US3204497A

US3204497A - Simultaneously adjustable doubleended wrench

Info

Publication number: US3204497A
Application number: US343379A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dinkler Leonard Ronald
Original assignee: Technical Enterprises Inc
Current assignee: Technical Enterprises Inc
Priority date: 1964-02-07
Filing date: 1964-02-07
Publication date: 1965-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-07

Description

L. R. DINKLER 3,204,497

SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE-ENDED WRENCH Sept. 7, 1965 Filed Feb. 7, 1964 0 V I, m

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United States Patent Office 3,204,497 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 3,204,497 SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE- ENDED WRENCH Leonard Ronald Dinkler, Clearwater Beach, Fla., assignor to Technical Enterprises, Inc., Largo, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Feb. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 343,379 Claims. (Cl. 81-77) The present invention is directed to wrenches, more particularly to those hand tools which are equipped with a. plurality of jaws for manipulating more than one nut or bolt.

Among the wrenches of this character which have previously been known is one in which there were two sockets, one at each end, and means in the body of the wrench for causing each of the sockets to move in its end to adjust to the size of the nut or bolt to be turned. Each socket was mounted independently and required independent operating means, so that, in effect, there were two separate wrenches held in a single handle or body. While this structure was operative, the unit was heavier than was necessary, which is burdensome to the operator working with the tool for protracted periods. Because of the two mechanisms the cost of the wrench was greater than it should be. Also, there was no provision for replacement of worn or broken elements or for replacing jaws with others of different sizes, which would avoid the necessity for a large number of separate wrenches and thus conserve expense and increase convenience.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a wrench of the above described character which is simple in construction and convenient in use.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide such a structure as to admit of ready assembly with a minimum of elements and at a reasonably low cost.

It is further among the objects of the invention to devise a structure which has flexibility in operation, and in which parts may be readily replaced, and in which several sizes of sockets may be quickly provided by ready replacement of a jaw by one of a size to accommodate a different size of nut or bolt.

In the practice of the invention, there is provided an elongated frame having at its opposite ends angular formations constituting part of a socket or jaw. Within the central portion of the frame is an elongated threaded bar, and an internally threaded tube surrounds the threaded central portion of the bar. At each end of the bar is a movable jaw which complements the angular formation and forms the rest of the socket, such as square, hexagonal, and others such as are commonly used.

The sides of the frame are provided with covers, and one of these covers may be an integral part of the frame, and the other cover is detachable. Said covers have elongated central openings slightly larger than the tube, and the diameter of the tube is somewhat larger than the thickness of the frame, so that the tube extends beyond the frame and covers sufiiciently to enable it to be grasped and manipulated by the fingers. To facilitate operation, the surface of the tube is roughened or knurled.

Each of the movable jaws has an integral stem extending rearwardly toward the bar and the end of the stem is in contact with the corresponding end of the bar. The stem is fixed to the bar so that in using the wrench, the movable jaw at one end of the wrench is manipulated to grip a nut, while at the same time the other (unused) jaw moves rearwardly, but out of operative position, and vice versa.

The movable jaws may merely be in contact with the bar ends, in which case, when one of the sockets is being used, the other remains stationary. In case it is necessary or desirable to remove a jaw, the cover on one face is removed, the jaw slipped out and a new one of the same or different size is slipped into its place, and the cover is replaced.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved wrench;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the wrench as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a modified form of jaw adapted for use on a smaller nut.

The wrench comprises a generally elongated frame 1 having ends 2 and 3, preferably of different size. Ends 2 and 3 carry

angular formations

4 and 6, respectively,

which are adapted to cooperate with jaws 7- and 8 which carry corresponding angular formations.

Jaws

7 and 8 are slidable in the plane of frame 1 and are mounted on the ends of threaded bar 11. There, is an opening provided in the center of frame 1 into which the 'bar 11 fits. Surrounding the threaded portion of bar 11 is tube 10 carrying internal threads engaging those on bar 11. The

diameter of tube 10 is somewhat larger than the depth of frame 5 so that a portion thereof projects beyond said frame and may be gripped readily by the fingers and turned in the desired directions. A cover 9 is provided on one surface of frame 1 in order to give access to the

jaws

7 and 8, the tube 10 and the bar 11.

