Abstract:
An adjustable wrench having a first fixed jaw; a handle extending away from the head and having a longitudinal axis; a second jaw selectively positionable with respect to the first jaw; a rotating rod controlling the positioning of said second jaw and comprising two rotating sleeves; one near the head located in the cut out of the handle; one near the rear located in the cut out of the handle; an end knob on the end opposite the gear train operatively coupling said rod to said second jaw; said rod having 3 holes for split drift pins to secure rotating sleeves and end rotating knob; said rod has a smaller diameter at a specified distance from the rod&#39;s end to accept a pin At the rod&#39;s end is an end knob. Said sleeves and end knob rotate, at a latitudinal axis (perpendicular) to handle secured by split drift pins or adhesive. Such a wrench may have a p roof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8 2003 revision.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed generally to hand tools known as adjustable wrenches, and more particularly to an adjustable wrench that has a rotating rod with rotating sleeve(s) or end knob. 
         [0002]    Conventional wrenches include a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw, with movement of the moveable jaw controlled by an accessible adjusting worm gear. The user simply rotates the worm gear, typically by engaging the knurled outer surface thereof with their thumb, to move the moveable jaw toward or away from the fixed jaw. Alternatives approaches to adjustable wrenches have been proposed. For example, US Pat. No. 20070125205 A1 discloses an adjustable wrench with a slide based adjusting mechanism to control the movement of the moveable jaw. As convenient as this design is there is a need for a new design. One with the convenience of turning on the handle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An adjustable wrench, comprising; a head having a first fixed jaw; a handle extending away from the head and having longitudinal axis; a second jaw selectively positionable with respect to the first jaw; a rotating rod controlling the positioning of the second jaw and comprising rotating sleeves; one near the head located in the cut out of the handle; one near the rear located in the cut out of the handle; an end knob on the end opposite the gear train operatively coupling the rod to the second jaw. The rod may have 3 holes for split drift pins to secure rotating sleeves and end rotating knob. The rod may have a smaller diameter at a specified distance from the rod&#39;s end to accept a pin or clip. The sleeves and end knob may rotate at a latitudinal axis (perpendicular) to handle secured by split drift pins, adhesive or any other securing fashion known to the art. The sleeve(s) can be disposed between the rods&#39; end and the gear train. The gear train comprises a rotatable worm gear operatively disposed between the rod and the second jaw. A biasing member may bias the worm gear toward the rod, and the biasing member may comprise a discrete spring. A retaining cap may be disposed as to constrain axial movement of the worm gear. The first jaw may extend in a fixed direction generally opposite the handle. with the head further comprising a pair of spaced, generally parallel, sidewalls distal from the first jaw with a recess defined between the sidewalls; wherein the gear train comprises a worm gear disposed substantially within the recess and having a rotational axis; the recess having a cross-sectional dimension E measured in a direction X that is both normal to the rotational axis and generally perpendicular to said first direction; wherein the sidewalls have a thickness in direction X of about 25% or more. The rod may have a knob on the end of the rod held securely by a split drift pin, adhesive or any other securing fashion known to the art. A wrench with these features may have a proof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8, 2003 revision, when tested according to the method set forth in the ASME standard. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows an adjustable wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention with the jaws in an open position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the parts in the turn handle adjustable wrench. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows the horizontal cross section (layered view) of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a side view cross section (layered view) of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the front head section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The adjustable wrench of the present invention employs a rotating rod  1 . One embodiment of the wrench is shown in  FIG. 1  indicated at  2 . The wrench includes a wrench body  3  with a jaw  4  moveable mated thereto. The wrench body  3  includes a head section  5 , a formed handle with cutout(s)  6 , thru hole  41 , and pinhole  60 , which houses a rotating rod  1 . 
         [0010]    The head section  5  includes a fixed jaw  7  that extends forward in direction X from one lateral side portion of the head section  5 , and a pair of opposing sidewalls  8   a  ,  8   b  that form a pair of recesses  11 , 10  that open to the other lateral side of the head section  5 . As explained further below, the moveable jaw  4  and worm gear  9  are mated to the head section  5  via these recesses  11 , 10 . 
         [0011]    The moveable jaw  4  includes a conventional jaw body  12 , an intermediate web  13 , and a somewhat cylindrical lower portion  14 . The jaw body  12  may be of a conventional type known in the art, typically with a planar jaw face  15 . The jaw lower portion  14  includes a series of teeth commonly collectively referred to as a rack  16 . The rack  16  is typically oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the jaw face  15 . The rack  16  is somewhat larger in cross section than the intermediate web  13 , so that the jaw  4  can be mounted to the wrench body  3  by sliding web  13  through slot  17  discussed further below. The fixed jaw  7  and the moveable jaw  4  cooperate to form the working end of the wrench  2 . 
