US2909953A - Slide-type hand wrench - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1959 G. JANSEN SLIDE-TYPE HAND WRENCH Filed Nov. 18, 1958 FIG.4A

INVENTOR.

GERHART JANSEN BY W. W W

HIS ATTORNEY FIG. 3A

United States Patent O SLIDE-TYPE HAND WRENCH Gerhart Jansen, Salt Lake City, Utah Application November 18, 1958, Serial N 0. 774,716

7 Claims. (Cl. 81-130) This invention relates to hand wrenches, and more particularly, to a new and improved slide-type hand wrench which may be adjusted extremely rapidly for various sizes of nuts, pipe, et cetera.

In the past almost innumerable types of hand wrenches have been devised for use in machine shops, production lines, automobile garages, plumbing facilities, and so forth. Most hand wrenches of the adjustable type are adjusted for the particular size of a hex-nut to be turned, for example, by manually turning a worm or a knurled, internally threaded collar. Some wrenches are of the slide-type, wherein a set screw, necessarily of sturdy construction, is employed to set the wrench jaws a given distance apart.

It is felt that wrenches of the above types have their disadvantages where it is desired to re-set jaw distance a numberof times and to reduce wrench adjustment time to a minimum. Worms and knurled collars take appreciable time to actuate, and set screws themselves are bothersome to actuate and are likely to fracture, in present contexts of use, for certain relatively extreme loads to which hand wrenches are sometimes subject.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to Provide a new and useful slide-wrench which is selfgripping upon the application of torque to the wrench handle, and yet which admits of the slidable adjustment of the movable wrench jaw merely upon the removal of pressure from the wrench handle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and useful slide-wrench which utilizes a very small and thin thumb screw only in those instances where it is desired to maintain a fixed, Wrench-jaw distance for production-line work, in which event, and by virtue of the present design, no load will be applied to the thumb screw, and this irrespective of wrench use.

According to the'present invention, a wrench has a handle, a fixed jaw integral therewith and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is provided with a slide head which is adapted for sliding within an undercut, longitudinal groove area in the handle. A particular point of novelty resides onthe configuration of the slide head. The forward and rearward halves of the slide head are angulated downwardly with respect to each other; the forward half is smooth while the rearward half is serrated. Upon positioning the wrench on an external nut to be turned, for example, and applying pressure to the wrench handle, the serrated portion of the slide head (of the movable jaw) instantly engages in a frictional and biting manner the groove area of the handle, thus accomplishing wrench jaw set. When, however, pressure is removed from the wrench "handle and thewrench is removed from the nut, slight thumb and finger pressure may guide the smooth areasof the slide head into engagement with the groove area :so that. the movable .jaw may be adjusted immediately for a new jaw distance.

A thumb screw is incorporated in the design of the wrench so as to prevent the inadvertent dislocation and disengagement of the slide head serrated areas with respect to the groove area when fixed jaw distance is desired, when the wrench is removed from one nut, for example, and is positioned to engage another.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved, slide-type handwrench according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the movable jaw member employed in the wrench shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary, vertical sections taken along the lines 33 and 4-4, respectively, in Figure 1, illustrating the interaction of the movable jaw member of Figures 1 and 2 with the principal member of the wrench illustrated in Figure 1 when the wrench is in operation to turn, by means of force applied to the handle, an external element such as a nut (not shown) disposed between the wrench jaws. 7

Figures 3A and 4A are fragmentary, vertical sections taken along the lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, in Figure 1 illustrating the interaction between the movable jaw member of Figures 1 and 2 and theprincipal member of Figure 1 of the wrench in the absence of the application of pressure to the wrench handle.

Figure 5 is a part-sectional fragmentary, side elevation of the wrench illustrated in Figure 1, illustrating the manner in which a thumb screw may be incorporated in the design of the wrench for a set adjustment.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, vertical section takenalong the line 6-6 in Figure 5, illustrating the interaction of the thumb screw with the principal member of the wrench.

In Figures 1 and 2 slide wrench 10 includes principal member 11 and movable jaw member 12. Principal member 11 includes a fixed jaw portion 13 and a handle portion 14 integral therewith. Handle portion 14 exhibits an underside 15 the extremity 16 of which meets fixed jaw portion 13. Disposed in communication with the underside 15 is a longitudinal groove 17 having a top concave portion 18, recessed shoulders 19 and 2259 (delineated by dotted lines 21 and 22 in Figure l), and outwardly curved, longitudinal skirt areas 23 and 24 as is shown with particularity in Figure 3.

