Polygonal wrench tool

A polygonal wrench tool has a stick body, a mounting tube, a positioning ball and a spring. The stick body has an insertion end, a first positioning trough, a first distance, a second positioning trough, and a second distance. The first distance is defined between a center of the first positioning trough and the insertion end. The second distance is defined between a center of the second positioning trough and the insertion end. The mounting tube is slidably mounted around the stick body and has a ball hole and a third distance defined between a center of the ball hole and a tube end of the mounting tube. The third distance is larger than the first distance and is shorter than the second distance. The positioning ball is accommodated in the ball hole and abuts the engagement portion. The spring presses the positioning ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wrench and, more particularly, to a polygonal wrench tool.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference toFIGS. 11 and 12, an Allen wrench50is applied for loosening or tightening a bolt. In use, an end of the Allen wrench50is inserted in an Allen bolt. Then, the Allen wrench50is rotated to loosen or tighten the Allen bolt.

However, the conventional Allen wrench50cannot be applied for a hex bolt, but instead, only a sleeve hex-wrench60is applicable for a hex bolt, as shown inFIG. 12. Therefore, in response to bolts of different types, wrenches of different types have to be prepared. It is inconvenient for users to use the wrenches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a polygonal wrench tool to resolve the mentioned problem.

The polygonal wrench tool has a stick body, a mounting tube, a positioning ball and a spring.

The stick body is polygonal and has an insertion end, an engagement portion, a first distance and a second distance. The engagement portion is formed in the stick body and has an engagement slit formed in the stick body along a longitudinal direction of the stick body, a first positioning trough formed in the stick body and communicating with the engagement slit, and a second positioning trough formed in the stick body and communicating with the engagement slit. The first distance is defined between a center of the first positioning trough and the insertion end. The second distance is defined between a center of the second positioning trough and the insertion end.

The mounting tube is hollow, is slidably mounted around the stick body, matches the stick body and has a tube end selectively protruding out of the insertion end, a ball hole formed through the mounting tube and communicating with an interior of the mounting tube, and a third distance defined between a center of the ball hole and the tube end. The third distance is larger than the first distance and is shorter than the second distance.

The positioning ball is accommodated in the ball hole and abuts the engagement portion. The spring is mounted around the mounting tube and presses the positioning ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1 to 3B, a first preferred embodiment of a polygonal wrench tool in accordance with the present invention has an elongated stick body10, a mounting tube20, a positioning ball22and a spring23.

A cross section of the stick body10may be hexagonal or stellate. In the first preferred embodiment, the cross section of the stick body10is hexagonal, such that the stick body10has six edges along a longitudinal direction of the stick body10. The stick body10has an insertion end13, an engagement portion14, a first distance D1and a second distance D2. The insertion end13is one of two ends of the stick body10. The engagement portion14is formed in the stick body10and has an engagement slit11, a first positioning trough12′ and a second positioning trough12″. The engagement slit11is defined in the stick body10along the longitudinal direction of the stick body10. The first positioning trough12′ and the second positioning trough12″ are formed in the stick body10at an interval and communicate with the engagement slit11.

The first positioning trough12′ is closer to the insertion end13than the second positioning trough12″ is. Preferably, the first positioning trough12′ and the second positioning trough12″ are located at two ends of the engagement slit11. Preferably, the first positioning trough12′, the second positioning trough12″ and the engagement slit11are formed in one of the edges along the longitudinal direction of the stick body10. The first distance D1is defined between a center of the first positioning trough12′ and the insertion end13. The second distance D2is defined between a center of the second positioning trough12″ and the insertion end13. The second distance D2is longer than the first distance D1.

The mounting tube20is hollow, is slidably mounted around the stick body10, matches the stick body10, and has a tube end26, a ball hole21, a spring trough25and a third distance D3. The ball hole21is formed radially through the mounting tube20and communicates with an interior of the mounting tube20. The spring trough25is defined around the mounting tube20and communicates with the ball hole21. The third distance D3is defined between a center of the ball hole21and the tube end26. The third distance D3is longer than the first distance D1and is shorter than the second distance D2. The positioning ball22is accommodated in the ball hole21and abuts the engagement portion14. The spring23is mounted in the spring trough25and abuts the positioning ball22to keep the positioning ball22from disengaging from the ball hole21.

