WO2002085576A1

WO2002085576A1 - Adjustable wrench/socket with simultaneousely movable jaws

Info

Publication number: WO2002085576A1
Application number: PCT/SE2002/000322
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yochai Marek
Original assignee: Yochai Marek
Priority date: 2001-04-25
Filing date: 2002-02-25
Publication date: 2002-10-31

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable wrench/socket used for to release and fasten nuts or screws, the wrench can be used either manual or by machine driven, to be turned by hand or to be rotated by power-device. The adjustable wrench comprises a body having a head portion (12) at one end and a handle portion (3) at the other end, the head being provided with two jaws (2, 2A), which are connected to each other by an adjustment screw (5) having opposed threads at each end (6, 7), respectively, and wherein the two jaws (2, 2A) are provided with en opposed threads (80, 81), respectively for engagement with each end of the screw (5). Both jaws (2, 2A) are moveable simultaneously and with the same distance from or towards the centre line (C) of the wrench when the adjustment screw (5) is turned.

Description

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH/ SOCKET WITH SIMULTANEOUSELY MOVABLE JAWS .

The present invention relates to an adjustable wrench/socket according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are a number of different adjustable wrenches on the market today. One of the most common adjustable wrenches is the one, which includes a stationary jaw integrated with the handle of the wrench and a movable jaw, which is actuated by a screw, the threads of which engage a threaded hole in the movable jaw. An adjustment nut, which is an integrated part of the screw, rotates the screw in order to actuate the movable jaw.

U.S. patent no. 3,358,533 shows a jaw wrench having a pair of adjustable jaws at the upper end of the handle, i.e. a wrench where both jaws can be moved simultaneously. The jaws are actuated through a knurled actuating cap provided at the lower end of the handle. The jaws are connected to the cap through a shaft and further arrangements, which make the jaws slide either towards or away from each other when the cap is actuated. The object of this invention is to provide an adjusting mechanism on which no strain will be exercised while the wrench is in use.

GB patent no. 2,058,633 shows a sjmilar wrenclj as in U.S. patent no 3,358,533, and does also provide simultaneous movement of both jaws. However, in this patent the rotating member (cap) is placed at the upper end of the handle.

Both the patents described above have an actuating system that indirectly affects the movement of the jaws, i.e. the actuating of the rotating member rotates a shaft, which in turn af- fects an arrangement for sliding the jaws towards and away from each other.

U.S. patent no. 1,533,040 shows a wrench having a fixed jaw, a moveable jaw and a block arranged in the rear of the moveable jaw. The moveable jaw and the block can be moved together along the shank of the wrench in order to make a rough adjustment of the gap between the moveable jaw and the fixed jaw. In order to make finer adjustments an adjusting screw is provided between and engaged with the moveable jaw and the block. The screw is left threaded at the end that is engaged with the movable jaw and right threaded at the end that is engaged with the block, or vice versa.

U.S. patent no. 1,665,511 shows a wrench having a handle, a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw. The moveable jaw is adjusted by a double acting lead screw, on which the threads are opposed. The adjustment nut that is fixed on the centre of said screw and situated between the jaws serves as a means for adjusting said screw. The object of this invention is to place the screw in the gap between the two jaws instead of in the head of the handle as in a conventional wrench. The purpose if this is to create a channel in the head of the handle in which the arm of the moveable jaw can move. This channel has compared to a channel in a conventional wrench, where also the screw is placed, unbroken walls. This will of course give the wrench a greater strength.

Even if all of the above patents have their advantages, there is still one major problem that has to be solved. Today the use of machine-powered equipment is widely spread when screwing nuts and bolts. These machines use different kind of fixed sockets depending on the type and size of the nut or bolt. This means that you will need a special socket for each and every type of nut or bolt you use. This is not always very practical. Therefore, it is often preferred to use an ordinary hand powered adjustable wrench instead.

