US3127798A

US3127798A - Telescoping inserted wrenches

Info

Publication number: US3127798A
Application number: US141784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael J Gol
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-09-29
Filing date: 1961-09-29
Publication date: 1964-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-07

Description

TELESCOPING INSERTED WRENCHEIS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1961 I F|G.3 FIG4 FIG.

INVENTOR.

MICHAEL J. GOL

. April 7, 1964 M. J. GOL 3,127,798

TELESCOPING INSERTED WRENCHES Filed Sept. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 6. I2 F l G. 8 HT I 62 I as INVENTOR. MICHAEL J. GOL

EM km April 7, 1964 J. GQL 3,127,798

TELESCOPING INSERTED WRENCHES Filed Sept. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 108 FIG. l5

INVENTOR.

MICHAEL J. GOL BY I05 Em; f5.

United States Patent ()ftice 3,127,798 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 3,127,798 TELEECGFING HNEaEirTED WRENCHES Michael J. Gui, 33 Cataipa Terrace, Darien, Conn. Filled 29, 1961, Ser. Ne. Elm/ids- 9 Claims. {-Ci. 8ii1) This invention relates to adjustable tools and more particularly to socket Wrenches and the like, which carry in a single structure a plurality of socket heads whereby the wrench may be used in connection with a variety of sizes of screws and nuts. It will be understood that while it is adjustable wrenches which are primarily discussed below, the same principles of construction may be used with adjustable tools of other types.

Broadly, the concept of telescoping tools within a housing is not new. But in tools of this type which now exist, there are serious drawbacks. Such inadequacies center about the selection of the Wrench head for use, as well as in retaining in operative position that head which it is desired to use at a given time, and these are the essential actions necessary in such tools. To carry out these actions, the prior art often shows complicated arrangements of components and structure. By virtue of these complicated arrangements it is in some cases only possible to carry within the instrument a very few sizes of wrench heads. With some of the known structures, the complexity of construction creates difficulty in use. Of course, as is always the case with complicated devices, such structures are prone to early breakdown and short useful life. Moreover, expensive production costs arise when a complicated structure is to be built.

The primary object of this invention therefore is the provision of an adjustable tool in the nature of a socket wrench and the like, which is suited for use with a variety of sizes of set screws and nuts, which wrench is simple in construction and may be built to accommodate a large number of nut sizes.

It is another object herein to provide easy selecting means whereby any given size wrench head may, by a simple maneuver, be placed in operative position. This object is carried out by providing a device which has a fully extended starting position and in which all wrench heads are exposed, it being understood that the wrenches are of the nesting or telescopic variety. After any use it is a simple matter to return the entire wrench to the fully extended starting position. From this fully extended starting position, the nesting tubes may be collapsed down to the size which it is desired to use.

It is still another object herein to provide a positive locking means, whereby once a desired wrench size is in position, it will be held in that position until it is desired to change the size of wrench being used.

A further object is to provide means for the prevention of the sliding down of the telescoped tubes after a desired wrench size tube has been selected.

A still further object of this invention is to achieve all of the foregoing by means of a simple construction and thus avoid expensive fabrication as well as the minimization of the failure in use.

A final object is to provide retaining, selecting, and locking means in an adjustable tool whose application is not confined to a wrench, but may be used as well in other types of tools such as screw drivers and the like.

How these and many other objects are to be achieved will become apparent by referring to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the socket wrench according to one embodiment of the invention, the wrench being in fuily extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of

the wrench per FIGURE 1 with certain wrench portions in a retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view along lines 55-in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view along lines 6-6 in FIG- URE 4;

IGURE 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged longitudinal view, partly in section, or a sleeve shown in FIGURES 4 and 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view along lines 9-9 in FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged plan view of the spring used as a part of the detent mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged and exploded longitudinal view, partly in section of two wrench elements;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view along lines 1212 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view along lines 13-13 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of an adjustable socket wrench;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a longitudinal section of the construction per FIGURE 14, and FIGURE 17 is an enlarged and exploded view of certain detail parts shown in FIG- URE 16.

