Patent ID: 7637183
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: B25B,B25G

Abstract:
1. The method of manipulating a valve having a valve stem operating internal components of the valve and a wheel, having a rim, on the valve stem for rotating the stem and thereby operating the valve by use of a wrench including a jaw end configured to engage the valve wheel; a handle and a pivot connecting the handle and the jaw end for pivoting the handle from a first position where the handle is generally perpendicular to the valve stem to a second position where the handle is generally parallel to the valve stem, the handle and jaw end defining a common plane in the first and second positions of the handle, the method comprising placing the jaw end onto the wheel rim, the handle being generally perpendicular to the valve stem, applying a first force to the handle with the handle generally perpendicular to the valve stem, rotating the wheel and initiating rotation of the valve stem in a first direction, and then moving the valve handle to a position generally parallel to the valve stem, applying a second force to the handle with the handle generally parallel to the valve stem thereby reducing the mechanical advantage of a lever arm provided by the handle and rotating the wheel in the first direction.