An adjustable sliding jaw wrench comprising:
- a) a wrench head having a receiving aperture extending in a lateral direction within said wrench head, said wrench head having a fixed jaw mounted at a first end thereof and a handle extending from a second end thereof which is opposite said first end thereof, said wrench head also having a large opening defined therein, a portion of said receiving aperture being in communication with said large opening in said wrench head;
- b) a rack member slideably mounted in said receiving aperture, said rack member supporting a moveable jaw therefrom which moveable jaw faces said fixed jaw and moves respectively toward and away from said fixed jaw as said rack member slides within said receiving aperture in said wrench head;
- c) a worm gear rotatably supported on a spindle within said large opening in said wrench head, said worm gear engaging said rack member such that either rotation or lateral movement of said worm gear drives said rack member to slide in said receiving opening in said wrench head, said worm gear being laterally slideable on said spindle between first and second lateral positions;
- d) a worm gear biasing spring for laterally biasing said worm gear on said spindle in a direction from said second lateral position toward said first lateral position;
- e) a locking member mounted on said wrench head for selective movement between locked and unlocked positions, said said locking member retaining said worm gear in said first lateral position when said locking member is in said locked position, said locking member allowing said worm gear to slide from said first lateral position to said second lateral position when said locking member is in said unlocked position;
- f) wherein said locking member is mounted on said wrench head such that when said locking member is in said locked position, said locking member extends between a first end of said worm gear and a side of said large opening in said wrench head to positively prevent said worm gear from sliding from said first lateral position toward said second lateral position;
- g) a smaller opening located in said wrench head adjacent to and in communication with said large opening in said wrench head, said smaller opening in said wrench head extending from said large opening in said wrench head in a direction orthogonal to said lateral direction, said smaller opening in said wrench head being located adjacent the side of said large opening in said wrench head toward which said worm gear moves when it moves from said first lateral position to said second lateral position;
- wherein said locking member is H-shaped, with the bottom portions of the legs of the H being configured to fit over the portion of said wrench head adjacent the side of said smaller opening in said wrench head which is located furthest from said large opening in said wrench head, and the top portions of the legs of the H being configured to fit over said spindle and said spring.