Patent Publication Number: US-2005120836-A1

Title: Hinged socket wrench speed handle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention pertains to the general field of socket wrenches and more particularly to a speed handle for a socket wrench that has a single or a double offset shaft to which is attached a lockable-position, square drive head or a ratchet drive head.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      Previously, socket wrenches equipped with various types of speed handles, or spreader wrenches, have been used to provide a fast and easy method of rotating a threaded fastener using conventional sockets. The usual approach is to utilize an extended handle that is bent with four 90 degree bends with a rotating grip on one end and the offset parallel with the handle Shaft. This configuration permits a user to grasp both the grip and offset portion simultaneously and rotate the tool rapidly, much like a crank handle or a brace and bit. Many combinations of handle offsets and multiple bends have been used in the past for sockets and screwdrivers in order to employ the principle of rapid manual rotation by the shape of the tool handle.  
      A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:  
                                                       PATENT NO.   INVENTOR   ISSUED                          6,349,620   Anderson   26 Feb. 2002           5,768,960   Archuleta   23 Jun. 1998           5,511,452   Edmons   30 Apr. 1996           5,279,189   Marino   18 Jan. 1994           4,974,477   Anderson    4 Dec. 1990           3,388,622   Klang   18 Jun. 1968           2,712,765   Knight, Jr.   12 Jul. 1955             460,256   Stewart   29 Sep. 1891                      
 
      The U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,620 patent discloses a hinged socket wrench for use with tool sockets which utilizes an offset shank ( 20 ) at bends of equal angles, which place the ends parallel with each other. A clevis ( 28 ) is formed into the shank at one end and a square drive head ( 30 ) is held in place within the clevis with a hinge pin ( 40 ), thus permitting a 180 degree rotation. The wrench secures a workpiece by spinning the offset handle in a circular direction and then pushed to a convenient position for tightening. The wrench may be used as a conventional flex handle by locking the drive head in an angular position in five equal increments by sliding the hinge pin ( 40 ) to the appropriate position. A second embodiment includes another head attached directly to both the handle ( 58 ) and an additional clevis which functions in the same manner as the square drive head however it adds further combinations of angular displacement of the speed handle increasing its value as a tool and also its productiveness in difficult work areas. The improvements to my U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,620 include two embodiments and three alternative designs of the slideable hinge pin that locks the drive head in place at the desired angle. These improvement are important because they provide additional surface interface with both the hinge pin and the handle yoke which improves the structural integrity of the invention as well as prolonged life of the tool.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,960 issued to Archuleta is for a tilt wrench having a handle with a pair of opposed openings on each end that have different geometrical shapes. A tilt head has an additional shaped hole in alignment with the handle openings. A connector shaft having around shape on one end and a square shape on the other extends through the three openings and when pressed inwardly interfaces with the tilt head locking it in place. Selective axial positioning of the connector shaft allows the tilt head to be in either a locked or unlocked position.  
      Edmons in U.S Pat. No. 5,511,452 teaches a speed handle with a ratchet drive having an offset between the axis of the handle and the ratchet drive for use in tight places where there is little room for the handle. The balance of the speed handle is conventional, much like those currently available.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,189 issued to Marino, has a pair of handles displaced longitudinally by a given distance, and a hinge connecting a coupling to an arm or one of the handles, permitting relative movement therebetween about a pivot axis normal to the rotational axis of the coupling.  
      Anderson&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,477 is for a speed wrench using a S-curve shaped shank. The shank causes the axis of the tool to intersect the axis of the handle, thereby creating a cone-shaped Pattern of rotation, which permits the user to rotate the tool&#39;s handle with wrist motion.  
      Klank in U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,622 discloses a speed wrench consisting of a pair of concentric, rotatively-connected members. One arm is radially offset from the common axis of concentricity relative to the outer member such that cranking of the handle rotates a work engaging arm.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,765 issued to Knight, Jr. is for a wrist motion hand tool having a shaft with a pair of bends having a slight longitudinal or axial displacement in the bore of a pistol-grip shaped handle. The wrist motion of the User rotates the crank arm and only one hand is required to rotate the workpiece.  
      Stewart&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 460,256 teaches a handle for a rotary tool using a pair of bends in a shaft that form a diagonal wrist. An anti-friction sleeve is added to the handle for ease of rotation.  
      For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates reference may be made to the following patents found in the patent search.  
