Patent ID: 7238113

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 tubular 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; elements connecting the inner member and the outer member for joint rotation about a central longitudinal axis therethrough; a spacer element extending from the outer member to limit the longitudinal movement of the inner member in the fully retracted position; and a snap ring disposed in a groove around the longitudinal facing opening of the outer member, the snap ring engageable with the inner member to prevent passage of the inner member through the opening of the outer member in the fully extended position.