Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Slidable jaw adjustments
Utility Patent
1999-08-20
2001-01-02
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Slidable jaw adjustments
C081S129000, C081S134000
Utility Patent
active
06167786
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The novelty disclosed in this document pertains to hand tools. More narrowly, it applies to wrenches with adjustable jaws and driven by a socket wrench.
The jaw of the conventional adjustable jaw wrench will displace incrementally when force is exerted on a fastener. This defect is of no consequence, when the fastener being manipulated responds to torque. However, if a fastener will not respond to rotational force exerted by the jaws of a wrench, the load bearing surfaces of the fastener will begin to fail. The resulting disfigurement of these surfaces eventually precludes rotation of the fastener with a wrench.
The device described in this document provides an enhanced gripping means that can apply compression force to opposing sides of a fastener, while the fastener is being torqued.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Examining the patent record, I concentrated on documents pertaining to adjustable jaw wrenches with gripping enhancements. When the criteria was narrowed to adjustable jaw wrenches that can apply compression force to a fastener, McNatt's U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,650 was the only reference I found.
McNatt's adjustable plier wrench hand tool, U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,650 provides a locking lever that engages an assembly of a worm gear and lower jaw, allowing the lower jaw to be pressed to the fastener.
The following patents are related to the subject matter, however they do not meet the criterion of describing an enhanced gripping means that can apply compression force to opposing sides of a fastener, while the fastener is being torqued.
Prior Art Cited
5,535,650
McNatt
JuIy 16, 1996
4,548,104
Hendricks
Oct. 22, 1985
5,644,957
Gustafson
July 8, 1997
5,301,576
Nye
April 12, 1994
5,222,419
Spector
June 29, 1993
4,898,052
Kang
Feb. 6, 1990
5,746,099
Janson
May 5, 1998
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The objective of the improvements disclosed in this document is to provide enhanced gripping means with the potential to compress opposing sides of a fastener, while the fastener is being torqued.
The advantage of the improvements described in this document is found in minimizing damage to the gripping surfaces of a fastener, which is not properly responsive to rotation force, while torque is being applied.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improvements found in this adjustable jaw wrench pertain to: increased lateral grip on a fastener; and leverage selectability.
The adjustable wrench improvement disclosed in this document is the inclusion of a ratchet to manipulate the lower jaw of the wrench. The benefit provided by this element is the ability to apply a grip on a fastener that is exponentially greater than the grip that can be attained by manipulating a lower jaw with a worm gear.
Increased lateral grip on a fastener increases the likelihood that a fastener that is resisting torque may rotate without substantially disfiguring.
Leverage selectability is the province of socket, not adjustable, wrenches. This tool provides the options of: selecting the length of the lever used to apply torque; selecting the orientation of the lever relative to the orientation of the jaws; applying marginally increasing lateral force to the bearing surfaces of the fastener while attempting to rotate it, by using female receiver
43
for rotation; applying constant lateral force to the bearing surfaces of the fastener while attempting to rotate it, by using female receiver
14
for rotation; and installing levers in both female receivers
43
and
14
.
OPERATION
The adjustable wrench described in this document is used in conjunction with a socket wrench, either ratcheting or breaker bar. First, an appropriate length of socket wrench is selected. The socket wrench is installed in female receiver
43
. The jaws of the adjustable wrench are placed against opposing sides of a fastener, then with the socket wrench installed at female receiver
43
, the jaws are pressed to the opposing sides of the fastener. The socket wrench may remain in female receiver
43
if the intent is to apply marginally greater compressive force to the bearing surfaces of the fastener while torquing the fastener. The socket wrench may be moved to female receiver
14
if the intent is to apply constant compressive force to the bearing surfaces of the fastener while torquing the fastener. To release the adjustable wrench from the fastener, the pawl
40
is depressed. There will be occasions when the tension at the juncture of pawl
40
and the ratchet
42
creates enough friction to preclude manipulation of the pawl
40
by hand depression alone. This is why the preferred embodiment of the wrench includes a pawl that may be struck against the chassis
10
to release the ratchet.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
1
—first end of chassis
2
—second end of chassis
3
—third end of chassis
4
—fourth end of chassis
5
—fifth end of chassis
6
—sixth end of chassis
8
—socket wrench/ratchet engagement means aperture
10
—chassis
11
—track
14
—socket wrench/chassis engagement means
15
—stationary jaw
18
—pawl access aperture
20
—carriage
21
—movable jaw
22
—second end of carriage
23
—first end of carriage
24
—rack
40
—pawl
41
—pawl pivot point
42
—ratchet
43
—socket wrench receiving means
45
—pawl attachment means
50
—pawl engagement means
REFERENCES:
patent: 979348 (1910-12-01), Smith
patent: 4454791 (1984-06-01), Seward, III
patent: 4548104 (1985-10-01), Hendricks
patent: 4898052 (1990-02-01), Kang
patent: 5222419 (1993-06-01), Spector
patent: 5301576 (1994-04-01), Nye
patent: 5535650 (1996-07-01), McNatt
patent: 5644957 (1997-07-01), Gustafson
patent: 5746099 (1998-05-01), Janson
Motorbay Company
Ojini Anthony
Scherbel David A.
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