US 4,787,273 A · Wrench retaining device

Abstract

A wrench retaining clip mounts on the shank of a wrench and is operative to retain a working head of the wrench in an engaged position on a nut or bolt head of a threaded bolt. The clip includes a channel-shaped yoke which extends partially around the wrench shank. A prong member extends longitudinally from the yoke and has a free end adapted to engage the threads of the bolt, and the yoke is slideable on the wrench shank to move the prong into and out of this engaged position. A releaseable locking mechanism is formed by a pair of resilient arcuate arms extending from the yoke in a semi-circle. These arms may releaseably embrace the working head of the wrench to lock the yoke and prong into the engaged position with the prong being biased into thread engagement. A notch is preferably formed at the free end of the prong to mate with adjacent side surfaces of the nut or bolt head where thread engagement is difficult or impossible. In one alternative embodiment, a second set of resilient, arcuate arms and a second prong are positioned on the end of the yoke opposite the first set, and a second alternate embodiment includes enlarged nubs at the free ends of the arcuate arms. In another alternative, the prong includes a shoulder which can engage the inner side wall of the wrench working head.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An attachment clip adapted to mount on wrenches having a shank and a working head and operative to retain the working head on a nut and threaded bolt, the clip comprising:

a yoke extending at least partially around said shank and slideable therealong;
a first prong member connected to said yoke and having a free end adapted to engage the threads of said bolt when said free end is placed in abutting relation to said bolt, said free end moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position as said yoke is slid in opposite directions on said shank;
and
releasable retaining means associated with said first prong for releasably and resiliently retaining said first prong member in said engaged position whereby said free end engages said threads, said releasable retaining means including a pair of resilient arms extending outwardly from said yoke and adapted to embrace said working head when said free end is in said engaged position and to bias said free end into said engaged position.

1 more element

A clip device adapted to mount on a shank of a wrench having a working head configured to engage a nut or bolt head in a threaded nut and threaded bolt combination, the clip device comprising:

an elongated channel-shaped yoke having a top wall, a pair of side walls, a pair of bottom walls extending toward one another in an opposed relation from respective ones of said side walls to define a slot therebetween, said yoke being generally open at a first and a second end and adapted to releasably and slideably mount on said shank:
a first prong member extending from said top wall at said first end of said yoke and having a free end adapted to engage the threads of said bolt when said free end is placed in abutting relation to said bolt;
and
a first pair of arcuate arms each extending in a generally longitudinal direction from a respective one of said side walls at the first end of said yoke, said arms formed of a resilient material and configured in a semicircle and adapted to releasably bias said first prong into an engaged position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wrench retaining device

Life of this patent

Wrench retaining device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17