Thus, there is a need for a tool that will combines both the advantages of the adjustment possibilities of an ordinary manual adjustable wrench and the speed and ease of use of a rotational powered device for tightening and releasing different size and type of nuts and bolts.

The objective problem to be solved by the present invention is to accomplish a wrench suitable both as an adjustable socket for a rotational machine or hand-powered device and also as a hand powered adjustable wrench.

The objective problem is solved by the characterising part of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

The solution according to the present invention will make it possible to use the adjustable wrench as a manual wrench and also use it as an adjustable socket that powered by a rotational power-device, machine and/or hand power-device. For to be able to use the wrench as a socket it have to be well balanced with respect to the centre line of the wrench. If it is not balanced it can still be used but the rotational movement from the wrench will than be eccentric and will make it difficult for using, specially for a rotational power device with high rotationally speed. Since, both the jaws of the wrench will move simultaneously and preferably with the same distance each, from or towards the centre line of the wrench when the adjustment screw is turned, the wrench will be at all times well balanced and thus be able to rotate without any. problems. Another advantage with two movable jaws according to the present invention is that the speed for moving the jaws towards or away from each other is doubled compared to an ordinary wrench having one fixed and one moveable jaw.

The present invention will now be described closer together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 show a front view of an adjustable wrench according to the present invention, where the wrench is used as an ordinary manual wrench tightening a nut .

FIG. 1A show a schematic illustration of a cross section along line A-A in fig.l.

FIG. 2 show a front view of the same adjustable wrench as in Fig.l according to the present invention, where the wrench is used as a socket for a rotational power-device and applied to a bolt.

FIG. 3 show a side view of the adjustable wrench.

FIG. 4 show a top view of the adjustable wrench.

FIGS. 5-8a shows detailed views of the two jaws of the wrench.

FIGS. 9-10 shows an enlarged view of one variation of the head portion of the adjustable wrench, where the adjustment screw is in engagement with the jaws and located under the jaws, which means, the opposite side where the nut or screw are to be located. FIG. 11 Show an adjustable wrench that has been damaged.

FIGS. 12-14 Shows farther develop/improvement relates to a jaws of an adjustable wrench, that will help to avoid damaged as show in Fig.11.

FIGS. 15-16 Shows different options/design of the adjustable wrench.

FIG. 17 Show farther develop/improvement relates to the adjustment screw, the gear of the screw 55 and the gear/knob 5A.

Referring to figures 1-5 and part of figures 9-10, the adjustable wrench according to the present invention will be described. The wrench comprises a body having a centre line C, a head portion 12, which is shown in figures 3-4, and a handle portion 3. The head portion 12 is provided with two jaws 2, 2A, which each have a threaded hole 80, with opposed threads, at the bottom end thereof. One of the threaded holes 80 is right threaded and the other one is left threaded. The jaws 2, 2A are placed in a channel 16 of the head portion 12, said channel 16 having side walls 12a and 12b. An adjustment screw 5, having opposed threads at its two ends/sides 6, 7 is directly interconnects the two jaws 2, 2A between them with each other, i.e. a right threaded end/side of the adjustment screw 5 is in engagement with the right threaded hole 80 of one of the jaws 2, 2A and a left threaded end/side of the adjustment screw 5 is in engagement with the left threaded hole 80 of one of the jaws 2, 2A. An adjusting knob 5A is provided in the middle portion of the adjustment screw 5 between the two ends/sides 6, 7 of the adjustment screw 5. The adjustment knob 5A is formed as an integrated part of the adjustment screw 5 and can easily reached at one or more sides of the wrench by fingers of a person whom use the wrench, in order for to be turned. The screw 5 is limit by the borders: (4) in figures 1,2,4; (4A) in figure 9 and (66) in figure 10. Since the screw 5 is connected to the jaws as it has been described above, the screw 5 and the jaws 2, 2A can not move to any direction as long as the screw 5 is not rotate, the only movement that the screw 5 can do is to rotate around it self as shown by arrow r. If the knob 5A is rotate in the direction of arrow r, the adjustment screw 5 will rotate as well, this rotate will affect the movement of the jaws 2, 2A that either, depending on the rotate direction of the screw 5, will follow the threads of the screw 5 in each end/side and will move simultaneously towards or from each other in accordance with the arrows j .

