An open-end ratchet wrench includes a handle element, a first jaw portion which is integrally formed with the handle element, a slide portion, a second jaw portion which is integrally formed with the slide portion, a restricting mechanism and a biasing spring. The slide portion is slidably mounted on the handle element so that the second jaw portion is positionable in a normal position wherein the first and second jaw portions cooperate to define a mouth for receiving the head of a fastening element and the biasing spring biases the second jaw portion toward the normal position thereof. The restricting mechanism maintains the second jaw portion in the normal position thereof when the wrench is manipulated to rotate the head of a fastening element in a first direction so that a turning force is applied to the fastening element. However, the restricting mechansim permits the second jaw portion to be moved outwardly from the first jaw portion when the wrench is rotated in an opposite second direction so that the head of the fastening element can rotate between the first and second jaw portions.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The instant invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to an 
open-end wrench which is operative with an automatic ratcheting action for 
tightening and loosening hex-headed fastening elements. 
Over the years, ratchet wrenches have been found to be extremely effective 
for tightening and loosening hex-headed fastening elements, such as bolts 
and machine screws, in a virtually limitless range of applications. In 
this connection, ratchet wrenches have generally been found to be 
advantageous from a convenience standpoint, since they do not have to be 
repositioned on the heads of fastening elements during tightening or 
loosening operations. Further, ratchet wrenches have been found to be 
advantageous from a mechanical standpoint, since they permit tightening or 
loosening operations to be carried out with oscillating motions which 
generally permit users thereof to apply maximum levels of torque to the 
heads of fastening elements while nevertheless minimizing the amounts of 
work required to perform tightening or loosening operations. However, 
while ratchet-type wrenches have been found to have significant advantages 
over other types of wrenches, it has been found that they generally 
require significant amounts of clearance space to enable them to be 
installed on the heads of fastening elements and thereafter manipulated to 
rotate the heads of the fastening elements during tightening or loosening 
operations. In this connection, most of the heretofore available ratchet 
wrenches have been embodied as either socket-type wrenches or as box-type 
wrenches, and hence they have required substantial amounts of clearance 
space around the entire heads of fastening elements on which they are 
engaged. Further, while attempts have been made to construct ratchet 
wrenches in other configurations, such as open-end configurations, the 
only heretofore available open-end type wrenches which have been operative 
with ratcheting actions have required specific user manipulations to 
provide simulated ratcheting actions, and they have not been operative 
with truly automatic ratcheting actions, such as normally found in box or 
socket-type ratchet wrenches. 
Open-end type wrenches which represent the closest prior art to the subject 
invention of which the applicant is aware are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. 
Nos. to Pehrsson 2,013,065; Falk 2,302,199; Bugge 2,719,448; Israel 
2,827,814; Allegraud 3,232,150; Rydell 3,505,915; Evans 3,817,128; Wilson 
3,878,741; and Meggs et al 4,065,986. However, while these references 
disclose a number of wrenches which are rapidly adjustable for engaging 
hex-headed fastening elements of different sizes, as well as a number of 
wrenches which are manually operative for providing simulated ratcheting 
actions, they fail to disclose or suggest an open-end type wrench which is 
operative with a truly automatic ratcheting action, and hence they are 
believed to be of only general interest with respect to the subject 
invention. 
