Collapsible ratcheting socket wrench

The present invention is a collapsible ratcheting socket wrench having a ratcheting member and a first and second rod pivotally carried by the ratcheting member. Connected to the ratcheting member is an extension and a socket that are designed to engage a lug nut on a vehicle's tire. The first rod and second rod have a locked positioned, which is secured by a pair of sleeves that are slidably mounted on the rods. In the locked position a rotational force applied to the rods is transmitted as a torque to the socket and lug nut. The rods also have an attachment stub positioned on the ends of the rods distal from the ratcheting member that is designed to carry and hold the extension and socket when these two pieces are not in use. In addition, when the extension and socket are carried by the rods and the rods are in their collapsed position, the wrench presents a smaller, more compact profile, thus reducing the amount of space necessary to store the wrench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to ratcheting socket wrenches. In particular, 
the present invention relates to a ratcheting socket wrench that is 
collapsible and is able to detachably carry a socket and an extension in a 
storage position. 
2. Discussion of Background 
Changing a tire on a vehicle can be both an unpleasant and difficult task. 
On a large number of vehicles the lug nuts, which secure the tires to the 
vehicle, are put on by an air wrench, and thus the amount of torque 
necessary to loosen the individual lug nuts is greater than some people 
are physically able to apply. When the tire on a vehicle goes flat, the 
tire must be changed then or risk damaging the rim. However, if the tire 
goes flat in a location away from an air wrench, the lug nuts must be 
removed manually, using a tire iron. 
Tire irons typically come in two basic forms. The first is the type 
normally provided by the vehicle manufacture and has a single socket with 
a single bar extending therefrom. This type of tire iron is usually 
carried in the trunk of the vehicle, along with the jack and spare tire. 
The second type of tire iron is commonly known as a star iron and has four 
sockets arranged in a cross pattern. This type of tire iron is normally 
used only in garages and other vehicle repair facilities, as it takes up a 
relatively large amount of space in the trunk of a vehicle. 
When changing a flat tire with either of these two tire irons, it is often 
the case that a full revolution of the tire iron is not possible because 
the lug nuts on the rim of the flat tire are too close to the ground. 
Thus, in these cases it is necessary to remove the tire iron and 
reposition it on the lug nut, which is both slow and tedious. 
If the flat tire must be changed by the use of the single socket tire 
iron--for example, when the tire goes flat during a trip or when driving 
around town--it is often difficult to "break" or loosen the lug nut. As 
stated above, the air wrenches apply a greater amount of torque than is 
necessary to secure the lug nut to the vehicle; therefore to loosen the 
lug nut it is necessary to apply a force at least equal to the amount of 
force used to put it on. Additionally, because the lug nut may have been 
in place for a long period of time, exposed to dirt, grime, water, and 
other substances, the force required to loosen the lug nut may need to be 
even greater than the force used to put the lug nut on. However, the use 
of a single arm socket wrench only allows a person to apply a force to one 
side of the wrench, thus generating a torque from only one location. In 
some situations, many people stand or jump of the arm of the wrench in an 
effort to loosen the lug nuts, a method that can be both dangerous and 
damaging. 
Therefore, there is a need for a socket wrench that allows a person to 
generate the necessary amount of torque to loosen the lug nuts yet occupy 
a relatively small space. In addition, this wrench should be able to be 
rotated without interfering with the ground, thus avoiding repeated 
removal and replacement of the socket on the lug nut. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is 
a collapsible ratcheting socket wrench for use with a lug nut on a tire or 
any other nut or bolt head. The wrench comprises a ratcheting member and a 
first and second rod. The ratcheting member has a mounting stub that is 
adapted to hold a socket and an extension, if needed. The first rod and 
second rod are pivotally carried by a pair of U-shaped brackets on the 
ratcheting member. 
Slidably positioned on the first rod and the second rod are a first sleeve 
and a second sleeve, respectively. The first sleeve and second sleeve act 
in combination to lock first rod and second rod in an aligned position, so 
that first rod and second rod are collinear. When first rod and second rod 
are in the locked position and when the socket is positioned on the 
mounting stub, a person may turn the wrench by applying opposing forces to 
the two rods, thus applying a torque to the socket which is transmitted to 
the bolt or nut on which the socket is positioned. 
Positioned at the end of the first rod is a first attachment stub, and at 
the end of the second rod is a second attachment stub. These attachment 
stubs are designed to hold or carry the socket and extension when they are 
not in use on the mounting stub. Thus, when the rods are unlocked and 
pivoted towards each other and when the socket and extension are 
positioned on the first rod and second rod, respectively, the wrench 
presents a smaller, more compact profile. 