                                                       PATENT NO.   INVENTOR   ISSUED                          6,382,058   OWOC    7 May 2002           6,324,947   Jarvis    4 Dec. 2001           6,186,033   Faro, Sr.   13 Feb. 2001           5,904,077   Wright, et al   18 May 1999           5,280,740   Ernst   25 Jan. 1994           4,909,104   Mehlau, et al   25 Mar. 1990           4,711,145   Inoue    8 Dec. 1987           4,541,310   Lindenberger   17 Sep. 1985           4,334,445   Timewell   15 Jun. 1982           3,343,434   Schroeder   26 Sep. 1967           2,577,931   Tillman   11 Dec. 1951           2,382,291   Carlberg   14 Aug. 1945           1,779,203   Williamson   21 Oct. 1930           1,775,402   Mandl    9 Sep. 1930           1,537,657   Burch   12 May 1925                      
 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      In today&#39;s economy manpower is expensive and any tool or device that can reduce the time spent accomplishing a given task is of extreme importance. Therefore, the primary object of the invention is to provide a hand tool that can be utilized with most popular socket sets, and that shortens the time required to attach or remove a threaded fastener with a polygon-shaped or other configured head on a screw, bolt or nut. Normally, a ratchet handle is connected to a socket and ratcheted by radial motion with one hand while being held in place with the other hand. The instant invention permits a user to rapidly rotate the nut or bolt until it starts to tighten. The rapid rotation is accomplished by simple wrist action, with considerably more speed than a conventional ratchet handle. By testing, it was determined that by using the instant invention, the tightening or removal of a fastener, after its initial loosening, was four to five times faster than accomplished previously.  
      Further, it is an important object of the invention to initially loosen or finally tighten the fastener by simply repositioning the handle at a suitable angle to gain the maximum amount of torque. This repositioning is provided in a 180 degree arc by a rotatable square drive head or a ratchet drive head that permits the socket to remain on the workpiece and the handle to be moved to a convenient position like a standard breaker bar or flex handle. AS the invention is relatively short and compact, the user may shift from a vertical position to a 45 or 90 degree angle in almost one continuous motion. This allows the user to maintain absolute control of the socket upon the workpiece and to continue adding torque until the workpiece is tightened, or the reverse if loosening is to be accomplished. As the result of the drive head being repositionable any combination of angular displacement is easily accomplished without lost motion.  
      Another object of the invention is directed to a unique locking system that secures either the square drive head or the ratchet drive head at a given angle relative to the handle. This feature is particularly useful when the tool is used like a “bull handle” or an “L-handle”. Further, the arrangement locks the head at equal angular increments, which are at the most convenient positions. It should also be noted that it is not necessary to lock the head, as it rotates under a small amount of tension and is temporarily held at the angular displacement by a spring-loaded detent 50 it can be controlled during operation. Locking is easily and intuitively obvious by simply pressing a hinge pin in one direction or the other for positive positioning at the 45 degree increment.  
      Still another object of the invention is the combination of a rotatable handle and an offset shank in a compact configuration. This coalescence of elements permits the user to use only one hand to rotate the socket easily, whereas conventional ratchets require two hands. Flex handles and the like require removing the socket each time the rotational limit is reached. Conventional speed handles are long and have limited utility as unrestricted space is essential to their function. In contrast, the instant invention is compact and may be used in most places that a conventional ratchet handle is normally employed utilizing both the speed handle&#39;s quickness and the ratchets usefulness.  
      An important object of the improvement of the invention is embodied in the interface with the drive head and the hinge pin as the round segment of the hinge pin is larger in diameter than across the flats of the square segment. The combined round and octagonal hole in the drive head has each inner angular apex shaved off by the introduction of the round portion of the hex hole. This arrangement allows the round segment of the hinge pin to interface with only the round portion of the hole instead of the sharp inside corners of the octagonal shape. It may be clearly seen that this arrangement takes the slop out s of the interface, improves the life of the tool, since without the combined round and octagonal hole the interface will quickly wear out, and greatly strengthens the integrity of the invention.  
      Yet another object of the invention is realized in a second embodiment, wherein a second head is used, similar in function, only connecting the shank to the handle wherein the shank may be changed in its angular alignment relative to the handle. This embodiment is particularly useful in areas that are tight and hard to reach with conventional straight or fixed angle tools. It may be plainly seen that the use of another head permits the handle to be positioned independent of the square drive head or the ratchet drive head, therefore as many as five additional angles may be used in attempting to find the most practical approach to loosening or tightening a fastener even under the most difficult circumstances.  
