US 11,865,676 B2 · Adjustable wrench

Abstract

An adjustable wrench (1) with a head portion (200), automatically adjustable within its size range. The fastener (80) to be operated is fitted between the fixed jaw (201) and moving jaw (300), the operators thumb pressure released, automatically propelling the moving jaw 300 towards the fixed jaw (200), the use of four workpiece contacting surfaces (202, 203, 302, 303), two within each opposing jaw (201, 300), engaging the four corresponding actual levered faces (83) to each apply a drive force to a hexagonal fastener head 81. The head portion (200) illustrated in section in order to show the gear teeth (403) on the head end (402) of the handle (400) levering closed the moving jaw (300) via its associated wedge-shaped rack gear (312). The handle (400) pivoting at the point PP that the relevant head end gear tooth (403) engages the corresponding rack gear tooth (312) further urging the handle locking teeth (407) into the pawl locking teeth (61) within the confines of the elongate pin hole elongate portion 404 creating a further jaw (201, 300) ratcheting/locking closure mechanism.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An adjustable wrench comprising;

a head portion comprising a fixed jaw and a moving jaw;
and
a handle portion attached to the head portion by a pivot pin extending through an elongate pin hole defined by the handle portion,
wherein the handle portion comprises a levering end and a head end that is provided with gear teeth that engage a rack gear provided on the moving jaw for moving the moving jaw relative to the fixed jaw, and
wherein the handle portion is provided with ratcheting locking teeth on said head end that are engageable with pawl teeth provided on a pawl that is fixed to the head portion to form a locking mechanism for preventing spreading of the fixed and moving jaws.

2 more elements

An adjustable wrench comprising;

a head portion comprising a fixed jaw and a moving jaw;
and
a handle portion attached to the head portion by a pivot pin extending through an elongate pin hole defined by the handle portion,
wherein the handle portion comprises a levering end and a head end that is provided with gear teeth that engage a rack gear provided on the moving jaw for moving the moving jaw relative to the fixed jaw,
wherein the head end is provided with ratcheting locking teeth engageable with pawl teeth provided on a pawl that is fixed to the head portion to form a locking mechanism for preventing spreading of the fixed and moving jaws,
wherein the handle portion has a length defining a first direction that is a lengthways direction of the handle portion said pin hole and pivot pin extend in a second direction that is transverse to said first direction and said pin hole is elongated in a third direction that is transverse to said first and second directions so that said pivot pin can move across said handle portion in said third direction along said elongate pin hole, whereby when the handle portion is turned in a drive direction, engagement of the gear teeth on the head end with the rack gear causes said moving jaw to move towards said fixed jaw and the handle portion to pivot around a point of engagement of said gear teeth and said rack gear into and within the confines of the elongate pin hole to propel the ratcheting locking teeth into engagement with the pawl teeth to lock the fixed and moving jaws.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable wrench

Life of this patent

Adjustable wrench

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20