Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Slidable jaw adjustments
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-06-05
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Slidable jaw adjustments
C081S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240814
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tools and, more particularly, to an improved wrench which is adjustable to fit completely around any size of nut, bolt or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional adjustable wrenches utilize a pair of jaws which contact only two sides of a nut or a bolt, thereby making the wrench prone to slipping during use. Such wrenches also allow too much play due to the adjustment mechanisms used therein. Slippage during use can cause injury to the user's knuckles or other part of the hands. In an effort to overcome such problems, adjustable wrenches which grip nuts and bolts on all sides, also known as “box wrenches,” have been developed. However, current box wrenches often still allow too much play, thereby losing their grip or lock on a nut or bolt during use.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved adjustable box wrench that eliminates play and provides a non-slip grip or lock on bolts and nuts which are not provided by current box wrenches.
The most pertinent prior art includes the following patents:
Patent No.
(U.S. unless
stated otherwise)
Inventor
Issue Date
390,422
White
Oct. 02, 1888
4,766,786
Jeremic
Aug. 30, 1988
Des. 239,759
Glantz
May 04, 1976
4,987,805
Ejdenwik
Jan. 29, 1991
Swed. 60657
Mar. 11, 1923
Des. 313,925
Cone
Jan. 22, 1991
Des. 322,545
Cone
Dec. 24, 1991
3,204,497
Dinkler
Sep. 07, 1965
717,390
Gray
Dec. 30, 1902
Des. 303,916
Colvin
Oct. 10, 1989
Des. 304,669
Boyd et al.
Nov. 21, 1989
4,967,613
Cone
Nov. 06, 1990
The White patent teaches an adjustable box wrench with a gripping jaw which uses a thumb nut on a screw rod as the adjustment mechanism. The Jeremic patent discloses an adjustable wrench with a removable key adjustment mechanism. The Glantz patent shows an adjustable ring spanner for a wrench. The Ejdenwik patent discloses an adjustable wrench with a box end different from the present invention. The Swedish patent shows a wrench with an adjustable box end. The two Cone design patents show adjustable box wrenches with gripping ends. The Dinkler patent teaches a double ended adjustable box wrench. The Gray patent discloses a double-ended adjustable wrench. The Colvin patent shows another double ended adjustable box wrench with a different gripping head than the present invention. The Cone utility patent teaches an adjustable box wrench that requires a large aperture in the jaw slot into which the thumb wheel screw and the threaded adjustment rod must fit. Thus, as designed the adjustment mechanism of the Cone patent allows considerable play in the adjustment mechanism, making it susceptible to slippage during use.
Although the prior art contains many patented box wrenches, none has the same structure as the present invention which provides the benefits of the present invention as is described and illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved adjustable box wrench which:
Provides a better grip on nuts, bolts and the like by eliminating play in the grip;
Is more precise;
Provides a more lateral support, thereby even further reducing slippage;
Is stronger than conventional box wrenches;
Is safer than other adjustable box wrenches because it reduces slippage and thereby reduces the likelihood of injury; and
Provides a “lock” on a nut or bolt, thereby reducing the likelihood of slippage.
The present invention includes an improved adjustable box wrench having a handle and jaw portion. The jaw portion has a plurality of gripping surfaces which form a closed mouth for placing around bolts, nuts and the like. Two of the gripping surfaces are longitudinally located on opposite sides of the mouth and are fixed. A third gripping surface is fixed and is located at the distal end of the mouth and a fourth gripping surface resides on a movable jaw which is adjustable according to the size of the nut, bolt or the like on which the wrench is used. An adjustment arm is connected to the movable jaw on an opposite side of its gripping surface. The adjustment arm moves longitudinally within a cavity located in the wrench between the mouth and the handle. Means for moving the adjustment arm is also provided in the cavity adjacent to the arm in the wrench. An elongated handle is provided which extends longitudinally from the jaw portion to provide sufficient leverage for turning nuts, bolts and the like. To facilitate assembly and disassembly of the wrench for repair or other purposes, a removable closure plate is provided which covers the adjustment arm and adjustment means. The fixed gripping surface on the distal end and the movable gripping surface on the movable jaw at the proximal end of the mouth, may each have two equal length angular surfaces indented outward from the center of the mouth to provide more lateral support to the gripping surfaces for use on nuts and bolts having more than four sides. For increased strength and to reduce slippage the mouth may contain grooves in the two longitudinal gripping surfaces and the movable jaw may have outward protrusions on its sides which fit into and move within the grooves whenever the size of the mouth is adjusted. The adjustment means use to move the adjustment arm, thereby changing the size of the mouth, is preferably a worm screw with helical gears on its circumference which fit into teeth on the adjustment arm, such that when a worm screw is turned it causes the adjustment arm to move longitudinally within the longitudinal cavity, thereby moving the movable jaw and altering the size of the mouth as desired.
In addition, the present invention is directed to an adjustable box wrench comprising a generally elongated handle, a head connected to one end of the elongated handle with an aperture provided in the head. A movable jaw is positioned in the aperture and includes a first gripping surface and sides. The movable jaw slides between the proximal end and the distal end of the aperture for allowing the wrench to selectively grip a workpiece. At least one protrusion is provided on one of the sides of the movable jaw. Further, an adjustment arm is connected to the movable jaw on an opposite side of the first gripping surface. A gear is also provided for cooperating engagement with the adjustment arm for selectively moving the movable jaw. A second gripping surface is provided at a distal end of the aperture in opposing relationship to the first gripping surface. Third and fourth gripping surfaces extend between the first and second gripping surfaces, the third gripping surface being in opposing, spaced apart relation to the fourth gripping surface.
Still further, at least one support groove is provided in one of the third and the fourth gripping surfaces for mating engagement with the at least one protrusion to increase lateral support of the movable jaw. And, at least one removal slot is located along the support groove for permitting removal of the at least one protrusion from the support groove to disassemble and repair the wrench. Moreover, the at least one protrusion can be only one protrusion, a pair of protrusions with one protrusion on each side of the movable jaw, or any suitable number of protrusions. In addition, the at least one support groove can be only one support groove, a pair of opposing support grooves or any suitable number of support grooves. Likewise, the at least one removal slot can be only one removal slot, a pair of removal slots or any suitable number of removal slots.
Also, the at least one protrusion can be located adjacent a lowermost end of the one of the sides to provide smooth sliding operation. Moreover, the movable jaw and the one or more protrusions can be unitary as in one-piece.
The head of the wrench includes a top surface and a bottom surface that taper inwardly toward each other beginning at the removable closure plate and permits insertion of the wrench into confined spaces and reduces material and weight.
The above features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed de
Boyd Bill E.
Boyd William D.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Smith James G.
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