      Still another object of the second embodiment is a feature that permits the wrench to be positioned in crank fashion with the handle vertical along with the square drive head. This unique position allows the fastener to be rotated like a crank handle with the shank horizontal or angled 180, 90 or 45 degrees while still retaining the ability to be rotated as described above in certain combinations of angles.  
      A final object of the invention is directed to the inclusion of five separate, but related, embodiments of the slideable hinge pin that locks the drive head in place at the desired angle. Any one of the four provide additional surface interface with both the hinge pin and the handle yoke which yields prolonged life of the tool.  
      These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment having attached a square drive head.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred embodiment having attached the square drive head.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  illustrating the internal structure of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a partial isometric view of the square drive head completely removed from the invention for clarity.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the square drive head completely removed from the invention for clarity.  
       FIG. 6A  is a top elevational view of the square drive head completely removed from the invention for clarity.  
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 B and  6 B of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 7  is a partial isometric view of the hinge pin completely removed from the invention for clarity.  
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  is a partial isometric view of one of the lock rings.  
       FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment with a square drive head.  
       FIG. 12  is a partial isometric view of the second embodiment having attached a square drive head.  
       FIG. 13  is a plan view of the second embodiment having attached a square drive head.  
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 .  
       FIG. 15  is a partial isometric view of the second embodiment offset shank.  
       FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 .  
       FIG. 17  is a plan view of the second embodiment offset shank with the ends partially cut away for clarity.  
       FIG. 18  is a partial isometric view of the second embodiment with the handle adjusted to a vertical position and having attached a square drive head.  
       FIG. 19  is a partial isometric view of the second embodiment with the handle adjusted to a vertical position and the shank at a 45 degree angle.  
       FIG. 20  is a partial isometric view of the second embodiment with the handle adjusted to a horizontal position and the shank at a 45 degree angle.  
       FIG. 21  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment which has attached a ratchet drive head with the socket end of the ratchet in view.  
       FIG. 22  is a side view of the preferred embodiment having attached a ratchet drive head.  
       FIG. 23  is a plan view of the second embodiment having attached a ratchet drive head with the ratchet drive reversing lever in view.  
       FIG. 24  is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the hinge pin with a through-bore for rivet attachment.  
       FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  25 - 25  of  FIG. 24 .  
       FIG. 26  is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the hinge pin with tapped holes for screw attachment.  
       FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional View taken along lines  27 - 27  of  FIG. 26 .  
       FIG. 28  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view taken along the centerline of the hinge pin with a rivet in place and bucked into a mating head.  
       FIG. 29  is a partial isometric view of one of the hinge pin stops completely removed from the invention for clarity.  
       FIG. 30  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view taken along the centerline of the hinge pin with screws attached to hold the hinge pin stops in place.  
       FIG. 31  is a top plan view of the drive head with the depressions illustrated as if it were a cross section view. The view is provided to clearly show the combined round and octagonal hole that interfaces with the hinge pin.  
       FIG. 32  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view of the clevis integrally formed into the first end of the shank forming the bifurcated fork showing the combined round and square hole that interfaces with the hinge pin.  
       FIG. 33  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view of the wrench body yoke with the hinge pin in place in a fully engaged embodiment with the pin rotating in conjunction with the drive head, shown in both the unlocked and locked position.  
       FIG. 34  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view of the wrench body yoke with the hinge pin in Place in a fully engaged embodiment with the pin rotating in conjunction with the drive head, shown in both the unlocked and locked position, except that it is in an opposite hand configuration of  FIG. 33 .  
       FIG. 35  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view of the wrench body yoke with the hinge pin in place in a partially engaged embodiment with the pin stationary relative to the drive head, shown in both the unlocked and locked position.  
       FIG. 36  is an arbitrary cross-sectional view of the wrench body yoke with the hinge pin in place in a partially engaged embodiment with the pin rotating in conjunction with the drive head, shown in both the unlocked and locked position.  
       FIG. 37  is an exploded view of the fifth variation of the slideable hinge pin.  
       FIG. 38  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  38 - 38  of  FIG. 37 .  
       FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  39 - 39  of  FIG. 37 .  
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment and a second embodiment for a hinged socket wrench speed handle. Both embodiments are alike except the second embodiment has an additional pivoting head on the end of the offset shank adjacent to the handle. The preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 23 , with the single pivoting head shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  11 ,  21  and  22 , and the second embodiment with the additional pivoting head shown in  FIGS. 12, 13 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  23 .  
