head portion, movement of or urging of the handle portion in the direction it is desired to rotate the fastener may result in the ring portion  12   a  of head portion  12  tightening (via closing or partial closing of gap  12   c  as head portion  12  pivots relative to handle portion  14 ) onto and around socket  16  to urge and move socket  16  with handle portion  14  (such as in a similar manner as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,418,890, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). However, optionally, and desirably, the user may, after positioning the socket at the fastener, first (and before any rotation of the handle about the fastener) press or squeeze one of the arms or triggers  20 ,  21  to preload or preset or clamp the ring portion  12   a  onto the socket  16  so that even the initial movement of the handle portion drives the socket and thus the fastener in the desired direction. 
     Thus, the wrench of the present invention is suited for quickly rotating or driving a fastener in either direction when there is little resistance to such driving rotation of the fastener. A user may repeatedly squeeze the appropriate trigger, rotate the handle in the desired driving direction, release the trigger, rotate the handle back in the opposite direction (with the socket and fastener not rotating as the handle is moved or rotated while the trigger is released), and repeat this process to quickly and efficiently drive (or tighten or loosen and remove) a fastener. The initial clamping at the socket by the ring portion of the head portion in response to a user squeezing one of the triggers allows for easier and more controlled driving of the fastener in the desired direction, and does not require any resistance to rotation on the part of the fastener or any initial movement of the handle before its actually drives the fastener, such as is typically needed for conventional ratchets to function. 
     For example, movement of trigger  20  towards the wrench handle  14  causes that side or portion of the ring portion  12   a  to move inward (via the rivet moving along a respective slot  28 ), which results in the gap  12   c  being reduced, and thus results in an increased or initial clamping force at the outer surface  16   a  of socket  16  by the ring portion  12   a . The increased or initial clamping force via squeezing the trigger is sufficient to drive the fastener even if there is little or no resistance to rotation of the fastener. Once there is sufficient resistance to rotation of the fastener, the wrench head portion and rivets and handle portion function to clamp the head portion tightly onto the socket to drive the socket and fastener, such as in a similar manner as the wrenches described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,418,890, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As further torque is applied (due to increased resistance to rotation of the fastener as it is tightened), the rivet may move along the slot towards the outer slot end towards the end of the handle portion and the angle or orientation of the slot and the interaction with the rivet causes the ring portion  12   a  to flex and to reduce or close the gap  12   c  and increase the clamping force or pressure on the fastener to drive or tighten the fastener. If it is desired to loosen the fastener (or drive it in the opposite direction), the user may depress or squeeze the other trigger  21  toward the handle portion  14 , whereby the force imparted at the trigger  21  causes the opposite rotation or movement or flexing of head portion  12  relative to handle portion  14  with the movement controlled by the pins or rivets  18  moving along slots  28 ,  30  to clamp the ring portion  12   a  onto the socket  16  for driving the socket and fastener in the opposite direction. The user thus may squeeze a selected or appropriate one of the triggers to drive the socket and fastener in the selected or appropriate direction (for example, by squeezing one trigger the user may drive the socket in one direction and by squeezing the other trigger, the user may drive the socket in the other direction). Optionally, it is envisioned that the wrench may include only one trigger or trigger mechanism, whereby the user may flip the wrench and socket over to change the drive direction of the wrench, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In either of the above fastener driving operations, the closing of the gap  12   c  together with the resilience of the ring headed portion  12   a  cause the ring portion  12   a  to engage and clamp onto the outer cylindrical surface  16   a  of socket  16  to securely clamp and hold the socket relative to the head portion  12  while tightening or loosening the fastener. In either operation, the triggers provide an initial clamping of the ring portion onto the socket prior to any rotational movement of the handle and without any resistance to such rotation at the fastener. Thus, the wrench and triggers of the present invention allow a user to clamp the ring portion onto the socket such that even the initial movement of the wrench handle functions to drive the fastener in the desired direction. The triggers may also function to allow the user to select the rotational drive direction of the wrench (for example, the user may squeeze or actuate one trigger to cause the wrench to drive the fastener in one direction, such as to tighten the fastener, and may squeeze or actuate the other trigger to cause the wrench to drive the fastener in the other direction, such as to loosen the fastener). Although shown and described as having the ring portion  12   a  clamp onto a socket  16  to drive the fastener, it is envisioned that the wrench may not include a separate socket or drive element and that the head portion may have an inner