Abstract:
An adjustable ratcheting wrench having a handle, a fixed jaw secured the handle and an adjustable jaw pivotally attached to the handle. The wrench further has an adjustment mechanism slidably connected the handle. The adjustment mechanism is in slidable contact with the adjustable jaw and further has an adjustment mechanism further having a locking mechanism. A locking area is located on the handle, which has a plurality of spaced apart locking stations. The locking mechanism is releasably engageable with the locking stations to thereby secure the adjustable jaw in a plurality of fixed positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to adjustable wrenches and, more specifically, adjustable wrenches that have ratcheting features.  
         [0002]     Adjustable wrenches, ratchets, and sockets have been previously known. However, the known prior art wrenches generally have shortcomings. Closed end tools, such as sockets, may not be easy to get around a nut, especially in tight areas. If a bolt extends too far outwardly from the nut, it is possible that the socket will not properly surround and secure the nut, which could lead to stripping of the nut. The same may be said for closed end ratchets. It may be difficult to get the ratchet over a bolt and properly positioned on a nut, potentially stripping the nut.  
         [0003]     Open-ended adjustable wrenches, such as crescent wrenches, also have limitations. Generally, these wrenches are not easily tightened to the proper nut size, which can also lead to stripping of the nut. Similarly, it is not always possible to use the required amount of torque, because of the above noted problem of not easily adjusting the wrench to the proper nut size.  
         [0004]     Because of problems of stripping the nuts, many mechanics and the like need to keep several wrenches and ratchets on hand to accommodate potentially different sized nuts. It would be advantageous to have a single tool that could securely adjust to varying sizes of nuts, and also could be easily and properly fitted to nuts of varying sizes. Furthermore, the tool should be able to withstand a high amount of torque without fear of stripping the nut.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is for an open-ended adjustable ratcheting wrench. The wrench has a fixed jaw and an adjustable jaw. The adjustable jaw is connected to an adjustment mechanism that allows the wrench to be adjusted to specific nut sizes by sliding a locking pin into a notch that corresponds to a specfic nut size. The fixed jaw is designed to allow the wrench to act as a ratcheting-style wrench. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wrench in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partially cut-away side plan view of the wrench of  FIG. 1  in a first adjusted position.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away side plan view of the wrench of  FIG. 1  in a second adjusted position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fixed jaw in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an adjustable jaw in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of another unitary construction adjustable jaw in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 8-10  are close-up side views of jaws in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 11  is a close-up view of the wrench of the present invention performing a ratcheting function. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. As will be understood, like parts will be referred to with like reference numerals.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts an adjustable ratcheting wrench  8 . The wrench  8  has a lever arm or handle  10  having a first end  10   a  and a second end  10   b . The first end  10   a  generally provides an area for the wrench to be gripped. The second end lob of the handle is securely connected to a fixed jaw  11  and pivotally connected an adjustable jaw  12  by way of a pivot pin  17 . An “n” type button  13  is slidingly connected to the handle  10  by way of a locking pin  14 . The button  13  provides adjustment means for the wrench  8 . An indicator  15  located on the button  13  allows a person to properly adjust the wrench  8  for the correct size of a nut. The locking pin  14  slides along a locking area or window slot  18 , which contains a plurality of locking stations shown as radial notches  19  that correspond to predetermined nut sizes. The notches  19  preferably correspond to a plurality of scale marks  23  to indicate the nut sizes. When one of the notches  19  receives the locking pin  14 , the upward pressure exerted on the pin  14  from the adjustable jaw  12  will secure and lock the pin  14  within the notch  19  until the user adjusts the button  13 . The adjustable jaw  12  further comprises a radial arm  22  that comes into contact with the locking pin  14 . The interaction of the pin  14  and the radial arm  22  will be discussed in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0017]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the button  13  preferably slides along the handle  10  on the outside of a pair of opposing plates  16 , which generally comprise the handle  10 . The plates  16  are preferably connected together with several rivets  21 , but other similar connecting means, such as pins, screws, bolts, clamps, adhesives and the like, may be used to connect the plates  16  and form the handle  10 . The handle may also comprise a cushion  20  located between the plates  16  near the first end  10   a  of the handle  10 . The cushion  20  will make it more comfortable to use and hold the wrench  8  and can also act as a shock absorber for the user and properly space the plates  16  apart. The cushion could be made of plastic or other material that will act as a proper spacer or spacing device for the handle  10  and the plates  16 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wrench  8  is shown being adjusted to accommodate nuts  80  of varying sizes. A helical spring or compression spring  30  sits within a spring housing  31  located on the fixed jaw  11  and a second housing  35  located on the adjustable jaw  12  that allows the adjustable jaw  12  to be biased against the fixed jaw  11 . The housing  31  is of a “V” shape, which assists in the movement of the adjustable jaw  12  by allowing the spring  30  to loosely float within the housing  31 . The housing  35  has a “U” shape, which holds the spring  30  in position as the wrench  8  is adjusted. The housings  31  and  35  preferably of designed as having four flat walls and not cylindrical in shape, which is easier for manufacturing purposes.  
