US2427608A

US2427608A - Lock for wrenches

Info

Publication number: US2427608A
Application number: US559273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Kershaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-10-18
Filing date: 1944-10-18
Publication date: 1947-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1964-09-16

Description

Sept. 16-, l 947. R. H. KERSH'AW 2,427,608

LOOK FOR WRENCHES Filed Oct. 18, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

'PoerfH Ker/ au) eggg Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOK FOR WRENCHES Robert H. Kershaw, Long Beach, Calif.

Application October 18, 1944, Serial No. 559,273

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and more particularly to those wrenches known as adjustable end wrenches, and often called crescent wrenches.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a locking device for holding the jaws of the wrench in their adjusted position, against accidental movement.

More particularly the present invention embodies certain improvements over the locking device embodied in my copending application, Serial Number 508,000, filed October 28, 1943.

A further object is to provide a wrench in which the locking means can be incorporated into the wrench structure without necessitating any modification of the parts of the wrench.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crescent type wrench showing. the locking device in its inoperative position; 7

Figure 2 is a similar view, disclosing the looking device in its operative position, whereby the rotatable worm is locked against rotation and the jaws of the wrench held in their adjusted position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 .of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the locking device per se.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates generally an adjustable end Wrench, often called a crescent wrench, the same comprising a handle .2 having an enlarged head or body 3 formed on one end thereof.

A fixed or stationary jaw A is carried by the head or body 3 which cooperates with the movable jaw 5, mounted on the web portion 6. This web portion is slidable in the transverse slot 1 formed in the outer face of the head or body 3. A rack 8 is carried by the inner or lower portion of the web 6 and the inner portion of the slot 1 is enlarged to accommodate the rack 8.

A substantially rectangular shaped opening 9 is formed in the enlarged head or body 3. This opening communicates with the bottom of the 2 extends into this opening, as clearly shown in the drawing.

slot 1 and the toothed portion of the rack 8 A pin or crew l 0 extends transversely through the central portion of the opening 9 and journaled for rotation on this pin in the opening 9 is the knurled worm 12. The worm l2 cooperates with the rack 8 for moving the jaw 5 toward or away from the fixed jaw 4, in the manner and for the purpose well known in the art.

My improved locking device comprises a disclike member I2 formed of spring steel. This disc-like member is formed with a central opening is whereby the member may be mounted for rotation on the transverse pin In between the inner end of the worm I l and the adjacent side wall I4 of the opening 9. The inner end of the worm H is spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening to accommodate the locking device.

A knurled flange I5 is formed around the major portion of the periphery of the disc-like member [2 to facilitate manual rotation of the locking device in the manner to be presently described.

Forming a salient part of the locking device is the spring tooth l6 that extends at an obtuse angle from the unfianged periphery of the disclike member I2.

Also forming an important part of the locking device is the stop forming element ll that extends laterally from the disc-like member I2 adjacent to the angularly disposed spring tooth I6.

The operation of the improved locking device may be briefly stated as follows: With the locking device disposed in the position shown in Figure l, the spring locking tooth is in its inoperative position, out of contact with the inner side wall IA of the opening 9. When in this position, the locking device will not interfere with the free rotation of the knurled worm H. The knurled Worm may then be freely rotated by the fingers of the user to move the jaws 5 toward or away from the stationary jaw 4, until the proper adjustment of the jaws has been attained.

Then the knurled flange l5 of the disc-like member I2 is grasped and the disc-like member is rotated on the pin it; so as to move the spring tooth it upwardly into the opening 9 until this tooth is brought into wedging engagement between the inner end of the worm H and the side wall H! of the opening 9.

When the locking device is in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the worm II will be locked against rotation, thereby holding the jaws in their properly adjusted position against accidental movement.

The stop element l1 cooperates with the face of the head or body 3 to limit the rotation of the disc-like member I2 in either direction, to hold the locking device in either an operative or inoperative position.

M improved locking device can be operated from either side of the wrench with equal facilit and will, at all times be positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the side faces of the opening being straight and smooth, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, the inner end of the worm being straight and smooth and being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, and a spring tooth formed on the disc-like member adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening when said member is moved in one direction to lock the worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position.

2. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the side faces of the opening bieing straight and smooth, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, the inner end of the worm being straight and smooth and being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a spring tooth formed on the disc-like member adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening when said member is moved in one direction to lock the worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position, and a stop forming element carried by the disc-like member cooperating with the face of the body for limiting the rotation of the disc-like member in either direction.

3. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the side faces of the opening being straight and smooth, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed raolg ro moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, the inner end of the worm being straight and smooth and being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, said disc-like member being formed of spring steel, an angularly disposed tooth formed on the periphery of the disc-like member and adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body when the disc-like member is moved to one position to lock the worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position.

4. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the side faces of the opening being straight and smooth, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to y the fixed jaw, the inner end of the Worm being straight and smooth and being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, said disc-like member being formed of spring steel, an angularly disposed tooth formed on the periphery of the disc-like member and adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body when the disc-like member is moved to one position to lock the Worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position, and a stop forming element projecting laterally from the disc-like member for cooperation with the face of the body to limit the rotation of the disc-like member in either direction.

5. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, the inner end of the worm being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, said disc-like member being formed of spring steel, a knurled actuating flange formed on the periphery of the disc-like member, and an angularly disposed tooth projecting from the periphery of the disc-like member and adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body when the disc-like member is rotated to its operative position to lock the worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position.

6. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening and journaled for rotation on said pin, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, the inner end of the worm being spaced from the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, a disc-like member rotatably mounted on the pin and disposed between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body, said disc-like member being formed of spring steel, a knurled actuating flange formed on the periphery of the disc-like member, an angularly disposed tooth projecting from the periphery of the disc-like member and adapted to wedge between the inner end of the worm and the adjacent side wall of the opening in the body when the disc-like member is rotated to its operative position to lock the worm against rotation and hold the slidable jaw in its adjusted position, and a stop forming element projecting laterally from the disc-like member adjacent the angularly disposed tooth for cooperation with the 6 face of the body to limit the rotation of the disclike member to an operative or inoperative position.

ROBERT H. KERSHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS