Abstract:
An adjustable wrench for gripping and rotation of a generally cylindrical canister, such as an oil filter canister, includes handles which are pivotally connected to each other for rotation about a first axis. Each handle is also connected by an articulatable joint to a gripping jaw that may be positioned about the canister or body, to thereby alter the angle of the handles with respect to the jaws in order to enable use of the tool in confined spaces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an oil filter wrench and, more particularly, to an oil filter wrench in the form of a pliers type tool that is capable of use in restricted areas. The tool includes a pair of pivotally connected actuating handles, each of which is connected by an articulating joint to a jaw member that is designed to grip an oil filter canister or other similarly shaped body. 
   Oil filter wrenches in the form of pliers having a pair of handles connected to arcuate gripping jaws have been commercially available for a number of years. The arcuate jaws typically include projecting teeth or ribs that serve as gripping members when the jaws are fitted and clamped around a cylindrical oil filter or canister. The wrench is then rotated in order to effect removal from an engine block, for example. Such wrenches are available in various sizes and configurations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,094, issued Jan. 21, 1997 for an Oil Filter Wrench, incorporated herewith by reference, depicts a type of wrench that is very useful for the removal of an oil filter from an engine. 
   A problem that may be encountered, particularly in vehicles having a smaller engine compartment, involves access to the cylindrical oil filter. Long handled wrenches often cannot be inserted and positioned appropriately in the engine compartment to enable gripping, turning or axial twisting of the wrench tool to remove the filter. Thus, in limited access situations, an oil filter wrench of the type, for example, as depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,094 is not always easy to use. As a consequence, there has developed a need for an oil filter wrench useful in restricted or confined areas. Such a tool is also considered useful for removal or gripping and turning of any cylindrical or generally cylindrical body mounted particularly in a restricted space as well as in unrestricted space. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the principal aspect, the present invention comprises an oil filter wrench or a pliers type tool which includes first and second pivotally connected handles, joined respectively to a first and a second jaw member through an articulated connection or joint which enables each of the jaw members to be articulated or pivoted with respect to their respective, connected handle member. Thus, the first and second handle members are each connected through a pivot connection to a corresponding jaw member. The angle of inclination of the jaws or jaw members relative to the respective handle members may be adjusted to accommodate positioning of the jaws about a cylindrical type body in a confined space while simultaneously enabling a user to grip the handles of the tool. Preferably, each jaw member is adjustable to any one of a series of detent positions relative to the associated handle member. In this manner, each of the jaw members can be set at an appropriate angle relative to the associated handle member and then positioned to grip, twist or turn a cylindrical body member. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool for removal and replacement of cylindrical type bodies, such as oil filters mounted on an engine block. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable wrench for gripping generally cylindrical canisters, such as oil filters mounted on an engine block. Such a wrench may have the additional capability of gripping various shapes. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a wrench tool wherein the separate jaws of the wrench are adjustable independently from one another with respect to a handle associated with each of the separate jaws of the wrench or pliers type tool. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a pliers or wrench type tool wherein the jaws are adjustable to permit adjustment of the angle of attachment of a jaw and respective handle. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide adjustable attachment of jaw and handle members together wherein the adjustable attachment incorporates a detent mechanism that enables maintenance of a desired angular relationship between a jaw and a handle. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a rugged yet economical and highly utilitarian wrench or pliers type tool which may be used for engaging, gripping and rotating generally cylindrical bodies. 
   These and other objects&#39; advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the Detailed Description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of an embodiment of the tool wherein the jaws and handles of the tool are in a generally coplanar condition; 
       FIG. 1A  is a partial cross sectional view of the detent construction of the tool of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  1 A— 1 A in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, exploded, isometric view of the component parts of the tool of  FIG. 1  forming the articulating connection between the jaws and handles of the tool; 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 , wherein the tool is engaged with a canister and the handles and jaws of the tool are generally coplanar; 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 , wherein the tool is engaged with a canister and the handles are articulated with respect to the jaws; 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an alternate position of the elements of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the pliers type wrench tool of the invention is comprised of a first handle  10  and a second handle  12 . Handles  10 ,  12  are joined together at a pivot connection  14  by a pivot pin  16 . The pivot connection  14  is adjustable between a first pivot connection axis  8  and a second pivot connection axis  18 . Pin  16  projecting from handle  10  may thus be moved in a slot  9  between axis  8  and axis  18  to effect adjustment of the potential width of the opening of the jaws of the tool described hereinafter. 
