Patent Publication Number: US-2018051774-A1

Title: Lateral Torque Extension Assembly and Methods of Use

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates generally to a lateral torque extension assembly and particularly to a lateral torque extension assembly for adjustable laterally driving input and output drive sources. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tools are generally known and may be used for a great many purposes. Some of the more specific purposes may be for the application of rotational or torque related forces to threaded members, such as nuts, bolts, screws, etc. In order to apply these rotational forces, different types of tool designs exist based on the require amount of force or the location of the force. It may also be the case that the threaded members may not be in easily accessible locations. As an example, in an engine system, housing bolts, spark plugs and oxygen sensors are commonly threaded into a housing in difficult to reach areas of an engine system. When a user wishes to replace a spark plug, for example, it may be necessary to remove components of an air conditioning system of an associated automobile. Even where it is physically possible to install or remove certain threaded members, it may be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and/or or even dangerous. Since applications frequently require adjustable tool and tool assembly setups based on location of threaded members, for example, there exists a need for an adaptable tool assembly for the application of rotational forces. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method and apparatus for a lateral torque extension assembly for tools is disclosed. The assembly includes a gear train comprising gears aligned along a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes an input drive body for receiving a rotational drive source and imparting a rotational force to one of the gears in the gear train. The assembly includes an output drive assembly having an output drive gear and an output drive body for imparting a rotational force laterally to a threaded member. The assembly has various configurations, including a configuration with the output drive body mounted to a last one of the gears in the gear train and the output drive body mounted to an intermediate gear in the gear train. The gear train may also be configured to accommodate two drive sources. 
     One embodiment is directed to a lateral torque extension assembly for laterally extending torque from a driving source to a socket. The extension assembly includes an arm having a linear, elongated shape, with a first arm end and a second arm end. The extension assembly also includes a gear train with a first gear, a second gear, and at least one intermediate gear that are each mounted to the arm with an elongated connector. The gear train is aligned along the arm in a first plane, and further aligned such that a center point of each of the gears is aligned in a straight line along a longitudinal axis with the first gear mounted proximate to the first arm end and the second gear mounted proximate to the second arm end. The elongated connectors extend beyond the first plane, and each gear has a through-hole at the center point. The extension assembly also includes an input drive body having a polygonal-shaped cross section with the input drive body fixedly attached to the first gear and the input drive body extends beyond the first plane. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly also includes an output drive assembly that includes an output drive gear having a through-hole at a center point. The output drive assembly also includes an output drive bracket having a first bracket end and a second bracket end and with a first through-hole proximate to the first bracket end and a second through-hole proximate to the second bracket end. The second through-hole is aligned with the through-hole of the output drive gear. The output drive assembly also includes an output drive body having a polygonal-shaped cross section and is attached to the output drive gear such that rotation of the output drive gear causes rotation of the output drive body. The output drive assembly is mounted to the extension assembly in one of first and second configurations. The first configuration includes the output drive bracket mounted to the second gear with the elongated connector positioned through the first through-hole of the output drive bracket and the through-hole of the second gear with the output gear aligned in the first plane and engaged with the second gear and the output drive body aligned perpendicular to the first plane and extending outward beyond the second gear. The second configuration includes the output drive bracket mounted to one of the intermediate gears with the elongated connector positioned through the first through-hole of the output drive bracket and the through-hole of the intermediate gear with the output gear aligned in the first plane and engaged with the intermediate gear and the output drive body aligned perpendicular to the first plane and extending outward beyond the intermediate gear. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly may include the output drive gear positioned at various angular orientations relative to the second gear in the first plane. The lateral torque extension assembly may also include the output drive gear positioned at various angular orientations relative to the second gear in the first plane. The elongated connectors of the lateral torque extension assembly may also be threaded members. The output drive body may also be hexagonally, spline or square shaped and in either a male or female configuration. The output drive assembly may include an extended output drive bracket having a linear, elongated shape. 
