Abstract:
Apparatus and method for a T-shaped wrench having three drive stems including a base drive stem wherein the top portion of the wrench has opposing ends or drive stems which are 30 degrees offset from each other. The angularly offset drive stems of the top portion allow the wrench to be used in tight areas where other wrenches are not usable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to tools and, more particularly, is related to a wrench having angularly offset drive stem heads. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Wrenches have been described in the prior art, however, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,039, dated Sep. 3, 2002, to Warner, wrenches having two driving stems pivotally connected with each other were disclosed. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,196, dated Feb. 10, 2004, to Warner, wrenches having two driving stems pivotally connected with each other were disclosed. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,678, dated Jan. 13, 2004, to Liu, a hex wrench assembly was disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,624, dated Feb. 26, 2006, to Fahringer, disclosed a sprinkler tool. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,479, dated Dec. 10, 1963, to Swingle, disclosed a T-handle for tools. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,212, dated Jan. 28, 1969, a screw wrench device was disclosed. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,844, dated Nov. 13, 2001, to Warner, a uni-hex key wrench was disclosed. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,811, dated Jan. 27, 1981, to Bondhus, et al., a ball-head polygonal wrench was disclosed. 
   While these wrenches may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a T-shaped hex wrench having three drive stems including a base drive stem which is hexagonal shaped wherein the top portion of the wrench has opposing ends or drive stems which are hexagonal shaped and are 30 degrees offset from each other. The angularly offset drive stems of the top portion allow the wrench to be used in tight areas where other hex wrenches are not usable. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a hex wrench having angularly offset drive stems so that it can be used in areas which are small and where other L shaped hex wrenches are not usable. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrench which can be easily and relatively inexpensively manufactured. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with references to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the top portion of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of portions of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention in operative connection. 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of portions of the present invention in operative connection. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of portions of the present invention in operative connection. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of portions of the present invention in operative connection. 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of portions of the present invention in operative connection. 
   

   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  base stem     14  first end     16  second end     18  allen screw     20  allen screw     22  degree reading     24  proximate object     26  position dot     28  socket of screw       

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate the present invention wherein a wrench having angularly offset drive stems is disclosed. 
   Turning to  FIG. 1  therein is shown the present invention  10  being T-shaped and on the base or lower end having a drive stem  12  and on the upper cross member or end, or, the top portion having a first drive stem  14  and second drive stem  16  which are angularly offset 30 degrees from each other. Note that the three portions or drive stems of the T-shaped hex wrench  12 ,  14 ,  16  each have hex shaped ends or drive stems on them, however, any polygonal shape could be used. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the top of the T-portion having a first end  14  and second end  16  which are angularly offset 30 degrees from each other. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown a first end  14  and second end  16  indicating at  22  that they are angularly offset 30 degrees from each other. 
   Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown the present invention  10  showing one end  14  of the top portion being inserted into the hex portion or drive socket  28  of an allen screw  18  in the conventional manner. It can be seen that the second end  16  is angularly offset from end  14 . Therefore, if a user was holding the base stem  12  in his hand and had one stem  14  in use in the socket  28  of a screw  18  in the conventional manner, the user would only have to remove the stem  14  from the screw socket, then rotate the base stem 180 degrees in his hand, and then reposition drive stem  16  in the screw socket by rotating the base stem backwardly 30 degrees in the horizontal plane in order to then rotate the screw an additional 30 degrees. 
   Turning to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , therein is shown a series of drawings of the present invention  10  in operation in spatial relation to a proximate object  24  and alien screw  20 .  FIG. 5  shows the present invention  10  in a first position, wherein the wrench  10  is inserted into the socket  28  a screw  20 . In  FIG. 6 , the wrench  10  rotates the screw  20  in a 60 degree arch toward object  24 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the wrench  10  has the ends  14 ,  16  of the top portion reversed as previously disclosed so that the screw  20  can then be rotated an additional 30 degrees by simply rotating the base stem  12  of the present invention  10  so that the opposite end of the top portion can be inserted into the screw  20  and the screw is thereafter rotated an additional 30 degrees toward object  24 . The position dot  26  shows that a total of 90 degrees rotation is achieved by this operation. 
   The common hex key or “allen wrench” works well provided there is ample space available. However, as is often the case, space is very limited. In these situations, the common “L” shaped hex key has limitations. The reason is that you need 60 degrees of rotation to get the wrench back into the socket of the bolt or set screw when tightening the bolt or set screw. In operation, a user may have just enough space to rotate the wrench one “Flat” at a time. Once the screw is nearly tight, because of flex in the wrench, it is impossible to get that last rotation to securely tighten the screw. With the design of the present invention, the wrench can be rotated, then rotated back 30 degrees and placed back into the socket of the screw and the final tightening can be achieved. 
   What is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.