hexagonal or other non-circular shape for directly engaging and clamping onto a hexagonal or non-circular shaped fastener to drive the fastener in a similar manner as described above. Optionally, the socket or drive element may comprise a square shaft drive element or the like, whereby a selected socket may be readily attached at the drive element so that different socket sizes may be used on the wrench, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Although shown in  FIGS. 1-7  as having an open ended wrench or box wrench at the end opposite the socket or drive element, it is envisioned that the wrench handle may not include any open ended wrench at its end opposite the socket element, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Also, although shown as having a twisted handle portion such that a plane of one end  14   a  of handle portion  14  is generally transverse to a plane of the other end  14   b  of handle portion  14 , clearly other handle shapes or designs may be implemented, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For example, and with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , a wrench  10 ′ may comprise a generally straight or flat handle portion  14 ′, with a single flexible ring-like head portion  12 ′ at an end  14   a ′ of the handle portion  14 ′ (and with a circular socket  16 ′ rotatably disposed within head portion  12 ′) and an open-ended wrench or box-end wrench  14   c ′ or the like (such as a box-end wrench of the same size as the size of the socket so that either end of the wrench  10  may be used on the same fastener) at the other end  14   b ′ of the handle portion  14 ′. Head portion  12 ′ includes a pair of arms or tabs or triggers  20 ′,  21 ′ extending therefrom that facilitate initial clamping of head portion  12 ′ about socket  16 ′ without having to first move the handle  14 ′, such as in a similar manner as discussed above. Head portion  12 ′ and rivets  18 ′ and socket end  14   a ′ of handle  14 ′ of wrench  10 ′ may be similar to the corresponding components and elements of wrench  10 , discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the wrenches need not be repeated herein. 
     Optionally, the end of the wrench opposite the socket may comprise a handle portion or any suitable open ended or box wrench or closed-ended wrench or the like. For example, and with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the wrench  10  may comprise a generally square or rectangular receiving portion at wrench end  14   c  (to provide three side contact with a nut or bolt received therein) or, and with reference to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  11 , the wrench  10 ′ may comprise a partial hex-shaped receiving portion at wrench end  14   c ′ (to provide four side contact with a nut or bolt received therein). Optionally, and as shown in  FIG. 9 , the wrench end  14   c ′ may include recesses or relief portions  14   d ′ at the corners of the receiving portion. Similarly, the socket  16 ,  16 ′ may include recesses or relief portions  17 ,  17 ′ (FIGS.  3  and  7 - 9 ) at the corners of the fastener engaging surface of the socket. Optionally, however, the wrench end and socket may comprise generally sharp or squared corners (without relief portions or recesses), while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a wrench  110  comprises a single flexible ring-like head portion  112 , an elongate handle  114  and a circular socket  116  rotatably disposed within head portion  112 . Head portion  112  is pivotably mounted at an end  114   a  of handle  114  via a pair of pins or rivets  118  and is pivotable relative to handle  114  to clamp head portion  112  about circular socket  116  to rotatably drive socket  116  via movement of handle  114 . Handle  114  includes a lever or trigger  120  extending along handle  114  and pivotally mounted to handle  114  at a pivot pin  121  to facilitate initial clamping of head portion  112  about socket  116  without having to first move the handle  114 , such as in a similar manner as discussed above. Head portion  112  and rivets  118  and socket end  114   a  of handle  114  of wrench  110  may be similar to the corresponding components and elements of wrench  10 , discussed above, such that a detailed discussion of the wrenches need not be repeated herein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , lever  120  is pivotally mounted at handle  114  via pivot pin  121  and extends substantially along the length of handle  114 , with one or more trigger or finger receiving portions  120   a  disposed at opposite sides of the wrench at or near a grip portion  114   b  of handle  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, pivot pin  121  is positioned more towards the drive end of the handle with thumb/finger trigger portions  120   a  at or near the ergonomic hand-grip part  114   b  of the handle  114 . The socket end  120   b  of trigger or lever  120  is disposed at the head portion  112  and is configured to engage the head portion  112  and may be configured to be partially received at gap  112   c  of head portion  112 . Thus, when a user presses or squeezes one of the trigger portions  120   a , the socket end  120   b  of trigger  120  pivots accordingly and urges one of the base portions  112   b  of head portion  112  along its respective rivet  118  (via the slots  128 ,  130  of the base portions  112   b ) to flex ring portion  112   a  to reduce or close the gap  112   c  between the base portions  112   b  and to impart a clamping force on socket  116  by ring portion  112   a . The trigger  120  thus may provide an initial or preset clamping force at the socket so that any movement of the handle functions to drive the socket and fastener, without requiring any torque or resistance to rotation at the fastener. 