     In this embodiment, the input drive body may be hexagonally, spline or square shaped and in either a male or female configuration. The input drive body may also be mounted to one of the at least one intermediate gear via the elongated connector such that an applied rotational force to the input drive body imparts a rotational force to the mounted intermediate gear. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly may also include the output drive assembly with an extended output drive bracket. The extended output drive bracket has a first end with a first through-hole and a second end with a second through-hole. This output drive assembly may also include a second gear train including a first gear, a second gear, and at least one intermediate gear that are mounted to the extended output drive bracket with an elongated connector. The second gear train is aligned along the extended output drive bracket in the first plane. The output drive assembly may also include an output drive body with a polygonal-shaped cross section and fixedly attached to either the second gear or one of the at least one intermediate gear of the second gear train such that the output drive body extends beyond the first plane. The gears of the second gear train are aligned such that a center point of each of the gears is aligned along the extended output drive bracket in a straight line along a second longitudinal axis. The extended output drive bracket has a through-hole proximate to the first end and is configured to mount to the lateral torque extension assembly according to either of the first and second configurations. 
     Another embodiment is directed to, a method of using a torque device to drive first and second fasteners. The method includes rotating an input drive body imparting rotation to a first gear of a gear train that is attached to the input drive body. The method also includes rotating gears of a gear train that are engaged with and that laterally extend outward away from the first gear with each of the gears of the gear train including gear teeth that extend around the periphery of the gear. The method also includes rotating an output gear that is engaged with one of the gears in the gear train with the output gear including an output drive body that is offset from the output gear. The method also includes rotating the first fastener that is engaged with the output drive body. The method also includes disconnecting the output gear from the gear in the gear train and connecting the output gear to a second one of the gears in the gear train. The method also includes rotating the input drive body and rotating the first gear attached to the input drive body and rotating the second fastener that is engaged with the output drive body. 
     In this embodiment, the method may also include connecting a second input drive body to a second one of the gears of the gear train. The method may also include connecting the output gear to an odd numbered one of the gears in the gear train, the odd numbered one of the gears been an odd number of gears away from the gear connected to the input drive body. The method may also include positioning the output gear such that the output gear is transverse from a longitudinal axis defining the center point of the gears of the gear train. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a lateral torque extension assembly for lateral torque extension from a driving source to a socket using a second input drive source. The extension assembly includes an arm having a linear, elongated shape with a first arm end and a second arm end. The extension assembly also includes a gear train with a first gear, a second gear, and at least one intermediate gear. Each of the gears is mounted to the arm with an elongated connector. The gear train is aligned along the arm in a first plane and further aligned such that a center point of each of the gears is aligned in a straight line along a longitudinal axis with the first gear mounted proximate to the first arm end and the second gear mounted proximate to the second arm end. The elongated connectors extend beyond the first plane and each gear has a through-hole at the center point. The extension assembly also includes a first input drive body having a polygonal-shaped cross section with the first input drive body fixedly attached to either the first gear or an intermediate gear and the first input drive body extends beyond the first plane. The extension assembly also includes a second input drive body having a polygonal-shaped cross section with the second input drive body fixedly attached to a different one of the at least one intermediate gears than the first input drive body. The second input drive body extends beyond the first plane. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly also includes an output drive assembly that includes an output drive gear having a through-hole at a center point. The lateral torque extension assembly also includes an output drive bracket having a first bracket end and a second bracket end. The output drive bracket includes a first through-hole proximate to the first bracket end and a second through-hole proximate to the second bracket end. The second through-hole is aligned with the through-hole of the output drive gear. The output drive assembly also includes an output drive body having a polygonal-shaped cross section and being attached to the output drive gear such that rotation of the output drive gear causes rotation of the output drive body. The output drive assembly is configured to be mounted to the extension assembly in one of first and second configurations. The first configuration includes the output drive bracket mounted to the second gear with the elongated connector positioned through the first through-hole of the output drive bracket and the through-hole of the second gear. The output gear is aligned in the first plane and is engaged with the second gear and the output drive body aligned perpendicular to the first plane and extends outward beyond the second gear. The second configuration includes the output drive bracket mounted to one of the intermediate gears with the elongated connector positioned through the first through-hole of the output drive bracket and the through-hole of the intermediate gear. The output gear is aligned in the first plane and is engaged with the intermediate gear. The output drive body is aligned perpendicular to the first plane and extends outward beyond the intermediate gear. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly may include the output drive gear positioned at various angular orientations relative to the second gear in the first plane. The lateral torque extension assembly may also include the output drive gear positioned at various angular orientations relative to the second gear in the first plane. The elongated connectors of the lateral torque extension assembly may also be threaded members. The output drive body may also be hexagonally, spline or square shaped and in either a male or female configuration. The output drive assembly may include an extended output drive bracket having a linear, elongated shape. 