         [0012]    The handle  6  provides a convenient means to grip the wrench  2 , and also houses the rotating rod  1 . The handle  6  extends away from the head section  5  in direction Z, which may be parallel to direction Y or at an angle thereto. The handle  6  includes cutouts  18   a ,  18   b.  The cutouts  18   a,    18   b  are generally rectangular oriented so that its long dimension is parallel to the handles  6  longitudinal axis M. The handle  6  has a thru hole  41  with a front slot recess  24 . The thru hole  41  has a diameter slightly bigger than the rod  1 . The rod  1  has a recess  25  at a specified distance from the rod&#39;s end  19 . This recess  25  is aligned with the pinhole  60  in the handle  6 . On the handle  6  is a pinhole  60  to accept a split drift pin to seat the rod  1  via the recess  25  aligned with the hole  60 . The rotating rod  1  controls the positioning of the moveable jaw  4  relative to the fixed jaw  7 . Broadly viewed, the rotating rod adjusting mechanism  1 ; having a recess  25  at a specified distance from rod&#39;s end  19 , includes a rod bevel gear  20 , rotating sleeves  21   a,    21   b,  and an end knob  22 . The rod  1  and a gear train  23  are operatively connecting the rod  1  to the moveable jaw  4 . The rod  1  is rotatably mated to handle  6  and is disposed throughout the handle  6  inserted through the front slot recess  24  in direction Z until the rod&#39;s recess  25  aligns with the pin hole  60  in the handle  6 . The sleeves  21   a ,  21   b  can be mounted in the cutouts  18   a,    18   b  in the handle  6  simultaneously while inserting the rod  1  through the handle  6 . 
         [0013]    The rod  1  can be seated with a pin through the hole  60  to meet the recess  25 . Once the rod  1  is inserted through the handle  6  with the sleeves  21   a,    21   b  then the end knob  22  can be applied. The gear train  23  converts rotational movement of the rod  1  into translational movement of the moveable jaw  4 . The gear train  23 , in one embodiment, includes three gears, the first of which rotates with the rod, and the last of which engages teeth on the moveable jaw  4  to cause the jaw  4  to move back and forth. For simplicity, these gears are referred to as rod bevel gear  20 , worm bevel gear  26 , and worm gear  9 . 
         [0014]    The worm gear  9  takes the form of an elongate body that is rotatably mounted in the wrench head section  5  with a seating portion  27 , and a main portion  28 , and a securing portion  29 . 
         [0015]    The seating portion  27  takes the form of a short longitudinally extending rod-shaped portion on one end and the worm gear  9 . The seating portion  27  is intended to extend into a corresponding hole  30  in the main body of the wrench head section  5  to help locate the worm gear  9 . The main portion  28  of worm gear  9  includes an external helical tooth  31  that directly engages the rack  16  on the moveable jaw  4  so that when the worm gear  9  turns about its rotational axis T, jaw  4  moves. The main portion  28  has a diameter larger than the seating portion  27 , thus a shoulder is formed at the interface therebetween. If desired, a biasing element may press against the shoulder so as to urge the worm gear  9  in a direction along its rotational axis T, away from the fixed jaw  7 . The biasing element  32  may take the form of a simple coil spring disposed about the seating portion  27  and captured between the head  5  and the shoulder  33 , but any other biasing means known in the art may alternatively be used, including compressible washers, compressible foam, and the like. The securing portion  29  is disposed opposite the seating portion  27 . The securing portion  29  takes the form of a short rod-like section that has a stepped-down diameter towards its distal end to form shoulder  33 . The outermost portion of the securing section  29  extends into a corresponding portion of retaining cap  34  so as to be rotatably supported thereby. Worm bevel gear  26  is mounted on the securing portion  29 , inboard of the retaining cap  34 , so as to be rotationally coupled to the worm gear  9 . The worm bevel gear  26  includes a central bore  35 , through which the securing portion  29  extends. The central bore  35  includes an internal stepped section forming shoulder  36 . It is intended that the securing portion&#39;s shoulder  37  will abut the bevel gears shoulder  36  so as to limit the relative movement of the worm bevel gear  26  toward the main portion  28  of the worm gear  9 . Advantageously, the worm gear  9  is mounted so that its gear teeth  38  face inward towards the centerline of the wrench  2 . 
         [0016]    The rod bevel gear  20  is mounted to the forwardmost portion of the rod  1  so as to rotate therwith. The teeth  39  of the rod bevel gear  20  face forward, and engage corresponding teeth  38  on worm bevel gear  26 . With this arrangement, rotational movement of the rod  1  causes rod bevel gear  20  to rotate, which causes worm bevel gear  26  to rotate, which causes worm gear  9  to rotate, which moves rack  16 , which moves moveable jaw  4 . Thus, the gear train  23  operatively couples rod  1  to moveable jaw  4 . 
