Patent Abstract:
A retractable/folding collapsible wrench is constructed to include a hollow handle, which can be made folding collapsible, two driving devices respectively moved in and out of the ends of the hollow handle between the extended position and the received position, and positioning means respectively mounted in the ends of the handle and adapted for securing the driving devices in one of a series of positions.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to wrenches, and more specifically, to a retractable/folding collapsible wrench.  
           [0002]    A variety of wrenches including combination wrenches, hex wrenches, ratchet wrenches, work angle-adjustable wrenches, and etc. have been disclosed for grasping nuts, bolts, etc., and have appeared on the market. FIGS.  50 ˜ 52  show different combination wrenches constructed according to the prior art. These conventional wrenches have a fixed length. Because the length of conventional wrenches is not adjustable, they are not suitable for use in a narrow working space. Further, because conventional wrenches are not collapsible, they occupy much storage space when not in use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a wrench, which can be collapsed to reduce space occupation when not in use. According to one aspect of the present invention, the wrench comprises a hollow handle, two driving devices respectively moved in and out of the ends of the hollow handle between the extended position and the received position, and positioning means respectively mounted in the ends of the handle and adapted for securing the driving devices in one of a series of positions. According to another aspect of the present invention, the handle can be made having two handle elements pivoted together. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a sectional top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is another sectional top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 8 is a sectional top view of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 9 is another sectional top view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 12 is a sectional side view of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 13 is a sectional top view of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 14 is another sectional top view of the third embodiment of the present invention showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 17 is a sectional top view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 18 is another sectional top view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 19 is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 20 is a sectional side view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 21 is a sectional top view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 22 is another sectional top view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 23 is an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 24 is a schematic drawing showing locations of the bearing points between the shank of the driving device and the inside wall of the handle.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 25 is a schematic drawing showing the shank of the driving device supported on the inside wall of the handle at two bearing points when operated.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 26 is an elevational view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 27 is a sectional side view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 28 is a sectional top view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 29 is another sectional top view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 30 is an elevational view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 31 is a sectional side view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 32 is a sectional top view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 33 is another sectional top view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention showing the driving devices extended out of the handle.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 34 is an exploded view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 35 is a sectional side view of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 36 is a sectional top view of the ninth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 37 is a sectional view of the ninth embodiment of the present invention showing the wrench folded up, the driving devices arranged in parallel.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 38 is an exploded view of a tenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 39 is a sectional side view of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 40 is a sectional top view of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 41 is a sectional view of the tenth embodiment of the present invention showing the wrench folded up, the driving devices arranged in parallel.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 42 is a sectional assembly view of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 43 is a sectional assembly view of a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 44 is a sectional assembly view of a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 45 is a sectional assembly view of a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 46 is a sectional assembly view of a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 47 is a sectional assembly view of a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 48 is a sectional assembly view of a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 49 is a sectional assembly view of an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 50 is an elevational view of a wrench according to the prior art.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 51 is an elevational view of another structure of wrench according to the prior art.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 52 is an elevational view of still another structure of wrench according to the prior art. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0056]    Referring to FIGS. from  1  through  4 , a wrench is shown comprised of a handle  10 , and two driving devices  20 . The handle  10  is an elongated hollow member having a receiving hole  11  longitudinally extended through the two distal ends thereof and adapted for receiving the driving devices  20  respectively. Each driving device  20  comprises an elongated shank  22  and a work head  21  at one end of the shank  22 . The work head  21  can be a ratchet box end or open end. The shank  22  comprises a longitudinally extended sliding slot  23  and positioning portions  231  disposed in the sliding slot  23  at different locations. The shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  are respectively inserted the receiving hole  11  of the handle  10  from the two distal ends of the handle  10 . Two locating members  24  are respectively mounted in the two distal ends of the handle  10  and respectively inserted through the sliding slot  23  of each of the driving devices  20  to secure the driving devices  20  to the handle  10 , enabling the driving devices  20  to be axially moved in and out of the receiving hole  11  of the handle  10 . The moving range of the driving devices  20  relative to the handle  10  is equal to the length of the sliding slot  23 . When pulling one driving device  20  out of the receiving hole  11  of the handle  10  to such an extent that one positioning portion  231  of the sliding slot  23  is forced into engagement with the corresponding locating member  24 , the respective driving device  20  is secured in the desired extended position. Further, the locating members  24  may be variously embodied. According to this embodiment, the locating members are short cylindrical rods each having a bottom end terminating in a threaded neck  241  adapted for threading into a screw hole (equivalent to the reference sign  243  shown in FIG. 12) inside the handle  10 , and a top end terminating in a hexagonal coupling portion  242  for turning with a hexagonal head wrench tool.  
