Patent Publication Number: US-5425292-A

Title: Wrench device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to wrench devices, and more particularly to a novel relatively inexpensive wrench device adapted for use with a plurality of different size polygonal-shaped cap screws, bolts and nuts and which is configured to facilitate improved hand gripping and/or foot assisted torquing of the screws, bolts and nuts. 
     A problem common to all persons who have relatively infrequent need for a wrench to tighten or loosen a polygonal-head screw, bolt or nut is that such need generally arises when an appropriate fixed-size wrench, or an adjustable wrench, is not readily available. If one desires to be prepared at all times for any emergency requiring adjustment of a screw, bolt or nut, they must either maintain a tool box or other supply of tools at the location where such a problem may arise, or in a vehicle such as an automobile or truck. This entails substantial expense as well as taking up space that might be more efficiently used for other purposes. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a relatively inexpensive single wrench device which facilitates use with a plurality of different size polygonal shaped screw heads, bolts and/or nuts and which enables the necessary torque to be applied through convenient hand gripping or foot assisted force application to the wrench. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and highly efficient novel wrench device for use with a plurality of different size polygonal-shaped screw heads, bolts and nuts. 
     A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novel wrench device which takes the form of a single readily manipulable tool for torquing polygonal-shaped screw heads, bolts and nuts of different sizes and which has opposite laterally offset end portions defining hand grips enabling manual manipulation of the wrench, and which also facilitate foot-assisted torquing. 
     A feature of the wrench device in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of a plurality of polygonal shaped openings through both opposite end portions of the wrench body, such openings being of polygonal configurations enabling use of the wrench with square, hex-head and/or octagonal shaped screw heads, bolts and nuts. 
     Another feature of the wrench device in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of polygonal shaped wrench openings which enable use of the wrench with both American and metric size screw heads, bolts and nuts. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the various views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wrench device constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side edge elevational view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawing, a wrench device constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The wrench device includes an elongated body, indicated generally at 12, which is preferably made from a suitable strength metallic material, such as T1075 steel heat treated to a hardness of approximately Rc 48-50. The body 12 is preferably of uniform thickness throughout its length and has planar parallel surfaces 14 and 16 which, for purposes of illustration, may be termed the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the wrench device when considered in plan view as in FIG. 1. It will be understood that the terms &#34;upper&#34; and &#34;lower&#34; are only for purposes of illustration, it being recognized that different orientations of the wrench device will occur which will change what then comprises the upper or lower surfaces or ends. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated body 12 has a longitudinal length of approximately 7 inches and an overall lateral width of approximately 2.5 inches, thereby providing a relatively convenient size wrench for storage in an automobile glove compartment or other readily accessible storage area in an automobile, truck or motorcycle and the like. The elongated body 12 of the wrench device 10 has substantially identical shaped end portions 12a and 12b each of which comprises approximately one-half the longitudinal length of the wrench body. Each end portion 12a and 12b has a generally rectilinear longitudinal axis, identified by lines 20 and 22, respectively, which are generally equally laterally offset from and parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the wrench body as represented by the line 24. Each end portion 12a and 12b has a plurality of polygonal shaped wrench openings therethrough, as indicated at 28a-h in the end portion 12a, and at 30a-h in the end portion 12b. Each of the polygonal shaped wrench openings or through-holes 28a-h and 30a-h preferably comprises a 12 point wrench opening so as to enable cooperative relation with square, hexagonal and/or octagonal shaped screw heads, bolt heads and/or nuts. 
     The wrench openings 28a-h are preferably sized to cooperate with metric size screw heads, bolts and nuts, while the wrench openings 30a-h are sized for cooperation with American size screw heads, bolts and nuts. The wrench openings 28a-h and 30a-h in the end portions 12a and 12b increase progressively in their mean diameter from the smaller wrench openings located generally adjacent the longitudinal center or mid-length of the wrench body, to the larger size wrench openings so that the largest size wrench openings 28h and 30h are preferably adjacent the opposite ends of the wrench body. Such positioning of the wrench openings enables the wrench to be gripped in a manner to create a greater moment arm, and thereby greater torque application, when the wrench is used with larger size screws and bolts which theoretically would be used in higher torque applications and require relatively larger torque in tightening or loosening them. 
     In accordance with one feature of the wrench device 10, each of the opposite end portions 12a and 12b of the wrench body defines a convenient finger grip along one marginal edge, such as represented by the serpentine or sine-wave like edge surfaces 32 and 34, respectively. Each edge surface 32 and 34 has a plurality of concave finger recesses 32a and 34a, respectively, with intermediate convex curvature surfaces 32b and 34b so as to define finger gripping edge surfaces on both ends of the wrench body. The marginal edge of each end portion 12a and 12b opposite the finger gripping edges 32 and 34 is defined by a generally rectilinear edge surface, indicated at 36a and 36b, respectively, which lies generally on the longitudinal center axis 24 of the wrench body. Each offset end portion 12a and 12b of the wrench body has a generally concave edge surface area, indicated at 38a and 38b, which merges with the rectilinear edge surface 36a or 36b on the opposite end portion. Each of the concave edge surfaces 38a and 38b provides a reference surface to facilitate placement of the sole of the operator&#39;s shoe against either of the rectilinear edges 36a and 36b when it is necessary to obtain higher torque in applying or removing a screw or nut than can be obtained with hand gripping of the wrench. 
     In operation, one using the wrench device 10 mates the appropriate size wrench opening with a polygonal shaped screw head, bolt or nut to be tightened or released by positioning the wrench so that the screw head, bolt or nut is received within the appropriate size wrench opening. Depending upon the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the screw, bolt or nut to be tightened or loosened, and depending upon the resulting orientation of the wrench, the operator may grip both ends 12a and 12b of the wrench with the operator&#39;s hands and effect desired torquing. If one of the larger wrench openings, such as 28h or 30h is to be used, the operator may utilize one or both hands to grip the opposite end of the wrench and create a larger moment arm with resulting greater torque. 
     Alternatively, if the wrench in its operating position requires greater torquing force than can generally be obtained by hand gripping the wrench body, the operator may apply the sole of his shoe against the exposed edge surface 36a or 36b which is spaced farthest from the screw or nut head and thereby apply greater torque to the wrench. It will be understood that rotating the wrench body 12 180° about its longitudinal axis will re-orient the finger gripping and foot receiving edges of the end portions so as to enable the proper torque direction to be effected. 
     Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides a relatively inexpensive and highly efficient single wrench device for use with a plurality of different size polygonal shaped American or metric size screw heads, bolts and nuts and which is relatively compact and easily storable. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the invention are defined in the following claims.