Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Slidable jaw adjustments
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-11
2004-06-15
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Slidable jaw adjustments
C081S129000, C081S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748827
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable wrench. In particular, the present invention relates to an adjustable wrench allowing free rotation in a direction opposite to the ratcheting direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,064 to Chang issued on May 16, 1995 discloses an adjustable wrench. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
of the drawings (corresponding to FIG. 6 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,064), the adjustable wrench
100
includes a head
101
having a fitting hole
102
and a groove
103
, wherein the fitting hole
102
includes two fixed clamping faces
104
and
105
. A rotation knob
106
is mounted in the groove
103
, and an adjusting bolt
107
is extended through the rotation knob
106
with an end of the adjusting bolt
107
extending into the fitting hole
102
. The end of the adjusting bolt
107
includes a movable surface
108
that is moved along an axis of the adjusting bolt
107
when the rotation knob
106
is turned. Thus, when clamping a fastener
109
in the fitting hole
102
, two sides
109
a
and
109
b
of the fastener
109
press against the fixed clamping faces
104
and
105
, and another side
109
c
of the fastener
109
after adjustment of the position of the movable surface
108
of the adjusting bolt
107
as a result of rotation of the rotation knob
106
. Thus, the adjustable wrench
100
can be turned in either direction. However, when used in a limited space, the adjustable wrench
100
must be disengaged from the fastener
109
and then moved in a reverse direction before it is reengaged with the fastener
109
.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,376,764 to Flower issued on Aug. 13, 1943 discloses an adjustable box wrench of a similar structure. As illustrated in
FIG. 2
of the drawings (corresponding to FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,376,764), the adjustable box wrench
200
includes a head
201
having a clamping space
202
and a transverse opening
203
in which a knurled nut
205
is mounted. A screw
206
is extended through the knurled nut
205
, and a jaw
207
is securely attached to an end of the screw
206
and movable in the clamping space
202
when the knurled nut
205
is turned. The clamping space
202
includes plural clamping faces
204
and
208
for engaging with sides of a fastener. However, the same drawback exists in this adjustable box wrench. Namely, when used in a limited space, the adjustable box wrench
200
must be disengaged from the fastener and then moved in a reverse direction before it is reengaged with the fastener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable wrench allowing free rotation in a direction opposite to the ratcheting direction.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an adjustable wrench comprises:
a handle;
a head extending from the handle and including a clamping space having a first end and a second end;
a jaw mounted in the clamping space and movable between the first end and the second end of the clamping space, the jaw including a first end and a second end;
an adjusting means mounted to the head and operably connected to the second end of the jaw, the jaw being moved relative to the first end of the clamping space upon operation of the adjusting means;
a clamping member mounted to the first end of the jaw and including a first end and a second end; and
an elastic element for biasing the first end of the clamping member into the clamping space so as to press against a fastener in the clamping space;
the adjustable wrench driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a first direction;
the adjustable wrench being turned freely without driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an adjustable wrench comprises:
a handle;
a head extending from the handle and including a clamping space having a first end and a second end;
a jaw mounted in the clamping space and movable between the first end and the second end of the clamping space;
an adjusting means mounted to the head and operably connected to the second end of the jaw, the jaw being moved relative to the first end of the clamping space upon operation of the adjusting means;
a clamping member mounted to the first end of the head and including an end extending into the clamping space; and
an elastic element for biasing the end of the clamping member into the clamping space so as to press against a fastener in the clamping space;
the adjustable wrench driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a first direction;
the adjustable wrench being turned freely without driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, an adjustable wrench comprises:
a handle;
a head extending from the handle and including a clamping space having a first end and a second end;
a jaw mounted in the clamping space and movable between the first end and the second end of the clamping space, the jaw including a first end and a second end;
an adjusting means mounted to the head and operably connected to the second end of the jaw, the jaw being moved relative to the first end of the clamping space upon operation of the adjusting means;
a first clamping member mounted to the first end of the jaw and including a first end and a second end;
a first elastic element for biasing the first end of the clamping member into the clamping space so as to press against a fastener in the clamping space;
a second clamping member mounted to the first end of the head and including an end extending into the clamping space; and
a second elastic element for biasing the end of the second clamping member into the clamping space so as to press against the fastener in the clamping space;
the adjustable wrench driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a first direction;
the adjustable wrench being turned freely without driving the fastener when the adjustable wrench is turned in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3104570 (1963-09-01), Haenni et al.
patent: 4706528 (1987-11-01), Inoue
patent: 4838132 (1989-06-01), Pyles
patent: 5392672 (1995-02-01), Larson et al.
patent: 6016723 (2000-01-01), Hillinger
patent: 6029548 (2000-02-01), Hsieh
patent: 6089129 (2000-07-01), Huang
patent: 6240814 (2001-06-01), Boyd et al.
patent: 3229095 (1984-02-01), None
Chen Ander
Hail III Joseph J.
Kamrath Alan D.
Nikolai & Mersereau , P.A.
Thomas David B.
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