Abstract:
A hand tool in the form of a wrench that has an operating head to which is attached an elongated handle. Mounted within the elongated handle is a flashlight with the light emitting head of the flashlight being pivotally adjustable so as to shine the emitted light to different positions so the light is directed to the operating area of the operating end of the wrench. The flashlight is removably mounted onto the handle of the wrench so as to permit the flashlight to be removed and used separately from the wrench.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to a wrench type of hand tool which includes an illuminating device that is intended to illuminate the operating area to which the wrench is being applied. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Hand tools in the form of wrenches have long been known. The common form of wrenches is what is termed a ratchet wrench which is connectable to various types of drivers or sockets, the driver or socket of the wrench then to be applied to a fastener or a fastener nut for the purpose of tightening the fastener or fastener nut. Many times when the operating of these wrenches, the fastener or fastener nut that is being tightened is not only in an inaccessible location but is also in a darkened location. It is common in such locations for the user to operate by “feel” in obtaining of the connection between the wrench and the fastener or the fastener nut as opposed to using sight. In some instances, “feel” is even difficult and sight is an absolute requirement. In such instances, usually there is a second person involved that operates a flashlight to illuminate the area of operation so that a satisfactory job of tightening the fastener or fastener nut can be achieved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to construct a wrench within which is incorporated a flashlight with this flashlight to be used to illuminate the area that is being operated on by the wrench. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a wrench which includes a flashlight where the light emitting head of the flashlight can be adjusted to different positions. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a wrench which includes a flashlight as a separate structure with provision being mounted in conjunction with the wrench to permit detachment of the flashlight from the wrench permitting the flashlight to be used separately. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a wrench which includes a flashlight which can be manufactured at a reasonable cost and thereby sold to the ultimate consumer at a reasonable cost. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a wrench which can be used to illuminate darkened areas thereby eliminating the need for a second person to use a flashlight to illuminate the area of operation. 
     A wrench which has an operating end to which is attached an elongated handle. The elongated handle includes an elongated pocket. The handle also includes a through opening. The body of a flashlight is to be mounted within the pocket with the light emitting head of the flashlight connecting with the through opening. The light emitting head is adjustable to various positions relative to the body of the flashlight. The light emitting head is designed to emit light to the area of operation by the operating end. A movable latching cover is mounted on the handle and is designed to be located in a latching position which secures the flashlight to the handle or movable to a displaced position which will permit the flashlight to be removed from the handle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the wrench of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wrench of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the handle of the wrench and the body of the flashlight taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the handle of the wrench and the body of the flashlight taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the handle of the wrench and the body of the flashlight taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the wrench  10  of this invention. The wrench  10  has an operating end  12  and a handle  14 . The operating end  12  will normally include some form of a ratchet mechanism which is to be operated by pivotable lever  16  which is deemed to be conventional. However, it is not mandatory for the operating end to include the latching mechanism. Typically, the operating end  12  will include a polygonal-shaped protrusion  18  which is designed to connect with an extension rod, a driver or a socket  20 . It is to be understood that the socket  20  or driver is to be used to connect to a fastener or fastener nut which is then to be tightened by usage of the wrench  10 . The fastener or the fastener nut is not shown. 
     The operating end  12  is integrally connected to the handle  14 . However, as far as this invention is concerned, it is immaterial whether the operating end  12  is integrally connected to the handle  14  and could comprise two separate parts which are interconnected together. The handle  14  includes an elongated pocket  22 . The forward end of the pocket  22  connects with a through hole  24 . The forward end of the through hole  24  includes a relieved portion  26 . The through hole  24  connects between the upper side  28  and the lower side  30  of the handle  14 . 
     A flashlight which has a flashlight body  32  and a light emitting head  34  is designed to be mountable within the pocket  22  with the light emitting head  34  connecting with the through hole  24 . The rear end of the body  22  is closed by an end cap  36 . The end cap  36  is intended to close battery compartment  38  of the body  32 . Within the battery compartment  38  is to be located a plurality of conventional batteries  40 . The forward end of the body  32  is bifurcated forming a center slot  42 . The protrusion  44 , which is integral with the light emitting head  34 , is mounted within the center slot  42 . Pins  46  and  48  are mounted within the bifurcated portion of the body  42  and are to connect with the protrusion  44  resulting in the light emitting head  34  being pivotally mounted relative to the body  32 . The amount of pivotable movement of the light emitting head  34  is limited to about forty-five degrees. The light emitting head  34  can be adjusted at various angles in order to direct light either closer to the operating end  12  or a little bit further away from .The operating end  12 . In other words, if the wrench  10  of this invention is being used with the socket  20 , then the light emitting head  34  is located in the position of FIG. 3 to direct the light very near the operating end  12  and actually to illuminate the socket  20  and the adjacent area. The relief portion  26  is included so as to not block this illumination. However, if the operating end  12  is connected to a longer tool, such as an extension or a driver, which will mean that the operation on the fastener or fastener nut is at some short distance spaced slightly further from the operating end  12 , the light emitting head  34  can be adjusted to illuminate that particular area with this adjusting being achieved by pivoting of the light emitting head  34  in a further clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG.  3 . It is to be noted that the light emitting head  34  includes a rounded section  50  to facilitate this pivoting action. The light emitting head  34  also includes a right-angled wall  52  which is to abut against the body  32  when the light emitting head  34  is in substantial alignment with the body  32 . 
     It is to be understood that the flashlight included within this invention can be removed from the pocket  22 . In order to achieve this removal, there is utilized a latching cover  54  which is basically in the shape of a half circle and at one end thereof, is connected to pivot pins  56  and  58 . The pivot pins  56  are mounted within the handle  14 . The latching cover  54  has a forward end which has serrated sections  60  which facilitate manual grasping of the forward end of the latching cover  54 . The forward end of the latching cover  54  also includes a pair of oppositely facing protrusions  62  and  64 . The protrusions  62  and  64  are to connect with indentations formed within the handle  14 . 
     With the flashlight mounted within the pocket  22  and the latching cover  54  in the solid line position shown in FIG. 2, the flashlight is securely latched in position relative to the handle  14 . However, upon manual grasping of the serrated section  60  and squeezing of such, the protrusions  62  and  64  will disengage from their respective indentations and permit the cover  54  to be pivoted to the dotted line position shown in FIG.  2 . This will permit the flashlight, composed of the body  32  and light emitting head  34 , to be disengaged from the pocket  22  with the flashlight to then be used independently of the wrench  10 . 
     The protrusion  44  includes a through hole  66  through which is conducted electrical connector  68 . This electrical connector  68  is to make the electrical connection between the batteries  40  and the lamp, which is not shown, and mounted within the light emitting head  34 . 
     It is to be noted that the body  32  of the flashlight is intended to be mounted in only one position within the pocket  22 . This position is so that the pivot axis of the light emitting head  34  is located parallel to the planes of the upper side  28  and the lower side  30  which are also located parallel to each other. The body  32  may be formed of a slight elliptical shape with only the narrow dimension of the body  32  permitting mounting of the body  32  in conjunction with the pocket  22  thereby insuring that the body  32  is correctly positioned within the pocket  22 . If per chance the body  32  is installed in a reverse direction, which means that the light emitting head  34  would only be able to shine light in the area of lever  16 , the user is then to physically pick up the flashlight and reverse same one hundred eighty degrees and reinstall such within the pocket  22 .