The free end of the handle portion 3 is provided with a socket 14 for connecting a handle or a machine-powered device. With the handle or device it is possible to rotate the wrench (fig. 2), instead of turning it (fig.l). The socket 14, the handle portion 3 and the head portion 12 are formed symmetrically around the centre line C of the wrench. The handle portion 3 of the adjustable wrench could be made in any length, and in some models and different designs the adjustable wrench could be made with out a handle at all, which means that the socket 14 will than be provided directly to the head portion 12, at the other side were the jaws 2, 2A are located. The wrench in this case will mostly use as it is shown in figure 2, and will act as an adjustable socket (figs .8a, 15-15a) . The head portion 12 the handle 3 and the socket 14 could be made with a quick connection between them that will allow the person whom use the wrench/socket to use it with or without the handle portion 3. The wrench could be made with or without the handle portion 3 and the socket 14 and it could have different connections to the head portion 12 that will fit it for example: To a robot, rotational power-device or/and other machines. The wrench could also be made with out the socket 14, only with the nan- die portion 3 and in this case it will mostly use as it is shown in fig.l. It is not critical then that the handle 3 will be placed symmetrically around the centre line C, and the handle portion 3 could than have any shape, one example can be seen in fig.16.

As can be seen figure 1 and 2 are almost identical, the difference being that figure 1 shows how the adjustable wrench is used as an ordinary hand powered wrench, where the wrench is turned along arrow K to tighten a nut 9. Figure 2 in turn shows another use of the wrench when it is rotated by a rotational power-device (not shown) . In figure 2 the wrench is rotated, as shown by arrow R, compared to the turning motion in figure 1 as shown by arrow k. In figure 2 the wrench is applied to a bolt 9 instead of a nut. It shall be understood that the wrench is applicable directly or indirectly to a nut, bolt or screw and that these are seen as equivalents when describing the present invention.

Figure 1A shows a schematic illustration of a cross section along line A-A in fig.l. As can be seen the handle 3 and the socket 14 are circular and hollow in this embodiment. However, the shape of the handle and the socket/connection are not limited to this shape and design. It can for example also be rectangular and solid or any other shape as long as the shape is symmetrically arranged around the centre line C of the wrench.

Referring now to figure 3 and 4 the head portion 12 of the adjustable wrench will be described. The head portion 12 serves to hold the movable jaws 2, 2A in place. As described above the head portion 12 is provided with a channel 16, the side walls 12a, 12b of which is adapted to the shape of the lower end of the jaws 2, 2A, which means the end side of the jaws which is the opposite side where the nut or bolt are to be applied. The shape of the channel 16 and the lower end of the jaws 2, 2A can be formed in a number of ways as long as the channel 16 safely keeps the jaws 2, 2A attached to the head portion 12 of the adjustable wrench and allow the jaws to move free direction arrow j when the screw 5 is rotate. It is believed that a skilled person can carry out the design of the channel 16 and the jaws 2, 2A and it is therefore not discussed any further.