The instant invention provides a highly effective openend type ratchet 
wrench which is operative with an automatic ratcheting action and which 
can be utilized for effectively and easily manipulating the heads of 
hex-headed fastening elements in areas where only limited clearance space 
is available. More specifically, the instant invention provides a ratchet 
wrench comprising an elongated handle element and a jaw assembly on the 
handle element including a first jaw portion which is rigidly attached to 
the handle element, a slide portion which is slidably mounted on the 
handle element, and a second jaw portion which is mounted on the slide 
portion and positionable in a predetermined normal position wherein the 
first and second jaw portions cooperate to define a mouth therebetween for 
nonrotatably receiving the head of a hex-headed fastening element. The jaw 
assembly further includes biasing means for biasing the second jaw portion 
toward the first jaw portion and also toward the adjacent end of the 
handle element and restricting means for preventing movement of the second 
jaw portion beyond the normal position thereof in a direction toward the 
first jaw portion and also in a direction toward the adjacent end of the 
handle element. The restricting means is further operative for preventing 
movement of the second jaw portion beyond the normal position in a 
direction away from the first jaw portion when the sum of the forces 
applied to the second jaw portion has a net force component which extends 
in a direction toward the adjacent end of the handle element. The second 
jaw portion is, however, otherwise movable in a direction away from both 
the first jaw portion and the adjacent end of the handle element against 
the force of the biasing means when the sum of the forces applied to the 
second jaw portion has a net force component which extends outwardly in a 
direction away from the adjacent end of the handle element. In this 
connection, it has been found that the forces which are applied to a 
wrench by the head of a fastening element during a tightening or a 
loosening operation inherently cause the second jaw portion to be urged 
toward the adjacent end of the handle element while turning the fastening 
element in one direction and away from the handle element while turning 
the fastening element in the opposite direction. Accordingly, when the 
wrench is received on the head of a fastening element and the wrench is 
rotated in a first direction wherein the sum of the forces applied to the 
second jaw portion has a net force component which extends toward the 
adjacent end of the handle element, the second jaw portion is prevented 
from being moved outwardly from the first jaw portion by the restricting 
means and a turning force is applied to the fastening element. However, 
when the wrench is rotated in an opposite second direction, the sum of the 
forces applied to the second jaw portion by the head of the fastening 
element has a net force component which extends in a direction away from 
the adjacent end of the handle element so that the second jaw portion can 
be cammed outwardly away from the first jaw portion by the head of the 
fastening element to enable the head of the fastening element to rotate 
between the first and second jaw portions. 
In the preferred embodiment of the wrench of the subject invention, the 
first and second jaw portions have substantially flat faces thereon which 
are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation when the second jaw 
portion is in the normal position thereof, and the faces of the first and 
second jaw portions are engageable with opposite peripheral portions of 
the head of a fastening element to cause the second jaw portion and the 
slide portion to be urged toward the adjacent end of the handle element 
and to thereby prevent the second jaw portion from being moved outwardly 
when the wrench is rotated in the first direction. The faces on the first 
and second jaw portions are also engageable with opposite peripheral 
portions of the head of a fastening element to cause the second jaw 
portion to be urged outwardly and away from the adjacent end of the handle 
element when the wrench is rotated in the second direction. The 
restricting means preferably comprises track means on one of either the 
handle element or the slide portion and pin means on the other one of the 
handle element or the slide portion, and the pin means is received in the 
track means for guiding and restricting the movement of the slide portion 
relative to the handle element. The track means preferably comprises an 
elongated aperture in either the handle element or the slide portion which 
extends angularly outwardly toward the second jaw portion and away from 
the first jaw portion and forms a seat at one end thereof, and the pin 
means preferably comprises a pin element which is mounted on the other end 
of either the handle element or the slide portion so that it travels in 
the aperture when the slide portion is moved relative to the handle 
element. Further, the wrench is preferably adapted so that the pin element 
is receivable in engagement with the seat for preventing movement of the 
second jaw portion in a direction away from the first jaw portion, and the 
restricting means preferably further includes a stop which is engageable 
with the slide portion for preventing the slide portion from pivoting 
about the pin element to move the second jaw portion from the first jaw 
portion when the pin element is received in the seat and the second jaw 
portion is in the normal position. Accordingly, when the wrench is 
assembled on the head of a fastening element and turned in the first 
direction, a net force is applied to the second jaw portion having a 
component which extends in the direction of the adjacent end of the handle 
element so that the pin element is urged against the seat to prevent the 
second jaw portion from being moved outwardly. However, when the wrench is 
rotated in the opposite second direction, a net force is applied to the 
second jaw portion having a component which extends in a direction away 
from the adjacent end of the handle element so that the pin element is 
disengaged from the seat to enable the second jaw portion to be moved 
outwardly relative to the first jaw portion and the adjacent end of the 
handle element. The first and second jaw portions are preferably disposed 
on opposite sides of a central axis of the jaw assembly, and the aperture 
is preferably disposed on the same side of the axis as the second jaw 
portion, whereas the stop is preferably disposed on the same side of the 
axis as the first jaw portion. The biasing means of the wrench is 
preferably operative for biasing the slide portion to a position wherein 
the pin element is received in the seat, and it preferably comprises a 
spring element which is operative along an axis which is substantially 
perpendicular to the axis of the jaw assembly. The axis of the spring 
element is preferably spaced from the stop, and the spring element 
preferably biases the slide portion toward a position wherein it is 
pivoted about the pin element so that it engages the stop and so that the 
pin element is received in engagement with the seat. The first jaw portion 
preferably has first and second primary faces and first and second 
secondary faces thereon, and the second jaw portion preferably has third 
and fourth primary faces and third and fourth secondary faces formed 
thereon. The primary faces are preferably sequentially disposed at angles 
of approximately 120.degree. with respect to each other, and the secondary 
faces are preferably disposed at angles of approximately 120.degree. with 
respect to each other and approximately 210.degree. with respect to the 
adjacent primary faces. Accordingly, when the wrench is received on the 
head of a fastening element so that sequential sides of the fastening 
element are positioned in engagement with the first, second, third and 
fourth primary faces and the wrench is rotated in the second direction, 
the second jaw portion is cammed outwardly so that the sides of the 
fastening element are moved into engagement with the first, second, third 
and fourth secondary faces on the wrench. 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide an 
open-end type wrench which is operative with an automatic ratcheting 
action. 
