GB2139127A

GB2139127A - An adjustable wrench

Info

Publication number: GB2139127A
Application number: GB08312352A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alojz Pacalaj
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-05
Filing date: 1983-05-05
Publication date: 1984-11-07
Also published as: GB8312352D0

Abstract

An adjustable wrench is provided having a handle (1); a first jaw (3) fixed to the handle (1); and a second jaw (4) which is movable with respect to the first jaw (3) so as to alter the spacing between the two jaws. An arrangement for moving the second jaw (4) comprises a rack (5), in engagement with a worm (7), the rack having a sufficient number of recesses to enable the maximum distance obtainable between the first and second jaws to be no less than 3.5 cm for a handle length 1 of 26 cm or less. The said maximum distance has hitherto been limited in accordance with the length and overall size of the wrench, and it has been necessary to employ much larger, heavier wrenches for the sake of adjusting a fractionally larger bolt or nut. Instead of, or in addition to, the provisions of the extra recesses, the wrench is provided with a protruding member (8) in a jaw region thereof, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adjustable wrench This invention relates to an adjustable wrench.

Adjustable wrenches are known having a handle, and first and second jaws, and having a provision for altering the spacing of the first jaw with respect to the second jaw so as to permit, for example, bolts or nuts of varying sizes to be adjusted using the wrench.

However, such wrenches each have a maximum distance between the jaws which is governed by the size of the wrench and, in particular, by the length of the handle. In some applications, for example in mining, it is necessary to employ a larger and heavier wrench than is necessitated by the task to be performed, for example, in orderto adjust a bolt which may be only 0.5 cm larger than that which could be adjusted by a smaller, more wieldy wrench.

During use of the wrench on a bolt which is stuck in one position, or is otherwise particularly difficult to adjust, it is not uncommon for a workman to strike the bolt, in an effort to release it, with a jaw region of the wrench, thus damaging the jaw region, and, possibly, damaging the mechanism for altering the spacing of the jaws.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable wrench comprising an elongate handle portion; a first jaw stationary with respect to the handle portion; and a second jaw capable with respect to the first jaw so as to alter the distance between the jaws; wherein the handle portion is provided, at an end region thereof, with (a) a worm or another externally threaded cylindrical member mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation lying in a plane containing the handle portion and the jaws and (b) a groove substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member; wherein the second jaw has an edge region provided with a number of recesses to define a rack, which edge region is received by said groove, with the worm or other externally threaded cylindrical member engaging the rack; and wherein the number of recesses is such that, when the handle portion has a length of 26cm or less, the maximum distance obtainable between the first and second jaws, with the worm and rack still in engagement, is no less tham 3.5cm.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable wrench comprising an elongate handle portion; a first jaw stationary with respect to the handle portion; and a second jaw capable of moving with respect to the first jaw so as to alter the distance between the jaws; wherein the handle portion is provided at an end region thereof, with (a) a worm or another externally threaded cylindrical member mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation lying in a plane containing the handle and the jaws and (b) a groove substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member; wherein the second jaw has an edge region provided with a number of recesses to define a rack, which edge region is received by said groove, with the worm or other externally threaded cylindrical member engaging the rack; and wherein a region of the first jaw is provided with a protruding member, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer.

The wrench according to the first aspect of the present invention may be provided with a protruding member in the region of the first jaw, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer.

Preferably the number of recesses is no less than 9 and may conveniently be 10.

Preferably the protruding member is of the form of the striking portion of a hammer head.

The striking portion of the hammer head may have a generally planar striking surface which is parallel or substantially parallel to the length of the elongate handle portion.

Preferably the groove extends into a cavity within the protruding member, to provide accommodation for the rack when the jaws abut.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of an adjustable wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the jaws in an open position; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of the wrench of Figure 1 with the jaws in a closed position; and Figure 3 shows a bracket which can be used to carry the wrench.

As shown in Figure 1, the wrench is positioned with a handle 1 having a groove 2; a first jaw 3 stationary with respect to the handle 1; and a second jaw 4 movable with respect to the jaw 3. The movable jaw 4 has an edge region provided with recesses 5 to define a rack which engage a thread 6 of a worm 7. When the worm 7 is rotated in a direction indicated by arrow A, portion 6a of the thread 6, presently engaging recess 5a, is rotated to engage recess 5b, thus moving jaw 4 in the direction indicated by arrow B. In this embodiment there are 10 recesses 5, enabling a larger distance between the jaws 3,4 to be achieved than has hitherto been possible for conventional, existing adjustable wrenches of similar size.Thus, for length 1 of the handle of 26 cm, the wrench according to the present invention can obtain a maximum distance between the jaws 3, 4 of 3.5 cm, compared with 3 cm or less of a conventional wrench.

