Ratchet wrench with pivotable head

A power ratchet wrench comprising:

• a handle for gripping and holding the wrench;
• a head having a ratchet mechanism including a drive shaft capable of powered rotation about its axis;
• a motor disposed in the handle for driving the ratchet mechanism;
• a pin received through and extending transversely of the handle and head, the pin interconnecting the handle and head and being adapted to permit pivoting movement of the handle and head relative to each other about the transversely extending longitudinal axis of the pin to any of a multiplicity of selected relative angular orientations;
• a transmission constructed to transmit power from the motor to the ratchet mechanism through the pin interconnection of the handle and head, the transmission comprising a first gear connected to the motor and mounted on the handle for rotation relative to the handle, a second gear enmeshed with the first gear and mounted on the pin for rotation on the axis of the pin, and a third gear enmeshed with the second gear and connected to the ratchet mechanism, the third gear being mounted on the head for rotation relative to the head, the first, second and third gears being constructed to remain enmeshed as the head and handle pivot relative to one another about the pin axis.

A wrench comprising:

• a handle for gripping and holding the wrench;
• a head;
• the head and handle having openings generally in registration with each other;
• and
• a pin received through the openings and extending transversely of the handle and head, the pin interconnecting the handle and head and being adapted to permit pivoting movement of the handle and head relative to each other about the transversely extending longitudinal axis of the pin to any of a multiplicity of selected relative angular orientations;
• the head and handle being operatively interconnected to prevent relative translational movement between the head and handle in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin;
• the pin including a first section sized and shaped for locking the handle and head together in selected ones of a plurality of angular orientations about the pin axis and a second section sized and shaped for permitting free relative pivoting motion of the handle and head, the pin being mounted for sliding motion relative to the head and handle in a direction transverse of the handle and head between a locked position in which the first section of the pin engages the handle and head and locks them together, and an unlocked position in which the first section does not interengage the handle and head so that the head and handle are unlocked for relative pivoting motion about the pin axis.