Abstract:
A wrench including an adjustable portion configured for use on nuts and bolts of various sizes and a fixed portion including a number of fixed sockets configured for cooperation with specific predetermined sizes of bolt heads. The adjustable portion including a movable jaw configured for slidable engagement with a fixed jaw.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/261,596 filed on Nov. 16, 2009, which is fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is directed to a wrench for use with theatrical lighting fixtures. In particular, the wrench of the present disclosure includes an adjustable portion configured for use on nuts and bolts of various sizes and a fixed portion configured for cooperation with specific aspects of a theatrical lighting fixture. Specifically, the fixed portion includes a number of sockets configured to cooperate with bolt heads of predetermined size and shape. 
         [0003]    Theatrical lighting fixtures are typically installed using a clamp designed specifically for this purpose. These clamps typically have three different sized bolts used to fasten the lighting fixture. All three bolts must be loosened and tightened when installing a lighting fixture. It is not unusual to have an installation requiring hundreds of lighting fixtures. This creates a repetitious sequence of settings on an adjustable wrench. 
         [0004]    In addition, bolts of other sizes may be encountered during the installation. Two wrenches must be purchased and carried at all times during an installation. 
         [0005]    The wrench of the present disclosure combines the function of a common adjustable wrench with specialized sockets required to manipulate the bolts found on a lighting fixture clamp. The wrench of the present disclosure may be configured to clamp onto the handle of an adjustable wrench, or alternatively be integrally formed into the handle. The present disclosure includes three sockets that fit the bolts found on lighting clamps. These features save money and time. 
         [0006]    One aspect of the present disclosure includes a wrench having a body, an adjustable portion, and a fixed portion. The adjustable portion includes a fixed jaw integrally formed into the body, a movable jaw slidably engaged with the fixed jaw, and a thumb screw configured to engage the movable jaw. Rotation of the thumb screw in a first direction drives the movable jaw outwardly relative to the fixed jaw and rotation of the thumb screw in a second direction opposite to the first direction drives the movable jaw outwardly relative to the fixed jaw. The fixed portion includes a plurality of sockets of predetermined configuration. The handle portion is integrally formed in the body and disposed between the adjustable portion and the fixed portion. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a tool configured for attachment to a handle of an adjustable wrench. The tool includes a notch at one end, the notch being configured to form a plurality of sockets, and a fastener configured to cooperate with the handle of the adjustable wrench to attach the tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an embodiment of the wrench of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is section view taken at line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a tool of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4 . illustrates a typical theatrical lighting fixture; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of a claim on the theatrical lighting fixture of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Theatrical lighting fixtures  1 , as shown in  FIG. 4  are typically installed above a stage or performance area by attaching with a clamp  2  to a support such as a truss, support pipe, frame, or the like. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a common clamp  2  for theatrical lighting fixtures is configured in the shape of a C for disposition around a support  3 . The clamp  2  includes three bolts  4 ,  5 ,  6 . The first bolt  4  is configured to secure the clamp  2  to support  3  when fully tightened and is typically a ½ inch bolt with a ½ inch square head. Alternatively, when bolt  4  is loosened, the clamp  2  may be removed from the support  3 . 
         [0015]    The second bolt  5 , when fully tightened is configured to prevent the lighting fixture  1  from rotating from side to side. Thus, when bolt  5  is disengaged, lighting fixture  1  may be rotated to a predetermined position, then fixed in place by tightening bolt  5 . The second bolt  5  is typically a 5/16 inch bolt with a 5/16 inch square head. 
         [0016]    The third bolt  6  attaches lighting fixture  1  to the clamp  2 . The third bolt  6  is typically a ½ inch bolt with a ¾ inch hex head. 
         [0017]    The present disclosure is directed to a wrench  10  configured for use on bolts  4 ,  5 ,  6 , commonly found on theatrical lighting fixtures as well as other nuts and bolts of various sizes. Referring to  FIG. 1 , wrench  10  includes a body  11 , an adjustable portion  12  and a fixed portion  20 . Adjustable portion  12  includes a fixed jaw  14  integrally formed into body  11  and a movable jaw  16 . The movable jaw  16  is slidably engaged with the fixed jaw  14 . Movable jaw may be configured to engage a threaded thumb screw  18 , the threads configured to engage a rack on movable jaw  16  such that rotation of thumb screw  18  in a first direction drives movable jaw  16  outwardly relative to fixed jaw  14  and rotation of thumb screw  18  in a second direction, opposite the first direction, drives movable jaw  16  inwardly relative to fixed jaw  14 . 
         [0018]    Fixed portion  20  includes a number of sockets sized and configured to accommodate predetermined bolt sizes, for example bolt sizes common to theatrical lighting fixtures. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , fixed portion  20  includes a first socket  22 , a second socket  24 , and a third socket  26 . First socket  22  is configured to cooperate with a ½ inch square bolt head as is found on bolt  4  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Second socket  24  is configured to cooperate with a 5/16 inch square bolt head as is found on bolt  5  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Third socket  26  is configured to cooperate with a ¾ inch hexagonal bolt head as is found on bolt  6  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , first socket  22  and second socket  24  are formed in fixed portion  20 , wherein first socket  22  may be disposed on one side of fixed portion  20  and second socket  24  may be disposed on an opposite side of fixed portion  20 . In the exemplary embodiment, first socket  22  and second socket are formed collinearly about a common axis  28  forming an aperture through fixed portion  20 , the aperture having a step  30  at the interface of the first socket  22  and the second socket  24 . Also in the exemplary embodiment, third socket  26  is spaced apart from the first socket  22  and the second socket  24 . Third socket  26  may be configured to form an aperture through fixed portion  20 , or alternatively may be configured to form a recess in fixed portion  20 . Although disclosed for illustrative purposes, it should be apparent that any suitable configuration of sockets  22 ,  24 ,  26  in fixed portion  20  may be equally acceptable to one skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the wrench  10  of the present disclosure may also include a handle portion  32  configured for grasping by a user. Handle portion  32  may also include hand grips  34 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an alternative embodiment of the wrench of the present disclosure may be configured as a tool  110  including a fixed portion  120 . The tool  110  being configured for attachment to a standard adjustable wrench  112 . Fixed portion  120  includes a first socket  122 , a second socket  124 , and a third socket  126 . First socket  122  is configured to cooperate with a ½ inch square bolt head. Second socket  124  is configured to cooperate with a 5/16 inch square bolt head. Third socket  26  is configured to cooperate with a ¾ inch hexagonal bolt head. 
         [0022]    In this exemplary embodiment, the first socket  122 , the second socket  124 , and the third socket  126  are formed collinearly forming a notch at one end of attachment  110 . The notch includes a first step  130 A at the interface of the first socket  122  and the second socket  124 . The notch also includes a second step  130 B at the interface the interface of the first socket  122  and the third socket  126 . 
         [0023]    A typical adjustable wrench  112  includes a handle portion  132  having a circular aperture  136  at one end. Tool  110  is configured to cooperate with and be secured to handle portion  132  by a fastener  138  such as a screw or bolt extending through aperture  136  and secured with a nut for removable attachment. Alternatively a rivet or other permanent fastener may be used for permanent attachment. 
         [0024]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.