US2807179A

US2807179A - Foldable wrench set

Info

Publication number: US2807179A
Application number: US588677A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Hilton A Rudd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-06-01
Filing date: 1956-06-01
Publication date: 1957-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1974-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1957 Filed June 1, 1956 FOLDABLE WRENCH SET 2 Sheets-Sheet l m l 1/ 0 r I i FIG. 3. w l

/6 26 b g; I /z 20 I g '20 22 2e /4 /6 23 v '/6 F/G. 4 /8 INVENTOR. 1 H/LTO/V .4. 2000, se.

78 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 24, 1957 H. A. RUDD,.SR 1 2,807,179

. FOLDABLE WRENCH SET Filed June 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G. 7

54 a INVENTOR. v

62 44 an. ran 4. 2000, 50. BY

I wm mmm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent FOLDABLE. WRENCH SET Hilton A. Rudd, Sr., Woodbridge, Va.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,677

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-7 1) Thisinvention relates generally to- Wrenches, and is more particularly concerned with sets of wrenches in which each individual wrench maybe employed as desired yet remaining a part of the set.

A primary object of the invention isto provide a novel improved foldable wrench set in whichpairs of wrench members are disposedinoppositely extending relationship from a. support hub, the wrench set including a plurality of support. hubs pivotally mounted in relatively pivotal relationship von a common pivot shaft wherein when the wrench set is. unfolded wrench members are disposed in substantially right angular relation affording handle means for rotating the wrench member to be used, andwhen the wrench set is folded the wrench-members are disposed in substantially longitudinal alignment taking up a minimum amount. of space in a tool chest, for example.

Afurther object of the inventionin conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel wrench setof the character involved wherein the wrench membershave different polygonal cross sections commonly known as Allen wrenches for matching sockets formed in the heads of screws or the like which have a similar polygonal recess in the heads thereof.

A. further object of inventionin-conformance with that set forth isto provide a novelfoldable wrench set of the character set forth which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and highly satisfactory and practical for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the novel foldable wrench set, showing the wrench members in their unfolded position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the novel wrench set in its unfolded position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the novel foldable wrench set in its folded position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the novel foldable wrench set, showing the wrench set in its folded position, and showing by means of phantom lines the disposition of the wrench members when the wrench set is unfolded;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the wrench set of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view looking substantially from line 88 of Figure 5, showing the angular relationship of the wrench members on one hub member relative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft upon which the hub members are mounted.

Referring to the drawings in detail, considering Figures l to 4, the novel wrench set isindicated generally at 10 and includes a pair of

support hub members

12 and 14, which may be circular if desired, said hub-members having overlyingtransversebore portions receiving therethrough a pivot shaft 16. affording relative rotation be-- tween the support hub members.

The support hub 12 hasextending laterally from 0pposite sides thereof in offset relationshiprelative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft. 16

elongatedwrench members

18 and 20,

inner end portions

22 and 24, respectively, being received in suitable bore portions extending into the opposite sides of the support hub member. The wrench members 18 and 20.,have a polygonal cross section, hexagonal if preferred. todefine different sizes of Allen wrenches,

The support hub member 14 has extending from opposite sides thereof in suitably conformed bore-portions-ends of

elongated wrench members

26 and 28, the. longitudinal axisv of which being in. substantial. alignment. with the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft 16. The wrench members 26 and28 also have a polygonal crosssection, each of which, being of a different size, and also being of a different size relative to the

wrench members

18 and 20.

The

wrench members

18 and 20 incorporate an intermediate angular bend portion 30 and- 32, respectively, wherein the longitudinal axis of the terminal endportions of the wrenchmembers- 18and 20will be in substantially planar alignment with the longitudinal axis of the wrench members 26. and 28. Thus when the

wrench members

18 and 28, and20 and are disposed in their foldedposition, the l-ongitudinalaxis of theisame will be disposed in substantially. planar and parallel alignment with respect toeach other. Thuswhenthe wrench members are folded into' the position shown in Figure 3, the; wrench set will takeup a minimum amount of space inatoolkit, thus facilitating storage of the same. When the wrenchmembers are unfolded or disposed in: the position shown in Figure 1, and it-isdesired-to use, for example, the wrench member 26, the

wrench members

18 and 20 will serve as a handle thus affording means for readily manipulating the wrench member 26.

