Patent ID: 7207890

Claim:
A drive shaft comprising: an inner member having one end including a universal joint having a first yoke mounted to the inner member and pivotally connected to a second yoke by a cross link; an elongate outer member having a longitudinal end including a longitudinally facing opening connected with an inner cavity extending longitudinally within the outer member; the inner member being cooperatively received in the inner cavity of the outer member for longitudinal movement therein within a range of longitudinal positions including a fully retracted position wherein substantially all of the universal joint is located in the cavity, and a fully extended position wherein the inner member is located in the opening such that the universal joint is located longitudinally outwardly of the opening, the inner cavity having a transverse extent sufficiently greater than a transverse extent of the universal joint to allow at least some pivotal movement of the second yoke relative to the first yoke when the second yoke is located in the cavity of the outer member including when the inner member is in the fully retracted position, wherein the outer member includes a longitudinal end including a longitudinally facing second opening connected with the longitudinally extending inner cavity, and a second inner member having one end including a second universal joint including a first yoke pivotally connected to a second yoke, the second inner member being cooperatively received in the inner cavity of the outer member for longitudinal movement within a range of positions including a fully retracted position wherein substantially all of the second universal joint is located in the cavity, and a fully extended position wherein the second inner member is located in the second opening such that the second universal joint is located longitudinally outwardly of the second opening, the transverse extent of the inner cavity being sufficiently greater than a transverse extent of the second universal joint to allow at least some relatively pivotal movement of the second yoke relative to the first yoke when the second yoke is located in the cavity of the outer member including when the second inner member is in the fully retracted position; and elements connecting the inner member and the outer member for joint rotation about a central longitudinal axis therethrough.