This permits removal of one or more jaws and replacement thereof by jaws of different sizes.

In operating this device, the desired end of the wrench is slipped over the particular nut to which it is to be applied and the appropriate jaw is advanced by rotation of knurled tube 10 until contact with the nut. The wrench can then be used in the usual manner for either tightening or loosening. Obviously the jaw may be retracted by rotating the tube 10 in a direction opposite to that which caused it to advance. In FIG. 1 the most advanced position of jaw 7 is shown in dotted lines at 15 and the corresponding position of jaw 8 is shown at 15.

Alternatively a smaller jaw may be inserted such as is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A jaw size such as 16 with a similar angular formation 13 is compared with the standard jaw size 7 (in dotted lines) in FIG. 5.

There are numerous advantages in the present invention. Because of the length of the tube there is a full bearing all along the rod in all of its positions. This gives strength and rigidity to the jaws at all times and greatly decreases the danger of breakage on heavy duty. Wear in the wrench is substantially reduced. The great length of applicants tube makes possible a firm grip of the surface of the tube with the whole hand. The diameter of the tube being substantially greater than the thickness of the body further aids in obtaining a firm grip. The presence of solid metal all around the recess in the stem strengthens the structure against lateral strains since the stem is in contact with not only the frame, but also the covers which support it. The length of the tube keeps dirt out. Also, in applicants wrench, the threads are protected so that damage thereto by accidental blows is prevented.

Although the invention has been described with a single specific example, the invention is capable of being used in various forms and changes in the details of the structure are included. For instance, the materials of construction are those suitable for the type of work to be used. The shape and size of the wrench may be varied, and the relation of the elements may be such as would conform with good engineering practice. The covers may be held in position by means other than screws. Also,

the covers may be split transversely so that in order to remove one of the movable jaws, only an end portion of cover need be removed, and that portion embracing the tube may remain permanently in place.

These and other changes may be made within the spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench comprising an elongated substantially flat frame having two sides and two ends, said frame tapering to one of said ends, a cover on each of said two sides, at least one of said covers being detachable, the inside of each of said ends constituting aone part of a two-part jaw, the other part of each said jaw having an inwardly extending stem in each of said ends and forming a polygon with said one part, a central externally threaded bar in said frame separate from said stem, longitudinal extensions on each end of said threaded bar, said extensions being of substantially uniform thickness at cross-section of said recess being capable of having its respective rod extension fitted therein.

3. A wrench in accordance With claim 1, characterized in that said tube is elongated and extends at least over one-third of the length of said Wrench.

4. A wrench in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of said tube is substantially greater than the thickness of said frame.

5. A wrench in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of said tube is cylindrical and is roughened to providea finger grip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 547,534 10/95 Barnett 81--77 559,901 5/96 Lovell 81-77 592,199 10/97 Fletcher 8177 1,140,018 5/15 Bean 8177 3,104,570 9/63 Haenni et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 160,008 3/21 Great Britain. 235,186 6/25 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

Claims

1. A WRENCH COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FRAME HAVING TWO SIDES AND TWO ENDS, SAID FRAME TAPERING TO ONE OF SAID ENDS, A COVER ON EACH OF SAID TWO SIDES, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COVERS BEING DETACHABLE, THE INSIDE OF EACH OF SAID ENDS CONSTITUTING A ONE PART OF A TWO-PART JAW, THE OTHER PART OF EACH SAID JAW HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING STEM IN EACH OF SAID ENDS AND FORMING A POLYGON WITH SAID ONE PART, A CENTRAL EXTERNALLY THREADED BAR IN SAID FRAME SEPARATE FROM SAID STEM, LONGITUDINAL EXTENSIONS ON EACH END OF SAID THREADED BAR, SAID EXTENSIONS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS AT THEIR ENDS, AN INTERNALLY THREADED TUBE SURROUNDING SAID BAR AND IN THREADED ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, THE LENGTH OF SAID TUBE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID BAR, SAID COVERS HAVING CENTRAL OPENINGS COMMENSURATE WITH THE DIAMETER OF SAID TUBE, THE ENDS OF SAID EXTENSIONS BEING IN OPERATIVE CONTACT WITH SAID STEMS.