Hinged socket wrench speed handle

An improved hinged socket wrench speed handle for tool sockets of the type having:

• a) an offset shank having a first end and a second end,
• b) a clevis that is integrally formed into the shanks first end and second end, forming a bifurcated fork,
• c) a first head defining a drive head that is pivotally disposed within the shank's first end bifurcated fork to accept wrench sockets,
• d) a second head defining a handle head that is pivotally disposed within the shank's second end bifurcated fork to accept a handle,
• e) a hinge pin disposed through both the handle head and the second end of the clevis bifurcated fork, thus permitting each head to pivotally rotate and lock within the confines of its respective clevis, and
• f) a rotatable handle attached to the handle head for rotating the wrench upon reciprocation of the handle, and radial turning when urged at substantially right angles to pivoted drive head, wherein the improvement comprises:
• said hinge pin having a body with at least one round segment and at least one square segment, and means for retaining the hinge pin within the hinged socket wrench speed handle, wherein said round segment is larger in diameter than across the flats of said square segment, wherein said drive head having a combined round and octagonal hole therethrough, and said clevis having a combined round and square hole through at least one fork of the clevis, such that when the hinge pin is manually urged in a first direction the pin is retained in the drive head and rotates freely within the clevis, and when the hinge pin is urged in an opposite second direction the square segment intersects with the shank clevis, thereby locking the drive head in place.

In a method producing a hinged socket wrench speed handle for tool sockets of the type having the steps of:

• a) producing an offset shank,
• b) forming an integral clevis within the offset shank, with said clevis having at least one bifurcated fork,
• c) attaching at least one pivoting head within at least one bifurcated fork,
• d) inserting a hinge pin through at least one head and at least one clevis bifurcated fork, and
• e) attaching a rotable handle to the offset shank for rotating the wrench upon reciprocation of the handle, and radial turning when urged at substantially right angles to the pivoted drive head, the improvement comprising:
• (1) forming a combined round and octagonal hole through said pivoting head by boring a round hole through the pivoting head, and
• (2) broaching two square holes at an equal distance apart within the round hole leaving internal intervening points radially truncated such that a hinge pin having a body with at least one round segment and at least one square segment may slide easily inside the pivoting head without interference while leaving the outside points sharp when interfacing with the square segments of the hinge pin.