GB2422341A

GB2422341A - Pair of rotationally connected wrenches

Info

Publication number: GB2422341A
Application number: GB0501069A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mou-Tang Liou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-19
Filing date: 2005-01-19
Publication date: 2006-07-26
Also published as: GB0501069D0

Abstract

A wrench combination comprises a pair of rotationally connected wrenches 20,30, each having a shaft 21,31 with at least one socket 22,32 formed at an end thereof In one preferred embodiment, the first wrench 20 comprises an axle 23 formed thereon, and the second wrench 30 comprises a bore 33 for receiving the axle 23. In a further preferred embodiment, the joint between the two wrenches (30,50; figure 9) comprises a block (60; figure 9) defining a passage (62; figure 9) for receiving the shaft (51; figure 9) of the first wrench (50; figure 9) and an axle (61; figure 9) extending from the block, and the second wrench comprises a bore (33; figure 9) for receiving the axle. In both embodiments, the two wrenches are preferably locked together using a spring 42 biased control pin 41 that is received in an axle bore 24, the pin having a recess 48 for receiving a detent ball 43 located in an aperture 25 linked to the axle bore 24. Pushing down the pin 41 enables the detent ball 43 to be received in the recess 48 so that it is disengaged from a locking groove 34 located in the bore 33 of the second wrench 30, thereby enabling relative rotation of the wrenches 20,30.

Description

Wrench Combination

3 Background of Invention

4 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a wrench combination.

7 2. Related PriorArt 8 Referring to Fig. 13, a conventional wrench combination includes a 9 wrench 11 0, a wrench 120, a joint 130, a direction switch 160 and a direction controller 150. The wrench 110 includes a circular space 113 ii defined therein and two grooves 114 defined in the wall of the circular 12 space 113. The wrench 120 includes a circular space 123 defined 13 therein and two grooves 231 defined in the wall of the circular space 123.

14 The joint 130 includes a head 132 and a shaft 131 extending from the head 132. A direction switch 160 includes a disc 161 and two pillars 16 164 extending from the disc 161. A direction controller 150 includes an 17 aperture 51 defined therein and two ridges 152 formed on a periphery 18 thereof. 1.n assembly, the joint 1 30 is driven into a nut 140 through the 19 circular space 113, the aperture 151 and the circular space 123. Thus, the wrench 11 0 is firmly attached to the wrench 1 20. When a user 21 pushes down the direction switch 160, the pillars 162 pushing the ridges 22 152 into the grooves 231 so that the direction controller 150 disengaging 23 from the wrench 11 0 so as to keep the wrench 11 0 and the wrench 120 in 24 a rotational mode. When the direction switch I 60 is upwardly moved by means of a spring 1 53, the ridges 1 52 are moved to the grooves 11 4 so 26 as to keep the wrench 11 0 and the wrench I 20 in a locked mode.

1 Summary of Invention

2 The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a wrench 3 combination.

S A wrench combination includes a first wrench and a second wrench.

6 The first wrench includes a shaft and two sockets each formed at an end 7 of the shaft. The second wrench is rotationally connected with the first 8 wrench. The second wrench includes a shaft and two sockets each 9 formed at an end of the shaft. 1 0

11 Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will 12 become more apparent from the following detailed description when 13 taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

16 The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of 1 7 three embodiments referring to the drawings.

19 Fig. I is a perspective view of a wrench combination according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

22 Fig. 2 is an exploded view ()fthe wrench combination of Fig. 1.

24 Fig. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view of the wrench combination of Fig. 1 and shows two wrenches in a locked mode.

I Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 hut shows the wrenches in a intersectional 2 position 4 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wrench combination and shows the wrenches in a locked mode.

7 Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 hut shows the wrenches in a rotational mode.

9 Fig. 7 is a partially cross-sectional view of the wrench combination according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

12 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a wrench combination according to a third 13 embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an exploded view oithe wrench combination of Fig. 8.

17 Fig. 10 is a partially cross-sectional top view of the wrench combination 18 of Fig. 8.

Fig. I I is similar to Fig. 1 0 but shows the wrench combination in a 21 different position.

23 Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 12-12 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial view of the wrench combination of Fig. 12.

I Fig. 14 is an exploded view of a conventional wrench combination.

3 Detailed Description of Embodiments

4 Relérring to Fis. I and 2, according o a first embodiment of the present invention, a wrench combination 10 includes a wrench 20, a wrench 30 6 and a control device 40. The wrench 20 includes a shaft 21 and two 7 sockets 22 each formed at an end of the shaft 21. The wrench 20 8 includes a axle 23 formed at a center of the shaft 2 1. The axle 23 9 includes an axial passage 24, an aperture 25 communicated with the axial passage 24 and an annular groove 28 defined in the periphery.