Turning now to figure 4 it can be seen that the head portion 12 is provided with a recess 4 for holding the adjustment knob 5A and the screw 5 in place. The purpose of the recess 4 is to limit the lateral movement of the adjustment screw 5. Since the jaws 2, 2A are directly attached to the threads of the adjustment screw 5 that is located between them, also the lateral movement of the jaws 2, 2A is limited as long as the adjustment screw 5 is not rotated. Instead of the recess 4 as shown in figure 4, the same function can be obtained by using shoulders 4A, which limit the lateral movement of the adjustment screw 5 as shown in the enlarged view in figure 9. Figure 9 shows four shoulders 4A, which are holding the adjustment screw 5 in place. The lateral movement could also, as shown in figure 10, be limited by two supports 66, which are holding the adjustment screw 5 in place therein between. As is clear of the above examples, the purpose of the recess 4, the shoulders 4A or the supports 66 is to limit the lateral movement of the adjustment screw 5 and the jaws 2, 2A and to hold the screw 5 in its place. Thus, the only motion that can be performed by the adjustment screw 5 is a rotational motion according to the arrow r. It should be obvious to a skilled person that there are other designs and solutions that may be suitable for to hold the jaws 2, 2A and the adjustment screw 5 in place in such a way that, only rotational movement of the screw 5 is allowed and as a result the lateral movement of the jaws 2, 2A. Figures 5 to 8a show the jaws 2, 2A of the adjustable wrench and will be described. As can be seen in figure 5 the jaw has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the channel 16. The two jaws 2, 2A are identical except the thread. Each jaw 2, 2A is provided with a triangular groove 8A running in the centre of the side of the jaws directed towards each other. This groove 8A is used as an extra support for a nut or bolt or some other device when the wrench is used with its rotating motion according to figure 2 and will assure that there will be no slip when, for example, a screw 9 is tightened. The jaws could be made without the groove 8A and the wrench could still be used as it has been described above. When the wrench is used as an ordinary wrench with the turning motion according to figure 1 the side surfaces 8B are used as contact surfaces with the nut or bolt (fig.8). In some versions the wrench could be made only for to used as an adjustable socket (fig.15- 15a) and in this case the jaws could be made without the side surfaces 8B, (fig.8a).

Fig. 9 and 10 both show an enlarged view of the head portion of the adjustable wrench, wherein the jaws 2, 2A have a different embodiment compared to the embodiment shown in figures 1-4. As is evident from figures 9 and 10, the threaded holes 80 of the jaws 2, 2A are replaced by threads 81 on the bottom side of the jaws 2, 2A. The jaws 2, 2A are still holds in place by the channel 16 and the jaws have opposed threads for engagement with the two opposed threaded ends 6, 7 of the adjustment screw 5. The function of the jaws together with the adjustment screw (5) and the wrench will be the same as it has been described before.

Figs. 12-14 represents farther development of the combination between the jaw/s and the channel 16 in the h«ra" portion 12. The invention relates to an adjustable wrench as it have been described before and can also be useful in most of adjustable wrenches which are already in the market. The head portion 12 has two side walls which are holding the jaw/s in place, said walls has a weak area were the walls are connected to the head (show by arrow 5) and in fact it can happened that the walls get break (Fig.11, jaw 12b) . According to the present improvement/invention, the jaw/s 2A and the side walls are designed to engage with each other in a way that the jaw/s are supporting the side walls, as can be seen in the follow figures: In fig.12, the part of the jaw/s 2s supporting the walls from the outside, in fig.13, the part of the walls 2F is located inside the jaw/s, in fig.14, the part of the jaw/s 2c is located inside the walls.

Figures.15-15b shows that the socket 14 is connected directly to the head portion 12 without the handle 3. In this case the wrench will be mostly used as en adjustable socket. It should be clear and understood that the socket 14 can easily be replaced by other connections that has other designs and shapes, and the connection between the rotational power device whom rotate the adjustable wrench/socket and the adjustable wrench/socket could be made either internal (socket 14) or from the outside. One example can be seen in Fig.l5a-b.

Fig.16 Show other design of an adjustable wrench without possibility of connection to a rotational power device, and in this case the wrench will mostly used as by turning the nuts or screws, as it shown in Fig.l.