Another object of the instant invention is to provide an effective ratchet 
wrench which can be utilized for manipulating fastening elements located 
in areas where space limitations prevent the use of other types of ratchet 
wrenches. 
An even further object of the instant invention is to provide an open-end 
ratchet wrench having a size which is equivalent to that of a conventional 
open-end wrench. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become 
apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection 
with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, the wrench of the instant invention is 
illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1 through 4. The wrench 
10 comprises a handle element generally indicated at 12 and a jaw assembly 
generally indicated at 14 on the handle element 12. The jaw assembly 14 
has an axis or centerline 15, and it comprises a first jaw portion 
generally indicated at 16, a second jaw portion generally indicated at 18, 
a slide portion generally indicated at 20, a biasing spring 22, and a pin 
element 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wrench 10 is receivable 
on the head of a fastening element 26, and it is operative with an 
automatic ratchet action for rotating the fastening element 26, in a 
manner which will hereinafter be more fully set forth. 
The handle element 12 is preferably made from a suitable metal, such as 
steel, in an elongated configuration, and it includes a main portion 27 
and an enlarged end portion 28. The first jaw portion 16 is integrally 
formed with the enlarged end portion 28, and an open interior trackway or 
passage 30 extends transversely through the composite structure comprising 
the enlarged end portion 28 and the first jaw portion 16. As illustrated 
in FIGS. 3 and 4, the trackway 30 passes through the first jaw portion 16, 
and the outer edge of the portion of the trackway 30 which passes through 
the first jaw portion 16 is defined by a stop wall 32 which extends in 
substantially perpendicular relation to the axis 15, and a notch 33 
including shoulder 34 which extends in a direction substantially parallel 
to the axis 15 is formed along the inner edge of the trackway 30 in the 
area where the enlarged end portion 28 merges with the remainder of the 
handle element 12. Formed in the enlarged end portion 28 on the opposite 
side of the axis 15 from the first jaw portion 16 is a bore 36 which 
extends from one side of the enlarged end portion 28 into the trackway 30 
and then through to the opposite side of the end portion 28, and the pin 
24 is secured in the bore 36. An outwardly facing notch having faces 38 
and 39 which are disposed at angles of approximately 120.degree. with 
respect to each other is formed along the axis 15 in the central portion 
of the enlarged end portion 28. 
The first jaw portion 16 is integrally formed with the enlarged end portion 
28, and it includes a bifurcated first primary face 40 which is 
substantially parallel to the axis 15 and a second primary face 42 which 
is disposed at an angle of approximately 120.degree. to the first primary 
face 40 and substantially aligned with the face 38 in the end portion 28. 
A pair of secondary faces 44 and 46 which are disposed at angles of 
approximately 120.degree. to each other define a V-shaped notch in the 
first primary face 40, and a similar notch is defined by a pair of 
secondary faces 48 and 50 between the primary faces 42 and 38. 
The second jaw portion 18 is integrally formed with the slide portion 20 
from a suitable metal, such as steel, so that the second jaw portion 18 
extends in substantially perpendicular relation to the slide portion 20. 
The slide portion 20 is of generally elongated configuration, and the 
slide portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 are mounted on the enlarged 
portion 28 of the handle element 12 so that the second jaw portion 18 is 
normally maintained in a normal position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 
wherein the second jaw portion 18 cooperates with the first jaw portion 16 
to define a mouth for receiving the head of the fastening element 26. The 
second jaw portion 18 includes a bifurcated first primary face 52 which is 
substantially parallel to the axis 15 and to the first primary face 40 on 
the first jaw portion 16 when the second jaw portion 18 is in the normal 
position thereof. The second jaw portion 18 also includes a second primary 
face 54 which is disposed at an angle of approximately 120.degree. with 
respect to the first primary face 52 and substantially aligned with the 
face 39 when the second jaw portion 18 is in the normal position thereof. 
