Abstract:
A crescent ratchet wrench capable of locking and of free and indexed opening and closing of jaws is disclosed herein. The wrench operates by means of a multipurpose shaft. The shaft controls an adjustment screw to allow free movement of the wrench jaws, increment ratcheting of the movement, or locking of the wrench in place.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the present invention is wrenches, especially adjustable and locking wrenches. 
         [0002]    The field of wrenches is old, and very crowded with a myriad of types suited for various tasks. A few of these are discussed here in relation to the current invention. 
         [0003]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,464, which issued on Oct. 2, 2007, inventors Chervenak et al describe a ratchetable wrench comprising a pliable handle, wherein the handle is rotated to lock the jaws of the wrench. 
         [0004]    Inventor William O&#39;Brien reveals a parallel, slidable and lockable jaw wrench in U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,960, which issued on Jul. 8, 1997. This wrench includes ball bearings disposed within a channel. 
         [0005]    On Jul. 30, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,125 issued to inventor Arthur Haskell. This patent illustrates an adjustable wrench having selectable locking positions. This wrench also comprises ball bearings. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,103 issued to inventor Barney Lewis, jr., on Oct. 13, 1992. This patent has a subject a lock, slidably mounted on a crescent wrench. 
         [0007]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,941, which issued on Apr. 26, 1983, inventor Hyrum Petersen reveals a detachable and adjustable pipe wrench. 
         [0008]    Finally, inventor John Penner describes a lockable crescent wrench in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,339, which issued on Aug. 17, 1982. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention is drawn to a locking crescent wrench that is capable of free range motion and incremental, staged motion of the jaws. It is also capable of locking in place at any desired position within its range of motion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective representation of the head of a wrench in a cutaway view and elements there of in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the indexing components, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the indexing components, showing the adjusting screw in a cutaway view in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective representation of a preferred embodiment of the wrench of the current invention, in the assembled position and cutaway view showing the components of the assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged representation of the position of the shaft, in the free mode in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged representation of the position of the shaft in the indexing mode in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged representation of the position of the shaft, in the locking mode in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0019]    A Wrench Head Assembly  100  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is portrayed in  FIG. 1 . Wrench form  200  including the solid fixed jaw  210 , the adjusting screw  300  which controls the movement of the moveable jaw  220  to open and close the jaws, a track and recessed area  230 , and a shifting track or slot  240  for adjustment of the slide button  400  to select the position desired for the moveable jaw. Recessed area  230  forms a housing area for shifting track  240 . 
         [0020]    Slide button  400  in  FIG. 1  is a round or elongated button, recessed into the main body via recessed area  230  for accuracy in shifting, protection from damage, and exclusion of foreign material from entering the shifting slot  240  in the main body  200 . 
         [0021]    As portrayed in  FIG. 2 , slide button  400  has a horizontal arm  410  for extending thru the main body of the wrench, thru the hole  540  in the shaft  410  (restricting the hexagonal portion of vertical shaft  500  from turning in the main body) to the opposite side, and secured to lock washer  430 . In a preferred embodiment, adjustments can be made to the assembled main body  200  making both slide button  400  and lock washer  430  either left or right handed. 
         [0022]    Slide button  400  is utilized to shift the position of the shaft  500  to any of 3 available positions: free, indexing, and locking. The slide button  400  is attached to, on center, and perpendicular to the shaft  500 . 
         [0023]    A C Ring  650  found in  FIG. 2  works in relationship to the shaft area  520 , an element of shaft  500 , at the opposite end of the adjustment screw  300 . The adjusting screw  300  is pulled forward compressing the spring  600 , and locating the adjusting screw  300  against the main body  200 . The C ring  650  is pushed on the shaft diameter  520  and the adjusting screw  300  is then allowed to return to its original position, locating the C ring into the recessed area  625 . Ring grooves  530 ,  531  and  532  locate and secure the shaft  500  in the desired position, as noted in  FIG. 3 , and later Figures. 
         [0024]    The compression spring  600  in  FIG. 3  slides over the hexagonal shaft  500  between the main body  200  and applying pressure to the indexing ring  330  maintaining constant pressure and contact between the angular indexing configuration of the face of the indexing ring  340  and the angular indexing configuration on the face of the adjusting screw  300 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . This interlocking configuration is kept constant due to the spring pressure on the adjusting screw  300  against the main body  200  on the opposite end. The C Ring  650  works in relationship to the shaft area  520  located in the recessed area  625  as seen in  FIG. 3 , at the opposite end of the adjustment screw  300 . 