12 The wrench 30 includes a shaft 31 and two sockets 32 each fonned at an 13 end of the shaft 31. The shaft 31 includes a bore 33 defined in a center.

14 The bore 33 includes three grooves 34 defined in the wall. The bore 33 is used for receiving the axle 23.

17 The control device 40 includes a control element 41, a spring 42, a ball 18 detent 43 and a cap 44. The control element 41 is put in the axle 23.

19 The control element 41 includes a head 45, a rod 46 extending from the head 45 and a recess 48 defined in the rod 46. The spring 42 is 21 compressed between the head 45 and the axle 23. Thus, the control 22 element 41 is biased upwardly by means of the spring 42. A portion of 23 the ball detent 43 is trapped in the aperture 25. The remaining portion of 24 the hail detent 43 is caused to extend from the recess 48. Therefore, the ball detent 43 can retain the wrench 20 in position relative to the wrench 26 30.

I When a user pushes down the control element 41, the ball detent 43 is 2 inserted into the recess 48, i.e., the ball detent 43 is free from the zrooves 3 34. Thus, the wrench 20 is not locked to the wrench 30 so that the 4 wrench 30 can he moved a desired anle with respect to the wrench 20.

6 The cap 44 is put outside of the control element 41 and the spring 42.

7 The cap 44 can irevent the dust or oil sludge ftorn entering the wrench 8 combination JO.

1 0 A C-ring 26 includes an internal edge put in the annular groove 24 SO that 11 the wrench 30 is firmly attached to the wrench 20.

13 Referring to Fig. 3, the wrench combination 10 is closed. The ball 14 detent 43 is inserted into one of the grooves 34. Therefore, the ball detent 43 retains the wrench 20 in position relative to the wrench 30.

17 Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 hut shows the wrench 20 and the wrench 30 at 18 an intersectional position. The ball detent 43 is inserted into another one 19 ofthegrooves34.

21 Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 3 hut shows the wrench 20 and the wrench 30 in a 22 locked mode. The ball detent 43 is caused to extend into one of the 23 grooves 34 from the recess 48. Thus, the wrench 20 cannot be rotated 24 with respect to the wrench 30 so as to keep the wrench 20 and the wrench 30 in a locked mode.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 hut shows the wrench 20 and the wrench 30 in a 2 rotational mode. The hail detent 43 is inserted into the recess, i.e., the 3 balI detent 43 is free from the grooves 34. Thus, the wrench 20 is not 4 locked to the wrench 30 o as to keep the wrench 20 and the wrench 30 in a rotational mode.

7 Fig. 7 shows a wrench combination 1.0 according to a second embodiment 8 of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first 9 embodiment except ibr replacing three grooves 34 with one groove 34. 1 0

Ii Referring to Figs. 8 to 13, a wrench combination 1 0 according to a third 12 embodiment of the present invention is shown. The third embodiment is 13 similar to the first embodiment except for including a wrench So and a 14 joint 60 instead of the wrench 20 and for including two springs 70 in addition. The wrench 50 is movably connected with the joint 60 that is 16 rotationally connected with the wrench 30.

18 The wrench 50 includes a shaft 51, a socket 52 formed at a first end of the 1 9 shaft 51, an insert 53 formed at a second end and an annular groove 54 defined therein near the insert 53. The shaft 51 includes a hexagonal 21 profile in a cross-sectional view.

23 The joint 60 includes a block 67 and a axle 61 formed on the block 67.

24 The axle 61 includes an axial passage 63, an aperture 64 communicated with the axial passage 63 and an annular groove 69 defined in the 26 periphery. The block 67 includes a passage 62 defined therein and two 1 apertures 68 communicated with the block 67.

3 In assembly, the insert 53 of the wrench 50 is inserted through the 4 passage 62 of the joint ôft A C-clip 55 is fit in the annular groove 54 in order to keep the wrench 50 connected with the joint 60. The springs 70 6 are put in the apertures 68. The axle 61 is inserted through the bore 33.

7 A C-clip 65 is fit in the annLllar groove 69 in order to keep the joint 60 8 connected with the wrench 33. The springs 70 is compressed between 9 the wrench 50 and the wrench 30. 1 0

11 Referring to Figs. 1 2 and 1 3, a frictional force exists between the springs 12 70 and the wrench 50 in order to keep the wrench 50 in position relative 13 to the joint 60 elastically.

