Abstract:
A luminescent connective apparatus is provided for connecting a wrench with a socket. The luminescent connective apparatus includes a joint defining a tunnel, a lighting device installed in the tunnel and a switch assembly installed on the joint so that the switch assembly is operable in order to turn the lighting device on and off.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a luminescent connective apparatus via which a wrench is connected with an extensive element.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a conventional luminescent wrench includes a handle  60 , a tubular extension element  62  for engagement with the handle  60  and a lighting device  64  put in the tubular extension element  62 . The tubular extension element  62  can be engaged with joints  66  of various sizes. The handle  60  includes an insert  72 . The tubular extension element  62  defines a first chamber  74 , a second chamber  76  communicated with the first chamber  74  and a third chamber  78  communicated with the second chamber  76 . The insert  72  can be put in the first chamber  74 . The lighting device  64  includes a box  80 , a button  82  installed at the box  80 , two batteries  84  put in the box  80 , a cover  86  for keeping the batteries  84  in the box  80  and a post  88  extending from the cover  84  and an LED  90  installed at the post  86 . The box  80  is put in the second chamber  76  while the post  88  extends through the third chamber  78  so that the LED  90  is located outside the third chamber  78 . Each joint  66  includes a first insert  92  and a second insert  94  and defines a tunnel  96 . The first insert  92  can be put in the third chamber  78  while the post  88  extends in the tunnel  96  so that light can be emitted from the LED  90  to the exterior through the tunnel  96 . The second insert  94  can be put in a socket  98  for driving a bolt or nut (not shown). In use, the insert  72  is inserted into the first chamber  74  so as to push the button  82 , thus actuating the LED  90 . However, in use of this conventional luminescent wrench, several problems have been encountered. Firstly, the LED  90  cannot be actuated unless the button  82  is pushed by means of the insert  72 . Once the handle  60  is disengaged from the tubular extension element  62 , the lighting device  64  cannot emit light. Hence, another light source is needed in order to find the tubular extension element  62  in the dark. Secondly, once the handle  60  is engaged with the tubular extension element  62 , the lighting device  64  always emits light no matter it is necessary or not. Thirdly, tubular extension elements of various sizes and, more particularly, lengths are needed in practical use. Each tubular extension element is equipped with a lighting device. The cost of using this conventional luminescent wrench is inevitably high.  
         [0003]     The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a luminescent connective apparatus for connecting a wrench with a socket.  
         [0005]     According to the present invention, a luminescent connective apparatus includes a joint defining a tunnel, a lighting device installed in the tunnel and a switch assembly installed on the joint so that the switch assembly is operable in order to turn the lighting device on and off.  
         [0006]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wrench and a luminescent connective apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the wrench and the luminescent connective apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIGS. 3-6  are cross-sectional views of the wrench and the luminescent connective apparatus of  FIG. 1  in various positions.  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a wrench engaged with a socket by means of a luminescent connective apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a conventional luminescent wrench.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the luminescent wrench of  FIG. 8 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Referring to the  FIGS. 1-6 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a luminescent connective apparatus is used to connect a wrench  50  with a socket  60  or an extensive element (not shown).  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the wrench  50  includes a handle  52 , an annular head  54  formed at an end of the handle  52  and an annular gear  56  rotationally installed at the annular head  54 . The annular head  54  can drive the annular gear  56  in selective one of two directions through a ratcheting device (not shown) arranged between the annular head  54  and the annular gear  56 . The selection between the directions is done by means of a switch  58  connected with the ratcheting device.  
         [0016]     The luminescent connective apparatus includes a joint  10 , a lighting device  30  and a switch assembly  40 .  
         [0017]     The joint  10  includes a first insert  11  and a second insert  13 . Two magnets  12  (see  FIG. 3 ) are fit in two holes (not numbered) defined in the first insert  11 . A ring of rubber  14  is put in an annular groove (not numbered) defined in the second insert  13 . The joint  10  defines a tunnel  15  including a first portion, a second portion communicated with the first portion, a third portion communicated with the second portion and a fourth portion communicated with the third portion. A thread  16  is formed on the wall of the fourth portion of the tunnel  15 .  
         [0018]     The lighting device  30  includes a light  31 , an isolative ring  32 , an isolative cylinder  33  and several batteries  34 . The light  31  is preferably a light-emitting diode (“LED”) and includes a first electrode  36  and a second electrode  38  extending longer than the first electrode  36 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in assembly, the electrodes  36  and  38  are inserted through the isolative ring  32 . The batteries  34  are put between the electrodes  36  and  38 . One of the batteries  34  is always in contact with the first electrode  36 . The isolative cylinder  33  is put around the batteries  34  and the electrodes  36  and  38 .  
         [0020]     The lighting device  30  is put in the tunnel  15 . The light  31  is put in the first portion of the tunnel  15 . Thus, light can be emitted from the light  31  to the exterior from the first portion of the tunnel  15 . The isolative ring  32  is put in the second portion of the tunnel  15 .  
         [0021]     The switch assembly  40  includes a cylinder  42  installed on the joint  10 , a button  46  movably installed on the cylinder  42  and a pusher  48  (see  FIGS. 3-6 ) operatively connected with the button  46  for pushing the second electrode  38  to the batteries  34 . The cylinder  42  includes a thread  43  formed on a first portion and a ring  44  formed on a second portion. The thread  43  is engaged with the thread  16  so as to keep the cylinder  42  on the joint  10 . The switch  40  is often used in ballpoint pens and will not be described in detail for being conventional.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pusher  48  is in an upper position so as to allow disengagement of the second electrode  38  from the batteries  34 . That is, the lighting device  30  is off.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the button  46  is pushed so as to move the pusher  48  to a lower position. The second electrode  38  is brought into contact with the batteries  34 . Hence, the lighting device  30  is turned on.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the button  46  is released, the pusher  48  is left in the lower position. Therefore, the lighting device  30  is retained on.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the first insert  11  is insert in the socket  60 . The socket  60  is attracted to the first insert  11  because of the magnets  12 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a luminescent connective apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except for including a spring-biased detent instead of the magnets  12 . The spring-biased detent includes a ball  17  trapped in a hole (not numbered) defined in the first insert  11  and a spring  18  compressed between the ball  17  and the bottom of the hole defined in the first insert.  
         [0027]     The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of two embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.