In Figures 2 and 3 it is seen that movable jaw member 12 includes jaw portion 25 and slide head 25 integral therewith. The cross-sectional configuration of slide head 26 is important and is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Slide head 26 in reality includes two. separate portions, to wit, a smooth sliding portion 27 and a friction producing serrated portion 23. Portions 27 and 25 each include an upper surface 29 and 3%), respectively, and inwardly, curved, side neck areas 31 and 32, respectively, the upper surfaces being separated and delineated from the neck areas by shoulder 33. This shoulder 33 is preferably tapered upwardly at portion 34 thereof for relief purposes as shall be hereinafter explained. The inwardly curved, side neck areas or surfaces are relieved somewhat as at 35 so as to accommodate the rocking action, hereinafter explained, of the movable jaw member 12.

As is seen by extension lines A and B in Figure 2, the surfaces 29 and 30 are angulated downwardly with respect to each other. The same is true on extension lines C and D relating to the lower contour of areas 31 and 32.. Regarding. untapered portion '36 of shoulder 33 it is seen that this shoulder is parallel with extension line A-of upper surface 34 In practice, it is conceivable that portion 36 may be inclined slightly upwardly to the left.

26 may rock within the groove area from serrated contact to smooth contact withthe groove -17.

Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4 wherein it is recalled that the configurations in Figures 3 and 4 apply when an external member is engaged by the jaws and forces of torque are applied to the wrench in a direction which is clock-wise to the viewer. In such event, the vertical section at line 33 in Figure 1 will be that as illustrated in Figure 3 wherein the smooth areas 29 and 31 belonging to portion 27 will be separated from associated areas of the groove 17. However,-the serrated areas 30 and 32 belonging to portion 28 will be in contact with the skirts and upper area of the groove as shown in Figure 4. Any pressure upon the handle of the wrench will cause a corresponding torque to be applied to the movable jaw member about some point disposed within the wrench groove. The torque eflects will produce a biting into the groove areas by the serrated areas belonging to portion 28 of the slide head 26 so that the movable jaw member will be in frictional engagement with the groove sufiicient to impede any tendency of the movable jaw member to back off from the wrench adjustment.

When, however, the wrench is removed from the external member and the movable jaw member is manually urged slightly in a clock-wise direction so as to free the tions as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A hand wrench including, in combination, a principal member comprising a handle portion with an underside and a fixed jaw portion integral therewith and extending laterally from said underside at an extremity thereof, said handle portion being provided with a longitudinal, undercut groove disposed in communication with said underside and exhibiting an undercut shoulder on each side thereof; and -a movable jaw member having a jaw portion cooperable with said principal member jaw portion and a slide head, said slide head being slidably disposed within said principal member groove and having exterior shoulder means on each side thereof cooperable with a respective one of said undercut shoulders, and said slide head including serrated means for frictionally engaging said groove so as to lock the positioning of said slide head within said groove during wrench operation when torque is transmitted to said jaw portion, of said movable jaw member tending to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, said handle portion, fixed jaw portion, and jaw portion of said movable jaw member being of equal thickness.

groove from the serrated surfaces previously mentioned,

then the smooth surfaces of portion 27 of the slide head 26 will come in contact with the groove so as to permit the sliding adjustment of the movable jaw member. Accordingly, the contact of the smooth areas in portion 27 with the groove is illustrated in Figure 3A, whereas the disengagement of the serrated areas with the groove is illustrated in Figure 4A.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which a thumb screw may be incorporated into the wrench structure. It should be mentioned at this time that the employment of a torque screw is not necessary, unless of course it be desired that the jaws of the wrench maintains a fixed distance apart even after the wrench is removed from an external member with which it was in prior engagement.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 it is seen that to accommodate the thumb screw 600 a vertical, threaded bore 601 may be provided through the slide head 26 of the movable jaw member. A lateral cut 602 and recesses 603 and 604 accommodate the knurled head 605 of the thumb screw 600. For purposes of assembly, the head 605 may be a separate part from shaft 606. The shaft 606 need merely be threaded into the bore 601 and then the head 605 merely keyed to the shaft 606 in any conventional manner.

Accordingly, in the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 the thumb screw need only be tightened against the upper area 18 of the groove 17 (see also Figures 1 and 3) for the wrench to maintain a fixed jaw distance at all times, which feature is of course desirable in the case of assembly line production. However, it will be noted the loading is imparted only to the serrated portions of the movable jaw member and not to the thumb screw per se. i It will be noted that the shoulders of the groove 17 and the slide head are'inclined. This is believed desirable since it provides a gripping action during wrench operation relative to portion 27 of the slide head and groove 1-7, and also serves, in effect, to increase skirt area contact of the groove with the large, curved, serrated neck areas 32 of the slide head.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to we; s such ch d uqq fi e 2. A hand wrench including, in combination, a principal member comprising a handle portion with an underside and a fixed jaw portion integral therewith and extending laterally from said underside at an extremity thereof, said handle portion being provided with a longitudinal, undercut groove disposed in communication with said underside and exhibiting an undercut shoulder on each side thereof; and a movable jaw member having a jaw portion cooperable with said principal member jaw portion and a slide head, said slide head being slidably disposed within said principal member groove and having exterior shoulder means on each side thereof cooperable with a respective one of said undercut shoulders, said slide head including serrated means for frictionally engaging said groove so as to lock the positioning of said slide head within said groove during wrench operation when torque is transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member tending to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, said slide head also including smooth means slidably engageable with said groove, in the absence of wrench operation and consequential torque transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member which would tend to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, so as to be adapted for translational movement within said groove and with respect to said fixed jaw portion, and wherein said groove has outwardly curved, longitudinal, side skirt areas on both sides thereof and said slide head is provided with inwardly curved, side neck areas on both sides thereof, said slide head side neck areas constituting at least in part said serrated means.