     In this embodiment, the input drive body may be hexagonally, spline or square shaped and in either a male or female configuration. The input drive body may also be mounted to one of the at least one intermediate gear via the elongated connector such that an applied rotational force to the input drive body imparts a rotational force to the mounted intermediate gear. 
     In this embodiment, the lateral torque extension assembly may also include output drive assembly with an extended output drive bracket. The extended output drive bracket has a first end with a first through-hole and a second end with a second through-hole. This output drive assembly may also include a second gear train including a first gear, a second gear, and at least one intermediate gear that are mounted to the extended output drive bracket with an elongated connector. The second gear train is aligned along the extended output drive bracket in the first plane. The output drive assembly may also include an output drive body with a polygonal-shaped cross section and fixedly attached to either the second gear or one of the at least one intermediate gear of the second gear train such that the output drive body extends beyond the first plane. The gears of the second gear train are aligned such that a center point of each of the gears are aligned along the extended output drive bracket in a straight line along a second longitudinal axis. The extended output drive bracket has a through-hole proximate to the first end and is configured to mount to the lateral torque extension assembly according to either of the first and second configurations. 
     The various aspects of the various embodiments may be used alone or in any combination, as is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and are not limited by the accompanying figures with like references indicating like elements. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an example side view of a lateral torque extension assembly; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of the lateral torque extension assembly of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the lateral torque extension assembly in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the lateral torque extension assembly in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the lateral torque extension assembly with an extended output drive assembly; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the lateral torque extension assembly using a second input drive for the application of rotational forces; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart of a method of use of the lateral torque extension assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application discloses a lateral torque extension assembly that includes a gear train with a plurality of gears aligned along a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes an input drive body for receiving a rotational drive source (e.g., wrench) and imparting a rotational force to one of the gears in the gear train. The assembly includes an output drive assembly having an output drive gear and an output drive body that is offset from the input drive body and aligned along the longitudinal axis for imparting a rotational force to a threaded member. The assembly has a plurality of configurations. One configuration includes the output drive body mounted to the last gear in the gear train and another configuration with the output drive body mounted to one of the intermediate gears in the gear train. The gear train may also be configured to accommodate two drive sources. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a lateral torque extension assembly  100 . The lateral torque extension assembly  100  includes an extension assembly  102  and an output drive assembly  104 . The extension assembly  102  may be used to laterally transfer rotational torque through a gear train  106 , where the gear train includes gears  108 . The extension assembly  102  also includes an arm  110  having a linear, elongated shape forming a supportive base for mounting each of the gears  108  in the gear train  106 . The gears  108  of the gear train  106  are mounted in a common shared plane  112 . The arm  110  also includes a first arm end  114  and a second arm end  116 . 
     The gear train  106  includes a first gear  118 , a second gear  120 , and at least one intermediate gear  122  that are each mounted to the arm  110  with an elongated connector  124 . The gears  108  of the gear train  106  may also be aligned linearly such that a center point  126  of each of the gears  108  are aligned in a straight line along a longitudinal axis  128 . The first gear  118  may be mounted proximate to the first arm end  114  and the second gear  120  may be mounted proximate to the second arm end  116 . 
     The elongated connectors  124  may be threaded members such as screws, bolts, rivets, etc. The elongated connectors  124  may be any connector that functions to attach any of the gears to the arm  110  in either a fixed or removable fashion. The elongated connectors  124  may be aligned perpendicular to the first plane  112  and extend beyond the first plane  112  so as to accommodate a securing body, such as a nut or rivet cap which secures the elongated connectors  124  to the extension assembly  102 . Each gear  108  may have a through-hole  130  at the center point  126  of each gear  108 , where each through-hole  130  may be sized to accommodate one of the elongated connectors  124 . 
