Adjustable wrench

Abstract

An adjustable wrench (1) with a head portion (200), automatically adjustable within its size range. The fastener (80) to be operated is fitted between the fixed jaw (201) and moving jaw (300), the operators thumb pressure released, automatically propelling the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw (200), the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces (202, 203, 302, 303), two within each opposing jaw (201, 300), engaging the four corresponding actual levered faces (83) to each apply a drive force to a hexagonal fastener head 81. The head portion (200) illustrated in section in order to show the gear teeth (403) on the head end (402) of the handle (400) levering closed the moving jaw (300) via its associated wedge-shaped rack gear (312). The handle (400) pivoting at the point PP that the relevant head end gear tooth (403) engages the corresponding rack gear tooth (312) further urging the handle locking teeth (407) into the pawl locking teeth (61) within the confines of the elongate pin hole elongate portion 404 creating a further jaw (201, 300) ratcheting/locking closure mechanism.

Claims

1. An adjustable wrench comprising; a head portion comprising a fixed jaw and a moving jaw; and a handle portion attached to the head portion by a pivot pin extending through an elongate pin hole defined by the handle portion, wherein the handle portion comprises a levering end and a head end that is provided with gear teeth that engage a rack gear provided on the moving jaw for moving the moving jaw relative to the fixed jaw, and wherein the handle portion is provided with ratcheting locking teeth on said head end that are engageable with pawl teeth provided on a pawl that is fixed to the head portion to form a locking mechanism for preventing spreading of the fixed and moving jaws.

2. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that when the handle portion is turned in a drive direction engagement of the gear teeth on the head end with the rack gear causes said moving jaw to move towards said fixed jaw and the handle portion to pivot around a point of engagement of said gear teeth and said rack gear into and within the confines of the elongate pin hole to propel the ratcheting locking teeth into engagement with the pawl teeth to lock the fixed and moving jaws.

3. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ratcheting locking teeth are provided on a peripheral portion of the head end.

4. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a spring located between the handle portion and the head portion, wherein a first end of said spring is fixed to the handle portion and a second end is fixed to the head portion to bias the moving jaw towards the fixed jaw by resiliently propelling the handle portion around said pivot pin, and wherein the gear teeth on said head end engaging said rack gear transmit a biasing force provided by said spring to said moving jaw.

5. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivot pin has a circumferentially extending surface and said spring has an inner profile configured such that said circumferentially extending surface is disengaged from the elongate pin hole whereby the gear teeth on the head portion and the pawl teeth are released from locking engagement when the wrench is at rest.

6. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 4, wherein the arrangement is such that when the fixed and moving jaws engage a workpiece and the handle portion is driven by a drive force acting in a direction opposite the drive direction, the engagement of the gear teeth on the head end and the rack gear causes the moving jaw to move against the resilience of the spring away from the fixed jaw to reduce the grip upon the workpiece sufficiently to allow respective workpiece contacting faces of said fixed and moving jaws to slip over the workpiece and when said drive force is released said spring causes said moving jaw to move towards said fixed jaw to close said fixed and moving jaws onto said workpiece.

7. An adjustable wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said moving jaw and said fixed jaw each comprise two workpiece contacting surfaces and the two workpiece contacting surfaces of the moving jaw are disposed opposite the two workpiece contacting surfaces of the fixed jaw for engaging the four faces of a hexagonal fastener.

8. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of said fixed and movable jaws comprises a radiused workpiece contacting surface.

9. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said fixed and movable jaws comprises an at least partially toothed workpiece contacting surface.

10. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said fixed and movable jaws has a toothed concave workpiece contacting surface for gripping circular workpieces.

11. An adjustable wrench as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the head portion comprises a cavity that receives at least a part of said head end and said pivot pin has first and second outer ends secured to said head portion and arranged to resist opening of said cavity.

12. An adjustable wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a thumb button is provided on said head portion for rotating open the head portion relative to the handle against the resilience of the spring to provide a gap between said fixed and movable jaws to receive a workpiece.

13. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 12, wherein a direction indicator is provided on an outer face of said head portion adjacent said thumb button.

