US3358533A

US3358533A - Cam actuated sliding jaw wrench

Info

Publication number: US3358533A
Application number: US577383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wren Morris Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-09-06
Filing date: 1966-09-06
Publication date: 1967-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-19

Description

Dec. 19, 1967 M. L. WREN CAM ACTUATED SLIDING JAW WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1966 INVENTOR Nor/1.5 L. Wren A77'DRN 5.

Dec. 19, 1967 M. L. WREN 3,358,533

CAM AGI'UATED SLIDING JAW WRENCH Filed Sept. 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Shem 2 {/2 J Nor/6'6 L I L/ren 7TURN .5

United States Patent f 3,358,533 CAM ACTUATED SLIDING JAW WRENCH Morris Lee Wren, Job Corps Center, Parker, Ariz. 85344 Filed Sept. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 577,383 2 Claims. (Ci. 81-128) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end wrench structure with a pair of adjustable jaws, the adjusting mechanism being arranged in such a way that it is positive in action and practically no strain will be exercised on the adjusting mechanism while the wrench is in use thereby insuring a long life and usefulness for the wrench structure. The jaws are operated by a shaft and the shaft is actuated by an elongated screw operated from outside of the handle.

This invention relates generally to tools and more particularly to new and useful improvements in a combined end wrench and vise.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an end wrench structure with a .pair of adjustable jaws and to arrange the adjusting mechanism in such a way that it is positive in action and so that practically no strain will be exercised on the said adjusting means while the wrench is in use thereby insuring a long life and usefulness for such a tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this kind that is easily and quickly adjusted to different size nuts.

A further object is to provide a tool of this kind with a spring release of the adjustment arrangement.

Still another object is to provide a tool of this kind that is simple and rugged in construction, extensible, efficient for the purposes intended and easy to manipulate.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective View of a combined wrench and vise embodying one form of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the center of the top of the combined wrench and vise, on an enlarged scale, shown in open position,

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in closed position,

FIG. 4 is an edge view of the combined wrench and vise, parts being shown broken away,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom end of the combined wrench and vise, parts being shown in moved position in dash lines,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a modified form of the invention,

FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of the screw and actuating cap of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the actuating cap,

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a tool constituting a combined end Wrench and vise embodying one form of the invention is shown and designated generally at 10. The tool 10 comprises an elongated fiat-sided metal tubular handle 12, rectangular in cross-section, open top and bottom. A hollow funnel-shaped, rectangular in plan, head 14 is formed on the end of the handle, consisting of upwardly 3,358,533 Patented Dec. 19, 1957 and outwardly tapering

side walls

16, 16 and

end walls

18 and 20 and being open at the top and bottom. The top of the

side walls

16, 16 are cutaway forming opposed notches 17, 17. The inner surfaces 22 of the

end walls

18, 20 taper downwardly and outwardly, with the top edges 24 of said end walls tapering upwardly and outwardly as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bottom ends of the inner surfaces 22 terminate at the tops of

abrupt shoulders

26, 26 formed on the

inner surfaces

28, 28 of the handle 12.

A solid steel coupling shaft 30 extends slidably through the hollow handle 12, the shaft having an enlarged head 32 at the top thereof and a hollow internal screw threaded socketed end 34 at the bottom thereof. The shaft normally extends to the open top of the hollow head 14 as best seen in FIG. 2.

A pair of

dual jaw structures

36, 36 are slidably connected to the head portion 32 of the shaft 30. Each jaw structure 36 comprises a solid steel body 38 substantially rectangular in side elevation as viewed in FIG. 2 with a straight flat side 40 and with the other side formed with a triangular shaped enlargement 42. The bottom end is tapered downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 44 as viewed in FIG. 2. Intermediate the ends of the body, the fiat side 40 is formed with a V-shaped transverse notch 46, and centrally of the fiat side there is formed a groove 48 which extends from the notch 44 to the flat top surface 50 of the body. The body 38 of each jaw structure is formed with a central slot 52 which extends from the notch 46 to the tapered bottom end 44 of the body and intersects said tapered bottom end. The portions of the bodies above the transverse notch 46 serve as jaws 54. Ridges 56 are formed on the side surfaces of the bodies which ridges ride in keyways 58 formed on the inner surfaces of the head 16 of the handle 12, disposed at an oblique angle to the vertical. Opposed holes 69 are formed in each 'body portion 38 below the transverse notch 46 on both sides of the slot 52.