      The offset shank  20 , in either embodiment, which may be round in shape and made of metal, has a first end  22 , a second end  24 , and two opposed bends  26  that are integrally formed or forged during fabrication. The bends  26  are of equal angles from 10 degrees to 90 degrees, with 45 degrees being preferred, and the first end  22  and second end  24  are parallel in each opposed direction, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  11 . A clevis  28  is integrally formed into the first end  22  of the shank, thus forming a bifurcated fork, as illustrated best in  FIG. 11 .  
      In both embodiments, either a square drive head  30  or a ratchet drive head  31  can be pivotally disposed within the shank first end  22 . Both heads  30 ,  31  can be configured to accept wrench sockets. Preferably, the drive heads  30  and  31  are dimensioned to fit a conventional ¼ inch, ⅜ inch and ½ inch drive however, other sizes may be included and used with equal ease (such as metric sizes). The square drive head is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 ,  11 - 14  and  18 - 20 , while the ratchet drive head is shown in  FIGS. 21, 22  and  23 . For brevity, the remainder of this disclosure will only make reference to the square drive head  30 , which also applies to the ratchet drive head  31 .  
      The assembly of the drive head  30  into the clevis  28  allows an angular position retaining means which comprises means to intersect rotation with at least five discrete positions, with a total displacement of 180 degrees, as defined by the utilization of a spring-loaded detent ball  32 . The ball  32  is located within a bore  34  in the bifurcated fork, and the drive head  30  contains a plurality of coequally spaced depressions  36 , with 45 degrees being preferred, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 6  and  11 , however any number of equal spaces may be employed with like ease and utility. The detent ball  32  intersects with the depressions  36  holding the drive head  30  in specific angular positions. The invention can also easily be adjusted by hand when another angle is desired. It should be noted that the drive head  30  contains a spring-loaded drive detent  38  for holding sockets in place, which is Well known in the art and in common usage.  
      The square drive head  30  is rotatably held between the jaws of the forked Clevis  28  with a slidable hinge pin  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 7, 8 ,  11 ,  24 - 30  and  33 - 36 , thereby permitting the drive head to pivotally rotate and lock within the confines of the clevis  28 . Securement means to hold the hinge pin  40  in position from sliding from one side to the other is provided, as shown in  FIGS. 3, 11 , and  14 , by the constant lateral urging of the spring loaded detent ball  32 .  
      A hinge pin  40  is disposed through at least one square drive head  30 , or ratchet drive head  31 , and the clevis  23  bifurcated fork, permitting the drive head  30  to pivotally rotate and lock within the confines of the clevis  28 . The hinge pin  40  is slideable and held in position by lateral urging of the spring-loaded detent ball  32 , as previously discussed. There are five variations of the slidable hinge pin  40  as shown in cross-sectional of  FIGS. 33-42  with the preferred variation illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  7 - 14 ,  18 - 24 ,  25 ,  28  and  33 .  
      In the first four variations the invention utilize a hinge pin  40  that has metallic body  66  with at least one round segment  68  and at least one square segment  70  also means for retaining the hinge pin  40  within the hinged socket wrench speed handle. Both the square and ratchet drive head  30  and  31  contains a combined round and octagonal hole  72  therethrough, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 11 ,  14  and  31 . The reason that the hole  72  is described as being combined round and octagonal is that a round hole is bored first and two square holes are broached within the round hole leaving internal intervening points radially truncated such that the round segment  63  of the hinge pin body  66  may slide easily inside without interference while leaving the outside points sharp to interface with the square segment  70 .  
      The clevis  28  has a combined round and square hole  74  through each clevis fork, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 32 , such that when the hinge pin  40  is manually urged in a first direction the pin  40  is retained in the drive head  30  or  31  and rotates freely within the clevis  28 . When the hinge pin  40  is urged in an opposite second direction the square segment  70  intersects with the shank clevis  28  locking the drive head  30  or  31  in place.  
      The combined round and octagonal hole  72  in the heads  30  and  31  each have its inner angular apex shaved off by the introduction of a round portion  72   a  within the hex hole as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . This arrangement allows the round segment of the hinge pin to interface with only the round portion  72   a  of the hole instead of the sharp inside corners of the octagonal shape if the hole were not present. This embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6B .  
