Patent Abstract:
A wrench set comprising a plurality of different sized wrenches each of which are slideable within an elongated housing. A user selects a particular wrench by choosing an associated knurled protrusion and forcing the wrench in the forward or reverse direction by moving the knurled protrusion in that direction.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention provides a slideable forward and reversible open end wrench set that is stackably tiered and retractable when not in use. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The concept of having a single wrench tool having the capability of operating on nuts of various diameters has been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,489 to Hsu is typical of such devices and discloses a multi-size ratchet wrench which includes a handle having two ends, at least one of which forms a head that receives and retains therein a fitting assembly that effect single direction driving. The fitting assembly rotatably supports a rotatable block that has a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the fitting assembly. The rotatable block has a circumferential surface forming one or multiple fitting sections that are substantially normal to the rotational axis of the rotatable block allowing a user to select among differently-sized fitting sections through direct rotation of the rotatable block. 
         [0005]    Although the Hsu patent describes a wrench which reduces the number of sockets that one needs to carry when a repair or installation is required, the mechanism required is expensive to fabricate and depends upon the life and reliability of the rotatable block. 
         [0006]    What is desired is to provide a wrench that avoids the disadvantages of prior art, multiple socket wrenches of the type disclosed by Hsu. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a compact, slidable and stackable open flat end wrench set having a first tier wrench with a ¾ inch socket on one end, the opposite end having a 11/16 socket; a second tier wrench with a ⅝ socket at one end and a 9/16 socket at the opposite end; a third tier wrench having a inch socket one at end and a 7/16 inch socket at the opposite end; and a fourth tier wrench having a ⅜ inch socket at one end and a 5/16 socket at the opposite end. The four tiered wrenchs are housed within a partially cylindrical housing that is knurled for gripping the stackable tiered wrench. The tiered wrenches are retained within the cylindrical housing by a central guide pin that rides within a longitudinal slot. This design provides for convenience of use, compactness when stored, ease of use with a substantial torque strength. 
         [0008]    The wrench set can slide forward, is reversible and is retractable. Each individual wrench has a knurled extended thumb feature for the user to slide the desired size in either forward or reverse longitudinal directions and preferably, protrudes from the right side of each slideable tiered wrench. Each of the four tiered wrenches have a longitudinal slot and are retained within the housing by a guide pin having a constant tension applied from a horizontal compression type spring. The spring is housed within the guide pin at a right angle. The guide slot located within each tiered wrench also includes a crosswise slot to retain the slideable wrenches at the guide pin location when the user either extends the selected wrench in either the forward or reverse directions. A central crosswise slot is also provided on each wrench to lock the wrench set at a central position when not in use. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wrench set of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded assembly view of the wrench set shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3( a )-3( c )  show positions of a selected wrench in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4( a )-4( e )  show various external and sectional views of the wrench set of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wrench set  10  of the present invention. Wrench set  10  comprises four tiered flat wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  that are manually slideable in a longitudinal direction. Each individual wrench has two open-end sizes; the largest first tier slideable wrench  12  has a ¾ inch socket  15 , the opposite end  17  having a socket  19  9/16 inch in size; the second tier wrench  14  has a ⅝ inch socket  21  on the front end and on the opposite (back) end, a 9/16 inch socket  23  in size; the third tier wrench  16  has a socket end  25  ½ inch in size at the front end, the opposite end having a 7/16 sized socket  29  and the fourth tier wrench  18  has the smallest size wrench, a ⅜ inch socket  27  on the front end and a 5/16 inch socket  31  at the opposite end (it is to be noted that other wrench sizes can be formed as part of the wrench set). 
         [0015]    Each individual wrench has two knurled extended thumb portion  30  for the user to slide the desired size wrench in either a forward or reverse longitudinal direction. The knurled thumb piece  30  protrudes from the right side of each of the slideable tiered wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  and are in tandem (offset) locations for ease of selection. The tiered wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are housed inside a cylindrical housing  40  for ease of storage and compactness and includes a smaller step-down portion  41 . The wrench housing  40  has a knurled exterior and is slotted to retain the four tiered flat open-end wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 . The four tiered wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  each have longitudinal slots  42  and are retained by tension induced guide pins  44  which are positioned within wrench housing  40  and ride within the longitudinal slots  42  of the wrench selected for use. Constant tension is applied by compression type springs  46 , the springs being housed within the guide pins  44  at right angles. Slotted capscrews  49  are provided at each end of guide pins  44  to retain them in position within housing  40 . The guide slot  42  located within each tiered wrench have crosswise slots  48  to retain the selected slideable wrench at the guide pins  42  when the user either extends the desired wrench in a forward or reverse size setting and thus locking the wrench at the selected forward or reverse positions. Central crosswise slots  50  lock the tiered wrenches centrally when the wrench set  10  is not in use. 
         [0016]    A pair of stabilizer pins  47  are positioned in holes  53  formed in housing  40 , are provided so that the four stacked wrenches  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  remain along the longitudinal axis of wrench set  10 . Without the stabilizer pins, the stacked wrenches will shift laterally outwards for approximately ⅛ inch. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3( a )  is an end view of the wrench set  10  along line A-A shown in  FIG. 3( d ) .  FIG. 3( b )  is a view along line B-B of  FIG. 3( d ) ;  FIG. 3( c )  is a view along line C-C of  FIG. 3( a ) ;  FIG. 3( d )  is a view of wrench set  10  along line E-E of  FIG. 3( a ) ; and  FIG. 3( e )  is a view of wrench set  10  along line D-D of  FIG. 3( a ) . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4( a )  is a view illustrating the position of pins  44  when a selected wrench  16  (½ inch socket) is in the extended and locked position as pins  44  fall into cross-slots  48  and  49  as a user forces thumb portion  30  in the forward (towards the right side of the sheet) direction. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4( b )  illustrates the position of pins  44  when wrench  16  is in the retracted (locked) position, pins  44  falling into the slots  49  and  50  as a user continues to force thumb portion  50  in the forward direction. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4( c )  illustrates pins  44  when wrench  16  is in the slideable (or transition) position, pins  44  riding on the surface  43  of horizontal slot  42  until either the retracted or extended and locked positions are selected as described with reference to  FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b ) . 
         [0021]    A user of wrench set  10  selects the desired socket size and then places his/her thumb on the knurled thumb portion  30  associated with the individual wrench having the selected socket size on one of its ends. The user then pushes the selected thumb portion in either the forward or reverse direction in order to have the selected socket size extend beyond the housing  40 . 
         [0022]    The movement of the selected wrench continues until the guide pins fall into the corresponding crosswise slot  48 , the wrench effectively being locked in position. Note that the remaining three individual wrenches remain within housing  40  in the retracted position. 
         [0023]    After the user completes his/her effort using the wrench, the user forces the associated thumb portion in the direction towards the middle of wrench set  10  until the guide pins  44  fall into cross-slots  48  as illustrated in  FIG. 4( a ) . The pins  44  are retained within slots  48  by the combination of compression springs  46  and capscrews  49 . 
         [0024]    While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1