14. An adjustable wrench as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a leading gear tooth of said gear teeth on said head end that is the first of tooth of said gear teeth to engage said rack gear when said movable jaw is moved from a fully open position towards said fixed jaw has a height that is greater than a height of following said gear teeth of said head end.

15. An adjustable wrench comprising; a head portion comprising a fixed jaw and a moving jaw; and a handle portion attached to the head portion by a pivot pin extending through an elongate pin hole defined by the handle portion, wherein the handle portion comprises a levering end and a head end that is provided with gear teeth that engage a rack gear provided on the moving jaw for moving the moving jaw relative to the fixed jaw, wherein the head end is provided with ratcheting locking teeth engageable with pawl teeth provided on a pawl that is fixed to the head portion to form a locking mechanism for preventing spreading of the fixed and moving jaws, wherein the handle portion has a length defining a first direction that is a lengthways direction of the handle portion said pin hole and pivot pin extend in a second direction that is transverse to said first direction and said pin hole is elongated in a third direction that is transverse to said first and second directions so that said pivot pin can move across said handle portion in said third direction along said elongate pin hole, whereby when the handle portion is turned in a drive direction, engagement of the gear teeth on the head end with the rack gear causes said moving jaw to move towards said fixed jaw and the handle portion to pivot around a point of engagement of said gear teeth and said rack gear into and within the confines of the elongate pin hole to propel the ratcheting locking teeth into engagement with the pawl teeth to lock the fixed and moving jaws.

16. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 15, wherein said moving jaw is biased towards said fixed jaw by a spring connected with said head end and said head portion.

17. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 16, wherein said spring is a torsion spring and said pivot pin passes through said torsion spring.

18. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein said gear teeth on said head end comprise a leading end gear tooth that is the leading tooth engaging said rack gear when said movable jaw is moved from a fully open position towards said fixed jaw, said gear teeth each have a height and the height of said leading tooth is greater than the height of the other said gear teeth.

19. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 18, wherein the respective heights of successive other said gear teeth are progressively less than the height of said leading end gear tooth.

20. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein said head portion defines a guide track for a guide member provided on said moving jaw and said rack gear is inclined with respect to said guide track.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable wrench with the head portion in a closed position.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable wrench with the head portion in an open condition.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top close up view of the adjustable wrench head portion, the head portion being biased into the open position by the action of the operator, with a hexagonal fastener head within the jaw gap.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top close up view of the adjustable wrench head portion, the head portion griping and operating a large fastener head in the drive direction, illustrating the jaws four face drive of the hexagonal fastener head. The fixed jaw, head portion illustrated in section in order to show the handle gear teeth levering against the moving jaw geared rack.

(6) FIG. 5 is a top close up view of the adjustable wrench head portion, the head portion griping and operating a small fastener head in the drive direction, illustrating the jaws four face drive of the hexagonal fastener head. The first jaw, head portion illustrated in section in order to show the handle gear teeth levering against the second jaw geared rack.

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the adjustable wrench shown operating a hexagonal fastener in the reverse direction, the fixed jaw being illustrated in section.

(8) FIG. 7 is a close-up top view of the adjustable wrench head portion, the wrench shown being maneuvered in the reverse direction upon a hexagonal fastener. The jaws opening against the resilient spiral spring by the leverage of the jaw surfaces against the fastener points, the back face of the handle gear teeth further usefully levering against the corresponding moving jaw gear teeth ensuring the required ease of reverse movement of the wrench head from one fastener flat to the next. The useful radiused ratcheting profiles used, further shown. The fixed jaw

(9) FIG. 8 is a top close-up view of the adjustable wrench head, utilizing a head portion which is automatically adjustable within its size range, robustly operating in the drive direction a medium sized hexagonal fastener head. The fixed jaw head portion illustrated in section in order to show the handle gear teeth robustly levering closed the moving jaw via the its associated geared rack. The handle pivoting at the point that the relevant handle gear tooth engages the corresponding moving jaw gear tooth urging the handle locking teeth into the pawl locking teeth within the confines of the pivot pin hole elongate portion usefully creating a jaw locking mechanism.

(10) FIG. 9 is a close up view of the pawl and corresponding handle locking teeth, utilizing in the illustrated example, saw toothed locking profiles.