The wrench is further provided with a protruding member 8, resembling the striking portion of a hammer, to enable the wrench to be used as a hammer, in addition to its use as a wrench. The member 8 has a generally planar striking surface which is substantially parallel to the handle 1. As shown in Figure 1 the provision of the protruding member 8 also ensures that the groove 2 can be of a sufficient length to accommodate an edge of the jaw 4 which has 10 recesses, instead of the 8 recesses which would normally be provided for a wrench of this size. Thus, as can be seen from Figure 2, the groove 2 extends into a cavity within the protruding member, to provide accommodation for the rack 5 when the jaws 3,4 are closed. The cavity 9 may be, for example, a drilled hole about 0.80 cm deep One end ofthe handle 1 is provided with a socket 10 having a seven-eights of an inch (2.22 cm) diameter.

Figure 3 shows a bracket 11 whih can be worn on a belt, passed through apertures 12, to carry a wrench supported in aperture 13.

Claims

1. An adjustable wrench comprising an elongate handle portion; a first jaw stationary with respect to the handle portion; and a second jaw capable of moving with respect to the first jaw so as to alter the distance between the jaws; wherein the handle portion is provided, at an end region thereof, with (a) a worm or another externally threaded cylindrical member mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation lying in a plane containing the handle portion and the jaws and (b) a groove substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member; wherein the second jaw has an edge region provided with a number of recesses to define a rack, which edge region is received by said groove, with the worm or other externally threaded cylindrical member engaging the rack; and wherein the number of recesses is such that, when the handle portion has a length of 26cm or less, the maximum distance obtainable between the first and second jaws, with the worm and rack still in engagement, is no less than 3.5 cm.

2. An adjustable wrench comprising an elongate handle portion; a first jaw stationary with respect to the handle portion; and a second jaw capable of moving with respect to the first jaw so as to alter the distance between the jaws; wherein the handle portion is provided, at an end region thereof, with (a) a worm or another externally threaded cylindrical member mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation lying in a plane containing the handle portion and the jaws and (b) a groove substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member; wherein the second jaw has an edge region provided with a number of recesses to define a rack, which edge region is received by said groove, with the worm or other externally threaded cylindrical member engaging the rack; and wherein a region of the first jaw is provided with a protruding member, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer.

3. A wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein a region of the first jaw is provided with a protruding member, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer.

4. A wrench as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the number of recesses is no less than 9.

5. A wrench as claimed in claim 4, wherein the number of recesses is 10.

6. Awrench as claimed in claim 2 or3, or in claim 4 or 5 when appendant to claims 2 or 3, wherein the protruding member is of the form of the striking portion of a hammer head.

7. A wrench as claimed in claim 6, wherein the striking portion of the hammer head has a generally planar striking surface which is parallel or substantially parallel to the length of the elongate handle portion.

8. Awrench substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

8. A wrench as claimed in claim 2 or 3, or in any one of claims 4to 7, when appendantto claims 2 or 3, wherein said groove extends into a cavity within the protruding member, to provide accommodation for the rack when the jaws abut.

9. A wrench substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 17th April 1984 Superseded claims 1 to 9 New or amended claims:

1. An adjustable wrench comprising an elongate handle portion; a first jaw stationary with respect to the handle portion; and a second jaw capable of moving with respect to the first jaw so as to alter the distance between the jaws; wherein the handle portion is provided, at an end region thereof, with (a) a worm or another externally threaded cylindrical member mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation lying in a plane containing the handle portion and the jaws and inclined with respect to the length of the handle portion and (b) a groove substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical member; wherein the second jaw has an edge region provided with a number of recesses to define a rack, which edge region is received by said groove, with the worm or other externally threaded cylindrical member engaging the rack; and wherein the number of recesses is such that, when the handle portion has a length of 26cm or less, the maximum distance obtainable between the first and second jaws, with the worm and rack still in engagement, is no less than 3.5cm.

2. An adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein a region of the first jaw is provided with a protruding member, whereby the wrench may also serve as a hammer.

3. A wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protruding member is of the form of the striking portion of a hammer head.

4. A wrench as claimed in claim 3, wherein the striking portion of the hammer head has a generally planar striking surface which is parallel or substantially parallel to the length of the elongate handle portion.

5. A wrench as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, wherein said groove extends into a cavity within the protruding member, to provide accommodation for the rack when the jaws abut.

6. A wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the number of recesses is no less than

9.

7. A wrench as claimed in claim 6, wherein the number of recesses is

10.