Referring now to the figures and FIGURES 1 through 13 in particular, reference numeral 11 identifies generally an outer tube which is provided with a hexagonal wrench portion 12 for engaging a socket screw of suitable dimension, a polygonal portion 13 suitable for being engaged by a wrench, and a handle 14. The handle may be fluted and include stepped portions which carry indicia for identifying the available wrench sizes, all. as shown in FIGURE 1. A plurality of nested inner tubes formed from hexagonal tubing and numbered respectively 15, 16, 17, and 18 is situated within the outer tube. In normal position, a portion of each of the inner

nested tubes

21, 22, 23, and 24 respectively, extends outside tube 11 in stepped relationship. These portions may be considered wrench portions suitable for engaging socket head screws and the like. As shown in FIGURE 1, portion 24 of tube 18 is fully extended and exposed for engaging the head of socket screw 25.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, handle 14 is provided with a cap 26 through which a reset plunger 27 protrudes. This reset plunger moves outward from the handle when some of the inner tubes are moved inwardly, that is, when some of the

wrench portions

21, 22, 23 or 24 are retracted into the outer tube 11. For resetting the inner tubes to the fully extended position, a depressing force is applied upon plunger 27, which force is transmitted via extension 23 to the innermost tube 13 which in turn restores any other inwardly moved tubes and retracted wrench portions to the fully extended condition. The reset plunger is secured in handle 14 by nut 29 which prevents plunger 27 from sliding out of the handle aperture due to the larger diameter of flange portion 31.

FIGURE 3 depicts the appearance of the tool, similar to FIGURE 1, when the two

innermost tubes

18 and 17 are moved inward so that

wrench portions

24 and 23 are retracted. The socket wrench is now adapted to engage the head of a larger screw 32.

When the innermost tube and its wrench portion should be useful for engaging very small screws, it preferably is made from solid, hexagonal bar stock.

Referring to FIGURE 4, each of the inner tubes terminates at the end opposite the wrench portion in a plunger. Innermost tube 18 terminates in a plunger 35, next large size tube 17 in a plunger 36, tube 16 in a plunger 37 and tube 15 in a plunger 38. The plungers are of substantially identical diameter with juxtaposed radial end surfaces. Plunger 35 associated with the innermost tube 18 is furthest removed from the wrench portions while plunger 38 associated with the largest size inner tube is disposed closest to the wrench portions. The cylindrical surfaces of the plungers are encircled by a longitudinal sleeve 40 which lines the inside of outer tube 11. The plungers are adapted to move reciprocally in said sleeve, the length of the sleeve being greater than the composite length of the plungers.

The sleeve as best seen in FIGURE 8 is provided with a set of longitudinally spaced, annular recesses, one recess for each plunger. Thus, recess 41 is associated with lowermost plunger 38, recess 42 with plunger 37, recess 43 with plunger 36, and recess 44 with uppermost plunger 35. The sleeve is of annular cross section and each of the recesses is a circular undercut with two opposite sides milled through as seen in FIGURE 9,

numerals

45 and 46. Each of the

recesses

41, 42, 43, and 44 is fitted with a wire spring 47 of U-configuration as best seen in FIGURES 6 and 10. The parallel sides of the U-shaped spring therefore protrude somewhat from the inner diameter of sleeve 40 for engaging the associated plunger, see FIGURE 6.

Each of the plungers is provide along its longitudinal dimension with a plurality of annular recesses, the quantity of recesses in each plunger corresponding to the quantity of positions which the associated tube is capable of assuming relative to outer tube 11. Thus, inner tube 15 can assume two positions, that is, wrench portion 21 extending from portion 12 and wrench portion 21 retracted into portion 12. Consequently, plunger 38 has two axially spaced annular recesses, numerals th and 51, FIGURE 4. The next smaller tube 16 is capable of assuming three positions, that is, wrench portion 22 extending from wrench portion 21, retracted into wrench portion 21, and both

wrench portions

21 and 22 being retracted in unison into wrench portion 12 of outer tube 11. Consequently, plunger 37 has three axially spaced recesses,

numerals

52, 53 and 54; plunger 36 has four recesses,

numerals

55, 56, 57 and 58; and plunger 35 has five recesses, numerals 59, 6t), 61, 62, and 63, see also FIGURE 11.