      The means for retaining the hinge pin  40  within the hinged socket wrench speed handle are presented in three embodiments, both acceptable deviations as they each accomplish the same task only in a different manner. The preferred embodiment of the retaining means utilizes a bore  76  in the hinge pin body  66  running completely through from end to end, as shown pictorially in  FIGS. 8 and 28 . A rivet  78  is disposed within the bore  76 , with the rivet head larger in diameter than the combined round and square hole  74  through each fork of the clevis  28 . The rivet  78  forms a limiting restriction retaining the hinge pin  40  in the fork clevis  28 . The unheaded end of the rivet  78  is bucked forming a similar head.  FIG. 11  shows the unheaded end dotted and  FIGS. 10, 28  and  33 - 36  illustrate the head bucked.  
      The second embodiment of the means for retaining the hinge pin  40  within the hinged socket wrench speed handle is illustrated in  FIGS. 26, 27 ,  29  and  30 , wherein the hinge pin  40  includes a threaded extended neck  80  on each end. A hinge pin stop  82 , shown by itself in  FIG. 29 , is disposed on each end of the neck  80  and is attached with a screw  84  fastened within the threads of the neck  80 . the hinge pin stops  82  also have a larger diameter than the combined round and square hole  74  through each fork of the clevis  82 , forming a limiting restriction retaining the hinge pin  40  in the clevis fork. In both embodiments of the hinge pin retaining means the head of the rivet  78  and the hinge pin stop  82  are round and may be contoured to follow the shape of the outside surface of the clevis  28 . The third embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 37-42  with a retaining ring  52  holding the hinge pin  40  in place.  
      As stated previously there are five variations of the slideable hinge pin  40 , with four shown in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 33-36 , all of which are acceptable as far as function is concerned, the difference being in the rotation of the pin and the amount of engagement between the elements. The preferred variation is illustrated in  FIG. 33 , and is also shown in the balance of the drawings, consists of a fully engaged rotating hinge pin  40  with alternating two round segments  68  and two square segments  70 . It will be noted that the square segments  70  have ends or points that extend beyond the diameter of the round segments  68  which lock into the holes  72  and  74  of the clevis  28  and drive heads  30  and  31 , whereas the round segments rotate freely. The unlocked illustration of  FIG. 33  shows the pin  40  extending to the left of the clevis  28  with a square segment  70  completely on the outside and the adjoining round segment engaging the combined round and square hole  74  of the clevis  28 . The adjacent second square segment  70  securely interfaces with the combined round and octagonal hole  72  in the drive head  30  or  31  with the last round segment  68  rotating within the clevis  28 . It will be clearly seen that the drive head  30  or  31  is secured into the square segment  70  embracing the pin  40  which, in combination, is free to rotate as the round segments are configured to revolve and slide easily within the drive head and clevis holes  72  and  74 . To lock the pin  40  in place, the pin simply slid to the right by manually pushing on the head, where the opposite action takes place with both the pin and drive head in contact with a square segment  70  locking the two elements tightly together. As explained previously the hinge pin  40  is held in place by the constant lateral urging of the spring loaded detent ball  32  in the depressions  36  on the drive head  30  or  31 .  
       FIG. 34  illustrates basically the same configuration as the preferred embodiment except it is left hand or opposite in its function which in the unlocked position the head is flush with the left side of the clevis  28  and protrudes on the right. The functioning of this variation is the same fully engaged type with the pin  40  rotating within the clevis and drive head.  
       FIG. 35  depicts a partially engaged variation with the pin  40  stationary. There is only one round segment  68  and two square segments  70  that function in the unlocked condition by having the square segments in contact with the clevis  28  eliminating rotation while the round segment  63  permits the drive head  30  or  31  to move freely. When the pin  40  is slid to the right the two square segments interface with the clevis  28  fully on the left side and partially on the drive head and right side of the clevis locking both together.  
      The variation shown in  FIG. 36  is like the previous configuration except it utilizes two round segments  60  and one square segment  70 . When unlocked the square segment interface with the drive head  30  or  31  rotating the pin  40 , when manually pushed to the left the square segment  70  partially engages both drive head and right side of the clevis locking them together.  
      It will be noted that five positions of the retaining means are shown employing the spring-loaded detent ball  32  however, the invention is not restricted to this specific number as any number of intervening polygonal depressions  36  may be easily utilized in incremental spacing. The drive head securement means is shown in the drawings and described as utilizing a square or polygonal shank  46  and an octagonal or polygonal depression  56 , a combination of one or more round segments  68  and one or more square segments  70 , to employ any polygonal shape in both elements. Thus as long as the depressions have a double amount of facets as that of the shank increasing the number of positions available for the angular displacement of the drive head  30  within the clevis  28 , still falling within the bounds of this invention.  
