Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle or shank
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-03-20
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle or shank
C081S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202515
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to wrenches and more specifically to a wrench head with a detachable handle that can be used for engaging hex heads in confined spaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, conventional open end wrenches are ideal for engaging a nut or bolt head (e.g., hex head) wherein a socket cannot be engaged thereover because access to the hex head is limited. However, a drawback to such open end wrenches is that the handle is attached to the wrench head thereby making engagement with the hex head difficult. As such, the conventional open end wrench is difficult to use when the hex head to be tightened or released is in a confined space. Specifically, the wrench will have to be removed from the hex head when the handle cannot be moved due to the limited area in which to swing the handle. Therefore, tightening or releasing a hex head can be a tedious process with a conventional open end wrench because the wrench will need to be removed from the hex head and then re-engaged in order to provide torque to the hex head. Additionally as previously discussed, it can be difficult to engage the hex head with a conventional open end wrench because the opening of the wrench must be rotationally aligned with the hex head for proper engagement. Therefore, removing an open end wrench from the hex head during torquing is not advantageous because it is difficult to rotationally re-align the wrench with the hex head.
The present invention addresses the deficiencies of prior art open end wrenches by providing a wrench that comprises a handle detachable from a wrench head. The wrench head includes a plurality of engagement positions for the handle such that the wrench head does not need to be removed from the nut during torquing. The handle can be removed from the wrench head and easily engaged to any one of a plurality of engagement positions in order to torque a hex head in a confined space. Additionally, the wrench head of the present wrench is easily engagable to the hex head due to its compact size and detachable handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a wrench for use with a fastener. The wrench comprises a wrench head having a retention opening for engaging the fastener and at least two engagement portions. Furthermore the wrench comprises an elongate handle releasably attachable to the wrench head at any one of the engagement portions. The wrench head may comprise three engagement portions equidistantly spaced at intervals of about 50 degrees to 55 degrees.
The wrench constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment may further include an open end at the retention opening for allowing the wrench head to be laterally extensible over the fastener. Additionally, the retention opening may define four sides which corresponding to the sides of the fastener which may be a six-sided hex head.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engagement portion of the wrench head may include a recessed head channel. As such, the handle will further include a handle lip which is receivable into the channel of the engagement portion to facilitate releasable attachment of the handle to the wrench head. Furthermore, the handle may include a handle channel and each of the engagement portions may include head lip which is receivable into the handle channel to facilitate releasible attachment of the wrench head to the handle. In order to assist in maintaining the handle in releasable attachment to the wrench head, the handle may further comprises a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a biasing spring disposed within the channel and a friction member disposed on one end of the biasing spring and normally biased against the head lip of one of the engagement portions.
The present invention further comprises a method of providing torque to a fastener with a wrench. The wrench includes a wrench head having a retention opening for engaging the fastener and at least two engagement portions, and a handle which is attachable to the wrench head at any one of the engagement positions thereof. The method comprises the steps of placing the fastener within the retention opening, attaching the handle to one of the engagement portions, and then rotating the handle to provide torque to the fastener. If the swing range of the handle is limited, then the handle is released from the wrench head and attached to a another one of the engagement portions of the wrench head in order to further rotate the handle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 120304 (1871-10-01), McBride
patent: 1415826 (1922-05-01), Finkhousen
patent: 1626906 (1927-05-01), Zilliox
patent: 4063472 (1977-12-01), MacIntyre et al.
patent: 5562006 (1996-10-01), Pelosi, Jr. et al.
Scherbel David A.
Shanley Daniel
Stetina Kit M.
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
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