Powered ratchet tool

A powered ratchet tool comprising:

• a housing having a motor housing portion and a gear housing portion;
• a motor disposed within the motor housing portion, the motor including an output spindle driven by the motor about a first axis;
• a head pivotably coupled to the gear housing portion, the head configured to pivot with respect to the gear housing portion about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the head including
• a ratchet mechanism driven by the output spindle, and
• an output drive coupled to the ratchet mechanism and configured to rotate about an output drive axis;
• a gear assembly disposed in the gear housing portion, the gear assembly configured to transmit torque from the motor to the ratchet mechanism to rotate the output drive;
• and
• a collar disposed around the gear housing portion, the collar configured to engage the head to lock the head at a first discrete orientation with respect to the gear housing portion,
• wherein the collar is movable between a first position, in which the collar engages the head to lock the head in the first discrete orientation, and a second position, in which the collar disengages the head to allow the head to freely pivot about the second axis.

A method of locking a head of a powered ratchet tool in a discrete orientation with respect to a housing of the powered ratchet tool, the head configured to pivot with respect to the housing between a plurality of discrete orientations, the powered ratchet tool further including a locking mechanism including a collar disposed around the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, the method comprising:

• biasing the collar into the first position to engage the head to lock the head at a first of the discrete orientations with respect to the housing;
• moving the collar from the first position to the second position to disengage the head and allow the head to freely pivot with respect to the housing;
• pivoting the head to a second of the discrete orientations with respect to the housing;
• moving the collar from the second position to the first position such that the collar engages the head to lock the head at the second of the discrete orientations with respect to the housing.