Patent Publication Number: US-6336383-B1

Title: Wrench structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to an improved wrench structure in which a main body, a pivot block, a projecting block and a grip are pivotally connected with each other, enabling the wrench to be bent about multiple axis to have various configurations for easy use in different limited space conditions. 
     FIG. 7 shows a conventional wrench having a head section  81  in which a ratchet mechanism  9  is disposed. The head section  81  is pivotally connected with a thread section  83  of a grip  82 . A thread bush  84  is screwed on the thread section  83 . One end of the head section  81  adjacent to the grip  82  is formed with three engaging faces  811 ,  812 ,  813  with different angles. After the thread bush  84  is tightened, the thread bush  84  is engaged with any of the engaging faces  811 ,  812 ,  813 , whereby the head section  81  can be located at three different bending angles. 
     According to the above structure, each time the angle of the grip  82  is adjusted, it is necessary to untighten and tighten the thread bush  84 . Such procedure is quite troublesome. Furthermore, the grip  82  and the head section  81  are only provided with one bendable pivot section so that the wrench still cannot be conveniently used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved wrench structure in which a main body, a pivot block, a projecting block and a grip are pivotally connected with each other. A first engaging mechanism is provided to control the main body to be engaged with the pivot block and located at different angles from the pivot block. A locating unit is provided to control the projecting block to engage with or disengage from pivot block to be free to rotate. After the grip is pivotally rotated to contain different angles with the pivot block, a second engaging mechanism serves to locate and fix the grip with the pivot block. Accordingly, the wrench is bendable about multiple axes to have various configurations for easy use in different limited space conditions. 
     The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of the wrench of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III—III of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the use of the wrench of the present invention in one state; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the use of the wrench of the present invention in another state; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the use of the wrench of the present invention in still another state; and 
     FIG. 7 shows a conventional wrench. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to FIGS. 1 to  6 . The wrench structure of the present invention includes: 
     a main body  1  provided with a ratchet mechanism  10  having a tool connecting section  101  projecting from the main body  1 ; 
     a pivot block  11  pivotally connected with the main body  1 , a first steel ball  12  being positioned between the pivot block  11  and the main body  1 , the first steel ball  12  being disposed in a cavity  13  of the main body  1 , a first spring  14  being disposed in the cavity  13 , the pivot block  11  being formed with multiple teeth  111  corresponding to the first steel ball  12 , the first spring  14  serving to resiliently push the first steel ball  12  to engage between the teeth  111  of the pivot block  11 , whereby the main body  1  can be rotated and located on the pivot block  11  at different angles; 
     a projecting block  21  pivotally connected with the pivot block  11 , the pivot block  11  being formed with a dent  112  adjacent to the projecting block  21 , a second steel ball  15  being disposed in the dent  112 , the projecting block  21  being formed with a first recess  211  corresponding to the second steel ball  15 , a movable bolt  16  being fitted in the pivot block  11 , the bolt  16  having a stop block  161 , a second spring  17  being fitted on the bolt  16  between the stop block  161  and the pivot block  11 , the second spring  17  serving to resiliently push the bolt  16  to press the second steel ball  15  to engage and locate in the first recess  211  of the projecting block  21 , the bolt  16  having a second recess  162 , when the bolt  16  is moved to aim the second recess  162  at the second steel ball  15 , the second steel ball  15  is retracted into the second recess  162  and disengaged from the first recess  211  of the projecting block  21 , whereby the pivot block  11  can be pivotally rotated relative to the projecting block  21 ; and 
     a grip  2  pivotally connected with the projecting block  21 . When the projecting block  21  is located on the pivot block  11 , the grip  2  is adjacent to the pivot block  11 . The pivot block  11  is formed with a locating notch  113 . The grip  2  is formed with multiple projecting sections  22  corresponding to the locating notch  113 . The grip  2  and the projecting block  21  can be pivotally rotated to contain different angles with the pivot block  11 . Thereafter, the projecting section  22  is engaged in the locating notch  113  to locate the grip  2 . 
     In use of the wrench, the angle can be adjusted according to actual need as follows: 
     1. The bending angle between the main body  1  and the pivot block  11  can be adjusted by pivotally rotating the main body I as shown in FIG. 4; 
     2. The pivot block  11  can be fixed with the projecting block  21  or freely pivotally rotated relative to the projecting block  21 . 
     3. The projecting block  21  and the grip  2  are pivotally rotated to contain different angles with the pivot block  11 . 
     When adjusting the angle, any of the above adjustments or a combination of two of the above adjustments can be performed. Therefore, the wrench of the present invention can be more widely and conveniently used in different working sites having limited space. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a user can adjust the main body  1  to contain a 90 degree angle with the pivot block  11 . Then the projecting block  21  and pivot block  11  are adjusted and freely pivotally rotated to make the projecting section  22  of the grip  2  disengaged from the locating notch  113  of the pivot block  11 . At this time, the grip  2  can be freely pivotally rotated relative to the projecting block  21 . Accordingly, a vertical drop exists between the main body  1  and the grip  2  so that the wrench can be used in a working site necessitating such vertical drop. The user can push the grip  2  back and forth so as to continuously wrench the main body  1 . 
     Further for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the user can press down the stop block  16  of the bolt  16  to aim the second recess  162  at the second steel ball  15 . At this time, the second steel ball  15  is retracted into the second recess  162  and disengaged from the first recess  211  of the projecting block  21 , whereby the pivot block  11  can be pivotally rotated relative to the projecting block  2 . Then the grip  2  is rotated, whereby the grip  2  and the pivot block  11  contain an angle. The projecting section  22  is engaged in the locating notch  113  and the second steel ball  15  is engaged in the first recess  211  of the projecting block  21 . Accordingly, the pivot block  11 , projecting block  21  and the grip  2  are fixed with each other. Under such circumstance, the main body  1  and the grip  2  horizontally contain an angle and can be used in a working site specifically necessitating such angle. 
     In conclusion, the main body  1 , pivot block  11 , projecting block  21  and the grip  2  are pivotally connected with each other. The first steel ball  12  in the main body  1  is engaged with the teeth  111  of the pivot block  11  to controllably locate the main body  1  at different angles from the pivot block  11 . The bolt  16  serves to control the second steel ball  15  to engage in or disengage from the first recess  211  of the projecting block  21 , whereby the projecting block  21  is fixed with the pivot block  11  or free to rotate. Any of the projecting sections  22  of the grip  2  can be engaged in the locating notch  113  of the pivot block  11 , whereby after the projecting block  21  and the grip  2  are pivotally rotated to contain different angles with the pivot block  11 , the grip  2 ,is located. Accordingly, the wrench of the present invention is bendable about multiple axes to have various configurations for easy use in different limited space conditions. 
     The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.