US2681583A - Toggle-actuated, pivoted jaw wrench - Google Patents

Description

June 22, 1954 H. BUSCHMAN TOGGLE-ACTUATED, PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Filed Aug. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR flan 4R0 Base/mm ATTORNEY June 22, 1954 BUSCHMAN 2,681,583

TOGGLE-ACTUATED. PIVOTED JAW WRENCH Filed Aug. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY Patented June 22, 1954 TOGGLE-ACTUATED, PIVOTED J AW WRE NCH Howard Buschman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Buschman Products Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 21, 1952, Serial No. 305,669

5 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to wrenches, and in particular to wrenches having adjustable jaws. Wrenches of the general type to which this invention relates are adapted to be used on nuts, bolts, pipes and the like. It is slow and time-consuming work to change the spacing between the jaws of adjustable wrenches. The change is usually accomplished either by the rotation of a threaded shaft to which the movable jaws is secured either directly or by a pivot, or by rotation of an internally threaded collar disposed operatively about a threaded rod to an end of which the movable jaw is connected. These methods and means of adjustment are necessarily slow, awkward and time-consuming, depending on the speed of rotation of the threaded shaft or threaded collar, and valuable time is lost in adjusting the wrenches from one size to another.

The main object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of improved means to vary the spacing between wrench jaws.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved wrench provided with adjustable jaws, the spacing between which may be adjusted linearly and by straight line movement of a suitable control member, rather than by rotation of a shaft or collar.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part specifically pointed out in the following description of several illustrative embodiments thereof.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a part side elevation part longitudinal section through one form of device constructed according to and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged part side elevation and part longitudinal section of the heel end of the fixed handle component of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly broken away to show interior details, partly in section of a modified form of wrench incorporating the control mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged part side elevation and part longitudinal section of the heel end of the r fixed handle component of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the modification of the: invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3,. the wrench involved 2 comprises a pair of spaced-apart side frame plates I2, I2. A fixed head I6 is disposed between the head ends I4 of frame plate I2, said head I5 having a scored or ribbed inner face [8. Between the spaced-apart heel ends 29 of the frame is disposed a lengthwise-extending spacer block 22, which is longitudinally apertured as indicated at 24. The upper portion of block 22 is centrally channeled lengthwise thereof as indicated at 26, channel 26 being narrower than aperture 24 but in communication therewith. An elongated, control rod 28 is provided with rearwardly angled threads 29 thereabout, said rod 23 be ing of such diameter as to permit easy passage through and along block aperture 24. The rear of rod 28 is provided with an enlarged manually operable knurled head 30, the front of the rod terminating in a cross-head 32, the ends of which extend into and are trapped within elongated lengthwise extending slots 34 in each of frame sides I2.

A detent 36 is pivotally secured within block channel 26, said detent 36 having a forward reaching jaw with forwardly angled serrations 38 across the underside thereof, of such spacing as to interfit and interlock with the threads 29 about shaft 28. The rear end of detent 36 is pivoted between the sides of block 22 by pin 40 passing therethrough, the detent jaw being normally urged downwardly and into locking engagement with rod 28 by means of a leaf spring 42. The front end 44 of spring 42 is trapped beneath a cross-pin 46 set into block 22 and across channel 26 at its forward upper end. A medial" plates I2, I2 opposite fixed jaw I6, said triangular jaw 60 having a scored or corrugated side or face 62 opposing face I8 of jaw I6. The upper end 64 of the base of triangular jaw 60 is pivoted by pin 66 to a link 68, the other end of which'is pivoted by pin 10 to the forward end I2 of a movable handle 13. Handle 13 is likewise pivotally secured by pin 14 up from the forward end there of to one end of a short link 16, the other end of said link 16 being pivotally secured to and between frame sides I2 by pin I8. The lower end 8|] of the .base of jaw 60 is pivotally secured by pin 82 to the upper end 84 of an arcuate' link;