     The extension assembly  102  may also include an input drive body  132 . The input drive body  132  may include a polygonal-shaped cross section  134 . The input drive body  132  may be in either a male or female configuration with either the male or female configuration having a polygonal-shaped cross section  134 . The polygonal-shaped cross section  134  may include any number of sides, as an example, the cross section  134  may be hexagonally or square shaped and may be of any size or dimension. As an additional example, the input drive body  132  may also be a spline drive as described herein. The input drive body  132  may be attached in a removable manner to the first gear  118 . The input drive body  132  also extends beyond the first plane  112 . The input drive body  132  may also be mounted to one of the intermediate gears  122  via its elongated connector  124 . In each of the various configurations as a rotational force is applied to the input drive body  132 , a corresponding rotational force is then imparted to the mounted gear  118 ,  122 . This applied rotational force then imparts a rotational force to the remaining gears  108  in the gear train  106 . 
     The input drive body  132  may also include a male/female square connection fitting (also referred to as a square drive). As an example, the sizes of the square drives may include ¼″, ⅜″, ⅝″, ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1½″, 2½″ and 3½″ square drive sizes, and both # 4  and # 5  spline drives specified in ANSI B107 specifications. The square drive on the input drive body  132  may attach to a rotation drive source such as a socket wrench or ratchet. The input drive body  132  may also have a male or female connection fitting which may be hexagonal in shape, or more commonly referred to as a “6-point”. Any type of cross sectional shapes of the input drive body  132  may be used. The input drive body  132  may be driven by being attached to a rotation drive source via the connection fitting. This connection fitting provides for a wide variety of types and sizes of drive sources. The input drive body  132  may include a retaining ring with O-ring and pin type, single piece moulded retaining rings, a locking pin, or friction ball. The retaining ring with O-ring and pin, the single piece moulded retaining rings, locking pin or friction ball may be formed into either the input drive body  132  or the drive source to facilitate attachment. Some common hand ratchets (e.g., a rotational drive source) employ a quick release button on their top for quick socket release of smaller sockets. This same type of mechanism may also be incorporated into the input drive body  132 . 
     The lateral torque extension assembly  100  also includes the output drive assembly  104 . The assembly  104  includes an output drive gear  136  having a through-hole  138  at a center point. The output drive assembly  104  also includes an output drive bracket  140  with a first end  142  and a second end  144 . The output drive bracket  140  includes a first through-hole  146  proximate to the first end  142  and a second through-hole  148  proximate to the second end  144 . The second through-hole  148  may be aligned with the through-hole  138  of the output drive gear  136 . 
     The output drive assembly  104  also includes an output drive body  150  having a polygonal-shaped cross section. The output drive body  150  is either fixedly or removably attached to the output drive gear  136  such that rotation of the output drive gear  136  causes rotation of the output drive body  150 . Similar to the input drive body  132 , the output drive body  150  may be hexagonally or square shaped so as to accommodate a socket or other fastener driving means. Additionally, the output drive body  150  may be a spline drive, as described herein. 
     The output drive body  150  may also include a male/female square connection fitting (also referred to as the square drive). As an example, the sizes of square drives may include ¼″, ⅜″, ⅝″, ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1½″, 2½″ and 3½″ square drive sizes, additionally # 4  and # 5  spline drives specified in ANSI B107 specifications. The square drive drives sockets which may be hexagonal, or more commonly referred to as a “6-point”. Other types of sockets with various shaped cross sections may also be driven by the output drive body  150 . This wide range of square drive sizes provides for a wide variety of socket types and sizes to suit small to very large nuts, bolts and other threaded members. In the sockets, some square drives have a through-hole to attach the socket to the output drive body  150  using a retaining ring with O-ring and pin type, single piece moulded retaining rings, a locking pin, or friction ball. The retaining ring with O-ring and pin, the single piece moulded retaining rings, locking pin or friction ball may be formed into either the output drive body  150  or the socket to facilitate attachment. Some common hand ratchets (e.g., a rotational drive source) employ a quick release button on their top for quick socket release of smaller sockets. This same type of mechanism may also be incorporated into the output drive assembly. 