Considering Figures 5 through 8, indicated generally at 40 is the novel wrench set which includes

support hub members

42 and 44, similar to those previously described, secured for relative rotation by means of a transverse pivot shaft 46. The support hub 42 has extending from opposite sides thereof

elongated wrench members

48 and 50, the inner ends of which being received in a suitably conformed bore portion in the support hub member 42. The support hub member 44 has extending from opposite sides thereof in suitably conformed recess portion the

elongated wrench members

52 and 54.

The inner ends of all of the wrench members 48 through 52 extend in substantially aligned relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft 46, however, the

wrench members

48 and 50 include an intermediate angular bend portion 56 and 58, respectively, disposing the terminal end portions of the

wrench members

48 and 50, see Figure 8, in angular relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft 46. Thus when the wrench set is folded in the position shown in Figures 5 and 8, the longitudinal axis of the terminal end portion of the

wrench members

48 and 50 will be in substantial planar and longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the

wrench members

52 and 54, respectively. It will be noted that the intermediate angular bend portions 56 and 58 of the

wrench members

48 and 50, respectively, extend at opposite or opposed angles with respect to each other relative to the longitudinal 'axis of the pivot shaft.

Each of the wrench members 48 through 54 have a polygonal cross section, hexagonal if preferred, and are of a different size thus providing the wrench set.

Thus in the embodiment shown in Figures 5 through 8 as in the embodiment of invention of Figures 1 through 4, there has been provided a novel foldable wrench set which fully conforms with the objects of invention heretofore set forth.

Various positional directional terms such as inner, outer, etc. utilized herein have only a relative connotation to aid in describing the device and it is not intended to require any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered to be illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equvalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable wrench set comprising a pair of overlying hub members, a pivot shaft extending transversely through the hub members permitting relative rotation therebetween, pairs of elongated wrench members extending in overlying relationship from opposite sides of said hub members, each of said wrench members having a different polygonal cross section, the pairs of wrench members being disposable substantially at right angles in use, and foldable into substantial longitudinal alignment when in stored position, one pair of wrench members on one of the hub members including intermediate angular bend portions extending toward the other hub member disposing the longitudinal axes of the terminal end portions of said one pair of wrench members in substantial parallel alignment with the longitudinal axes of the other pair of wrench members when in stored position.

2. A foldable wrench set comprising a pair of overlying hub members, a pivot shaft extending transversely through the hub members permitting relative rotation therebetween, pairs of elongated wrench members extending in overlying relationship from opposite sides of said hub members, each of said wrench members having a different polygonal cross section, the pairs of wrench members being disposable substantially at right angles in use, and foldable into substantial longitudinal alignment when in stored position, one pair of wrench members on one of the hub members including intermediate angular bend portions extending toward the other hub member disposing the longitudinal axes of the terminal end portions of said one pair of wrench members in substantial parallel alignment with the longitudinal axes of the other pair of wrench members when in stored position, each of said one pair of wrench members extending laterally from said one hub member in offset relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft, the other pair of wrench members extending laterally from the other hub member in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft.

3. A foldable wrench set comprising a pair of overlying hub members, a pivot shaft extending transversely through the hub members permitting relative rotation therebetween, pairs of elongated wrench members extending in overlying relationship from opposite sides of said hub members, each of said wrench members having a different polygonal cross section, the pairs of wrench members being disposable substantially at right angles in use, and foldable into substantial longitudinal alignment when in stored position, one pair of wrench members on one of the hub members including intermediate angular bend portions extending toward the other hub member disposing the longitudinal axes of the terminal end portions of said one pair of wrench members in substantial parallel alignment with the longitudinal axes of the other pair of wrench members when in stored position, each of said one pair of wrench members extending laterally from said one hub member in opposed angular relationship relative to the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft, the other pair of wrench members extending laterally from the other hub member in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,519,559 Foster et al Aug. 22, 1950 2,633,768 Saxby Aug. 7, 1953 2,753,745 Dossie et a1. July 10, 1956