3 member 86. The other end 88 of said arcuate link 86 is pivotally secured between plates I2, 12 by pin 96. When fitted together in the relationship illustrated in Figure 1, the cross-head 32 of control rod 28 bears against the rear curved edge 62 of link 86. It is to be noted that the upper end of rod 28 is rotatably fixed in cross-head 32. A fiat, elongated, pre-set arched leaf spring 94 is provided, with one end thereof fixed between plates I2, I2, as at 93, and the other end thereof seated in a notch 98 in arcuate link 85, normally to bias link $6 upwardly to'swing movable jaw 66 towards open position with respect to jaw IS, said spring 94 being further tensioned on downward movement of link 86 so as to swing link 86 upwardly on release of pressure of crosshead 32 against the rear edge 92 of link 86.

As illustrated in Figure l, jaw faces i8, 82 are shown in spread-apart position. When it-is desired to bring them closer together, for work on I a nut, bolt or the like of smaller diameter, jaw Gil need only be manually swung toward fixed jaw is until the desired spacing is achieved. Thereupon, control rod is grasped at the headed knurled end 3c thereof and pushed inwardly and lengthwise of the'device until cross-head 32 is butted against the rear edge 92 of link 86. The angulation of rod teeth 29 is such that the rod will override notches 3B in detent 3i permitting free movement of the rod upwardly even when the detent is engaged with the control rod. When handle 13 is then pressed towards heel ends 26, the heads 68, IE will be locked in the desired position, particularly since the engagement of detent teeth 38 against threads 29 will resist any rearward or retrograde movement of rod 28. It will be obvious that the position of cross-head 32 in slots 3d will determine the maximum distance between jaw faces I8, 62.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, the fixed component comprises a generally U- haped frame member I It having a fixed jaw I I2 mounted between the sides at the forward end thereof, the sides at rear end III! thereof being turned into annular shape providing a lengthwise circular extending hollow sleeve H opening into the channel I it between the frame sides. A control rod II8 is provided, threaded as indicated at I28 along its length, terminating at its forward end fiat face I22, and at its rear end in an enlarged knurled head I24i. A pivoted detent I26 is provided and secured atop sleeve 5 I5, having a forward reaching head I28 provided with forwardly angled teeth I39 at its underside extending over the rear of channel H6 and interfitting with the rearwardly angled threads 529 on rod H8. A manually controllable lever I32 extends rearwardly from the pivot point I34 of detent H26 and a coil spring I36 is trapped between sleeve H5 and the underside of lever I32, this spring I36 serving normally to raise lever I32 and depress head l28 into toothed engagement with rod H8.

A generally triangular movable jaw I50 is provided, having a transversely extending toothed face 52 opposing fixed jaw H2 on the upper portion of one side of the triangle. one side thereof is disposed within frame channel H6 and pivotally secured therebetween by pin Md; the other end of the base, extending upwardly out of frame H6 is pivotally secured by pin I46 to the forward end of handle Hi8. A straight, elongated link I50 is provided, with one end I52 thereof pivoted to handle I48 by The base at transverse pin I54, the body of link I50 depending into channel H6 with its other end I56 resting therewithin in alignment with rod H8.

A coil spring I66 is provided, with one end thereof engaging the base of jaw I40 as at I82, and the other end engaged in an opening I64 in frame H8. Spring IE0 is fitted as described under extension, functioning normally to pivot jaw I42 away from jaw H2. The operation of this modification of my invention is generally similar to that of the first modification hereinabove described.

When it is desired to reduce the distance between jaws H2, I42, they are merely and manually urged towards each other into the desired spacing against the biasing of spring I60. This will pivot head I45] downwardly in the direction of the arrow B and draw link I forwardly, whereupon control rod is pushed into channel I I6 until the end face I22 thereof bears against the free end I of link I58, at which point the desired spacing between jaws IIZ, I 32 is fixed; If desired, rod II8 may simply be pushed forwardly against link I50 and the tension of spring I60 until the desired jaw spacing is achieved. The angulation of rod threads I20 is such as to permit same to ride over and past detent teeth I30. Retrograde movement of rod I I8 in a straight line is prevented by the interlocking engagement of detent teeth I36 with threads I26. A crosspin I66 through link end I56 serves to trap link i538 within channel H6.