The springs in combination with respective recesses operate as detent means, each plunger being retained in predetermined position when the spring snaps into the respective plunger recess. When applying inward pressure upon the wrench end of a selected inner tube, the associated plunger is caused to move upwardly in the sleeve toward the handle causing the wire spring to be forced out of engagement with an upper plunger recess and subsequently caused to snap into a lower plunger recess for retaining the associated tube and wrench portion in retracted position. It should be noted that while the respective plungers are adapted to slide in the sleeve to various positions, wire springs 47, one disposed for securing each plunger, remain stationary in sleeve recesses 41 to 44.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 3 depicting the condition when the two innermost tubes are moved inward as the result of an inward force applied on the respective wrench ends. Wrench portion 24 is retracted into wrench portion 23 and both

wrench portions

23 and 24 are retracted into larger wrench portion 22. Therefore, innermost tube 18 has moved upward by two positions and tube 17 has moved upward by one position. Sleeve recess 44 with spring 47, formerly being aligned with plunger recess 63 (FIGURE 4), now is aligned with recess 61 of plunger 35. Correspondingly, plunger 36 has moved upward by one recess so that sleeve recess 43 with spring 47 now is aligned with plunger recess 57, rather than former plunger recess 58 as seen in FIGURE 4.

For resetting the tubes to their extended condition, a

depressing force is applied upon reset plunger 27 which transmits its force via extension 28 to plunger 35, causing this plunger to move toward the wrench portion 12 and when the radial end surface of plunger 35 engages the radial surface of plunger 36, plunger 36 is urged in concomitant motion until the radial surface of plunger 36 comes into contact with the opposing radial surface of plunger 37. When the radial surfaces of the respective plungers are in contact with one another, the inner tubes are fully extended with the wrench portion of one tube extended beyond the wrench end of the tube of next larger size.

Thus, it will be seen that each movable tube is held in preselected positions by means of the detent means and that upon application of axial force the respective tube or tubes is freed from the detent means until being re-engaged thereby as the result of a predetermined amount of axial motion of the associated plunger.

In order to prevent rotation of the inner tubes relative to one another when tightening or loosening a screw, the tubes preferably are of polygonal or hexagonal shape not only at the wrench portion, but for a somewhat extended portion, terminating slightly below an area opposite the underside of lowermost plunger 38.

A somewhat modified design is shown in FIGURES 14 through 17. The tool comprises an outer tube 100, FIG- URE 14, of polygonal or hexagonal configuration which is equipped with a wrench portion 101. Similarly as in FIGURE 1, there is provided a plurality of telescopically sliding inner tubes, each tube having an extendable wrench portion, numbered 162, 103, 104, and respectively. Each wrench portion extends beyond the end of the tube of next larger size. Outer tube 1% is fitted with a cap 196. Handle 167 has an aperture 198 which slidably fits over outer tube 16%) to assume a predetermined position along the length of tube 169 as will be apparent from FIGURE 16. The handle is provided also with a rotatable bushing 1&3. The handle thus has a major axis which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of tube 1th? and the nested inner tubes confined therein.

Tubes

111, 112, 113 and 114, FIGURE 16, are adapted to selectively slide axially with respect to the outer tube 1% in response to inward force applied upon their respective wrench portions 162 to 105 or upon receiving spring pressure which urges inwardly positioned tubes into outward motion. The fully extended condition of the tool is determined by the mutual engagement of the radial shoulder portions of the nested tubes, the shoulder portions being formed by a change of the respective tube diameters near the lower end of tube 106 as shown in FIGURE 16. These shoulders form a seat for limiting outward motion of the tubes.

Each tube is provided along its longitudinal dimension thereof with a respective radially oriented aperture or plurality of apertures. Thus, outer tube 100 has a single aperture 120, tube 113, being of next smaller size, has two apertures longitudinally spaced from one another, tube 112 has three spaced apertures, tube 113 as seen in FIG- URE 17 is provided with four

apertures

121, 122, 123 and 124, and innermost tube has five spaced

apertures

125, 126, 127, 128 and 129. The quantity of apertures in each tube corresponds to the quantity of predetermined positions each tube can assume when its respective wrench portion is selectively retracted. The longitudinal spacing of the tubes is arranged such that the respective apertures can be brought into mutual alignment for being engaged by a latch 130 which is secured to the handle, but which is adapted to penetrate through aperture of outer tube 100 for engaging the respective apertures of the inner tubes which are in alignment with aperture 120.

