US3738203A

US3738203A - Open-ended wrench with adjustable sockets

Info

Publication number: US3738203A
Application number: US00159702A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Cudd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-07-06
Filing date: 1971-07-06
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12

Abstract

An elongated wrench body is provided in its end with a V-shaped notch which defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket. A removable head is positioned on the body and projects therefrom to define two parallel opposing sides of the socket. A pair of strip-like spacers are slidably interposed between the head and the opposite side edges of the body and are projectable so that they are juxtaposed to the opposing sides of the socket for adjusting the effective span of the latter. The spacers are contained in recesses formed in the body and may be removed from the recesses upon removal of the head.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Cudd [ June 12, 1973 OPEN-ENDED WRENCH WITH ADJUSTABLE SOCKETS [76] Inventor: Marvin L. Cudd, 5523 Capitol St.,

NE, Roanoke, Va. 24012 [22] Filed: July 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,702

[52] US. Cl. 81/185 [51] Int. Cl B25b 13/58 [58] Field of Search ..81/179, 185,186,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,900,857 8/1959 Burnette 81/185 236,114 12/1880 Totten 81/185 2,596,882 5/1952 Wiesen 81/185 1,618,715 2/1927 L-ammers et al. 81/185 Primary Examiner-James Jones, Jr. Attorney-Munson H. Lane and Munson H. Lane. Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongated wrench body is provided in its end with a V-shaped notch which defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket. A removable head is positioned on the body and projects therefrom to define two parallel opposing sides of the socket. A pair of strip-like spacers are slidably interposed between the head and the opposite side edges of the body and are projectable so that they are juxtaposed to the opposing sides of the socket for adjusting the effective span of the latter. The spacers are contained in recesses formed in the body and may be removed from the recesses upon removal of the head.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB I INVENTOR MARVIN L. CUDD ATTORNEY PAIENIEDJIII'ZIQH 3738.203

' INVENTOR l5 MARVINL CUDD ATTORNEY OPEN-ENDED WRENCH WITH ADJUSTABLE SOCKETS This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wrenches, and inparticular the invention concerns itself with wrenches having an ope -ended socket, the effective span of which may be easily adjusted by retractable and projectable spacers so that thewrench may accommodate nuts orboltheadsof different sizes.

While adjustable wrenches of this general type are known in the art, theprincipal object of the invention is to provide an improved construction wherein the a wrench head is removably mounted on ,the wrench body and wherein the retractable and projectable spacers are interposed between the body and the head so that they may be easily removed for purposes of inspection or replacement upon removal of the-head from the body.

The wrench of the invention is simple in construction, dependable in use, and lends itself .to convenient and economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and .features in view and such other objects and ,feat ureswhich may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a wrench in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of one end portion thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of ,the subject shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a group perspective view of the two spacers;

FIG. 5 is afragmentary perspective view,in exploded form, showing a modified embodiment of the wrench;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the ernbodirnentof FIG. 5 assembled;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail, ,taken sub stantially in the plane of the line7-7 inFIG. 6; ,and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another modified embodiment.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings indetail, more particularlyto ,FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the adjustable wrench of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral .10. The same'cornprisesan elongated wrenchbody 1 l which preferably is of a rec t angular cross-section, having a pair of opposite side edges 11a, 1 1b. A pair of wrench headpnits 12 are provided at the opposite ends of .the'body 1 1. TBS? units are of different sizes but are identical in construction, so that a description of one will suffice fbnboth.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the end ofthe body 11 is provided with a V-shaped notch 13Iwhich defines two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket 14. A removable wrench head 15 is positioned on the end portion of the body 11 and projects 'therebeyond so as to define two parallel

opposing sides

16, 17 0f the soeket I4..The

head 15 is removablymounted on the body ll by a pair of screws 18 extending transversely through vthehe'ad and body, as will be readily understood.

The side edges lla,. 1lb of the body 11 areprovided with recesses 19 which accommodate a pair of slidable strip-

like spacers

20, 21. These spacers are slidable'longitudinally from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the end of the body 11, as shown by the spacer 21 in FIG. 2, to a projected position shown by the spacer 20, in which the spacers are juxtaposed to the respective

opposing sides

16, 17 of the socket 14. The ,two spacers have different thicknesses and when they are retracted, the socket 141 has a maximum effective span. However, when either one or both spacers are projected, the effective span of the socket is correspondingly decreased to accommodate nuts or bolt heads of difi'erent sizes.

A finger-piece 22 is rigidly secured to the inner end of each'of the

spacers

20, 21, the finger-pieces projecting slidably'throughslots 23 formed in the head 15, so that the spacers may be easily slid between their retracted and projected positions. Each finger-piece is also formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced depressions 24 for engagement by detents in the form of balls 25 which are contained in a bore 26 formed in the body 11. A compression spring 27 in the bore 26 urges the balls25 outwardly against the

spacers

20, 21 and when the balls engage either one or the other of the depressions .24 in the respective spacers, the spacers are releasably held in either their projected or their retracted position.