     A socket may be a cylinder which has a female six- or twelve-point recessed opening sized to fit over the common male hexagonal head of a bolt/nut fastener or other threaded member. The opposite end of the socket may include a standardized (ANSI B107, ISO, or other consensus standard) square recess to accept the size of the output drive body&#39;s square drive size. The sockets are interchangeable and may accommodate any fastener type. The principal advantage of interchangeable sockets is that, instead of a separate wrench for each of the many different fastener sizes and types, only separate sockets are needed for each size and type. Because of the versatility of the socket, nearly all screw, bolt and fastener types have sockets of different types made to fit their bolt or nut shapes. 
     The output drive assembly  104  may also be configured to be mounted to the extension assembly  102  in one of a plurality of configurations. Another configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , includes the output drive bracket  140  mounted to the second gear  120  with the elongated connector  124  positioned through the first through-hole  146  of the output drive bracket  140  and the through-hole  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , of the second gear  120 . The output drive gear  136  may be aligned in the first plane  112 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , and may be engaged with the second gear  120 . The output drive body  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , may be aligned perpendicular to the first plane  112  and extend outward beyond the second gear  120 . In this embodiment, the output drive gear  136  may be positioned at different angular orientations around the second gear  120  in the first plane  112  while remaining engaged with the second gear  120 . The different angular orientations around the second gear  120  may vary up to 90 degrees in either direction relative to the longitudinal axis  128 . Thus, the output drive body  150  may be positioned so as to accommodate various positions of the fastener or threaded member relative to the extension assembly  102 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a configuration with the output drive assembly  104  mounted to the extension assembly  102  such that the output drive bracket  140  may be mounted with the elongated connector  124  positioned through the first through-hole  146  of the output drive bracket  140  and the through-hole  130  of an intermediate gear  122 . The output drive gear  136  may be aligned in the first plane  112  and may be engaged with the intermediate gear  122 . The output drive body  150  may be aligned perpendicular to the first plane  112  and extend outward beyond the intermediate gear  122 . 
     In the configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the output drive gear  136  may be positioned at various angular orientations on one side of the gear train  106  in the first plane  112  while remaining engaged with the intermediate gear  122 . Similar to the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , by repositioning and reengaging the output drive gear  136  to one of the intermediate gears  122 , a virtually unlimited number of positions may be achieved for imparting rotational forces to threaded members or fasteners. Additionally, the different angular orientations around the intermediate gear  122  may be any angular orientation such that the output drive gear  136  does not interfere with a neighboring gear  108  that is adjacent to the engaged intermediate gear  122 . 
     The output drive assembly  104  may have different lengths to engage with fasteners that are located different distances away from the longitudinal axis  128 . This may include the output drive bracket  140  having different lengths, and one or more additional gears located along the output drive bracket  140 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a torque assembly  100  with an extended output drive assembly  402 . The extended output drive assembly  402  includes an extended output drive bracket  404  having a linear, elongated shape. The extended output drive bracket  404  includes a first end  405  with a first through-hole  146  and a second end  406  with a second through-hole  148 . The extended output drive assembly  402  includes a second gear train  407  including a first gear  408 , a second gear  410 , and at least one intermediate gear  412  with each of the gears mounted to the extended output drive bracket  404  with an elongated connector  124 . The second gear train  407  is aligned along the extended output drive bracket  404  in the first plane  112  such that the first gear  408  engages with a gear on the gear train  106 . 
     The extended output drive assembly  402  includes an output drive body  150 . The body  150  may include various shapes, including a polygonal-shaped cross section. The output drive body  150  may be either fixedly or removably engaged with the various gears along the assembly  402 . This provides for positioning the body  150  at a location to engage with the member or fastener that is to be worked on. 
     The gears of the second gear train  407  may be aligned such that a center point of each of the gears is aligned along the extended output drive bracket  404  in a straight line along a second longitudinal axis  414 . The extended output drive bracket  404  may include a through-hole  416  proximate to the first end  405  and configured to mount to the lateral extension assembly  102  as described in accordance with  FIG. 2 or 3 . Thus, the extended output drive assembly  402  may be moved or repositioned in a similar fashion to the output drive assembly  104  as discussed in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     In the various configurations, the device may include one or more output drive assemblies  104  or extended output drive assemblies  402 . The different combinations of components provide for accommodating one or more threaded members or fasteners in more difficult locations or requiring an extend reach may be accommodated. 
