Patent ID: 7051628

Claim:
An impact wrench having a handle, a housing pivotally secured to the handle by a follower, the follower providing for pivotal movement of the housing relative to the handle along a single pivot axis only and the follower being located between ends of the housing, a socket drive cooperative with the housing, the socket drive being adapted to receive a socket for engagement with a fastener, said follower associated with the housing holding the socket drive in either a first position allowing the wrench to rotate the fastener in a loosening direction or a second position allowing the wrench to rotate the fastener in a tightening direction, the socket drive being biased to maintain the follower in either the first or the second position relative to the socket drive and the socket drive having first and second camming surfaces, whereby, when the housing is struck by an impact implement, the follower is caused to move relative to one of the camming surfaces whereby the socket drive is caused to rotate relative to the housing.