(11) FIG. 10 is a close up view of the handle pivot pin hole whereby the pivot pin is urged into the handle pivot pin hole elongate portion.

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of the adjustable wrench.

(13) FIG. 12 is a top close up side view of the adjustable wrench head portion.

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the adjustable wrench with concave toothed jaws gripping a cylindrical workpiece.

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the adjustable wrench with straight jaws.

(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the adjustable wrench, the wrench dismantled into its constituent parts for display purposes.

REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

(17) Following is a listing of the various components used in the best mode preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments. For the ready reference of the reader the reference numerals have been arranged in ascending numerical order.

(18) TABLE-US-00001 1/Adjustable Wrench 200/Head Portion 201/Fixed Jaw Position 202/Fixed Jaw 1.sup.st Operating Face 203/Fixed Jaw 2.sup.nd Operating Face 204/Fixed Jaw Convex Operating Surface 205/Fixed Jaw Toothed Operating Surface 206/Fixed Jaw Flat Operating Surface 207/Fixed Jaw Concave Operating Surface 208/Fixed Jaw Fastener Operating Surface 209/Fixed Jaw Fastener Ratcheting Profile 210/Fixed Jaw Radiused Portion 211/Head Portion Sliding Rail Face 212/Head Portion Alignment Key Recess 213/Head Portion Cavity 214/Head Portion Spring Location 215/Head Portion Pivot Pin Hole 216/Head Portion Pawl Pin Hole 217/Head Portion Direction Legend 300/Moving Jaw 301/Moving Jaw Sliding Rail 302/Moving Jaw 3.sup.rd Operating Face 303/Moving Jaw 4.sup.th Operating Face 304/Moving Jaw Ratcheting Profile 305/Moving Jaw Toothed Operating Face 306/Moving Jaw Flat Operating Face 307/Moving Jaw Concave Operating Face 308/Moving Jaw Radiused Portion 309/Moving Jaw Sliding Rail Face 310/Moving Jaw Alignment Key 311/Moving Jaw Geared Rack 312/Moving Jaw Wedged Geared Rack 313/Rack Gear 314/Moving Jaw Operating Stop Face 315/Moving Jaw Gear Teeth Back Face 400/Handle 401/Handle Levering Portion 402/Handle Levered Portion 403/Handle Gear Teeth 404/Handle Pivot Pin Hole 405/Handle Pivot Pin Hole Elongate Portion 406/Handle Spring Location 407/Handle Locking Teeth 408/Handle Opening Stop 409/Handle Closing Stop 410/Handle Upright Saw Toothed Face 411/Handle Inclined Saw Toothed Face 412/Handle Gear Teeth Back Face 50/Spiral Spring 51/Spring Internal End 52/Spring External End 60/Pawl 61/Pawl Teeth 62/Pawl Stop Face 63/Pawl Pin Hole 64/ 65/Pawl Thumb Button 66/Pawl locking Ratchet Teeth 67/Pawl Upright Toothed Profile 68/Pawl Inclined Toothed Profile 70/Pivot Pin 71/Pawl Pin 72/Pivot Pin Screws 80/Fastener 81/Hexagonal Fastener Head 82/Hexagonal Fastener Head Flats 83/Fastener Levering Portions 84/Hexagonal Fastener Head Anti clockwise Levering Portions 85/Hexagonal Fastener Head Points 86/Cylindrical Workpiece D/Drive Direction R/Reverse Direction G/Jaw Gap CF/Clamping Force PP/Pivotal Point

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) FIGS. 1 to 15 illustrate versions of an adjustable wrench 1 comprising a head portion 200 having a fixed jaw 201 provided with two workpiece contacting surfaces 202, 203 and a moving jaw 300 provided with a further two workpiece contacting surfaces 302, 303.

(20) The moving jaw 300 is provided with a rack gear 313 that is capable of sliding back and forth in a head portion cavity 213. The moving jaw 300 is guided along a pathway defined by sliding rail faces 212, 309 provided within the head portion 200. The moving jaw 300 has an alignment key 310 configured to engage the sliding rail faces 212, 309.