In assembling, the mounting tube20is first mounted around the stick body10, and the ball hole21is aligned with the engagement portion14. Then, the positioning ball22is mounted in the ball hole21and abuts the engagement portion14. Specifically, the positioning ball abuts the first positioning trough12′ or the second positioning trough12″. Then, the spring23is mounted in the spring trough25to abut the positioning ball22.

With reference toFIGS. 3A and 3B, in use, the spring23presses the positioning ball22, such that the positioning ball22can be engaged in the first positioning trough12′, the second positioning trough12″ or the engagement slit11. The positioning ball22is slidable in the engagement portion14, since the spring23has a radial elasticity. When the positioning ball22is engaged in the second positioning trough12″, the insertion end13protrudes out of the mounting tube20, since the second distance D2is longer than the third distance D3, as shown inFIG. 3A. Then, the stick body10can be applied in an Allen bolt. When the positioning ball22is engaged in the first positioning trough12′, the mounting tube20protrudes beyond the insertion end13, since the third distance D3is longer than the first distance D1, as shown inFIG. 3B. Then, the stick body10can be applied around a hex bolt.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, a second preferred embodiment of a polygonal wrench tool in accordance with the present invention further has a holding handle30. The holding handle30is connected with the stick body10and has a handle body31and an adapter tube32. The handle body31is elongated. The adapter tube32is connected between the handle body31and the stick body10opposite to the insertion end13. The adapter tube32may be detachably connected with the stick body10, as shown inFIG. 4. Alternatively, the adapter tube32may be undetachably connected with the stick body10, as shown inFIG. 5.

With reference toFIG. 6, a third preferred embodiment of a polygonal wrench tool in accordance with the present invention is similar with the first embodiment as shown inFIG. 1. The stick body10A is elongated and L-shaped.

With reference toFIGS. 7, 8A and 8B, a fourth preferred embodiment of a polygonal wrench tool in accordance with the present invention is similar with the first embodiment as shown inFIG. 1. The mounting tube20B further has a mounting trough24and a fourth distance D4. The mounting trough24is annularly formed in the interior of the mounting tube20B from the tube end26, and has a step structure241opposite to the tube end26. The fourth distance D4is defined between the step structure241and the tube end26. The fourth distance D4is longer than the first distance D1but is shorter than the third distance D3and the second distance D2.

In use, when the positioning ball22is engaged in the second positioning trough12″ of the stick body10B, the insertion end13protrudes out of the mounting tube20B, as shown inFIG. 8A, and the stick body10can be applied in an Allen bolt. When the positioning ball22is engaged in the first positioning trough12′, the mounting tube20B protrudes out of the insertion end13, as shown inFIG. 8B, the mounting tube20B can be applied around two hex bolts of different sizes, and a larger hex bolt can be mounted in the mounting trough24.

With reference toFIGS. 9 and 10, a fifth preferred embodiment of a polygonal wrench in accordance with the present invention is similar with the third embodiment as shown inFIG. 6. The cross section of the stick body10C at the insertion end13is stellate. The engagement portion14is formed in one of the edges along the longitudinal direction of the stick body10C. When the positioning ball22is engaged in the second positioning trough12″, the stick body10C protrudes out of the mounting tube20and can be applied in an inner torx-bolt. When the positioning ball22is engaged in the first positioning trough12′, the mounting tube20protrudes out of the stick body10C and can be applied around an outer torx-bolt.

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention has the following advantages:1. By adjusting the position of the positioning ball22engaged in the engagement portion14, the wrench tool can be determined as applicable on an Allen bolt or a hex bolt, such that the wrench tool has two operating states even though without being a sleeve hex-wrench. The manufacturing process of the engagement portion14in the stick body10is simple, such that the polygonal wrench tool has a lowered manufacturing cost.

2. When the stick body10protrudes out of the mounting tube20, the stick body10can be applied in an inner polygonal bolt. When the mounting tube20protrudes out of the stick body10, the mounting tube20can be applied around an outer polygonal bolt. The spring23presses the positioning ball22to be engaged in the engagement portion14to keep the mounting tube20from detaching from the stick body10. Therefore, it is convenient for the user to assembly and use the polygonal wrench tool.

3. The mounting tube20may further have a mounting trough24, so when the mounting tube20protrudes out of the stick body10, the mounting tube20can be applied around two bolts of different sizes.

4. The cross section of the stick body10may be hexagonal or stellate to meet different usage demands.