         [0019]     Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pin  14  of the adjustment button  13  is shown interacting with the radial arm  22 . The button  13  has an interior flat surface  51  that will contact the handle  10  when the button is pressed downwardly towards the handle  10 . A space  82  is located between the handle  10  and the surface  51  to allow downward movement. Once the button  13  is pushed downward, the locking pin  14  will move out of one of the notches  19  and the user may move the button  13  forward or backward along the handle as needed. Thus, a user could adjust the wrench from the position in  FIG. 2  to the position in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the radial arm  22  may extend outwardly from the handle  10  for various nut sizes. A guard member  81  is preferably situated on the handle  10  to prevent the user from pinching the user&#39;s hand or fingers.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the fixed jaw  11 . The housing  31  has interior walls  32   a  and  32   b , which provide the “V” shape previously discussed. Holes  33  and  34  allow the jaw  11  to be connected to the handle  10 , as discussed and shown with respect to  FIG. 1 . The housing  31  is enclosed by one of the plates  16  (see  FIG. 1 ). While the jaw  11  is shown and describe as a separate section from the handle  10 , it is to be understood that the handle  10  and the jaw  11  could be integrally formed and still fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  and  6  show embodiments of the adjustable jaw  12 . As mentioned above, the “U” shaped housing  35  is designed to hold the spring  35  in proper position and orientation (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Walls  36   a  and  36   b  provide the sides for the housing  35 , while one of the plates  16  encloses the housing  35 , similarly as discussed for the housing  31  in  FIG. 4 . A pivot hole  37  allows the adjustable jaw  12  to be connected to the handle  10  by the pivot pin  17  (see  FIG. 1 ). The radial arm  22  has a curvate surface  38  that interacts with the locking pin  14  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The radial arm surface  38  is designed so that it is preferably tangentially positioned with respect to the diameter of the locking pin  17  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), which provides further ease of movement of the jaw  12  when the locking pin  14  comes into contact with the surface  38 .  
         [0022]     Referring further to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a radial projection  67  is shown. In  FIG. 5 , the projection  67  has a first member  40   a  and a second member  40   b  that are riveted to the jaw  12  with rivets  39 . The projection  67  is projected outwardly from a central plane to include the first member  40   a  and the second member  40   b . Another rivet  40  further secures the jaw  12  together. In  FIG. 6 , the radial projection  67  is integrally formed with the jaw  12 . The jaw  12  also comprises a flat line surface  69  that assists in the ratcheting process and can be formed of a single piece of material ( FIG. 6 ) or several pieces of material ( FIG. 5 ) that are riveted together.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of the button  13 . As noted with respect to  FIG. 1 , the button  13  is an “n” type button, which allows it to sit on and over the handle  10  (see  FIG. 1 ). A first side  52 a will reside on the outside of one of the plates  16  (not shown), and the second side  52   b  will reside on the outside of the other of the plates  16  (not shown). A first hole  50   a  is located in the first side  52   a  and a second hole  50   b  is located in the second side  52   b . The holes  50   a ,  50   b  receive the locking pin  14  (see  FIGS. 1-3 ). The holes  50   a ,  50   b  are preferably arranged parallel with one another to insure that the button  13  slides evenly and smoothly along the handle  10 . It should be understood that button  13  is only exemplary of adjustment devices for the present invention. Provided that a device will allow the jaw  12  to be adjusted to differing dimensions, it will fall within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  provides a close-up view of the jaws  11  and  12  grabbing and holding various sizes of nuts  80 . The nut  80  will be held in place between the fixed jaw  11  and the radial projection  67  of the adjustable jaw  12 . Depending on the size of the nut  80 , the jaw  12  will pivot around the pivot pin  17 . The radial projection  67  will move along the radius R, which allows the radial projection  67  to properly contact nuts of varying sizes.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the wrench  8 . The jaw  12  has a surface designed to grab a nut. Working outwardly from the second end  10   b  the handle  10 , the jaw  12  has a first flat section  60  that leads to a first curved radius section  61 , which continues into a second flat section  62  that is tangential to the radius section  61 . A step  63  protrudes from the second flat section  62  and continues into a third flat section  64 , which leads into a second curved radius section  65 . The second curved radius section  65  leads to a fourth flat section  73 . The angle between the first flat section  60  and the third flat section  64  is preferably 120°, to accommodate normal sized hexagonally shaped nuts.  