(21) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustable wrench 1 has a handle, or lever, 400 provided with an array of gear teeth 403. The gear teeth 403 are disposed at the levered, or head, end 402 of the handle 400. The gear teeth 403 engage with the rack gear 313 of the moving jaw 300.

(22) To use the adjustable wrench 1, the user uses a button 65 to release a locking mechanism (described below) and rotates the handle 400 against the resilience of a spring 50 to move the moving jaw 300 to an open position (shown in FIG. 2). The rotation of the handle 400 may be transmitted to the moving jaw 300 by the engagement of the gear teeth 403 on the head end 402 with the teeth of the rack gear 313. The spring 50 is attached between the head end 402 of the handle 400 and the fixed head portion 200. The spring 50 may be a torsion spring. The button 65 may be positioned so that it can be operated by the user's thumb (the most intuitive digit). A direction legend 217 as shown in FIG. 1 may be provided on the head portion 200 to assist the user. Providing the fastener 80 is of a suitable size, the fastener head 81 may be fitted within the gap G created between fixed jaw 201 and moving jaw 300. When the user's thumb pressure is released from the button 65, the spring 50 automatically propels the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw 200, provisionally clamping the fastener 80 under the resilient elastic force of the spring 50. The head end 402 can now be rotated in the drive direction D around a pivot pin 70. The pivot pin 70 is secured within the fixed head portion 200 and extends through an elongate pin hole 404 provided in the handle 400. The engagement between the gear teeth 403 on the head end 402 and teeth of the rack gear 313 turn the head portion 200 and the engaged fastener 80 while driving the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw 200 so that the respective workpiece contacting surfaces 202, 203, 302, 303 clamp progressively harder upon the fastener levering portions 83.

(23) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the above-mentioned locking mechanism is a ratchet-like mechanism configured to prevent the jaws 201, 300 from spreading (moving apart) when the adjustable wrench 1 is applying large forces to a fastener 80 in the drive direction D. The locking mechanism may comprise respective sets of ratchet teeth 61, 407 (FIG. 15) provided on the head portion 200 and the handle 400. The ratchet teeth 407 may have saw-like profiles 410 and be provided on the periphery of the head end 402 of the handle 400. The correspondingly profiled teeth 61 may be provided on a pawl 60 fixed to the head portion 200. The button 65 may be provided on the pawl 60.

(24) As best seen in FIG. 10, the elongate pin hole 404 is appropriately elongated 405 such that when the workpiece contacting faces 202, 203, 302, 303 have engaged the fastener 80 and the handle 400 is forced in the drive direction D, the engagement of the gear teeth 403 with the rack gear 313 causes the handle portion 400 to pivot around the point of engagement of the engaged gear teeth 403 and the rack gear 313 into and within the confines of the elongate pin hole 404 until the ratchet teeth 407 on the head end 402 engage the pawl teeth 61. As the handle 400 is turned further, it can increase the gripping force CF of the fastener contact faces 202, 203, 302, 203 upon the fastener head levering portions 83, with the ratchet teeth 407 moving up the corresponding inclined ratchet teeth 61 in order, if required, to engage the next set of ratchet locking upright faces 67, 411. In best practice, the faces 67, 111 are disposed on a generally radial line from the centre of the pivot pin 70. As any further drive force D applied to the fastener 80 reaches a point greater than the gripping force CF generated by the ratio of the levering 401 to levered 402 forces generated within the handle portion 400 upon the moving jaw 300 through the gear teeth 403 and rack gear 313 to the workpiece contacting surfaces 202, 203, 302, 303, the locking engagement between the ratchet locking teeth and the pawl teeth prevents the spreading of the jaws 201, 300 due to the gearing ratio of the handle levering portion 401 to the head end 402 being insufficient at any point. In the reverse or reposition R action the handle 400, handle gear tooth back face 412 is now pivoted upon the back face 315 of the opposing geared ramp tooth of the rack gear 313 levering out of engagement as required the ratchet locking teeth 407 from the pawl teeth 61, releasing any ratchet locking function. The orientation of the inner profile of the p spring 50 against the pivot pin 70 circumference aids this action and ensures the pivot pin 70 is disengaged from the elongate pin hole and any engagement of the ratchet locking teeth 407 and pawl teeth 61 is removed when the adjustable wrench 1 is reversed R or at rest.