It is tobe noted that upon removal of the screws 18, the .head 15 together with the

spacers

20, 21 may be readily removed from the body 11, since the body recesses 1-9 become openwhen the head is removed. The spacers may then be readily separated from the head. The parts, of course, may be re-assembled with equal expediency. FIGS. 57 illustrate a modified embodiment of the wrench designated generally as 10a. For most partthis is of the same construction as the wrench 10 and corresponding reference numerals designate corresponding parts. However, the wrench 10a embodies a slightly different arrangement of the detent rneansfor releasably retaining the

spacers

20, 21 in eitherthe retracted or projected position. Thus, in the wrench 10a, the side edges 11a, 11b of the body 11 are provided with the depressions 30 for the detent balls 31 located in apertures 32 in the

spacers

20, 21, (see FIG. 7). The balls 31 are biased toward the body 1 1 and into engagement with the depressions 30 by compression springs 33 which are held in hollow finger-pieces 34.

Another modified embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, in which the central axis 40 of the wrench head 15 is offsetby an angle, such as an angle of 12, from the longitudinal axis4l of the body 11 in order thatthe wrench rnay be used in poorly'accessible locations. The sliding spacers in the head 1 f the embodiment of FIG. 8 may utilize the locking detent arrangement of either FIGS. 1-4 or of FIGS. 5-7, as desired, and apart from the angular disposition of the head, the wrench construction is otherwise the same as already described.

Whilein the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, ,within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is: j

1. An open-ended wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising in combination, an elongated substantially solid body provided in one end thereof with a V-shaped notch defining two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket, a removable head telescopically positioned on socket, detachable fastener means removably retaining said head in position on the body, a pair of strip-like spacers interposed between said head and the respective opposite side edges of said body, said spacers being individually slidable from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the end of the body to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effective span of the socket, and detent means for releasable retaining said spacers in their projected and retracted positions.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said opposite side edges of said body are formed with elongated recesses slidably receiving the respective spacers therein, said recesses being open to facilitate removal of the spacers therefrom when said head is removed from said body.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for removably retaining said head on said body comprise at least one screw-threaded fastener extending through the head into the body.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with finger-pieces provided on said spacers and projecting slidably through slots formed in said head.

5. A wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising in combination an elongated body including an intermediate handle portion and opposite end portions; and at least one removable head positioned on-one of said opposite end portions and projecting therebeyond, said head having a narrow neck portion for connection to said one end portion of said body and an enlargement in which a wrench socket isproyided, said neck having an elongated opening extending therethrough in which said one end portion is slidably received, means removably retaining said head in positionon said one end portion, said end portion having a pair of opposite parallel side edges spaced from a like pair of opposite parallel side walls in said head which extend through said neck into said enlargement and define two parallel opposite sides of said socket, a pair of strip-like spacers inter-' posed between said head and the respective opposite side edges of said body end portion, said spacers being individually slidable from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the end of said body end portion to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effective span of said socket, and detent means for releasably retaining said spacers in their projected and retracted positions, each of said spacers being entirely encased between a side edge of said body and a side wall of said head in retracted position.

6. The wrench set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end portion is angularly offset from said handle portion.

7. The wrench set forth in claim 5 wherein there are two removable heads positioned respectively on opposite end portions of said body, the wrench socket of the respective heads being of a different size with respect to each other.

Claims

1. An open-ended wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising in combination, an elongated substantially solid body provided in one end thereof with a V-shaped notch defining two adjacent sides of a four-sided open socket, a removable head telescopically positioned on said one end portion of said body and projecting therebeyond to define two parallel opposing sides of said socket, detachable fastener means removably retaining said head in position on the body, a pair of strip-like spacers interposed between said head and the respective opposite side edges of said body, said spacerS being individually slidable from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the end of the body to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effective span of the socket, and detent means for releasable retaining said spacers in their projected and retracted positions.

5. A wrench with an adjustable socket, comprising in combination an elongated body including an intermediate handle portion and opposite end portions; and at least one removable head positioned on one of said opposite end portions and projecting therebeyond, said head having a narrow neck portion for connection to said one end portion of said body and an enlargement in which a wrench socket is provided, said neck having an elongated opening extending therethrough in which said one end portion is slidably received, means removably retaining said head in position on said one end portion, said end portion having a pair of opposite parallel side edges spaced from a like pair of opposite parallel side walls in said head which extend through said neck into said enlargement and define two parallel opposite sides of said socket, a pair of strip-like spacers interposed between said head and the respective opposite side edges of said body end portion, said spacers being individually slidable from a retracted position wherein they are flush with the end of said body end portion to a projected position wherein they are juxtaposed to the respective opposing sides of said socket for adjusting the effective span of said socket, and detent means for releasably retaining said spacers in their projected and retracted positions, each of said spacers being entirely encased between a side edge of said body and a side wall of said head in retracted position.