      The fifth variation is illustrated in  FIGS. 37-39  and differs only slightly than the other four in the hinge pin  40  configuration.  
      The hinge pin  40  of the fifth variation is shown removed from the invention for clarity in  FIGS. 38 and 39  and consists of a round body  42  with a rivet  78 .  
      The hinge pin  40  penetrates the Clevis  28  through a combined round and square hole  74  in one fork of the clevis  28  and a round hole  86  in the other fork. This arrangement permits locking the clevis  28  as the round segment of the hinge pin  40  is larger in diameter than the flats on the square segment.  
      In all variations a rotatable handle  58  is attached to the second end  24  of the shank  20 , thereby permitting rotation of the wrench upon reciprocation of the handle, and radial turning when urged at right angles to the head  30 . There are a number of methods that permit the handle  58  to reciprocate with the preferred method illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The handle  58  is normally fabricated of a type of thermoplastic and it includes a bore  83  therein that does not penetrate completely through. A handle sleeve  90 , that is slightly larger in inside diameter than the offset shank  20 , is placed over the shank  20  and the shank includes a threaded hole  92  in the end, in which a screw  94  retains a washer  96  abutting tightly against the end of the shank  20 . The entire assembly is pressed into place since the sleeve  90  is slightly larger than the bore  88  and the washer  96  has a smaller outside diameter than that of the sleeve  90 . The assembly is forced into the bore  88  until the head of the screw  94  almost touches the end of the bore  88  precluding the screw from ever backing out. It may be clearly seen that the handle  58  is free to rotate and the clearance between the sleeve  88  and shank  20  is such that with a small amount of lubricant added to the interface the rotation is easy and permanent. A second method may also be employed which is simple and easy, however it does not have the robust and durable features as the preferred embodiment.  
      The handle  58  in the second method is rotatably held in place by a round retaining ring  60  which interfaces with an internal groove  62  in the handle and an external groove  64  in the shank  20 . These items are well known in the art for attachment of handles to tools. The handle  58  may be cylindrical, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  11 , or contoured, as illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14  and  18 ,  19  and  20 .  
      During use the speed handle may be utilized in two separate ways. First, when fastening a bolt or nut, an appropriate socket is attached and the hinge pin  40  is pushed to the side, with the removable head  52  contiguous with the clevis  28 . The workpiece is started on its threads manually or inserted into the socket and rotated by spinning the offset handle in a circular direction. When the workpiece is snug, the tool is pushed downward to a convenient position in a single smooth motion. Tightening is then completed by rotation at the appropriate angle, using the handle as a lever arm. The second method of operation is to lock the drive head  30  in place by manually pushing the pin  40  until the rivet head  78  or hinge pin stop  82  is adjacent to the clevis  28  and using the tool as a flex handle or a bull handle.  
      The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14 ,  17 - 20  and  23 , and is basically the same as the preferred embodiment except a second clevis  28  is added to the second end  24  of an offset shank  20   a . The offset shank  20   a  is shown by itself in  FIG. 17 , and the clevis  28  is identical however, the bends  26  are a full 90 degrees and the overall length is illustrated shorter than the drawings of the preferred embodiment. This difference in configuration bares no weight as it will be noted that the angles may be from 10 to 90 degrees and the length is of little importance, as it depends upon the size of the drive and the wrenches ultimate utility. A second head is mounted in the second clevis  28  and differs in that it attaches directly to the handle  58 , therefore it is designated a body head  44  instead of the drive head  30 . This body head  44  has the same radial shape and flat sides, including the depressions  36 , as the drive head, except instead of the square drive end, a cylindrical portion extends outward and interfaces with the handle  58  in the same manner as the second end  24  of the preferred shank  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The cylindrical portion of the head  44  includes an internal groove  62  and interfaces with the same round retaining ring  60 , thereby permitting the handle to rotate freely on the head extended portion.  
      Since the body head  44  functions in the same manner as the square drive head  30 , and the same hinge pin  40  is utilized along with the head detent  38  assuring the angular position of the head, the wrench may now have the handle  58  adjusted to the optimum position for leverage and convenience, as illustrated in  FIGS. 18-20 . It will be plainly seen that the utility of the wrench, by spinning the offset handle in a circular direction to snug the workpiece is not altered in any way, only its usefulness is enhanced by relocating the angle of the handle to best suit the particular circumstance. For example, the drive head  30  can be attached to one end of a straight rod, wherein the rod&#39;s opposite end has a T-handle connected which functions as a speed handle for rotating the wrench.  
      While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.