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US 8,997,609 B2Granted
Flex-head wrench
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Lance, Tim McKenzie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wrench including a handle having a first yoke at a first end and a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, at least a first tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity. Each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads.
Claims17
A wrench, comprising:
- a handle having a first yoke at a first end;
- a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity and a hub defining a mounting bore;
- a pivot pin passing through the mounting bores of the first plurality of tool heads and the first yoke such that the first plurality of tool heads is coupled to the first yoke;
- and a plurality of retention mechanisms, each including a semi-cylindrical recess defined by an inner wall of each of the mounting bores and a plate spring, the plate spring being disposed in the semi-cylindrical recess such that it contacts the pivot pin,
- wherein the plate spring exerts a biasing force in a radial direction on the pivot pin,
- wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads, and
- each hub of the first plurality of tool heads is adjacently positioned on the first pivot axis and each drive cavity is positionable on a longitudinal center axis of the handle passing through a longitudinal center of the first pivot pin.
4 more elements
A wrench, comprising:
- a handle having a first end having a first yoke formed by a pair of arms and a second end;
- a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first end of the handle at a first pivot axis, each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads defining a drive aperture and a hub defining a mounting bore, the hub of each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads being disposed between the arms of the first yoke;
- a pivot pin passing through the mounting bores of the first plurality of tool heads and the arms of the first yoke such that the first plurality of tool heads is pivotably attached to the handle;
- and
- a plurality of retention mechanisms, each including a semi-cylindrical recess defined by an inner wall of each of the mounting bores and a plate spring, the plate spring being disposed in the semi-cylindrical recess such that it contacts the pivot pin, the plate spring exerting a biasing force in a radial direction on the pivot pin;
- a ratchet wheel rotatably received in the drive aperture of each tool head, each ratchet wheel defining a first drive cavity;
- and
- a pawl disposed within the drive aperture of each tool head, each pawl being operatively coupled to a corresponding ratchet wheel,
- wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable with respect to the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads about the first pivot axis, and each drive aperture is positionable along a longitudinal center axis of the handle, and
- each hub of the first plurality of tool heads is adjacently positioned on the first pivot axis and each drive cavity is positionable on a longitudinal center axis of the handle passing through a longitudinal center of the first pivot pin.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.