         [0057]    FIGS. from  6  through  9  show a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the sliding slot  23  of each driving device  20  has two opposite sides serrated forming a longitudinal series of positioning portions. When operating the wrench to turn the workpiece (not shown) after the driving devices  20  extended out of the receiving hole of the handle  10 , there are bearing points F 1 , F 1 ′; F 2 , F 2 ′ between the shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  and the inside wall of the handle  10  that support the torsional force.  
         [0058]    FIGS. from  10  through  14  show a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  are attached together, and a locating member  24  is fastened to the handle  10  and inserted through the sliding slot  23  of each of the driving devices  20  to secure the driving devices  20  to the handle  10 , enabling the driving devices  20  to be respectively moved in and out of the receiving hole  1  of the handle  10 .  
         [0059]    FIGS. from  15  through  18  show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  are axially slidably secured to the two distal ends of the handle  10  by a respective locating member  24 , each having a thinner rear half. The thinner rear halves of the shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  are attached to each other so that the vertical thickness of the handle  10  can be minimized.  
         [0060]    FIGS. from  19  through  22  show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the shank  22  of each driving device  20  has two longitudinally extended serrated side edges  221 , and locating rods  25  are mounted in each of the two distal ends of the handle  10  at two opposite lateral sides of the receiving hole  11  for engagement with the serrated side edges  221  of the shanks  22  of the driving devices  20  to secure the driving devices  20  in one of a series of positions.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 23 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the handle  10  has a twisted body adapted for holding the driving members  20  at right angles.  
         [0062]    FIGS. from  26  through  29  show a seventh embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the handle  10  is comprised of a first handle element  14 , a second handle element  15 , and a pivot  16 . The first handle element  14  has a forked coupling end  141 . The second handle element  15  has a protruded coupling end  151 . The pivot  16  is fastened to the forked coupling end  141  of the first handle element  14  and the protruded coupling end  151  of the second handle element  15  to pivotally secure the handle elements  14  and  15  together.  
         [0063]    FIGS. from  30  through  33  show an eighth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the first handle element  14  and the second handle element  15  have a respective notched rear end attached to each other and pivotally secured together by a pivot  16 .  
         [0064]    FIGS. from  34  through  37  show a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. from  38  through  41  show a tenth embodiment of the present invention. According to these two embodiments, a respective pivot  16  respectively pivots the first handle element  14  and the second handle element  15  to a substantially H-shaped coupling block  17 .  
         [0065]    FIGS. from  42  through  49  show other alternate forms of the present invention. In order for positive positioning in the receiving hole  11  of the handle  10 , each driving device  20  is provided with a positioning structure. According to the eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 42, the seventeenth embodiment shown in FIG. 48, and the eighteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 49, a spring member  32  is mounted in a transverse through hole  26  of the shank of each driving device  20 , and two steel balls  32  are respectively mounted on the ends of the spring member  32  and stopped against the inside wall of the handle  10 . According to the twelfth embodiment shown in FIG. 43, a spring member  32  is mounted in a transverse through hole in the shank of each driving device  20 , having two distal ends respectively stopped against the inside wall of the handle  10 . According to the thirteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 44, spring members  31  and steel balls  32  are installed in the driving devices  20  for quick positioning in the handle  10 . According to the fourteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 45 and the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 47, friction rods  33  are respectively installed in the shanks of the driving devices  20  for quick positioning in the handle  10 . According to the fifteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 46, arched spring leaves  34  are respectively installed in the shanks of the driving devices  20  for quick positioning in the handle  10 .  
         [0066]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1