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US 11,890,742 B2Granted
Extendable wrench
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorMatthew A. Lownik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe wrench is provided with an extendable handle that fits within a cavity of the head. A lever locks the extended length of the extendable handle along a continuous spectrum between a maximum and a minimum extension of the handle. The lever includes cam surfaces. In an unlocked position, the thickness of the lever between the pivot and a friction plate is less than the thickness between the pivot and the friction plate in the locked position. The friction plate is a composite comprising a top lever plate, a midsection, and a concave surface. The lever plate and concave surface include hard, durable materials, and the midsection is a soft elastic material that redistributes frictional forces across the frictional block. The channel-lock prevents inadvertent overextension and/or accidental removal of the extendable handle.
Claims21
A wrench, comprising:
- a head comprising an aperture;
- a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the wrench;
- a lower jaw coupled to a second end of the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
- an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw comprising a threaded section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
- an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded section of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw;
- an extendable handle received within the bore of the head;
- a lever comprising an end, the end comprising at least two cam surfaces;
- and
- a friction block;
- wherein the lever is rotatable about a pivot between a locked position in which the extendable handle is fixed with respect to the head and an unlocked position in which the extendable handle is adjustable with respect to the head;
- wherein the head further comprises a rear surface, and the rear surface includes a recess shaped to receive the lever when the lever is in the locked position and wherein the friction block is positioned between the lever and the extendable handle;
- wherein the end of the lever engages the friction block in both the locked position and in the unlocked position.
9 more elements
A pipe wrench, comprising:
- a head comprising an aperture;
- a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench;
- a lower jaw coupled to a second end of the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
- an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw comprising a threaded section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
- an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded section of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw;
- an extendable handle received within the bore of the head;
- and
- a channel lock mechanism configured to retain the extendable handle within the bore;
- a handle length locking mechanism including a lever pivotally coupled to the head and a friction element contacting the lever, the lever comprising a base and a wall at an end, wherein the lever is rotatable about a pivot between a locked position in which the lever pushes the friction element into engagement with an outer surface of the extendable handle such that the extendable handle is fixed with respect to the head and an unlocked position in which the base faces the upper jaw and the extendable handle is adjustable with respect to the head;
- wherein the head further includes a rear surface of the head with a recess shaped to receive the lever when the lever is in the locked position and a friction block positioned between the lever and the extendable handle.
7 more elements
A pipe wrench, comprising:
- a head comprising an aperture;
- a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench;
- a lower jaw coupled to a second end of the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
- an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw comprising a threaded section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
- an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded section of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw;
- an extendable handle received within the bore of the head;
- a lever;
- and
- a friction block;
- wherein the lever is rotatable about a pivot between a locked position in which the extendable handle is fixed with respect to the head and an unlocked position in which the extendable handle is adjustable with respect to the head;
- wherein, when the lever is in the locked position, the lever extends along the longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench and wherein, when the lever is in the unlocked position, the lever extends in a perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench;
- wherein the head further comprises a rear surface, and the rear surface includes a recess shaped to receive the lever when the lever is in the locked position and wherein the friction block is positioned between the lever and the extendable handle;
- wherein the lever applies a normal force on the friction block and the friction block distributes the normal force to the extendable handle such that the extendable handle is secured at a desired length.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.