A pair of secondary faces 56 and 58 which are disposed at an angle of 
approximately 120.degree. with respect to each other define a V-shaped 
notch in the first primary face 52, and a pair of secondary faces 60 and 
62 define a similar notch between the second primary face 54 and the face 
39. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide portion 20 is slidably received 
in the trackway 30, and it includes a forward surface 63 having a stop 64 
thereon which is disposed adjacent the opposite end of the slide portion 
20 from the second jaw portion 18 and positioned so that is engageable 
with the stop wall 32. A spring shoulder 66 is formed in the slide portion 
20 so that it is substantially parallel to and faces the shoulder 34 when 
the slide portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 are in the normal 
positions thereof. An aperture 68 is formed in the slide portion 20 on the 
same side of the axis 15 as the second jaw portion 18. The aperture 68 
includes an elongated, generally oval-shaped main portion 70 which extends 
generally angularly outwardly relative to the axis 15 and the first jaw 
portion 16 toward the second jaw portion 18, and a secondary portion 72 
which extends generally angularly toward the axis 15 from the innermost 
portion of the oval-shaped main portion 70 and cooperates with the main 
portion 70 to define a ridge 74. The main portion 70 of the aperture 68 
defines a track for the pin element 24 in order to restrict and guide the 
movement of the slide portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 as will 
hereinafter be more fully set forth. 
The spring 22 is received in the jaw assembly 14 so that it is interposed 
between the shoulders 34 and 66, and the pin 24 is received in the bore 36 
that it extends through the aperture 68. Accordingly, the spring 22 biases 
the slide portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 generally toward the 
first jaw portion 16. Further, because the spring 22 is operative for 
applying a biasing force along an axis which is spaced from both the axis 
of the pin element 24 and the stop wall 32, the spring 22 also applies a 
pivoting force to the slide portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 which 
biases the second jaw portion 18 in the general direction of the adjacent 
end of the handle element 12. However, the pin element 24 is engageable 
with the perimeter of the main portion 70 of the aperture 68 adjacent the 
outer end of the main portion 70 for preventing inward movement of the 
second jaw portion 18 beyond the normal position thereof both in a 
direction toward the adjacent end of the handle element 12 and in a 
direction toward the first jaw portion 16. Still further, the main portion 
70 of the aperture 68 is formed so that it defines a seat at the outer end 
thereof, and so that as long as the pin element 24 is received in 
engagement with the seat at the outer end of the main portion 70, the pin 
element 24 and the stop wall 32 cooperate to prevent the second jaw 
portion 18 from being moved outwardly away from the first jaw portion 16 
beyond the normal position of the second jaw portion 18. Accordingly, as 
long as the sum of the forces applied to the second jaw portion 18 and the 
slide portion 20 (including the forces applied thereto by the spring 22) 
have a net component which extends toward the adjacent end of the handle 
element 12 so that the pin element 24 is maintained in engagement with the 
seat at the outer end of the main portion 70 of the aperture 68, the 
second jaw portion 18 cannot be moved outwardly and away from the first 
jaw portion 16. However, when the sum of the forces applied to the slide 
portion 20 and the second jaw portion 18 has a net component which extends 
outwardly and away from the adjacent end of the handle element 12, the pin 
24 is disengaged from the seat in the main portion 70 of the aperture 68 
to permit the second jaw portion 18 to be moved in a direction which is 
generally outwardly and away from the adjacent end of the handle element 
12 and the first jaw portion 16. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the manner in which the second jaw portion 
18 and the slide member 20 are mounted on the handle element 12 so that 
they are capable of restricted movement when the sum of the forces applied 
to the second jaw portion 18 and the slide portion 20 has a net component 
which extends outwardly and away from the adjacent end of the handle 
element 12 enables the wrench 10 to be operative with an automatic 
ratcheting action for manipulating the head of the fastening element 26. 