1 5 A frictional force exists between the springs 70 and the wrench 30 in 16 order to keep the wrench 30 in position relative to the joint 60 elastically.

1 8 Although not shown, in a non-rotational manner, the insert 53 can he 1 9 inserted in a socket for driving a bolt or nut.

21 Referring to Fig. 10, the wrench combination 10 is closed. The ball 22 detent 43 is inserted into one of the grooves 34 by means of the recess 48.

23 Therefore, the ball detent 43 can retain the wrench 50 in position relati\e 24 to the wrench 30.

26 Referring to Fig. 11, the wrench 50 extends perpendicular to the wrench 1 30. The ball detent 43 is inserted into another one of the grooves 34. I)

3 The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of 4 three embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variation from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present 6 invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the 7 present invention defined in the claims.

S

Claims

1 What is claimed is 2 1. A wrench combination comprising: 3 a first

wrench comprising a shaft and at least one socket formed at an 4 end of the shaft and a second wrench rotationally connected with the first wrench, the 6 second wrench comprising a shaft and at least one socket formed at 7 an end of the shaft.

8 2. The wrench combination according to claim I wherein the first 9 wrench comprises a axle formed thereon, wherein the second 1 0 wrench compnses a bore defined therein, wherein the bore is used 11 for receiving the axle.

12 3. The wrench combination according to claim 2 comprising a detent, 13 wherein the second wrench comprises at least one groove 14 communicated with the bore for receiving the detent so as to keep the first wrench in position relative to the second wrench.

16 4. The wrench combination according to claim 3 wherein the bore 1 7 comprises three grooves for receiving the detent so as to keep the 18 first wrench in position relative to the second wrench.

19 5. The wrench combination according to claim 2 comprising a C-ring, wherein the axle defines an annular groove in an external side for 21 receiving an internal edge of the C-ring.

22 6. The wrench combination according to claim 3 comprising a control 23 device for controlling the movement of the detent.

24 7. The wrench combination according to claim 6 wherein the control device comprises a control element, and the axle comprises a axial 26 passage defined therein and an aperture communicated with the C) 1 axial passace so that the control element is movable in the axial 2 passage for pushing the detent from the aperture.

3 8. The wrench combination according to claim 7 wherein the control 4 e]ement comprises a head and a rod extending from the head into the axial passage of the axle.

6 9. The wrench combination according to claim 8 wherein the rod of 7 the control element comprises a recess for receiving the detent.

8 1 0. The wrench combination according to claim 7 wherein the control 9 device includes a spring compressed between a poruon of the control element and a portion of the axle.

11 11. The wrench combination according to claim 7 wherein the control 12 device includes a cap put outside the control element and the spring, 13 the cap prevents the dust or oil sludge from entering the wrench 14 combination.

12. A wrench combination comprising: 16 a first wrench comprising a shaft, a socket formed at an end of the 1 7 shaft and a non-circular insert formed at an opposite end of the 18 shaft 19 a second wrench comprising a shaft and at least one socket formed at an end of the shaft; and 21 a joint for rotationally connecting the first wrench with the second 22 wrench.

23 13. The wrench combination according to claim 12 wherein the joint 24 compnses a block defining a passage for receiving the shaft of the first wrench and an axle extending from the block, wherein the 26 second wrench comprises a bore for receiving the axle of the joint. I 0

1 14. The wrench combination according to claim 13 comprising at least 2 one elastic element attached co the block of the joint for contacting 3 the shaft of the first wrench in order to keep the shaft of the first 4 wrench in position relative to the block of the joint elastically.

15. The wrench combination according to claim 14 wherein the block of 6 the joint comprises at least one aperture communicated with the 7 passage in order to receive the elastic element 8 16. the wrench combination according to claim 13 comprising a C-ring, 9 wherein the shaft defines an annular groove in an external side for receiving the C-ring.

11 17. l'he wrench combination according to claim 13 comprising a detent, 12 wherein the second wrench comprises at least one groove 13 communicated with the bore for receiving the detent so as to keep 14 the second wrench in position relative to the joint.

18. The wrench combination according to claim 13 comprising a C-ring, 16 wherein the axle defines an annular groove in an external side for 17 receiving an internal edge of the C-ring.

18 19. The wrench combination according to claim 17 comprising a control 19 device for controlling the movement-of the detent.

20. The wrench combination according to claim 19 wherein the control 21 device comprises a control element, wherein the axle comprises a 22 bore for receiving the control element and an aperture communicated 23 with the bore so that the control element is movable in the bore for 24 pushing the detent into the groove through the aperture. ii