     In the illustrated embodiment (and as can be seen with reference to  FIG. 13 ), the lever or trigger  120  is disposed within the handle  114 , with the socket end  120   b  protruding through an aperture between the spaced apart flanges or plates  122  at the socket or drive end  114   a  of handle  114 , and with the trigger portions  120   a  protruding through respective apertures or slots  114   c  along the side of the handle  114  at or near the grip portion  114   b  of handle  114 . The pin  121  thus may be inserted through and secured to the opposite sides of the handle  114  and be inserted through an aperture through the trigger or lever  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the socket includes a square driving element  116   a  that is received in a similarly shaped aperture of a selected socket (not shown) for engaging the selected socket with a fastener to drive the fastener via rotation of the handle. However, optionally, the socket may include a non-circular aperture for receiving and engaging a fastener or the ring portion of the head portion may have a non-circular aperture for receiving and engaging a fastener, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Thus, the wrench of the present invention has a fulcrum sandwiched inside of the shaft of the wrench handle with a pivot point more towards the drive end of the handle (to provide greater force at the head portion and reduced travel in response to a lesser force applied at the trigger portions) and with thumb/finger triggers at or near the ergonomic hand-grip part of the handle (so a user may readily press or actuate or squeeze the desired trigger portion while holding the wrench at the grip portion during use of the wrench). When the triggers are depressed in either direction, the activator end or drive end of the fulcrum applies the appropriate pressure to the end of the head portion or socket clamping ring. In turn, the head portion or socket clamping ring instantly (with zero degrees of movement or rotation of the handle) grabs the socket so that the initial movement or rotation of the handle drives or turns the socket and fastener. Release of the trigger allows the socket or square drive insert to rotate freely in either direction. The drive direction can be changed by depressing either trigger to engage the clamping ring when rotating in either direction. 
     While the embodiments shown and described herein are shown to have a polygonal internal surface of the socket, such as hexagonal, such internal surfaces may comprise any suitable surface or shape depending on the particular application of the wrench. For example, any non-circular shape may be selected to correspond to the shape of the targeted fastener to which the wrench is to be applied. Optionally, the socket may comprise a square drive element or insert for attachment of a selected hexagonal socket or twelve point socket or the like. Optionally, the wrench of the present invention may not have a circular socket, and instead the head portion may have a desired engaging surface for engaging a fastener (such as a partial hexagonal shape or non-circular shape or circular shape), whereby the triggers may cause initial clamping of the head portion onto and around the fastener head. Wherever a cylindrical/circular construction is used, it may be desirable for clamping onto fasteners having burred edges or cylindrical sockets provided with internal polygonal surfaces to engage a bolt head having similarly polygonal external surfaces. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a wrench or socket with a ratchet type mechanism (such as a gearless or toothless ratchet mechanism or substantially infinitely adjustable ratchet mechanism or the like) that allows for substantially free rotation of the socket within the head portion or tension ring when neither of the triggers is moved or squeezed or actuated, yet provides an initial clamping force by the head portion or tension ring on the socket to limit or substantially preclude relative rotation between the head portion and socket to facilitate driving of the socket (and fastener received therein) even when there is little or no resistance to rotation of the socket and/or fastener. The present invention thus provides enhanced control of the wrench and allows the user of the wrench to apply the wrench in areas with little clearance or room to move the handle, whereby the ease of squeezing/actuating the trigger and releasing the trigger provides for quick and controlled driving of the socket with little movement of the handle portion of the wrench and irrespective of any movement of the handle portion relative to the socket and/or fastener. 
     Changes and modifications to the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.