Fig. 17 represent a different version of the adjustable wrench. The knob 5A is now located under the adjustment screw and it has a design, shape, and function as a gear, (cogwheel) . En axis 77 is located inside the side walls 66 of the handle portion 3, and it running through the centre of the gear/knob 5A in order for to hold it in place and to only allow it to rotate around it self as it Shaw by arrow r. In the middle portion of the adjustment screw between the ends/sides 6, 7 is now located a gear/cogwheel 55 which is holds in place by the borders 4. The cogwheel 55 is an integrated part of the adjustment screw, the gear 55 and the gear/knob 5A are engaged with each other in the portion M. When the gear/knob 5A will rotated by the person whom use the wrench, the gear 55 and the adjustment screw will rotates as well (to the other direction), this rotate will move the jaws and will make exactly the same function as it has been described before. There are two main reasons why to design the wrench in that way; 1) The gears/cogwheels 5A, 55 could be made in different diameters respectively, which means that the rotational speed of the adjustment screw can be increase or decrease relative to the diameter and the rotational speed of the gear/knob 5A. 2) There will be more place for the jaws 2, 2A inside the head portion 12, because of that the gear 55 can be made less wide than the knob 5A.

While the invention has been described above in connection with the particular embodiments and examples, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not necessary so limited, for example, there could be more ways of turning the adjustment screw, not only as it has been described above and it could be also arranged by el. motor located inside the handle 3 powered by battery. The adjustable wrench could also be used for some other purposes for example holding different tools that will engage with the screw/nut. The head portion and some other parts of the wrench could be made as one solid part or to be made in a few parts that will assembly together. It will thus be understood that numerous other embodiments, examples, combinations, modifications of, and departures from the teachings disclosed may be made, without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed herein.

Claims

1. An adjustable wrench/socket having a head portion (12), the head being provided with two moveable jaws (2, 2A) , which are connected with each other by an adjustment screw (5) having opposed threads at each end/side (6, 7) respectively, and wherein each jaw (2, 2A) are provided, one jaw with right thread and the other jaw with left thread (80; 81), for engagement with each end/side (6, 7) of the adjustment screw (5) respectively, characterised in that both jaws (2, 2A) are moveable simultaneously from or/and towards each other when the adjustment screw (5) is rotated.

2. Adjustable wrench according to claim 1, characterised in that both jaws (2, 2A) move with the same distance from or towards the centre line (C) of the wrench when the adjustment screw (5) is rotated.

3. Adjustable wrench according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the threads of the jaws (2, 2A) are provided in threaded holes (80) at the bottom portion of the jaws.

4. Adjustable wrench according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the threads (81) of the jaws (2, 2A) are provided at the bottom end of the jaws.

5. Adjustable wrench according to claim 1, characterised in that the head portion (12) of the wrench having a handle portion (3), connected to the head, at the opposite side were the jaws (2, 2A) are. Said handle (3) being formed symmetrically around the centre line (c) of the wrench.

6. Adjustable wrench according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free end of the handle portion (3) is provided with a socket (14) or any other connection, for to be able to be connected to a rotational powered device, said socket (14) or any other connection, being formed symmetrically around the centre line (C) of the wrench.

7. Adjustable wrench according to claim 1, characterised in that the head portion (12) of the wrench having a socket (14), connected to the head, at the opposite side were the jaws (2, 2A) are. Said socket (14) being formed symmetrically around the centre line (c) of the wrench.

8. Adjustable wrench according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that an adjusting knob (5A)is placed in the middle portion of the screw (5) and it is formed as an integrated part of the screw (5), said adjusting knob (5A) having a diameter which is greater then the diameter of the threaded ends (6, 7) of the screw (5) .

9. A wrench according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the head portion (12) is provided with a channel (16), having two side walls (12a, 12b), guiding the movement of the jaws (2, 2A) , and holding them in place.

10. A wrench according to claim 9, characterised in that the middle portion of the channel (16) is provided with a recess

(4) for holding the adjusting knob (5A) in place.

11. A wrench according to claim 9, characterised in that the middle portion of the channel (16) is provided with shoulders (4A) for holding the adjustment screw (5) in place.

12. A wrench according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each jaw (2, 2A) is provided with a triangular groove (8A) running in the centre of the side of the jaws directed towards each other.