(25) As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 when the reverse or reposition direction R is required the handle 400 is operated in the reverse direction R, the back faces 412 of the gear teeth 403 on the head end now engage with the back faces 315 of the teeth of the rack gear 313 against the resilience of the spring 50 acting to open the wrench jaw gap G up to the point at which the grip of the jaws grip CF upon the fastener head 81 is reduced enough that the jaws 201, 300 open sufficiently to allow the workpiece contacting faces 202, 203, 302, 303 to slip as required from one set of fastener operating faces 82 to the next in the reverse or reposition direction R, the jaws 201, 300 closing under the resilient bias provided by the spring 50 acting on the moving jaw 300 as the reverse or reposition procedure R is completed. When utilized as a ratcheting adjustable wrench 1 there requires to be enough jaw 201, 300 opening G travel left when a fastener head 81 is engaged to allow this sequence to happen, a further requirement to ensure extended jaw opening G capabilities.

(26) As illustrated in FIG. 4 the adjustable wrench 1 is further characterized by a superior gripping force CF of the fastener 80 or workpiece 86, whilst employing extended jaw opening G capabilities, by the use of a geared wedge 312, 403 closure mechanism. The head end 402 of the handle 400 having gear like teeth 403 which innovatively increase in pivotal length or height in the operated drive direction D in order to act upon the teeth of the rack gear 313. The interaction of the shortest gear tooth 403 upon the gear rack teeth usefully corresponding to the wrench head portion 200 operating profile generally fully open, larger fastener 80 operating position, the handle leverage 401, 402 therefore being at its greatest when the largest size of fastener 80 is engaged and worked. The use of progressively longer handle levered end teeth 403 biased in the drive direction D, usefully provides a far greater jaw 201, 300 closure movement as the handle 400 is turned in the drive direction D and the head 200 swivels around the pivot pin 70 as the head portion 200 engages smaller sized fasteners 80. This novel design provides the required superior jaw 201, 300 locking closure force CF required when operating the larger sizes of fastener heads 81 yet can sustain according to the chosen gearing ratio between the handle gears 403 and the moving jaw geared wedge 312 proportional moving jaw locking closure force CF when operating the smaller sizes of fastener heads 81.

(27) An even further characterising feature of the present invention 1 is the provision of an adjustable wrench 1 which utilizes a true four jaw 202, 203, 302, 303 drive when utilized in the drive D direction, including first 202, second 203, third 302 and fourth 303 operating faces, drive D leverage 83 of the correspondingly sized hexagonal fastener head 81 being operated, the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces 202, 203, 302, 303 two within each opposing jaw 201, 300 closing face, engaging the four corresponding levered faces 83 of the hexagonal fastener head 81 to apply a drive force to the fastener, greatly increasing the levering purchase upon the fastener head 81 operated, the various sizes of hexagonal or suitable shaped fastener heads 81 operated in the drive direction D thereby usefully have more drive contact 83 between the workpiece contacting faces 202, 203, 302, 303 and the fastener head operated flats 82, the contact area being predominately within the half of the fastener head flats 83 nearest the leading edge 85 in the drive direction D of the fastener driven face 82 which is the dominant point of leverage 83 between a wrench 1 and fastener head 81. The non-levering jaw redundant reverse profiles 304 are usefully radiused 308 inwards in order to provide as smooth as possible a reverse or reposition R action whilst minimising the movement of the moving jaw 300 outwards from the fixed jaw 201 during this action, usefully contributing to the compactness of the wrench head 200. A further useful feature of those radiused workpiece contacting faces 210, 308 is in order to prevent as far as possible a point of stress crack creation. FIG. 5 illustrates how toothed workpiece contacting surfaces 205, 305, whether partially or fully toothed can provide superior gripping when acting on worn or damaged hexagonal head fasteners 81.

(28) FIG. 13 shows a modification of the adjustable wrench 1 in which one or both of the fixed and moving jaws is provided with concave workpiece contacting faces 205, 305. These may provide superior gripping when used on pipework or circular workpieces 86. It will be understood that many differing profiles may be provided to facilitate use with differently shaped workpieces.