   The first handle  10  includes an elongate, generally linear handle section  20  with a grip  22  attached thereto at the distal end. The second handle  12 , likewise, includes an elongate section,  24  with an end hand grip  26  attached thereto. The first handle  10  includes a forward angled section  28 . Similarly, the second handle  12  includes a forward angled section  30 . The angle  7  of inclination between the angled sections  28 ,  30  and the respective elongate sections  20 ,  24  forming the handles  10  and  12  is in the range of 25° to 60°. 
   The handles  10  and  12 , are generally mirror images of each other but for the pivot connection axes  8  and  18 . Each of the handles  10  and  12  includes a forward or outer end  40  term nating the angled section  28 ,  30  comprising a projecting, bifurcated bracket including first and second parallel, spaced connection plates  42  and  44 . Each plate  42 ,  44  includes a passage  46  and  48 , respectively, extending therethrough for receipt of a mounting pin  50 . A pivot axis of pin  50 , is generally transverse to the axes  8  and  18 . A cylindrical counterbore  52  is defined in the outer end  40  between plates  42 ,  44 . The cylindrical counterbore  52  is sized to receive a biasing, spiral spring  54 , and a detent ball  56 , which is peened into place in counterbore  52  or alternatively, which may be retained in the counterbore  52  by the assembly of the jaw (e.g.  11 ) to a handle (e.g. handle  10 ). 
   The first handle  10  is cooperative with a separate first jaw  11 . The jaw  11  includes an arcuate section and inwardly projecting gripping teeth,  15  and  17 . Further, the first jaw  11  includes a inside connecting end  19  with a through passage  21  for receipt of the pin  50 . An arcuate outer surface  23  at connecting end  19  includes a series of detent openings  25 , preferably slots  25 . However, semi-spherical openings may be utilized. In this manner, the first jaw  11  can be pivotally mounted at the outer end  40  of the first handle  10  by pin  50 . Due to the cooperative action of the detent ball  56  with slots or the detents  25 , the angle of the connection between the first handle  10  and the first jaw  11  may be adjusted and fixed in a desired articulated or angled position. 
   In like fashion, the second handle  12  includes a second jaw or jaw member  27 , which is arcuate in shape and comprises a generally mirror image version of the first jaw  11 . Thus, the description associated with the second jaw  27  generally applies to that which is set forth with respect to the first jaw  11 . 
   As a consequence of the construction, the jaws  11  and  27  may be aligned to be coplanar with the handles  10  and  12  for example, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, the handles  10  and  12  may be articulated with respect to the jaws  11  and  27  so that the tool may be inserted into restricted spaces as illustrated in  FIG. 5  or  6 . 
   It is to be noted that the connection between the jaws  11  and  27  and the handles  10  and  12  is effected, in the embodiment depicted, at the outer end  40  of the handles  10 ,  12 . That is, a pivot connection  14  and pin  16  connects the handles  10 ,  12 , and the angular extension section  30  and  28  lie in the same plane of handles  10 ,  12  and are thus integral with the handles  10 ,  12 . The pivot connections between the jaws  11 ,  27  and the handles  10 ,  12  are at an outer end  40 . These connections are on the opposite side of the pivot connection  14  of the handle sections  20  and  24 . 
   However jaws  60 ,  62  and handles  64 ,  66  pivot connections  70 ,  72  may be incorporated on the opposite side of a pivot connection  14 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 . Thus, alternative embodiments may be adopted wherein the pivot connection of the jaws to the handles can be placed on either side of the central pivot axes  8  and  18  and pivot connection  14 . 
   Other changes and alterations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention including distinctive means for maintaining the jaws  11 ,  27  in various detent positions with respect to the respective handles  10 ,  12  in addition to coacting balls and slots or semi-spherical openings. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims or equivalents thereof.