Patent ID: 6016723
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A ratcheting adjustable wrench havingan elongated handle;jaw means having a fixed member and a movable member;means, including a pin, joining the jaw means fixed member to one end of the handle,the jaw means fixed member havinga generally hollow central portion,a first end to which the handle is joined, anda second end terminating in a first jaw element,the jaw means movable member being disposed in the hollow central portion and having a second jaw element formed at a first end thereof so as to face the first jaw element, the first and second jaw elements opening onto each other;means for limiting the movement of the second jaw element within the hollow central portion to linear longitudinal motion toward and away from the first jaw element;means for selectively manually initiating longitudinal relative movement between the first jaw element and the second jaw element comprisinga threaded drive member axially aligned with the second jaw element and disposed between the second jaw element and the handle,means for fixing the drive member within the hollow central portion so that the drive member is laterally fixed in position and rotatable therewithin in axial alignment with the second jaw element, including a complementarily threaded driven member fixed to said second jaw element and extending through the drive member,whereby selective manual rotation of the drive member in a first direction is operable to move the second jaw element in a first linear direction toward the first jaw element to clamp a fastener therebetween, and selective manual rotation of the drive member in the opposite direction moves the second jaw element in the opposite linear direction to release the clamping of the fastener; andratcheting means(a) operable in response to torque applied to the handle in a selected rotary direction to longitudinally fix the first and second jaw elements with respect to a fastener clamped therebetween, whereby said selected direction torque is applied to the fastener; and(b) operable in response to torque applied to the handle in a direction opposite the selected rotary direction to release the clamping of the fastener by permitting the drive member and so the second jaw element to move away from the first jaw element so as to permit rotary relative movement between the fastener and the jaw elements.