         [0017]    As noted, worm gear  9  is mounted substantially inside head section  5  of wrench body  2 . In order to accommodate this, the head section  5  includes a corresponding worm mounting recess  40 . The worm mounting recess  40  may advantageously have a generally cylindrical cross section, centered on the worm gear rotational axis Y. One end of the recess  40  narrows, such as via a suitable taper, to form hole  30  for accepting the seating portion  27  of worm gear  9 . The other end of recess  40  helps form opening. An internal passage connects worm mounting recess  40  to handle thru hole  41 , with rod bevel gear  20  disposed in this internal passage. Head section  5  also includes another recess, known as the rack mounting recess  10 , for accommodating rack  2  of the moveable jaw  4 . The rack mounting recess  10  includes a forwardly open (i.e., opening generally in direction Y) slot  17  for accommodating moveable jaw web  13 . Rack mounting recess  10  opens directly into worm mounting recess  40 , so that rack  16  may engage worm tooth  31 . Opening  42  is thus shaped somewhat like the numeral “8” with an upwardly extending center leg. See  FIG. 5 . The lower portion of opening  42  is centered about the worm gear&#39;s rotational axis Y. In operation, the movement of jaw  4  is controlled by the rotation of worm gear  9 . However, unlike in conventional adjustable wrenches, the user does not directly turn the worm gear  9  to adjust the jaw spacing. Instead, the user adjusts the jaw spacing by turning/rotating the sleeve  21   a,    21   b  or nipple  22  located on the handle  6 . This movement causes the rod  1  to rotate, with this rotational movement transferred to the worm gear&#39;s rotational axis Y. 
         [0018]    Many commercial adjustable wrench products are tested against the proof torque requirements of ASME B107.8, (2013). Some embodiments of the present invention incorporate various measures, which may be found alone or in combination, in order to be more robust so as to pass the proof torque requirements of ASME B107.8. One approach taken is to strengthen the sidewalls  8   a,    8   b  proximate the worm mounting recess  11  so as to help keep the worm gear  9  in better contact with the moveable jaw&#39;s rack  16  during loading. To that end, the thickness N of the sidewalls  8   a,    8   b  is increased in some embodiments. That is, if recess  11  centered about the worm gear&#39;s rotational axis T is considered to be a cylindrical bore with diameter E, then the wall thickness N of the proximate sidewalls  8   a,    8   b  should each be about ¼ E or more. This distance is measured from the worm gear&#39;s rotational axis T and generally perpendicular to direction Y. This thickness N is believed to strengthen the sidewalls  8   a,    8   b  against a spreading deflection outward away from each other (up/down in the view of  FIG. 5 ); thereby maintaining the worm gear and the moveable jaw&#39;s rack  16  in proper engagement. 
         [0019]    The wrench  9  may be assembled in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, a forged wrench body  3  is provided that includes the handle  6 , the fixed jaw  7 , the sidewalls  8   a,    8   b,  etc. In addition, the rod bevel gear  20  is attached to the rod  1 , such as by press fitting or pinning. The rod  1  is then fed through the front slot recess  24 , through the handle thru hole  41  until the rod&#39;s recess  25  aligns with the pin hole  60  in the handle  6 . During this process the sleeves  21   a,    21   b  need to mount the rod  1  by placing the sleeve  21   a,    21   b  in the cut out  18   a,    18   b  in the handle  6  first, then extending the rod  1  in direction Z until the rod recess  25  aligns with the hole  60  in the handle  6 . The pinhole  60  allows a pin to be inserted to meet the recess  25  which enables the rod bevel gear  20  and the worm bevel gear  26  to meet at the internal passage. The end knob  22  and sleeve  21   a,    21   b  can then be secured by being glued or pinned. Worm bevel gear  26  is joined to (e.g., press fit onto) securing portion  29  of worm gear  9 . Optional bias spring  32  is placed around seating section  27 , rack  16  and worm gear  9  inter-engaged, and worm gear  9  inserted into worm mounting recess  11  and rack  16  inserted into rack mounting recess  10  with web  13  of moveable jaw  4  inserted into slot  17 . The retainer cap  34  is then loosely screwed into wrench body  3  to retain worm gear  9 . The retaining cap  34  is then tightened and secured in place, such as by staking or glue. 
         [0020]    The various components of the wrench may be made from any suitable materials known in the art, such as hardened steel, reinforced plastics, and the like. The external portions of the wrench may be nickel chrome plated, or otherwise treated for a desired appearance. The gears,  26 ,  20  may be metal injection molded if desired with a hardness of 35-40 Rockwell C. 
         [0021]    The worm gear  9  should formed of a suitably hard material to withstand the interactions with the teeth  44  of rack  16  under load, such as by having a hardness of about 41-47 Rockwell C, with the teeth  44  having a hardness of about 43-47 Rockwell C. Note that the rack  16  of moveable jaw  4  may be shorter in length than the conventional adjustable wrenches so as to allow portions of the moveable jaw  4  to traverse beyond gear  26  for greater adjustability. Further, in some embodiments, the wrench  2  may optionally include one or more scales  47  that indicate the spacing between the jaws. A portion of such scale  47  can also be on the wrench body  3 , with an indicator  46  printed or etched on moveable jaws. One scale  47  may be in “English” units on one face of the wrench  2  and another scale  47  may be in metric units on the opposing face of the wrench  2 . 
         [0022]    The present invention may, of course, be carried out in specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.