CA2204091A1

CA2204091A1 - Wrench

Info

Publication number: CA2204091A1
Application number: CA002204091A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jong-Hsing Shang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: SHANG JONG HSING
Priority date: 1997-04-30
Filing date: 1997-04-30
Publication date: 1998-10-30
Also published as: FR2767277A3; DE29709385U1; GB9710943D0; FR2767277B3; GB2325872A

Abstract

A wrench is composed of a fixed member and a movable member fastened pivotally with the fixed member such that the second clamping portion of the movable member and the first clamping portion of the fixed member can cooperate. The fixed member is provided with a pivoting slot in which the second pivoting portion of the movable member is pivoted so as to enable the first clamping portion of the fixed member and the second clamping portion of the movable member to work together to hold and turn a relatively small and thin nut, bolt, etc.

Description

WRENCH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a hand tool, and more particularly to a wrench. I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 7, a prior art wrench consists of a fixed member 1 and a movable member 4. The fixed member 1 is of a flat rod-shaped construction and is composed of a grip portion 2 and a first clamping portion 3. The movable member 4 is composed of a pivoting portion 5 and a second clamping portion 6. The pivoting portion S is fastened pivotally with the fixed member 1. A nut, bolt, or pipe is held and turned by the first clamping portion 3 and the second clamping portion 6.

The pivoting portion S of the movable member 4 is rather thick and is provided with a retaining slot 7 for pivoting the first clamping portion 3.

Such a prior art wrench as described above is defective in design in that the nut, bolt or pipe can not be held securely between the first clamping portion 3 and the second clamping portion 6 which is thicker than the first clamping portion 3, and that the fixed member 1 and the movable member 4 are made by an expensive method of casting or forging.

SUM~ARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a wrench capable of holding and turning effectively a nut, bolt, or pipe.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a wrench, which can be made at a low cost without compromising the quality of the wrench.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by an improved wrench, which consists of a fixed member and a movable member fastened pivotally with the fixed member. The fixed member has a first clamping portion, a grip portion, and a first pivoting portion located between the first clamping portion and the grip portion. The movable member has a second pivoting portion and a second clamping portion. The fixed member is provided with a pivoting slot extending from the outer edge of the first clamping portion to the adjoining area of the first pivoting portion and the grip portion. The second pivoting portion of the movable member is not as thick as the second clamping portion and is pivoted in the pivoting slot such that the second clamping portion is extended beyond the pivoting slot. The first clamping portion is equal in thickness to the second clamping portion so as to enable the wrench to hold securely a nut or bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment at work according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view taken along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connection member of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a prior art wrench.

DET~ ,n DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a wrench 10 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of a fixed member 12 and a movable member 14 fastened pivotally with the fixed member 12.

The fixed member 12 is of a flat rod-shaped construction and is provided with two wide sides 20, two narrow sides 21, a first clamping portion 22, a first pivoting portion 23 and a grip portion 24. The first pivoting portion 23 is provided at the center thereof with a first pivoting hole 25 which is extended through the wide sides 20.

The fixed member 12 is characterized in design in that it is provided with a pivoting slot 26 extending from the first clamping portion 22 to an adjoining area between the first pivoting portion 23 and the grip portion 24 such that the pivoting slot 26 is extended through the narrow sides 21. Moreover, the first clamping portion 22 is provided with a stopping block 27 for confining the range in which the movable member 14 can be swiveled. The pivoting slot 26 has a first inner side and a second inner side, which are corresponding to the wide sides of the fixed member 12.

The movable member 14 has a curved second clamping portion 40, a second pivoting portion 42 made integrally with the second clamping portion 40, and a connection member 41. The second clamping portion 40 can be swiveled along the longit~lclin~l direction of the connection member 41 such that the distance between the inner side of the second clamping portion 40 and the outer side of the first clamping portion 22 may be changed slightly for holding a bolt head or nut 50.

The movable member 14 is characterized in design in that the second clamping portion 40 has a thickness Dl which is equal to the thickness D2 of the first clamping portion 22 of the fixed member 12, and that the second pivoting portion 42 has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the second clamping portion 40 and is about equal to the width of the pivoting slot 26.

The wrench 10 of the present invention is capable of holding and turning a nut 50 which is relatively thin and fastened securely onto a surface 51. In operation, the first clamping portion 22 and the second clamping portion 40 are attached to the surface 51 such that the nut 50 is held securely by the clamping portions 22 and 40. A pipe can be also held securely by the clamping portions 22 and 40.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pivoting portion 23 of the fixed member 12 is provided with a round pivoting hole 251 and an elongate pivoting hole 252. A connection member 41 of a rivetlike construction is provided with a head 411, a round columnar portion 412 and a flat columnar portion 413. The connection member 41 is movably engaged with the round pivoting hole 251 and the elongate pivoting hole 252 such that the end of the flat columnar portion 413 is enlarged to become a tail end 414, and that the connection member 41 can be moved~back and forth between a first position and a second position. A coil spring 415 is fitted over an extension portion of the flat columnar portion 413 s such that both ends of the coil spring 415 urge respectively the tail end 414 and the first pivoting portion 23.