Latch 136) is biased toward the apertures by spring means 131. The configuration of the latch and of the apertures is such that when inward force is exerted upon a wrench portion and the respective tube is moved vertically as seen in FIGURE 16, the latch retracts against the force of its biasing means, thereby permitting the respective tube to move upward until the next lower aperture is reached at which moment, the latch moves forward for engaging the aperture just brought into alignment. Thus, the latch retains each of the inner tubes in respective alignment with the other slidable tubes and relative to stationary outer tube 100. By virtue of the substantially horizontal upper edge of latch 13d, inwardly positioned tubes cannot be restored to their extended condition unless the latch is retracted against its biasing means. To accomplish this, there is provided a rotatable bushing 1 39 which turns a cam 136 which in turn mates with a cam 137 fastened to shaft 138, the latter securing latch 13d When turning bushing 199, cam 136 rotates and causes retraction of cam 137 and attached latch 13%. Thus, the latch is freed from engagement with the tube apertures and the tubes are urged to assume their fully extended condition.

The means for urging each inner tube into extended condition comprise springs. As clearly shown in FIG- URE l7, innermost tube 114 is engaged by a helical compression spring 15d which with one end rests in an internal recess 151 of the tube. A cap 152 slidably fitting over tube 114 contains the other end of spring 150. A larger helical spring 153 applies a force between the inside of cap 106 and the upper surface of peripheral rim 154 of cap 152. Spring 155 applies a force between the underside of peripheral rim 154 and tube 112. The lower end of cap 152 rests on tube 113.

Hence, spring 150 exerts pressure upon innermost tube 114, cap 152 which is holding this spring at one end is urged into downward motion by spring 153. As the bottom rim of cap 152 rests on tube 113, tube 113 is urged also downward and spring 155 confined between the underside of rim 154 on cap 152, and the upper radial surface of tube 112 urges the latter toward outward motion, and finally, spring 16% confined between the underside of cap 153 and tube 111 urges the latter tube toward its extended condition. It will be apparent therefore, that each tube is urged toward its fully extended condition where the respective wrench portions are exposed.

Resetting of the tool is accomplished, as has been indicated heretofore, by turning bushing 136 which retracts latch 13% to cause disengagement of the inner tubes. Retraction of the latch causes the various springs to urge inwardly positioned tubes to become extended, the outward motion of the tubes being limited by the shoulder portions described.

In order to prevent the tubes from rotating relative to one another upon application of torque by means of handle 107, the tu e portions from the wrench portion to the onset of the shoulder are preferably of polygonal or hexagonal shape. Also, when the innermost tube is designed for engaging very small screws, it may be made partially or entirely from bar stock in order to provide sufiicient strength.

The construction and operation of the alternative design is substantially similar to the first described embodiment, except that in the last-described design, internally provided spring means are used for resetting purposes.

While I have described specific embodiments of my invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle and intent of my invention. For example, a greater or lesser number of nested tubes with corresponding changes in the number of recesses and apertures may be provided. Moreover, the identical retaining, locking and supporting arrangement could be used in the case of Phillips screw driver, where nested sizes of Phillips screw drivers are present.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable tool comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of nested tubes, each having a portion within said outer tube, and each having at one end a portion extending beyond the end of the tube of next larger size; each of said tubes terminating at the other end in a respective plunger and the plungers being aligned longitudinally with juxtapwed radial surfaces; a sleeve enclosing the peripheral surfaces of said plungers; detent means which include a set of annular recesses and resilient locking means disposed between said sleeve and each of said plungers; each of said inner tubes being movable inwardly to a telescoped condition within the tube of next larger size in response to the application of inward force upon the respective extending portion whereby the associated plungers are adapted to assume a new axial position in said sleeve, being secured in said new position by said detent means, and reset means disposed for applying an outward motion upon said plungers for returning inwardly teiescoped tubes to the position at which the said portions extend beyond the end of the tube of next larger size.

2. An adjustable tool comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of nested tubes, each having at one end a portion extendable beyond the end of the tube of next larger size; each of said tubes terminating at the other end in a respective plunger and the plungers being arranged to have juxtaposed radial surfaces; a sleeve extending over said plungers with the plungers movable longitudinally relative thereto; said sleeve along its length having a plurality of spaced recesses, one for each of said plungers; each of said plungers having a plurality of axially spaced, annular recesses with the quantity of recesses in each plunger corresponding to the quantity of preselected positions which the respective plunger is capable of assuming in said sleeve; resilient means disposed in said recesses of said sleeve for engaging each respective plunger along one of the respective recesses whereby to secure the position of the plungers relative to said sleeve; each of said inner tubes movable inwardly relative to the outer tube in response to the application of an inward force upon the respective one ends whereby the associated plungers are caused to move in said sleeve and the resilient means disposed in the sleeve are caused to engage another one of said recesses in the moved plungers; said resilient means securing the plungers and corresponding one ends in shifted position, and reset plunger means disposed for engaging the plunger associated with the innermost tube for receiving a depressing force which is transmitted by said respective plunger upon the other plungers for causing resultant outward motion of inwardly positioned tube ends.

