Wrench with rack and segment gear linkage
OwnerThomas J. Mazzoneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wrench of the type having two handle members pivotally connected to one another at a pivot point. Each handle member terminates in a jaw member. Advancing a screw member causes one of the handle members to rotate about the pivot point so that the jaw members are brought together. A pair of slots translate the rotating motion of the handle member about the pivot point into linear components. The jaw members at the end of each handle are biased apart from one another by a spring, but the bias may be overcome by squeezing the handle or by advancing the screw member. When the screw member is fully retracted, the spring separates the jaw members. When the spring member is advanced, it prevents separation of the jaw members.
Claims24
A wrench having pivotally connected handle members, comprising:
- a first handle member having a fixed position jaw means formed on its proximal end;
- a second handle member having a movable jaw means formed on its proximal end;
- a pivot point where said handle members are pivotally connected to one another;
- a rigid pivot arm extending from said second handle member;
- a segment gear member integrally formed with said pivot arm;
- a rack gear member that is slideably mounted with respect to said first handle member;
- said rack gear member having a distal position and a proximal position and a plurality of positions therebetween;
- said rack gear member being meshingly engaged with said segment gear member, said segment gear member being constrained to rotate when said rack gear member travels between its distal and proximal positions;
- a bias means having a power sufficient to cause said jaw members to separate from one another, which movement effects sliding travel of said rack gear member in a proximal-to-distal direction;
- said segment gear having an axis of rotation coincident with said pivot point so that pivoting of said second handle member under the influence of said bias means effects simultaneous and corresponding rotation of said segment gear;
- and means for overcoming the bias provided by said bias means so that when said jaw members are closed, the power of said bias means is inadequate to separate them.
A wrench, comprising,
- a pair of handle members;
- a jaw member integral with each of said handle members at a proximal end thereof;
- said handle members being pivotally connected to one another and being pivotally movable about a pivot point between a first position where said jaw members are spaced apart from one another and a second position where said jaw members are in closely spaced relation to one another;
- a bias means for urging said jaw members into said first position;
- a segment gear member having an axis of rotation coincident with said pivot point;
- a pivot arm extending from a second handle member of said pair of handles and terminating in said segment gear member;
- a rack gear member slideably mounted in a first handle member of said pair of handles between a distal position remote from said jaw members and a proximal position;
- said segment gear meshingly engaging said rack gear member;
- said pivot point being positioned intermediate a proximal end of said wrench and a distal end of said wrench so that squeezing said handle members at said distal end overcomes said bias means and places said jaw members into said second position.
A wrench, comprising:
- a first handle member having a fixed position jaw means formed in a proximal end thereof;
- a second handle member having a movable jaw means formed in a proximal end thereof;
- said handle members being pivotally secured to one another substantially mid-length thereof;
- a pivot point means for providing said pivotal interconnection;
- a bias means operative to separate the proximal ends of said handle members away from one another;
- said pivot point means dividing said wrench into a proximal, jaw-carrying portion and a distal portion;
- a linkage means interconnecting said handle members;
- and
- said linkage means including a rack gear member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.