US2979977A

US2979977A - Adjustable wrenches

Info

Publication number: US2979977A
Application number: US786288A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bachli Herman; Harry S Shapiro
Original assignee: CHICAGO SPECIALTY Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CHICAGO SPECIALTY Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1959-01-12
Filing date: 1959-01-12
Publication date: 1961-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-18

Description

April 18, 1961 H. BACI-n.1 ETAL 2,979,977

ADJUSTABLE wRENcHEs Filed Jan. 12, 1959 AnrusrALE wRENcnEs Herman Bachli and Harry S. Shapiro, Chicago,lll.,as

signers to Chicago Specialty Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 12, 1959, ser, Nq, 136,2ss' 4 claims. (clim-'129) This invention relates to improvements in a slidable side jaw wrench. v,

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an adjustable wrench with locking means which will positively lock the adjustable jaw member in its adjusted position so that the same will not spread or move with respect to the stationary jaw member during use.

It has been found that one of the principal objections to the prior art adjustable wrenches is that the movable jaw would not stay in its locked position when the wrench was applied to an object in wrenching position but that the movable jaw would spread or move in relation to the stationary jaw thus loosening its grip on the object and necessitating frequent retightening of the locking member on the wrench during a single operation. The foregoing objections have all been eliminated with the present invention.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a locking means which includes a member having a general convex shaped inner surface which .extends partially into the slot of the movable jaw member and partially out of the slot and which engages the upper and lower surfaces adjacent theslot along two spaced parallel straight lines. This arrangement provides an effective locking means so that once the locking means is in locked position it will be maintained in locked position irrespective of the force or pressure that might-be applied in the use of the wrench on an object.

eOther objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the wrench.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view showing the movable jaw secured in its closest adjusted position relative to the stationary jaw.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the locking means, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional viewfof a portion of the wrench showing a modified form of locking means.

The wrench shown in Figures l to 5 inclusive includes an elongated wrench handle generally indicated at 10 which diverges outwardly at the top to form an intermediate section generally indicated at 12 from which upwardly extends the stationary jaw generally indicated at 14. The handle 10, intermediate section 12 and the stationary jaw are integrally forged or cast of malleable iron or the like.

The intermediate section 12, as best Shown in Figure 4, is recessed as at 16 to provide a lower shoulder 18 and an upper shoulder 20. The lower shoulder 18 extends transversely of the handle 10 and extends the full length of the intermed'ate section 12. The upper shoulder 20 is parallel to the lower shoulder 18 and extends below the stationary jaw 14. The adjustable or slid- United States Patent 2,979,977 PatentedApr. y18, 1961- lCe ' 16 and between the'shoulders 18 and 20. The lateral extension 24 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 which has parallel extending tlat upper and

lower wall surfaces

29 and 30 respectively.

The intermediate section 12 of the stationary jaw v member is provided with an opening 31 in alinement with slot 28. i f

The locking means for securing the' adjustable jaw 22 in a 'locked adjusted position comprises a rotatable element generally indicated at 32 and a convex shaped member generally indicated at 34.

The rotatable element 32 has a threaded shank 33 which extends through the opening 31 and through slot 28 of the movable jaw member 26. The rotatable element 32 has an enlarged head 36 from which extends a lever 38 having a attened and roughened finger gripf ping portion 40. The head 36 rests against the front of the intermediate section 12.

Engaging the opposite or free end of the threaded shank is the convex shaped member 34' which is best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The member 34 has an outside facing flat surface 42 and a convex shaped inner surface 44. Member 34 has a threaded open'ng 46 which engages the threaded shank Y33. Member 34 is substantially rectangular in plan View and the opening 46 is positioned closer to onevside, i.e. the right side, as viewed in Figure 5 so as to permit the adjustable jaw 22 to be moved and locked in the widest separated position with respect to the stationary jaw 14. i

The convex shaped surface 44 ofthe member 34 is extremely important and forms an essential feature of this invention. With this shape a portion of the convex surface extends inwardly into the slot 28 so that it is inwardly of the outer vertical surface of the lateral extension 24 of the movable jaw and a portion of the convex surface extends outwardly beyond and rearwardly of theslot 28. That is, the upper portion of the convex surface 44 extends upwardly and outwardly or rearwardly of the slot 28 and the lower portion of the convex surface extends downwardly and outwardly or rearwardly of the slot 28. When the rotatable element 32 is tightened with respect to the convex shaped member 34, member 34 will be positioned as best shown in Figure 5 so that the convex surface 44 of member 34 engages the outer edges of the upper and

lower wall surfaces

29 and 30 of slot 28. The engagement is eifected along two parallel straight lines.