3. An adjustable tool comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of nested inner tubes; each inner tube having at one end a portion extendable beyond the end of the tube of next larger size and said portion being also retractable into said outer tube; each of said inner tubes terminating at the other end in a respective round plunger and the plungers being of substantially identical outside diameter and arranged to have juxtaposed radial surfaces; a sleeve disposed at the inside of said outer tube and encircling said plungers with the plungers movable longitudinally inside said sleeve; said sleeve having a plurality of annular recesses spaced in longitudinal direction one from the other, one recess for each plunger; each of said plungers having a plurality of annular recesses spaced in longitudinal direction, the quantity of recesses in each plunger corresponding to the quantity of preselected positions which the respective plunger is capable of assuming in said sleeve and the longitudinal position of said recesses being adjusted to coincide with selected positions of the associated tube portion; spring means disposed in said recesses of said sleeve for engaging each respective plunger along one of the respective recesses whereby to secure the position of said plungers relative to said sleeve; each of said inner tubes movable inwardly relative to the outer tube in response to the application of an inward force upon the respective one ends whereby the associated plungers are caused to move longitudinally in said sleeve and the spring means disposed in said sleeve are caused to engage another one of the recesses in the moved plungers as determined by the position of the associated extendable tube end; said spring means securing each plunger in the respective position; a handle fitted over the outer tube; a reset plunger extending from the handle and engaging the plunger adapted to assume the largest quantity of predetermined positions in said sleeve, and said reset plunger adapted to receive a depressing force which is transmitted by the respective plunger upon the radial surfaces of respective juxtaposed plungers whereby to cause resultant outward motion of retracted tube portions.

4. An adjustable tool comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of nested inner tubes; each having at one end a portion extendable beyond the end of the tube of next larger size and said portion being also retractable into said outer tube; each of said inner tubes terminating at the other end in a respective cylindrical plunger; said plungers being aligned along a common axis and having juxtaposed radial surfaces; the plunger associated with the largest size tube portion being disposed closest to said one end and the plungers associated with next smaller size portions being commensurately distanced from said one end along said axis; a stationary sleeve disposed at the inside of said outer tube and encircling said plungers with the plungers adapted to move reciprocally in said sleeve; said sleeve having a plurality of annular recesses spaced longitudinally one from the other, one recess for each of said plungers; each of said plungers having a plurality of annular recesses spaced in longitudinal direction, the quantity of recesses in each plunger corresponding to the quantity of preselected positions which the respective plunger is capable of assuming in said sleeve and the longitudinal position of said recesses being adjusted to coincide with selected extended and retracted positions of the associated tube portion; spring means disposed in said recesses of said sleeve for engaging each respective plunger along one of the respective recesses whereby to secure the position of said inner tube relative to the outer tube; said inner tubes movable inwardly relative to the outer tube in response to the application of an inward force upon the respective one ends whereby the associated plungers are caused to move axially in said sleeve and the spring means disposed in said sleeve are caused to break engagement with one plunger recess and subsequently engage a succeeding plunger recess when the respective plunger has assumed its next position as determined by the position of the extendable tube end; said spring means securing each plunger in predetermined position until moved therefrom by application of external force; a handle fitted over the outer tube; a reset plunger extending from the handle and adapted to engage the plunger associated with the innermost tube, and said reset plunger upon receiving a depressing force of sufiicient magnitude causing said force to be transmitted upon said plungers in said sleeve whereby to cause outward motion of retracted tube portions, each extendable tube portion becoming extended beyond the end of the tube of next larger size.

5. An adjustable tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprise a wire spring.

6. An adjustable tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spring means is a U-shaped wire spring and said recesses in said sleeve are of such configuration that the two substantially parallel side portions of the spring extend through the sleeve for engaging the recesses in the plunger.

7. An adjustable tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said nested tubes is hexagonal in cross section at said extendable end to provide socket wrench heads of varying sizes.

8. An adjustable tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said nested tubes has a hexagonal cross sectional portion to prevent rotation of said tubes relative to one another and said outer tube is provided with at least one fiat surface positioned medially between said handle and said extendable portions for attaching a torque wrench.

