Self-Clamping Wrench With Push-Button Latch Release

A method for applying torque to a substantially cylindrical object, the method comprising:

• gripping an elongated handle of a wrench having first and second clamping jaws that are pivotally connected to form an articulated clamping jaw that is also pivotally mounted at a proximal end of the first clamping jaw to a distal end of the handle;
• swinging the wrench to cause the first clamping jaw to contact one side of the cylindrical object, thus causing the second clamping jaw pivotally connected to the first clamping jaw to pivot around the cylindrical object until a free end of the second clamping jaw engages a spring-loaded latch pivotally mounted to the handle, thereby locking the second clamping jaw to the first clamping jaw to tightly grip the cylindrical object between the first and second clamping jaws;
• and
• rotating the wrench about an axis of the cylindrical object to thereby apply torque to the cylindrical object.

A method of disconnecting two connected substantially cylindrical or tubular objects by applying equal and opposite torques to the two connected objects using first and second clamping wrenches, the method comprising:

• gripping an elongated handle of the first wrench having first and second clamping jaws that are pivotally connected to form an articulated clamping jaw that is also pivotally mounted at a proximal end of the first clamping jaw to a distal end of the handle;
• swinging the first wrench to cause the first clamping jaw to contact one side of the cylindrical object, thus causing the second clamping jaw pivotally connected to the first clamping jaw to pivot around the cylindrical object until a free end of the second clamping jaw engages a spring-loaded latch pivotally mounted to the handle, thereby locking the second clamping jaw to the first clamping jaw to tightly grip the cylindrical object between the first and second clamping jaws;
• gripping an elongated handle of the second wrench having first and second clamping jaws that are pivotally connected to form an articulated clamping jaw that is also pivotally mounted at a proximal end of the first clamping jaw to a distal end of the handle;
• swinging the second wrench to cause the first clamping jaw to contact one side of the cylindrical object, thus causing the second clamping jaw pivotally connected to the first clamping jaw to pivot around the cylindrical object until a free end of the second clamping jaw engages a spring-loaded latch pivotally mounted to the handle, thereby locking the second clamping jaw to the first clamping jaw to tightly grip the cylindrical object between the first and second clamping jaws;
• and
• rotating one of the first and second wrenches relative to the other of the first and second wrenches to thereby apply equal and opposite torques to the two connected objects.

A self-clamping wrench comprising:

• an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the handle having:
• a first pivot at the distal end;
• a second pivot also at the distal end;
• and
• a spring-loaded latch pivotally connected to the second pivot, the latch being movable about the second pivot from an unlocked position to a locked position;
• a first clamping jaw having a first end pivotally connected to the handle at the first pivot and having a second end that includes a third pivot;
• and
• a second clamping jaw pivotally connected to the first clamping jaw via the third pivot to constitute with the first clamping jaw an articulated clamping jaw, the second clamping jaw having a free end for displacing the spring-loaded latch from the unlocked position to the locked position, the latch locking the free end of the second clamping jaw when the free end of the second clamping jaw has pushed past the latch,
• wherein the spring-loaded latch is connected to a push-button release mechanism for disengaging the second clamping jaw from the latch.