The

jaw structures

36, 36 are slidably actuated by the shaft 30 by means of a pair of

toggle plates

60, 60 interconnected between the shaft and jaw structures. These toggle plates each consists of a substantially rectangular body 62 with an elongated slightly curved closed slot 64 formed therein, and an integral extension 66 disposed at an angle to the body and formed with a hole 68 adjacent its end. The hole 68 receives a pivot pin 70 carried by the head 32 of the shaft 30 at one side thereof. The curved closed slot 64 receives a guiding pin 72 carried by the body 38 of the adjacent jaw structure extending through the opposed holes 69 in the body 38 and across the slot 52 in the body. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the jaw structures 36 are shown in normally extended inoperative position.

Mechanism is provided for manually moving the shaft 30 up and down in the handle 12. For this purpose, an elongated screw 84 is threaded into the bottom threaded socketed end 34 of the shaft 30. The screw 84 has an elongated cylindrical head 86 fastened at its end to a knurled actuating cap 88 protruding outwardly of the handle and forming an extension thereof. The cap has a solid body with a transverse hole '90, therethrough to receive an iron bar 92 for turning the cap, and in turn, turning the screw 84 thus pulling down on the shaft 30 thereby pulling the jaw structures and plates 60 into the hollow head 14 of the handle and simultaneously sliding the jaw structures toward each other to gripping position as shown in FIG. 3.

Mechanism is also provided for automatically moving the handle 12 and shaft 30 to squeeze position. For this purpose, the bottom end of the handle is formed with 0 a recess 96 through which the head 86 of the screw 84 passes. A compression spring 98 is sleeved around the 3 head 86 with one end seated on the end of the tubular handle 12 and with its other end impinging against a washer 100 slidably mounted on the head 86 and movable by the spring against the roof 102, formed by the recess 96 so as to move the handle and shaft 30 to closed squeeze position.

The spring 98 normally is held against action by means presently to be described. An elongated narrow slot 104 is formed in one edge of the handle, intersecting with the bottom end thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5. A lever 106 is positioned in the slot with its top end as viewed in FIG. 4 pivoted to a pivot pin 108 supported across the wall of the slot at the top thereof. The lever is formed with an extension 110 disposed in a plane offset from the plane of the lever proper. A bifurcated hook 112 is formed on the free end of the extension. A link 114 is pivotally connected at one end to the juncture between the lever proper and extension and is provided with a pointed free end 116. The link 114 normally engages the washer 100 and forces the washer downwardly thereby compressing the spring 98 and holding the spring against expansion. The hooked extension 110 of the lever releasably locks the link in downwardly pressing position as seen in FIG. 5. When the lever is released as shown in dash lines in FIG. 5, the spring 98 moves the washer 100 upwardly against theroof 102 of the recess 96 thereby forcing the handle and shaft 30 upwardly to squeeze position.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that when the lever 106 is released from latching position, the cap 88 may be turned by the bar 92 which will cause the screw 84 to be revolved in one direction or the opposite direction depending upon the direction of movement of the cap to impart sliding movement to the shaft 30. When the parts are in the open position as shown in FIGS. '1 and 2, downwardly sliding movement of the shaft 30 will move the

jaw structures

26, 26 and

toggle plates

60, 60 downwardly and simultaneously toward each other, the jaw structures moving into face to face Contact as seen in FIG. 3. By reason of the shape of the

vertical grooves

48 and 48 in the faces of the jaw structures, this tool may be used in place of hand Vises to hold small parts and pieces. It is adapted to hold work for drilling, marking, filing and the like. It is also useful in cutting on and ofif water valves located in deep inaccessible sockets and places such as main water lines to houses. The present invention takes the place of the common pliers, pliwrench, adjustable wrench, socket wrench and boxed-end wrench.