9. An adjustable tool comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of nested inner tubes; each inner tube having at one end a portion extendable beyond the end of the tube of next larger size and said portions being retractable into said outer tube; said extendable and retractable portions of the inner tubes and an adjoining portion of said outer tube being of a cross sectional shape suitable for providing wrench heads; each of said inner tubes terminating at an end opposite said retractable portions in a respective cylindrical plunger, said plungers being aligned along a common axis and having opposing radial surfaces; the plunger associated with the largest size tube portion being disposed closest to said retractable portions with plungers associated with the next smaller size portions commensurately distanced from said one end along said axis; a stationary sleeve disposed at the inside of said outer tube, the length of said sleeve exceeding the composite length of said plungers whereby to enable said plungers to move axially in said sleeve; said sleeve having a plurality of annular recesses spaced axially one from the other, one recess for each of said plungers; each of said plungers having a plurality of axially spaced annular recesses, each of such recesses adapted to be aligned with the associated recess in said sleeve; the quantity of recesses in each plunger being determined by the size of the inner tube whereby the plunger associated with the largest inner tube is provided with a pair of axially spaced annular recesses and each plunger associated with a next smaller size inner tubing is provided with one more such recess than the next larger size inner tubing to cause the quantity of recesses in each plunger to coincide with selected axial positions of the associated extendable and retractable tube portion; a wire spring disposed in each recess of said sleeve for engaging each respective plunger along one of the respective recesses whereby to secure the respective positions of said inner tubes relative to one another and relative to said outer tube; each of said inner tubes movable inwardly relative to the outer tube in response to the application of an inward force upon the respective retractable end whereby the associated plunger is caused to move axially in said sleeve and the respective spring disposed in said sleeve is caused to break engagement with a respective plunger recess and responsive to axial motion of said plunger is caused to engage another one of said recesses in the same plunger as determined by the position of the retractable tube end; said springs securing each plunger and inner tube in predetermined position until moved therefrom by application of external force; a handle fitted over said outer tube at the end opposite said wrench head end; a reset plunger protruding from the handle; said reset plunger adapted to engage the plunger associated with the innermost tube and the length of reset plunger protrusion from the handle being commensurate with the axial position of the respective plunger in said sleeve; said reset plunger upon receiving a depressing force of sufiicient magnitude causing said force to be effective upon the opposing radial surfaces whereby to cause outward motion of retracted tube portions, each extendable tube portion becoming extended beyond the end of the tube of next larger size and the wrench head portion of said outer tube respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,399 Colbert Dec. 9, 1873 1,089,249 Moose Mar. 3, 1914 1,185,679 Kalina June 6, 1916 1,618,715 Lammers et al. Feb. 22, 1927 2,651,230 Waterval Sept. 8, 1953 2,660,082 Dreese Nov. 24, 1953 2,735,325 Rudd Feb. 21, 1956 2,822,714 Paparelli Feb. 11, 1958

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE TOOL COMPRISING: AN OUTER TUBE; A PLURALITY OF NESTED TUBES, EACH HAVING A PORTION WITHIN SAID OUTER TUBE, AND EACH HAVING AT ONE END A PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE END OF THE TUBE OF NEXT LARGER SIZE; EACH OF SAID TUBES TERMINATING AT THE OTHER END IN A RESPECTIVE PLUNGER AND THE PLUNGERS BEING ALIGNED LONGITUDINALLY WITH JUXTAPOSED RADIAL SURFACES; A SLEEVE ENCLOSING THE PERIPHERAL SURFACES OF SAID PLUNGERS; DETENT MEANS WHICH INCLUDE A SET OF ANNULAR RECESSES AND RESILIENT LOCKING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND EACH OF SAID PLUNGERS; EACH OF SAID INNER TUBES BEING MOVABLE INWARDLY TO A TELESCOPED CONDITION WITHIN THE TUBE OF NEXT LARGER SIZE IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF INWARD FORCE UPON THE RESPECTIVE EXTENDING PORTION WHEREBY THE ASSOCIATED PLUNGERS ARE ADAPTED TO ASSUME A NEW AXIAL POSITION IN SAID SLEEVE, BEING SECURED IN SAID NEW POSITION BY SAID DETENT MEANS, AND RESET MEANS DISPOSED FOR APPLY AN OUTWARD MOTION UPON SAID PLUNGERS FOR RETURNING INWARDLY TELESCOPED TUBES TO THE POSITION AT WHICH THE SAID