         [0025]    Shaft  500  in  FIG. 2  is displayed in hexagonal shape, as may be found in a preferred embodiment of the current invention. The shaft can also be square, octagonal, star, or of Spline configuration. The locating hole for the hexagonal shaft  500  in the main wrench body  200  can be round in shape, hexagonal, or identical to the configuration of the shaft. The points on the hexagonal (outside edges at the longer diameter angles of hexagonal shaft  500 ) will coordinate and have the same configuration with the center hole of the adjusting screw  300  and the indexing ring  330 . When the shaft  500  passes thru the adjusting screw  300  and indexing ring  330 , the ring restricts rotation. Thus, shaft  500  will not rotate about its long axis. A thru hole  540  perpendicular to the shaft will accept the shaft  410  of the slide button  400  to move the shaft  500  in a lateral direction. 
         [0026]    As further demonstrated in  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, the shaft  500  has a smooth, rounded area  520  (on the lower portion of hexagonal shaft  500 ). This diameter will also coordinate with the inside diameter of the adjusting screw  300  and indexing ring  330 . When the adjusting screw  300  and indexing ring  330  are in this position over the diameter area of the shaft  520  they will rotate freely. The transition  505  in  FIG. 3 , from the hexagonal shaft  510  ( FIG. 1 ) to the round shaft  520  ( FIG. 1 ) is tapered to enhance engagement of the hexagonal shaft to the indexing ring  330  in  FIG. 6 . This round area of the Shaft  520  has Grooves  530 ,  531 , and  532  for locating and securing the Shaft  520  into the desired positions utilizing a C Ring  650 . 
         [0027]    Indexing ring  330  is preferably located between the compression spring  600  and adjusting screw  300 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The ring has the same center hole configuration as the hexagonal shaft  500  and thus is able to slide over the corresponding hexagonal shaft. 
         [0028]    This center hole configuration in a preferred embodiment, may have points in multiples of six. By way of example, if the hexagonal shaft  500  has six points, the center hole may have six, twelve, eighteen, or higher multiple points, and still accept the hexagonal shaft  500 . This will facilitate engagement of the hexagonal shaft  500 . It will also have an indexing face  340 , per  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    The indexing face  340  is utilized on both the indexing ring  330  and the indexing face  320  on the adjustment screw  300  may take on a variety of different forms or types. As displayed for clarity in  FIG. 2 , teeth  340  will be utilized in a radial position. When assembled, the indexing face of the indexing ring  330  and the adjusting screw  300  will be mated together and their axial movements will be synchronized to those of the shaft  500 . 
         [0030]    Adjustment screw  300  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . When rotated, the outside thread of the adjustment screw  300  meshes with the rack gear on the moveable jaw, moving the moveable jaw  220  in either direction. The center hole  310  ( FIG. 2 ) in the adjusting screw  300 , having the configuration of the hexagonal shaft is able to slide over the corresponding hexagonal shaft  500 . The center hole configuration may have 6 points, or multiples of six points. For example: If the hexagonal shaft  500  has six points, the center hole may have six, twelve, eighteen, or higher multiples of 6. This will facilitate engagement of the hexagonal shaft  500 . The recessed area  630  ( FIG. 4 ) in the end of the adjustment screw  300  ( FIG. 2 ) has an indexing face mating to the indexing ring  330 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective representation of the head of a wrench, showing the adjusting screw  300  thereof, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Adjustment screw  300  is shown in cutaway side view. Shaft  500  is shown in the locked position, as will be further described below. 
         [0032]    The wrench of the current invention preferably has three stages, as described in the following section and as depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 .  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7  are enlarged images of the three stages of operation described above.  FIG. 5  shows the free stage, with the shaft  500  at the first stop within adjusting screw  300 .  FIG. 6  shows the free stage, with the shaft  500  at the second stop within adjusting screw  300 .  FIG. 7  shows the locked stage, with the shaft  500  at the final stop within adjusting screw  300 . 
       First Stage 
       [0033]    In the Free Stage shown in  FIG. 5 , the wrench of the current invention works like any other adjustable wrench. The wrench of the current invention, during the free stage, utilizes the Adjustment Screw  300  to move the Movable Jaw  220  ( FIG. 1 ). The position of the slide button  400  moves simultaneously with the Shaft  500 , and further most from the adjusting screw  300  and is secured in this position by the C Ring  650  in Groove  530 , as displayed in  FIG. 5 . 
       Second Stage 
       [0034]    The second stage is the indexing stage of  FIG. 6 . This stage permits the adjusting screw  300  to be indexed in increments of 0 to 360 degrees, by the geometric configuration on the face of the indexing ring  330  ( FIG. 4 ) corresponding to the mating face located on the face of the adjusting screw  300  ( FIG. 4 ). Moving the slide button  400  to the middle position simultaneously moves the shaft  500  to the middle position engaging the indexing ring  330  and secures it from turning by the configuration of the shaft  500  corresponding to the center hole in the indexing ring  330 . The C Ring  650  will slide on the round diameter  520  ( FIG. 7 ), and will be secured in this middle position by the groove  531  on the Shaft  500  with the Indexing Ring  330  secured on the hexagonal shaft  510 . C Ring  650  will not turn, as the Compression Spring  600  holds it in place. This allows the adjusting screw  300  to be rotated over 360 degrees and indexes, by pushing the spring loaded indexing ring  330  away from the adjusting screw, to the desired degrees set by the geometric configuration of the indexing ring face  340  ( FIG. 4 ) and the mating configuration in the adjusting screw  300  ( FIG. 4 ). This will determine the amount of movement of the Movable Jaw  220  per  FIG. 1 . 
       Example 
     Utilizing a Ten Inch Adjustable Wrench 
       [0035]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Angular Indexing Table 
               