The second pivoting hole 43 of the movable member 14 is provided with two wide areas 431 and three narrow areas 432 having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the wide areas 431.

When the connection member 41 is not exerted on by an external force, the round columnar portion 412 is forced by the coil spring 415 to move into one of the wide areas 431 of the second pivoting hole 43, thereby enabling the movable member 14 to swivel only on the fixed member 12. As a result, the movable member 14 is not able to move along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second pivoting hole 43. The distance between the first clamping portion 22 and the second clamping portion 40 can be therefore adjusted in accordance with the size of a nut, bolt or pipe. As the connection member 41 is pushed by the user of the wrench 10 of the present invention, the coil spring 415 is forced by the connection member 41 to cause the round columnar portion 412 to move~ away from the wide area 431, thereby causing the flat columnar portion.252 to engage the second pivoting hole 43. As a result, the round columnar portion 412 can be moved to any one of the wide areas 431.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed member 12 of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of two plates 30, which are thinner than the fixed member 12 of previous embodiments of the present invention and are fastened together by means of three rivets 31. The plates 30 are provided respectively with a first clamping portion 22, a first pivoting portion 23, and a pivoting slot 26. The plates 30 are made economically of a metal material by punching and pressing. The stopping block 27is fastened between the two plates 30 by welding. The stopping block 27 may be of a cruciform construction. The stopping block 27is held between the two plates 30 such that both ends of the stopping block 27 are located in the locating holes 32 of the plates 30.
The stopping block 27 may be made integrally with one of the two plates 30. The stopping block 27 may be divided into two pieces, which are fastened respectively and correspondingly with the two plates 30.

Claims

1. A wrench comprising:

a fixed member provided with two wide sides, two narrow sides, a first clamping portion, a grip portion, and a first pivoting portion located between said first clamping portion and said grip portion, said first pivoting portion provided with a first pivoting hole extending through said wide sides; and a movable member provided with a second pivoting portion and a second clamping portion, said second pivoting portion having a second pivoting hole for fastening pivotally said second pivoting portion with said fixed member by a connection member engaging said second pivoting hole and said first pivoting hole such that said second clamping portion of said movable member and said first clamping portion of said fixed member are kept apart from each other by a predetermined distance;

wherein said fixed member is provided with a pivoting slot extending from said first clamping portion to a junction between said first pivoting portion and said grip portion such that said pivoting slot extends through said two narrow sides, and that said pivoting slot is provided with a first inner side and a second inner side, with said first inner side and said second inner side being corresponding to said wide sides of said fixed member;

wherein said second pivoting portion of said movable member has a thickness smaller than a thickness of said second clamping portion of said movable member, said second pivoting portion being pivoted in said pivoting slot such that said second clamping portion is located outside said pivoting slot, said second clamping portion being equal in thickness to said first clamping portion of said fixed member.

2. The wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said fixed member is composed of two plates each having a first clamping portion, a first pivoting portion, a grip portion, a pivoting slot located between said first clamping portion and said first pivoting portion.

3. The wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said first clamping portion of said fixed member is provided with a stopping block for confining the swiveling range of said movable member.

4. The wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said stopping block is fastened with said first inner side and said second inner side of said pivoting slot of said fixed member.

5. The wrench as defined in claim 4, wherein said stopping block is made integrally with said first inner side such that one end of said stopping block is in contact with said second inner side of said pivoting slot.

6. The wrench as defined in claim 4, wherein said first inner side or said second inner side of said pivoting slot is provided with at least one retaining recess; and wherein said stopping block is provided with at least one retaining projection engaged with said retaining recess of said pivoting slot.

7. The wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said first clamping portion of said fixed member is provided with two stopping blocks fastened respectively with said first inner side and said second inner side of said pivoting slot of said fixed member for confining the swiveling range of said movable member.

8. The wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said first pivoting hole of said fixed member is round in shape and corresponding to said first inner side; wherein said first pivoting hole of said fixed member is elongated in shape and corresponding to said second inner side, said elongated pivoting hole having an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said round pivoting hole; wherein said second pivoting hole of said movable member is composed of a plurality of through holes in communication with one another, a plurality of wide areas having different inner diameters, and at least one narrow area; and wherein said connection member is of a rod-shaped construction and provided with a large diametrical portion and a small diametrical portion, said large diametrical portion having an outer diameter greater than a width of said narrow area, said small diametrical portion having an outer diameter smaller than the width of said narrow area, said connection member capable of moving between a first position and a second position such that said large diametrical portion is moved into or out of said wide areas.

9. The wrench as defined in claim 8, wherein said connection member is movably engaged with said first pivoting hole of said fixed member and said second pivoting hole of said movable member.

10. The wrench as defined in claim 8, wherein said large diametrical portion of said rod-shaped connection rod is round in shape;
and wherein said small diametrical portion of said rod-shaped connection member is flat and has a thickness small than the width of said narrow area.

11. The wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said fixed member is provided with a biasing means fitted thereover such that said fixed member is always located at a first position as long as said biasing means is not exerted on by an external force.

12. The wrench as defined in claim 11, wherein said biasing means is a coil spring, which is fitted over said connection member such that one end of said coil spring urges said connection member, and that another end of said coil spring is fastened with said first pivoting portion of said fixed member.