Abstract:
A loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is provided that is simple to use, offers more breakage force than muscling alone, and is relatively safe and effective in its operation. The loosening tool includes a forward facing support jaw, a base bar that supports a corresponding rearward facing support jaw and an adjusting mechanism used to move the forward facing support jaw from a ready position to a loosened position such that the pipe coupling moves to a less tightened position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices, and more particularly to such a loosening tool used to accommodate two opposing wrenches fixedly attached to opposite sides of a pipe coupling and driving each wrench&#39;s respective lower part towards each other to loosen the threaded coupling. 
   Pipe couplings are commonly used in attaching and securing several pieces of pipes together. Typically, couplings are provided with a threaded female receiving interior to receive a corresponding male threaded end of a pipe. When two pipes need to be coupled together, the male threaded end of the pipe is fed into the female threaded receiving interior of the coupling until the fit is tight and secure. On an opposite side of the coupling, a second pipe with a male threaded end is fed into its corresponding female threaded receiving interior. Pipe couplings are also used as joints to redirect the flow of a fluid or create multiple channels of conducting fluid transport. Other pipe members are fitted with a male threaded end at one end and a female threaded end at the opposite end eliminating the need for a pipe coupling piece. 
   Pipe couplings are often neglected for extended periods of time during the lifetime of a pipeline that uses at least one pipe coupling. Generally, unless there is a need to move a particular pipeline, the pipe coupling is not visited unless there is a problem within the pipeline itself. After the extended period of neglect, the pipe couple can become corroded onto the pipe itself. The fluid being transported within the pipe and the type pipe material used may enhance the impact of the corrosion found between the pipe and the pipe coupling. Furthermore, an extended period of stress between the pipe coupling and the corresponding pipe&#39;s male threaded end will increase the frictional force found binding the two surfaces together. Both of these factors will increase the force needed to break a coupling bond found holding the pipe and the pipe coupled together. 
   Pipes and pipe couplings are also often found in “hard to reach” places. These couplings can be found within walls, under cabinets, underneath flooring, and many other similar “hard to reach” places. It can be difficult to fit two independent wrenches into such a space and using both hands to apply enough force sufficient to break apart the coupling bond. Balancing one&#39;s self to exert the proper amount of force in awkward positions can cause injury if the balance is lost. Moreover, hands have the ability lose their grip when applying such force which might further induce injury to the body. Furthermore, if the bond between the pipe&#39;s male threaded end and the pipe coupling were to suddenly disappear, the hands holding the lower part of each wrench type device could strike each other during the loosening action of the two components. 
   The current means of breaking loose tightened threads using two pipe wrenches is limited by the force generated by the body&#39;s muscle strength. This means does not always guarantee a successful bond breakage if the friction force securing the pipe coupling to the pipe is greater than the strength capable of being exerted by the user of the two pipe wrenches. A hammer or a cutting device would have to be applied to brutally force apart the pipe and the pipe coupling, resulting in permanent damage to the pipe member or pipe coupling; rendering it unuseable for future use. 
   Therefore, it is desired to have a loosening tool that can apply a greater amount of force to a plurality of wrench type devices than what can be achieved by muscling alone. Furthermore, it is desired that this loosening tool limit the risks associated with injury to the hands or body in the event that rapid loosening might otherwise cause. The loosening tool should be capable of fitting into hard to reach areas while giving the user a friendly means of operating the loosening tool. Moreover, it is desirable to have a loosening tool that is compatible with an assortment of sizes and shapes of wrench like devices such as vice grips while being adjustable to particular placement requirement of the wrench like devices on the pipe or pipe coupling itself. 