A major feature of the present invention is the ability of the rods to 
pivot into a position having a smaller profile. This feature, in 
combination with the first and second attachment stubs to carry and hold 
the socket and extension, provides a wrench that can be stored in a 
relatively small amount of space. Furthermore, the compactness of the 
wrench allows it to be carried and stored in the trunk of a vehicle 
without taking up unnecessary room. In fact, when folded, it may take up 
less room than a standard tire iron. 
Another feature of the present invention is the ratcheting member. By 
having the ability to ratchet, the wrench can be positioned on the lug nut 
of a tire, turned, and then ratcheted back for another turn without having 
to remove the socket from the lug nut, which is especially important when 
there is an obstacle to full rotation of the wrench. This ability to 
ratchet not only facilitates the removal of the lug nut, but also reduces 
the amount of time needed to remove the lug nut. In addition, the 
ratcheting member has a switch that changes the direction in which torque 
is applied, thus allowing the wrench to be used to loosen or tighten the 
lug nut, depending on the direction of rotation. 
Still another feature of the present invention are the first and second 
sleeves that are slidably mounted on the first and second rods, 
respectively. Each sleeve locks its rod, so that in combination the two 
rods are aligned and collinear. In this locked position, a force may be 
applied to a single rod, or both, so that a resultant torque is applied to 
either tighten or loosen the lug nut. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to 
those skilled in the art from a careful reading of the Detailed 
Description of a Preferred Embodiment presented below and accompanied by 
the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the figures, a collapsible ratcheting socket wrench is 
shown generally as numeral 10. Wrench 10 will be described, and in the 
preferred embodiment is dimensioned for use on a typical lug nut on a tire 
of a vehicle. However, it will be recognized that the present invention 
may be constructed and dimensioned for use on a variety of different sized 
nuts and bolts. 
In the preferred embodiment, wrench 10 comprises a ratcheting member 20 and 
a first rod 40 and second rod 60. Ratcheting member 20, as is known to 
those of ordinary skill in the art, is a mechanical device that transmits 
intermittent rotary motion to a shaft, so that movement of the ratchet in 
one direction transmits this motion to the shaft, while movement in the 
opposite direction does not. Ratcheting member 20 also has a switch 22 
positioned on its top that enables the ratcheting direction to be changed, 
so that ratcheting member 20 may be used to either loosen or tighten a lug 
nut. 
A mounting stub 24, as shown in FIG. 2, is affixed on ratcheting member 20 
and is dimensioned to be received within an extension 90. Mounting stub 24 
has a rectangular cross-section with a spring-biased ball (not shown) for 
securely holding extension 90. Mounting stub 24 is received in a recess 
92, shown in FIG. 3, within extension 90, and extension 90 has a stub 94 
that is received within a recess 102 in a socket 100. Socket 100 is 
designed to fit over a lug nut, and if turned, to apply a torque to the 
lug nut. It will be noted that extension 90 is optional, and that socket 
100 may be affixed to mounting stub 24. 
Positioned at opposing hemispheres of ratcheting member 20 is a first 
bracket 26 and a second bracket 28. Both brackets 26, 28 are U-shaped with 
a pair of legs 30 extending therefrom. In addition, legs 30 have a hole 32 
that extends therethrough. 
First bracket 26 is designed to pivotally carry first rod 40, and second 
bracket 28 is design to pivotally carry second rod 60. FIG. 4 illustrates 
the connection of first rod 40 to first bracket 26. Second rod 60 is 
similarly connected to second bracket 28. First rod 40 has a flange 80, as 
shown in FIG. 4, with a hole 82 extending therethrough, which is 
positionable between legs 30 of first bracket 26. When first rod 40 is 
connected to first bracket 26, a pin 34 fits through holes 32 in legs 30 
and flange 80, thus securing rod 40 to first bracket 26, while permitting 
it to pivot freely. 
Slidably positioned over first rod 40 and second rod 60 are a first sleeve 
42 and a second sleeve 62, respectively. Sleeves 42, 62 are substantially 
tubular and dimensioned to fit over rods 40, 60. However, the dimension's 
of sleeves 42, 62 should correspond to the structure of rods 40, 60, and 
thus the cross section of both rods 40, 60 and sleeves 42, 62 may be 
non-circular. For example, rods 40, 60 could have a substantially square 
cross-section, in which case sleeves 42, 62 would have a cross-section 
that permitted sleeves 42, 62 to slid along the length of rods 40, 60. 