     The extension assembly  102  may include a single drive source as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-4 . The single drive source provides for the application of force to impart a rotational force to the gear train  106 . The extension assembly  102  may also be configured to receive forces from two or more different drive sources.  FIG. 5  includes an embodiment to accommodate two force input sources. The assembly  102  includes the first input drive body  132  to receive a first drive force and a second input drive body  502  to receive a second drive force. 
     The second input drive body  502  may have a polygonal-shaped cross section and extends beyond the first plane  112  to engage with a drive source. The second input drive body  502  is either fixedly or removably attached to a different one of the intermediate gears  122  than the first input drive body  132 . This embodiment applies rotational force to the gear train  106  through each of the first input drive body  132  and the second input drive body  502 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , input drive assemblies,  132 ,  502  may be attached to the gear train  106  as desired. For example, depending upon the confines of space, a user may desire to loosen a bolt by rotating a wrench attached to the first input drive body  132 , the user may also attach a wrench to the second input drive body  502  and operate the extension assembly  102  with one hand by converging the drive wrenches together. Connecting input drive bodies  132 ,  502  to adjacent gears allows for sockets, wrenches, etc. to be actuated for torque transmission using one hand. 
     A method  600  of using a torque device to drive first and second fasteners (e.g., nuts, bolts, screws, threaded bodies, etc.) is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The method  600  includes rotating an input drive body which in turn imparts rotation to a connected first gear (block  602 ). The rotation of the first gear causes rotation of one or more additional gears. The additional gears are part of a gear train that is engaged with and that laterally extends outward away from the first gear along a longitudinal axis (block  604 ). Each of the gears includes gear teeth that extend around the periphery of the gear and are engaged with one or more adjacent gears. The rotation of the gears of the gear train causes rotation of an output gear (block  606 ). The output gear includes an offset output drive body. The output drive body is engaged with a first fastener such that the rotation of the input drive body is transferred to the output drive body to turn the first fastener (block  608 ). 
     After turning the first fastener the desired amount, the device can be re-oriented to turn a second fastener. This includes disconnecting the output gear from the gear to which it is connected when working on the first fastener (block  610 ). The output gear is then connected to a different gear along the gear train. This includes engaging the teeth on the output gear with corresponding teeth on the new gear (block  612 ). By disconnecting and re-connecting the output gear to a different one of the gears in the gear train, the lateral torque extension assembly may be adjusted to accommodate different requirements for directing a rotational force to the fasteners. For example, while the extension assembly may be of various lengths, by disconnecting the output drive gear from a first gear and reconnecting it to a different gear, the effective length, reach or configuration for the lateral extension for driving fasteners may be appropriately adjusted. 
     Once the output gear is connected to the new gear, the input drive body is rotated thus causing rotation of the first gear and the gears in the gear train (block  614 ). This rotational force ultimately drives the output drive gear which in turn rotates the second fastener that is engaged with the output drive body (block  616 ). 
     The method  600  may also include connecting a second input drive body, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to one of the gears of the gear train. In this manner, the extension assembly may provide for additional rotational drive force to be applied to the output drive body. 
     The method  600  may also include connecting the output drive gear to an odd numbered one of the gears in the gear train. The odd numbered one of the gears being an odd number of gears away from the gear connected to the input drive body. By connecting the output drive gear to an odd numbered one of the gears in the gear train, the lateral torque extension assembly may drive a fastener or threaded member in the same direction as the rotational force imparted to the input drive gear. 
     Additionally, the output drive gear may also include connecting the output drive gear to an even numbered one of the gears in the gear train. The even numbered one of the gears being an even number of gears away from the gear connected to the input drive body. By connecting the output drive gear to an even numbered one of the gears in the gear train, the lateral torque extension assembly may drive a fastener or threaded member in the opposite direction as the rotational force imparted to the input drive gear. 
     Additionally, the method  600  may include positioning the output drive gear such that it is transverse or offset from the longitudinal axis defining the center point of the gears of the gear train, while the output drive gear remains in the first plane. 
     The present invention may be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.