   Thus, there is a need for a loosening tool capable of supporting a plurality of pipe wrenches and wrench type devices. The loosening tool needs to be small enough to fit into difficult to reach places while being simple to operate. Furthermore, there is a need for such a loosening tool that is safe and easy to operate while being economically affordable to persons engaged in maintenance and repair type activities. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-identified needs are addressed by the present loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling. One feature of the present invention is the ability to be interchangeably usable with a variety of wrench type devices, including but not limited to, vice grips, adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches, etc. The loosening tool&#39;s small size, cheap construction costs, and durability offer the advantage to a variety of users of being able to induce loosening in a coupling without risking damage to the hands or other parts of the body. A deliberate delivery of force provided by an adjusting mechanism on the tool ensures a greater amount of force action than that which can be achieve by human muscling alone and in a very controlled manner. The applied force can be immediately discontinued when slippage in the bonding forcing within the coupling begins to occur; whereas the hands, which rely on arm strength, have a difficult time controlling the inertia of an impeding collision when holding two wrenches separately. 
   More specifically, a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is provided with a forward facing support jaw and a rearward facing support jaw. The rearward facing support jaw is positioned to correspond with the forward facing support jaw when supporting the wrench type devices. A means of adjusting the forward facing support jaw is further provided to move the forward facing support jaw from a ready position to a loosened position such that the forward facing support jaw and the rearward facing support jaw are moved closer together. A base bar is used to support the rearward facing support jaw and the means of adjusting the forwarding facing support jaw. 
   In another embodiment, a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is further provided with a jaw support arm situated to be slideable relative to a forward facing support jaw. The support arm is fixedly attached to a rearward facing support jaw, where the rearward facing support jaw is positioned to correspond with the forward facing support jaw when supporting the wrench type devices. An adjusting mechanism is used to move the forward facing support jaw from a ready position to a loosened position such that the forward facing support jaw and the rearward facing support jaw are moved closer together. A base bar supports the jaw support arm and the adjustable mechanism. 
   In yet another embodiment, a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is provided with a means of adjusting a rearward facing support jaw slideably. The means of adjusting the rearward facing support jaw slideably is arranged such that the rearward facing support jaw is moveable in a comparatively linear manner relative to a forward facing support jaw. The rearward facing support jaw is positioned to correspond with the forward facing support jaw when supporting the wrench type devices when used in operation. The forward facing support jaw is drivable in a direction towards the rearward facing support jaw using a driving screw mounted on a base bar. The base bar is used to support the rearward facing support jaw and the forward facing support jaw. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a loosening tool in operation supporting two wrench type devices on a forward facing support jaw and a rearward facing support jaw. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the loosening tool without the wrench type devices. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the loosening tool in a ready position engaging two wrench type devices. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the loosening tool in an extended position engaging two wrench type devices. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the loosening tool to more clearly identify its several parts. 
       FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of an optional embodiment of the loosening tool with a base bar extended in a horizontal manner. 
       FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of yet an additional embodiment of the loosening tool illustrating a jaw support arm being slideably engaged with the base bar. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a loosening tool for breaking loose tightened threads of a pipe coupling using a plurality of wrench type devices is generally designated  10 . The loosening tool  10  is designed for being receivable to a plurality of wrench type devices  12  such as vice grips, adjustable wrenches and pipe wrenches, and in the most preferred embodiment, to two wrench type devices  12 . The wrench type devices  12  are securely fitted onto a pipe coupling  14  and a corresponding piece of the pipe  16 . The pipe coupling  14  is typically fitted with a threading (not shown) that employs a female end and a male end, where the pipe coupling  14  is generally used to extend a piece of piping, redirect a path of a particular fluid, or secure a fitting to perform a function for the particular fluid. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the preferred embodiment, a forward facing support jaw  18  is provided to adhere to a lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12 . The forward facing support jaw  18  is supportable to the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12  with the help of a set of arms  22  to prevent unintentional sliding of the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12 . In the most preferred embodiment, the set of arms  22  are sharply angled to form a square-like or trapezoidal feature as shown in  FIG. 2 ; however, triangular and rounded designs are also contemplated. It is preferred that the set of arms  22  be extended to substantially cover the width and depth of the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12  such that the wrench type device  12  does not inadvertently slip out of the forward facing support jaw  18 . The forward facing support jaw  18  is optionally provided with a base support member  24  to assist with the placement of the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12 . 