In this connection, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the wrench 10 is 
assembled on the head of the fastening element 26 in the manner 
illustrated and a force is applied to the wrench 10 to rotate the 
fastening element 26 in a counterclockwise direction, the head of the 
fastening element 26 applies a force to the first primary face 52 which 
tends to urge the second jaw portion 18 away from the first jaw portion 16 
and also to pivot the composite structure comprising the slide portion 20 
and the second jaw portion 18 about the stop member 64 so that the second 
jaw portion 18 is also urged toward the adjacent end of the handle element 
12. As a result, the pin 24 is forced against the seat at the outer end of 
the main portion 70 of the aperture 68 to prevent the second jaw portion 
18 from separating from the first jaw portion 16. In addition, the head of 
the fastening element 26 applies a force to the second primary face 54 
which further urges the second jaw portion 18 toward the adjacent end of 
the handle element 12 so that the pin element 24 is further urged into 
engagement with the seat in the main portion 70 of the aperture 68. As a 
result, when a force is applied to the wrench 10 to turn the head of the 
fastening element 26 in a counterclockwise direction, the second jaw 
portion 18 is effectively retained in the normal position thereof so that 
a rotating force can be applied to the fastening element 26. A similar 
effect is achieved when the wrench is positioned on the head of the 
fastening element 26 so that the head of the fastening element 26 is 
received in engagement in the notches defined by the secondary faces 44, 
46, 48, 50, 56, 58, 60, and 62, and obviously a similar effect is achieved 
when the wrench 10 is turned over so that the opposite side thereof faces 
upwardly and a force is applied to the wrench to rotate the fastening 
element 26 in a clockwise direction. 
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the wrench 10 is 
assembled on the head of the fastening element 26 in the manner 
illustrated and a force is applied to the wrench 10 to rotate the head of 
the fastening element 26 in a clockwise direction, the second jaw portion 
18 is moved outwardly from the first jaw portion 16 against the force of 
the biasing spring 22 to enable the head of the fastening element 26 to 
rotate between the first and second jaw portions 16 and 18, respectively. 
In this connection, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the wrench 10 is 
manipulated to rotate the head of the fastening element 26 in a clockwise 
direction, the head of the fastening element 26 applies a force to the 
face 52 having a direction which tends to move the slide portion 20 and 
the second jaw portion 18 both outwardly and away from the axis 15 and the 
adjacent end of the handle element 12. As a result, once a sufficient 
force is applied to the second jaw portion 18 to overcome the biasing 
force of the spring 22, the second jaw portion 18 is moved outwardly and 
away from the first jaw portion 16 and the adjacent end of the handle 
element 12, and the pin element 24 is repositioned in the track defined by 
the main portion 70 of the aperture 68. Further, as soon as the second jaw 
portion 18 has been moved outwardly away from the first jaw portion 16 by 
a sufficient distance to enable the head of the fastening element 26 to 
rotate between the first and second jaw portions 16 and 18, the head of 
the fastening element 26 is repositioned between the first and second jaw 
portions 16 and 18 so that it engages the secondary faces 44, 46, 48, 50, 
56, 58, 60 and 62. As soon as this occurs, the second jaw portion 18 and 
the slide portion 20 are returned to the normal positions thereof by the 
spring 22. However, as a force is applied to the handle element 12 to 
further rotate the head of the fastening element 26 in a clockwise 
direction, the second jaw portion 18 is again moved outwardly and away 
from the first jaw portion 16, and the head of the fastening element 26 is 
repositioned in engagement with the primary faces 40, 42, 52, and 54. In 
other words, as a continuous force is applied to the wrench 10 to rotate 
the head of the fastening element 26 in a clockwise direction, the head of 
the fastening element 26 rotates with a ratcheting action in the jaw 
assembly 14. A similar effect is achieved when the wrench 10 is turned 
over so that the opposite side thereof faces upwardly, and then 
manipulated to rotate the head of a fastening element 26 in 
counterclockwise direction. Further, the wrench 10 can be retained in an 
open or inoperative position by moving the second jaw portion 18 outwardly 
so that the pin element 24 passes over the ridge 74 and is received in the 
secondary portion 72 of the aperture 68. 
It is seen, therefore, that the instant invention provides an effective 
open-end wrench which is operative with an automatic ratcheting action. 
The wrench 10 can be alternatively assembled on the head of a fastening 
element 26 for applying either a counterclockwise or a clockwise rotating 
force thereto; and in either case, when the wrench 10 is manipulated to 
rotate the head of the fastening element 26 in the reverse direction, the 
head of the fastening element is rotatable in the jaw assembly 14 to 
effect an automatic ratcheting action. Further, because of its relatively 
simple construction, the wrench 10 can be effectively embodied in wrenches 
having substantially the same overall dimensions as conventional open-end 
wrenches so that it can be effectively utilized in areas with limited 
space or clearance. Accordingly, it is seen that the wrench of the instant 
invention represents a significant advancement in the art which has 
substantial commercial merit. 
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure 
embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art 
that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive 
concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein 
shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the 
appended claims.