The locking arrangement just described is effective in positively locking the movable jaw 22 with respect to the stationary jaw 14. This will prevent spreading or movement of the movable jaw uu'th respect to the stationary jaw while the same is engaging an object to which it is applied when in use. v

In prior art constructions using conventional nuts or locking means it has been found that when in use the movable jaw will have a tendency to move or spread with respect to the stationary jaw due to the ineffective locking of the nut or locking means, hence the same has to be repeatedly tightened during use. With the applicants convex-shaped inner surface of member 34 and the manner in which it engages the upper and lower outer edges of the slot 28 this is positively eliminated andthe movable jaw is locked in an immovable position while in use.

The movable jaw member 26 may be readily adjusted relative to theistation'a'ry ja'wfmember. -By"iiiovirig` theV lever 38 in a slightly counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, the c onvex shaped member 34 is loosened sufficiently on theshank 31 to permit the movableIjaW-22 `to"be":p=ositioned5 in its desir'edadjustedr positionlan'd A:the'n'by`movir`ig the"1ever"3'8 in 'a'slightly clockwise `direction (Figure l) 4the"menibe'rf34'is'tightiedfas previously" described, 'to 'positivelyflock thexmovable `jaw with'resp'ect tothe stationary jaw. y l

Figure l6shows a modification. In this" modification the intermediate recessed "section 12" of the vstationary jaw 14"is providedwithfargroove'52extending across the intermediate 'section' Vjust Aabove the "lowershoulder 18'. 'provided with a`rib-54 whichjengages thejgroove'SZ 'to move therewithin. =This modified construction pro vides additional support between the movable ja'wf'and the stationary jaw. In al1"otherrr`espects'tlie'construction is 'as previously describedandit iscotnecessary *toY re'deseribe the' same. y

It will be understoodthat various 7changes'andmodications 'maybe ma'de" in the foregoingwithout departJ ing from the spirit'andk scope'of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A slidable side jaw wren'chcomprising `a stationary ja'w member anda movable jawA membei-,said movable jawI member' having a continuouss'lot at aright angle to said movable jaw member, said statior'xaryV jaw mem- 'ber' supporting "a threaded-'member "extending intosaid slot, a non-rotatable locking' member supportedon Said threadedmember, said locking memberhaving'a convex shaped inner surface aligned"'withs`aid slot' and adapted "when in jlockingposition to engage' said movableljaw 'r'neriiber"adiacent'said' slot and 'tof'extendpartially*A into 'saidslot and partially'out of said slot.

2. A slidable side ja'w wrench comprising'a stationary Yjaw'member and al movable jaw member, said movable `jaw"member" having ka continuous slot'at va' rightfangle to said movable jawy member, vlocking means' for" secur- 'ing fsaid` movable jaw'member in vits adjusted position, Saidlocking means comprising'a rotatable threaded Velement and 'a non-rotatabler member Yhaving alc'onvex The lateral extension 24"of 'the movable'jawfis "shaped innerv surfacealigned' with said slot,fsaid threaded rotatable element being supported on said stationary jaw member and extending into said slot, said convex shaped member being secured to the free end of said rotatable threaded element and extending into said slot to engage the outer edges of the wall surfaces adjacent said slot to lock said movable-jaw-member against movement with respect 'tosaid stationary jaw member.

3. A slidablesidefiavv"wrench-comprising a stationary jaw vinernber having a handle and an intermediate recessed portion,"anfiovbleaw member having a lateral extension slidable coniine'din -saidintermediate recessed portion, said lateral extension having a continuous slot at a rightangle toisaid 'stationaryfjawylocking means for securing said"movable law member in its adjusted position, said hlocking means comprising a rotatable threaded element and a non-rotatable member having a convex shapedinner surface aligned with said slot, said threaded element fbeirg I:s'u'pp'rted on said intermediate recessed portion and extending into said slot,"said conA vex shaped member-being secured to the vfreeend of said vrotatable threadedel'rrientjand extending into said slot 'to' engagethe outeredges'ofthe-wall surfaces adjacent said slot t'o'lock 'said movable jawmemberl against movement with 'resp'eebtdsaid stationary jaw member.

"4. In"the"structure :defined inA claim 3 inwhich said Aintermediate rec'essedportion hasl a groove and said mov- 'ablel ja'w member has-`a ribiengaging said groove.