   A rearward facing support jaw  26  is also provided and is positioned to correspond with the forward facing support jaw  18  when supporting the wrench type devices  12 . The rearward facing support jaw  26  performs a similar function as the forward facing support jaw  18  in that the rearward facing support jaw  26  is supportable to the lower part  20  of a corresponding wrench type device  28 . The rearward facing support jaw  26  is also provided with a set of arms  22  to prevent unintentional sliding of the lower part  20  of the corresponding wrench type device  28  and is optionally provided with a base support member  24 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , in the preferred embodiment, a means of adjusting the forward facing support jaw  18  from a ready position  30  as shown in  FIG. 3  to an extended position  32  as shown in  FIG. 4  is provided such that the forward facing support jaw  18  and the rearward facing support jaw  26  are moved closer together. The ready position  30  is generally defined as the initial point at which the wrench type devices  12  are fixedly secured to the pipe coupling  14 . The extended position  32  is any position in which the forward facing support jaw  18  is brought to a closer position to the rearward facing support jaw  26 . Assuming that the wrench type devices  28  are properly attached, the extended position  32  of the forward facing support jaw  18  should result in a loosening of the pipe coupling  14 . 
   The means of adjusting the forward facing support jaw  18  is preferred to be deliberate and precise such that the speed of adjustment can be well controlled. In the most preferred embodiment, the means of adjusting the forward facing support jaw  18  from the ready position  30  to the extended position  32  is provided by an adjusting mechanism  33  such that the forward facing support jaw  18  and the rearward facing support jaw  26  are moved closer together. The adjusting mechanism  33  is preferably comprised of a driving screw  34  mounted on a base bar  36  such that the forward facing support jaw  18  is drivable in a direction towards the rearward facing support jaw  26 . The driving screw  34  is preferably tethered such that the driving force can be controlled by twisting a control handle  38 . The amount of force required to twist the control handle  38  can be easily applied without risking injury to the hands because the amount of rotation applied at one time is limited by the physical limitations within the hand and arm structure. The forward facing support jaw  18  can also be adjusted in the opposite manner to release the loosening tool  10  from the wrench type devices  12 . 
   The rotational motion of the driving screw  34  requires a means to keep the forward facing support jaw  18  upright to be coupled with the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the driving screw  34  is rotatably attached to a rear side  40  of the forward facing support jaw  18  such that the forward facing support jaw  18  is moveable from the ready position  30  to the loosened position  32  while continually supporting the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12 . In the most preferred embodiment, the driving screw  34  is rotatably attached by a forward ball joint fitting  42 . The forward ball joint fitting  42  effectively keeps the forward facing support jaw  18  in a substantially upright position when engaged with the lower part  20  of the wrench type device  12  to provide the continued support required for operation. 