         [0026]     Referring further to  FIG. 9  the adjustable jaw  12  is also shown. A first straight area  66  extends generally from the handle  10  and continues onto the radial projection  67 . The radial projection  67  continues onto a second straight area  68 , which further terminates in a third straight area  69 . The radial projection  67  is projected outwardly from the straight areas  66  and  69  to insure that a nut is properly secure within a wrench (see  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a second embodiment of the wrench  8  and jaws  111  and  112 . The jaw  112  is similar to the jaw  12 . Working outwardly from the second end lob of the handle  10 , the jaw  111  has a first flat section  160  that leads to a first curved radius section  161 , which continues into a second flat section  162  that is tangential to the radius section  161 . A step  163  protrudes from the second flat section  162  and continues into a third flat section  164 , which leads into a second curved radius section  165 . The second curved radius section  165  leads to a fourth flat section  173 , which leads to a fifth flat section  171  that is angled with respect to the section  173 . The section  171  terminates in a radial  72 .  
         [0028]     The adjustable jaw  112  shown in  FIG. 10  is also similar to the jaw  12 . A first straight area  166  extends generally from the handle  10  and continues onto the radial projection  167 . The radial projection  167  continues onto and terminates in a second straight area  168 . The third straight area  69  is no longer present, since the fifth flat section  171  of the jaw  111  provides the necessary ability for the wrench  8  to perform ratcheting functions.  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  demonstrates the ratcheting function of the wrench  8 . The nut  80  is shown in phantom in a locking position, secured between the jaws  11  and  12 . Once it is desired to move the wrench  8  to another position, the handle  10  will be moved in a reverse direction, which allows the nut  80  to be released from the jaws  11 ,  12 . The nut  80  can rest upon the third straight area  69  as the handle is moved in the reverse direction, thereby allowing the user to keep the wrench  8  in contact with the nut  80  when performing a ratcheting function. Once a desired position is reached, the wrench  8  can be slide back around the nut  80  and tightening or loosening of the nut  80  may continue.  
         [0030]     The wrench  8  of the present invention provides a simple, yet durable adjustable wrench  8  that can replace wide number of other wrenches. The wrench can be designed for English, metric, or other units, and can have as many different sizes as desired. The wrench is preferably used on hexagonal nuts or objects, but could also be used on square nuts or other polygonal-shaped objects. Furthermore, because the wrench is open-ended, it is more convenient to use in tight areas where a socket wrench or closed-ended might not be practical. The locking mechanism allows a bolt to be held in place easily and simply, while still allowing simple adjustment from one size to another. Also, the present wrench is much easier to use than prior art wrenches that use adjustment screws. The user can quickly adjust the wrench for a different nut size in an exact and precise manner. These wrenches have much more of a tendency to loosen during use or not be exactly fit to a nut, both of which are problems that can lead to rounding the corners of a nut and stripping the nut. Thus, the present invention is easier and quicker to use and, also, will not cause as much potential damage to nuts as prior art designs.  
         [0031]     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.