As will be obvious, when it is desired to enlarge the spacings between jaws II2, I42 (Figure 4) and between jaws I8, 62 (Figure l) detents E25 and 3% respectively are disengaged from the control rods, thus permitting their retraction in a straight line. The contraction of spring E68 will pivot jaw I ia away from jaw H2 and urge link I59 rearwardly until it butts against rod end I22. It is possible in both modifications of my device to rotate the'control rods 23, H8 clockwisely or counter-clockwisely for fine adjustments of the jaws, or even for full adjustment over the permissible scale, exactly as done with conventional devices, but with the devices of my invention, the slow, tedious and time-consuming rotary adjustment may be avoided and adjustment made positively, quickly and easily by straight line reciprocating manipulation of the control rods. The detents are normally engaged to lock the control rods, but they may be disengaged when retrograde movement is desired to enlarge the spacing, and they may be shifted forwardly despite engagement by the detentswhen it is desired to lessen the distance between the jaws.

My devices are simple to construct and operate and may readily be incorporated in conventional devices at small cost.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wrench comprising an elongated body portion having a pair of opposing jaws at one end thereof, an adjustably positioned fulcrum rotatably engaging one of said jaws which jaw is relatively movable towards and away from the other of said jaws, a lengthwise extending hollow bearing sleeve mounted at the other end of the body, a

an elongated threaded rod disposed within said sleeve and engaging and movable with said fulcrum, said rod being reciprocably shiftable lengthwise of the body selectively by screw thread rotation and by straight line movement to control the position of said fulcrum and said movable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, a toothed detent within the sleeve at said other end of the body normally engaging the threaded rod to limit same against straight line movement rearwardly of the body, the rod being shiftable forwardly by straight lin movement and by screw thread rotation and rearwardly only by reverse screw thread rotation thereof during said engagement.

2. A wrench comprising an elongated body portion having a pair of opposing jaws at one end thereof, an adjustably positioned fulcrum rotatably engaging one of said jaws which jaw is relatively movable towards and away from the other of said jaws, a lengthwise extending hollow bearing sleeve pivotally mounted at the other end of the body, an elongated threaded rod disposed within said sleeve and engaging and movable with said fulcrum, said rod being reciprocably shiftable lengthwise of the body selectively by screw thread rotation and by straight line movement to control the position of said fulcrum and said movable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, a toothed detent within the sleeve at said other end of the body and spring means thereon to urge the detent into engagement with the threaded rod to limit the same against straight line movement rearwardly of the body, the rod being shiftable forwardly by straight line movement and by screw thread rotation and rearwardly only by reverse screw thread rotation thereof during said engagement.

3. A wrench as in claim 2, wherein the teeth on the detent are forwardly angled, and the 6 threaded rod engaged with the detent is shiftable forwardly against the spring urging of the toothed detent against the rod. threads, with the latter overriding the detent teeth.

4. A wrench as in claim 2, wherein the sleeve is longitudinally slitted and the detent is pivotally disposed within the slit with the toothed portion thereof directed against the rod extending through the sleeve.

5. A wrench as in claim 4, wherein the tension of the spring on the sleeve normally urging the detent into engagement with the rod is relaxable to disengage the detent from the rod, whereupon the rod is straight line reciprocably shiftable lengthwise of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 587,974 Keith et a1 Aug. 10, 1897 786,844 Sanders Apr. 11, 1905 936,980 Bing Oct. 12, 1909 1,060,391 Wilson Apr. 29, 1913 1,935,009 Bluhm Nov. 14, 1933 2,487,281 Steokelberg Nov. 8, 1949 2,531,285 Manspeaker Nov. 21, 1950 2,617,312 Prentice Nov. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 976,867 France Nov. 1, 1950

Images