   The base bar  36  is used to support the rearward facing support jaw  26  and the means of adjusting forwarding facing support jaw  18 . Several different types of base bars  36  are contemplated. In the most preferred embodiment, the base bar  36  is provided with a “U” type shape to support both support jaws while providing an operating area  44  for adjusting the forward facing support jaw  18  from the ready position  30  to the extended position  32 . The operating area  44  needs to be of sufficient size to allow each support jaw to engage their respective wrench type devices  12 . The “U” type shape is preferably angled to reside planarly with respect to linear driving direction of the driving screw  34  and parallel to the corresponding piece of the pipe  16  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , an optional embodiment of the base bar  36  is also contemplated. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the “U” type shape can be extended below the lower part  20  of the wrench type devices  12  to provide optional adjustment technique to allow for an alternative grabbing angle. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the “U” type shape extended below the lower part  20  of the wrench type devices  12  to provides an optional means of adjusting the rearward facing support jaw  26  slideably. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 , the means of adjusting the rearward facing support jaw  26  slideably are provided such that the rearward facing support jaw  26  is moveable in a comparatively linear manner relative to the forward facing support jaw  18  so that the rearward facing support jaw  26  will engage the corresponding wrench type device  28  more effectively. The means of adjusting the rearward facing support jaw  26  slideably is most preferably provided by a backside track  46  that is attached to the base bar  36 . An adjustable slide  48  is latched onto the backside track  46  with a set of gripping arms  50  that allow the adjustable slide  48  to move freely along the backside track  46  while preventing the adjustable slide  48  from falling off the backside track  46 . The rearward facing support jaw  26  is attached to the adjustable slide  48  situated on the backside track  46 . In the most preferred embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), the rearward facing support jaw  26  is pivotally attached to the adjustable slide  48  with a rearward ball joint fitting  52 . The rearward ball joint fitting  52  couples with a female receiving end  54  located on a track side  56  of the rearward facing support jaw  26 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  7 , the rearward facing support jaw  26  situated on the adjustable slide  48  is held onto the backside track  46  with a slide stopper  58 . The slide stopper  58  is preferably comprised of a stopper screw  60  where the stopper screw  60  is rotated onto an open end  62  of the backside track  46 . The stopper screw  60  is large enough to prevent the set of gripping arms  50  to over take the slide stopper  58 . Depending on the direction of the “U” type shape base bar  36  bends, more than one open end  62  of the backside track  46  will exist, thus requiring multiple slide stoppers  58  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
   Now referring to  FIG. 1 , in the most preferred embodiment, the backside track  46  runs parallel to a rear portion  64  of the base bar  36 . Under this embodiment, the backside track  46  is of a cylindrical shape which eliminates the need for a rearward ball joint fitting  52 . The set of gripping arms  50  are shaped to conform to the cylindrical shape of the backside track  46 . It is contemplated that the set of gripping arms  50  under this embodiment are one piece to provide a more durable attachment. The slide stopper  58  under this embodiment is provided by a “FIG.  8 ” shaped member  66  that is configured to be placed on the open end  62  of the backside track  46  and the rear portion  64  of the base bar  36 . The slide stopper  58  is then fixated by a set of stopper screws  68  that attach onto a set of respective female receiving holes found on the open end  62  of the backside track  46  and the rear portion  64  of the base bar  36 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 6 , in yet another embodiment, a jaw support arm  72  is situated to be slideable relative to the forward facing support jaw  18 . The jaw support arm  72  is preferably slideable such that a rearward facing support jaw  26  is adjustable to correspond effectively with the forward facing support jaw  18  when engaging the wrench type devices  12 . Effective correspondence is further defined as optimally situating the rearward facing support jaw  26  and the forward facing support jaw  18  so that the driving screw  34  mounted on the base bar  36  will bring the lower part  20  of the wrench type devices  12  closer together. The jaw support arm  72  is also preferably fixedly and immovably attached to the rearward facing support jaw  26  to provide a more stable resistance force to resist the driving of the forward facing support jaw  18 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the jaw support arm  72  is cylindrically shaped to allow a circular rotation of the rearward facing support jaw  26 . The circular rotation provides a means of fitting the lower part  20  of the wrench type devices  12  at various angles when the wrench type devices  12  are secured to the pipe coupling  14 . The base bar  36  is provided with a sleeve  73  to receive the jaw support arm  72 . Preferably, the jaw support arm  72  is fixedly secured to the base bar  36  by a locking key  74 . The locking key  74  is fed into a key hole  76  found on the sleeve  73  until it comes into contact with the jaw support arm  72 . The key hole  76  is preferably provided with a tethering to allow the locking key  74  of a screw type design to securely tighten onto the jaw support arm  72 . 
   While a particular embodiment of the loosening tool has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.