             
          
           
               
                 No. of Teeth 
                 Rotation 
                 Movement of Moveable Jaw 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 360 Degrees 
                 .090 Thousands 
               
               
                 3 
                 120 Degrees 
                 .030 Thousands 
               
               
                 6 
                  60 Degrees 
                 .015 Thousands 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Third Stage 
       [0036]    When the desired position of the moveable jaw  220  is achieved by rotating the adjustment screw  300 , locking of the adjusting screw  300  (see  FIG. 7 ) is accomplished by moving the slide button  400 . This movement simultaneously moves the shaft  500  to the locking position, closest to the adjusting screw  300 . This in turn will move the shaft  500  thru the indexing ring  330 , and into the adjusting screw  300 . The alignment is synchronized by the geometry of the indexing ring  330  to the shaft  500 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaft will be secured in this position by the C ring  650  sliding on the round diameter  520 , and being secured in this position by groove  532  in the shaft  500 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a view of the adjusting screw  300  and its components, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The elements of the control mechanism are shown to the left. In enlarged view, the adjusting screw  300  and the upper and lower gears are shown to the right. The beveled teeth of the gears are designed to mate, such that the face of lower gear  640  fits snugly into the face of upper gear  360 . Advancement of the lower jaw toward or away from the upper jaw is achieved by turning the adjusting screw  300 . 
         [0038]    The position of shaft  500  governs the choice of degree of movement of the lower jaw. This effect is shown in  FIG. 2 . At the bottom, shaft  500  is viewed in expanded format. At the top of shaft  500  are three grooves (in descending order from the top)  532 ,  531 , and  530 . The shaft position is governed by the actuator button  400 . 
         [0039]    When the wrench user moves the actuator button  400  to the first stop, the shaft  500  rests at the free stage, with groove  532  even with the edge of adjusting screw  300  as depicted in the free stage in  FIG. 6  C. In this position, the adjusting screw  300  can be turned freely, and the lower jaw  220  correspondingly moved freely within its limits of travel. 
         [0040]    When the wrench user moves the actuator button  400  further to the to the second stop, the shaft  500  comes to rest at the index stage, with groove  531  even with the edge of adjusting screw  300  as depicted in the index stage in  FIG. 6  B. In this position, the adjusting screw  300  can be turned incrementally, and the lower jaw  220  correspondingly moved incrementally, step by step, within its limits of travel. The increment depends on the overall size of wrench  100  and particularly upon the size and number of gear teeth in gears  640  and  360 . The greater the number of teeth, the smaller the incremental travel of jaw  220  with each turn of the adjusting screw  300 . 
         [0041]    Finally, when the wrench user moves the actuator button  400  to the last stop, the shaft  500  rests at the locking stage, with groove  530  even with the edge of adjusting screw  300  as depicted in the locking stage in  FIG. 6  C. In this position, the adjusting screw  300  cannot be turned, and the lower jaw  220  correspondingly locks at its current position. 
         [0042]    Thus, if a user wants to adapt to a given range of travel—let us say, to drive nuts in the metric range of 10 to 20 millimeters in diameter—he will select a wrench having the appropriate size and number of teeth in gears  640  and  360 , as displayed in  FIG. 2 . Using the index stage of  FIG. 6 , the user will adjust the wrench via turning the adjusting screw  300  until the separation between the jaws reaches a given nut size, for example 15 millimeters. This can be done by observation, although use of a gauge or other measuring device is appropriate as needed. Moving the actuator button  400  to the last stop will then lock the wrench jaws. This locks the wrench in position to operate on the given nut size. If the operator needs to adjust the wrench size, the operator simply repeats the process by moving the actuator button  400  to the second stop, adjusting the adjusting screw  300  to change the jaw width incrementally, then moving actuator button  400  to the last stop to lock the jaws into the desired separation. This is a preferred mode of operation of the invention when the sizes of the objects to be operated upon are known and fairly standardized in diameter. 
         [0043]    If the sizes of said objects are not known, or vary in unknown ways, the free stage operation mode is a preferred mode. In that case, the wrench operator will again select a wrench having the appropriate size and number of teeth in gears  640  and  360 . Using the free stage of  FIG. 5 , the user will adjust the wrench via turning the adjusting screw  300  until the separation between the jaws reaches a given separation width, as appropriate. This again can be done by observation, although use of a gauge or other measuring device is appropriate as needed. Moving the actuator button  400  to the last stop will then lock the wrench jaws. This locks the wrench in position to operate on the given nut size. If the operator needs to adjust the wrench size, the operator simply repeats the process by moving the actuator button  400  to the first stop, adjusting the adjusting screw  300  to change the jaw width incrementally, then moving actuator button  400  to the last stop to lock the jaws into the desired separation. 
         [0044]    The advantage of the incremental or indexed stage operation is that is reaches a desired jaw width more quickly and repeatably than the free stage. Jobs can often be performed more quickly with the incremental stage mode. However, the free stage allows for closer tailoring of the jaw width, especially in cases of non-standard widths of workpieces, where the optimum jaw width may lie in between increments. 
         [0045]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.