'In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a modified arrangement of screw actuating mechanism is shown including a cap 88' detachably connected to the head 86 of the screw 84' by means of a square shaped block 120 secured to the top of the solid cap 88 receivable in a socket 122 formed in the free end of the head 86'. The head and block are formed with aligned holes 124 and 126, respectively, to receive a fastening screw 127 for holding the parts together. The head86' is formed with an annular flange 128 midway its ends adapted to seat and revolve in a circular groove 130 formed in the inner surface of the tubular handle 12' so that when the cap 88 is turned, the screw only rotates and does not slide along the handle but the shaft 30' connected to the screw moves up and down.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an end wrench, an elongated tubular handle, a hollow funnel-shaped head at one end of the handle, a

'pair of opposed slida'ble and swingable jaw'structures in the head, said head communication with the bore in the tubular handle, a pair of opposed slidable and swingable jaw structures in the head, a shaft slidably mounted in the bore of the handle, one end of the shaft extending into the hollow head and pivotally connected to the jaw structures, toggle plates interposed between said one end of the shaft and the jaw structure, a screw movable in the other end of the tubular handle and operatively connected to the shaft for moving said shaft up and down, means exteriorly of the handle for actuating said screw, said handle having a recess in the end thereof, an elongated cylindrical head on said screw in the recess in the handle, a washer slidably mounted on said cylindrical head, a compression spring sleeved around said cylindrical head, one end of the spring being seated on theend of the handle on the inside, the other end impinging against said slidable washer for moving said washer against the roof of the recess, for moving the shaft up through the bore of the handle.

2. An end-wrench as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for holding said compression spring against movement, said latter means including a lever pivotally mounted in a slot in the handle at the bottom end thereof, a hook on the free end of the lever adapted to interlock with the cap, and a link pivotally connected at one end to the lever, the other end of the link engageable with the washer on the head of the screw for compressing the compression spring and holding the same against movement.

References Cited WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN END WRENCH, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HANDLE, A HOLLOW FUNNEL-SHAPED HEAD AT ONE END OF THE HANDLE, A PAIR OF OPPOSED SLIDABLE AND SWINGABLE JAW STRUCTURES IN THE HEAD, SAID HEAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE IN THE TUBULAR HANDLE, A PAIR OF OPPOSED SLIDABLE AND SWINGABLE JAW STRUCTURES IN THE HEAD, A SHAFT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE BORE OF THE HANDLE, ONE END OF THE SHAFT EXTENDING INTO THE HOLLOW HEAD AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE JAW STRUCTURES, TOGGLE PLATES INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ONE END OF THE SHAFT AND THE JAW STRUCTURE, A SCREW MOVABLE IN THE OTHER END OF THE TUBULAR HANDLE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE SHAFT FOR MOVING SAID SHAFT UP AND DOWN, MEANS EXTERIORLY OF THE HANDLE FOR ACTUATING SAID SCREW, SAID HANDLE HAVING A RECESS IN THE END THEREOF, AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL HEAD ON SAID SCREW IN THE RECESS IN THE HANDLE, A WASHER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CYLINDRICAL HEAD, A COMPRESSION SPRING SLEEVED AROUNG SAID CYLINDRICAL HEAD, ONE OF THE SPRING BEING SEATED ON THE END OF THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE, THE OTHER END IMPINGING AGAINST SAID SLIDABLE WASHER FOR MOVING SAID WASHER AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE RECESS, FOR MOVING THE SHAFT UP THROUGH THE BORE OF THE HANDLE.