3. A hand wrench including, in combination, a principal member comprising a handle portion with an underside and a fixed jaw portion integral therewith and extending laterally from said underside at an extremity thereof, said handle portion being provided with a longitudinal, undercut groove disposed in communication with said underside and exhibiting an undercut shoulder on each side thereof; and a movable jaw member having a jaw portion cooperable with said principal member jaw portion and a slide head, said slide head being slidably disposed within saidprincipal member groove and having exterior shoulder means on each side thereof cooperable with a respective one of said undercut shoulders, said slide head including serrated means for frictionally engaging said groove so as to lock the positioning of said slide head within said groove during wrench operation when torque is transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member tending to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, said slide head also including smooth means slidably engageable with said groove, in

the absence of wrench operation and consequential torque transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw mem her which would tend to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, so as to be adapted for translational move ment within said groove and with respect to said fixed jaw portion, and wherein said slide head has a pair of adjacent upper surfaces angulated downwardly with respect to each other, one of said surfaces constituting at least in part said serrated means, and the remaining surface constituting at least in part said smooth means.

4. A hand Wrench including, in combination, a principal member comprising a handle portion with an underside and a fixed jaw portion integral therewith and extending laterally from said underside at an extremity thereof, said handle portion being provided with a longitudinal, undercut groove disposed in communication with said underside and exhibiting an undercut shoulder on each side thereof; and a movable jaw member having a jaw portion cooperable with said principal member jaw portion and a slide head, said slide head being slidably disposed within said principal member groove and having exterior shoulder means on each side thereof eooperable with a respective one of said undercut shoulders, said slide head including serrated means for frictionally engaging said groove so as to lock the positioning of said slide head within said groove during wrench operation when torque is transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member tending to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, said slide head also including smooth means slidably engageable with said groove, in the absence of wrench operation and consequential torque transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member which would tend to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, so as to be adapted for translational movement within said groove and with respect to said fixed jaw portion, and wherein said shoulders and shoulder means are angulated upwardly.

5. A hand wrench including, in combination, a principal member comprising a handle portion with an underside and a fixed jaw portion integral therewith and extending laterally from said underside at an extremity thereof, said handle portion being provided with a longitudinal, undercut groove disposed in communication with said underside and exhibiting an undercut shoulder on each side thereof; and a movable jaw member having a jaw portion cooperable with said principal member jaw portion and a slide head, said slide head being slidably 6 K disposed within said principal member groove and having exterior shoulder means on each side thereof cooperable with a respective one of said undercut shoulders, said slide head including serrated means for frictionally engaging said groove so as to lock the positioning of said slide head within said groove during wrench operation when torque is transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member tending to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, said slide head also including smooth means slidably engageable with said groove, in the absence of wrench operation and consequential torque transmitted to said jaw portion of said movable jaw member which would tend to separate the outer ends of said jaw portions, so as to be adapted for translational movement within said groove and with respect to said fixed jaw portion, wherein said slide head has an upper surface constituting at least in part said serrated means, and wherein said upper surface and said groove are convex and concave, respectively, and mutually intercooperating.

6. A hand wrench according to claim 2 wherein said slide head has a pair of adjacent upper surfaces angulated downwardly with respect to each other, one of said surfaces constituting at least in part said serrated means, and the remaining surface constituting at least in part said smooth means, and wherein said inwardly curved, side neck areas of said slide head are each composed of a pair of surfaces angulated downwardly with respect to each other, one of said slide head surfaces constituting at least in part said serrated means, and the remaining surface constituting at least in part said smooth means.

7. A hand wrench according to claim 3 wherein said shoulders and shoulder means are angulated upwardly, and wherein said upper surfaces and said groove are convex and concave, respectfully, and mutually intercooperating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,290 Smith May 3, 1898 632,847 Preston Sept. 12, 1899 767,319 Taylor Aug. 9, 1904 867,504 Hartman Oct. 1, 1907 1,155,979 Walters Oct. 5, 1915 1,673,077 Karlsen June 12, 1928 2,693,730 Ayers Nov. 9, 1954 2,708,385 Grinnell May 17, 1955

Images