Only the operation of first rod 40, first bracket 26 and first sleeve 42 
will be discussed in detail, as the operation of second rod 60, second 
bracket 28, and second sleeve 62 would be substantially identical. As seen 
in FIG. 2, first sleeve 40 can be moved from a first position, distal to 
ratcheting member 20, to a locked position, proximate to ratcheting member 
20. In the preferred embodiment, first sleeve 42 is tubular, having a 
first portion 44 and a second portion 46. The diameter of first portion 44 
should be dimensioned so that first portion 44 will fit over first bracket 
26, while second portion 46 is dimensioned to fit only over first rod 40, 
as shown in FIG. 1, and more specifically, in FIG. 4. In this locked 
position, first rod 40 is not able to pivot, and thus any force applied to 
first rod 40 is transmitted to ratcheting member 20. When both first rod 
40 and second rod 60 are in the locked position, as shown in FIG. 1, first 
rod 40 is aligned with second rod 60 so that they are collinear. 
First sleeve 42 and second sleeve 62 have a groove 48 positioned along the 
interior of first portion 44. When sleeves 42, 62 are in the locked 
position, groove 48, as shown in FIG. 4, is designed to engage a 
spring-biased ball 50, 70, thus securing sleeves 42, 62 in the locked 
position. It will be recognized that additional types of securing devices 
other than spring-biased ball 50 may be used to secure sleeves 42, 62 in 
the locked position. 
At the ends of first rod 40 and second rod 60, distal to ratcheting member 
20, are attachment stubs 52, 72 which have spring-biased balls 54, 74 and 
are designed and dimensioned similar to mounting stub 24 on ratcheting 
member 20. Attachment stubs 52, 72 are designed to carry and hold 
extension 90 and socket 100 when these two are not in use or positioned on 
mounting stub 24. In other words, attachment stubs 52, 72 are received 
within recesses 92, 102 in either extension 90 or socket 100. When wrench 
10 is in its collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 3, and extension 90 and 
socket 100 are positioned on attachment stubs 52, 72, wrench 10 and its 
accessories present a smaller, more compact profile than if first rod 40 
and second rod 60 were in a fixed position. 
Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, first rod 40 and second rod 60 
have grips 56, 76 that are proximate to attachment stubs 52, 72. Grips 56, 
76 are a portion of rods 40, 60 that have a varied texture or knurled 
surface, preferably of larger diameter than rods 40, 60, so that when a 
person applies a force to rods 40, 60, the likelihood of the person's hand 
slipping from grips 56, 76 is reduced. Furthermore, grips 56, 76 prevent 
first sleeve 42 and second sleeve 62 from sliding off of first rod 40 and 
second rod 60, respectively. 
In operation, when first rod 40 and second rod 60 are in their locked 
position, as seen in FIG. 1, rods 40, 60 may be rotated, thus applying a 
torque to socket 100 and the lug nut. The rotation of socket 100 and 
extension 90 is about a rotational axis 110, such that rotational axis 110 
and the line 112, defined by the collinear alignment of first rod 40 and 
second rod 60, define a first plane. In addition, the pivoting of first 
rod 40 and second rod 60 is designed so that, as shown by movement arrow 
114, first rod 40 and second rod 60 pivot in a second plane that is 
perpendicular to the first plane. 
By having grips 56, 76 positioned on both first rod 40 and second rod 60, a 
force applied by a person to wrench 10 is transmitted as torque applied to 
socket 100 and the lug nut. The torque that is applied to the lug nut is 
proportional to the amount of force applied to first rod 40 and second rod 
60, and is proportional to the distance this force is applied away from 
rotational axis 110. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1, if a person 
applied equal forces F to first rod 40 and second rod 60, each at an equal 
distance D from rotational axis 110, the amount of torque generated by the 
person would be 
2*Force*Distance 
or 
2FD. 
Therefore, if there is a fixed amount of torque that needs to be applied to 
a lug nut to loosen it, the amount of force F that must be applied by a 
person would in effect be halved. Thus, instead of applying the total 
required force at a given distance, the person would be required to apply 
only half of the force F to each first rod 40 and second rod 60, thus 
generating the required amount of torque. Even though a person is in 
effect applying the same amount of force, just to two separate positions, 
it is easier for a person to gain leverage by both pushing and pulling to 
apply the required force, than it is by only pushing or only pulling. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and 
substitutions can be made to the preferred embodiment herein described 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as 
defined by the appended claims.