Improvements in and relating to Wrenches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wrenches.
1, SIMON WILLARD WARDWELL, Jr., of No. 191 North Main Street, in
the City of Attleboro, County of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention relates to wrenches of that class in which the handle member
carries one jaw, the movable or sliding member carries the other jaw, and the
object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective construction of
wrench which may he easily made and put together, and to these ends the invention
consists in the various features of construction substantially as hereinafter more
particularly pointed out.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is a side view of a wrench embodying the invention, with jaws
extended;
Fig. 1A, is a side view of a similar wrench with the jaws closed, but with a
slightly different construction;
Fig. 2, is a side view of the handle member, Fig. 1;
Fig. 24, is a side view of the handle member, Fig. 1A;
Figs. 3 and 34 are respectively end views of Figs. 2 and 24;
Figs. 4 and 44, are respectively vertical sections of Figs. 2 and 24;
Figs. 5 and 54, are respectively side views of the moving member, Figs. 1
and 14;
Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively longitudinal edge and end views of the movable
jaw, Fig. 1;
Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the worm device, Fig. 1 ;
Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are edge views of the movable member, showing various
ways of making it ;
Fig. 14, is a side view of a slightly different wrench;
Fig. 15, is a side view of the blank for the handle member;
Fig. 16, is an end view of the blank;
Fig. 17, is an end view of the same after it is cut;
Fig. 18, is a side view of the completed handle member;
Figs. 19 and 20 are views of opposite ends of the completed handle member;
Fig. 21, is a side view of the blank for the moving member;
Fig. 22, is an edge view of the moving member; and
Fig. 23, is a side view of the completed moving. member.
The wrench consists essentially of three parts, respectively designated the
handle member, the moving or sliding member, and the adjusting devices. Each
of these three parts may be made in various ways, differing from each other in
some details, but each part is preferably made from a single integral piece of
metal, so as to embody not only cheapness, but simplicity of construction and great
strength relatively to the material employed, thereby avoiding the objections to
the use of cast metal in making the parts, and enabling the use of the least amount
of metal, the parts being relatively thin and yet exceedingly strong. The invention
is intended. more particularly for that class of wrenches known as
"bicycle

page_text: wrenches," which are relatively small, but the invention may be embodied in
larger wrenches, and the advantages of the construction attained to a greater or
less extent.
The various details of construction and arrangement will now be pointed out
with sufficient clearness to enable those skilled in the art to understand and utilize
the same.
In all the modifications shown the handle member preferably consists of a single
integral piece of metal, shaped so as to form a convenient handle, and carrying
with it as an integral part thereof the fixed jaw, and having also formed integral
with the handle bearing portions for the adjusting devices. In all the modifications
the moving or sliding member is preferably made of one piece of metal and has as
an integral part thereof the movable jaw, and in all the modifications the adjusting
parts not only serve to adjust the moving part with relation to the handle part,
but also serve as the means of connection between the two parts and for securing
and holding the parts in any position with relation to each other.
The handle portions A and A', are respectively provided with a fixed jaw a, a,
and have on opposite sides parallel ribs D, D', which also extend around the ends
forming channels e, e', on opposite sides of the central body portion E, E', which
forms a web intermediate the ribbed portious, and this web is provided with a
longitudinal slot F, F1, to receive a portion of the adjusting devices and form
bearings therefor, while the webs between the ribs receive the blades of the
movable portion.
The movable portions B, B', are each provided with a movable jaw b, b¹, formed
integral therewith, and each has two separated parallel blades b³, 1, which are
adapted to engage on opposite sides of the web E, É', of the handle portions, which
serve for bearings for the inner faces of the blades, while the edges of the blades
engage the ribs D, D', of the handle portions, and these ribs are preferably
undercut or beveled, as shown in Figs. 3 & 4, so as not only to form guiding and
holding edges for the parallel blades, but to prevent the separation of the blades,
although in Figs. 34 & 44, the ribs are not beveled. It will thus be seen that the
separated parallel blades of the moving portion embrace the web of the handle
portion and slide thereon, and are held firmly in place by the ribs, forming tight
joints, to prevent dust or dirt getting between the portions, and forming an extended
bearing surface for the movable portion.
In manufacturing the moving member it is preferable to first cut a blank from a
plate of suitable metal to the outline shown in Fig. 5 or 5^, and then mill or cut
the blank so as to divide the shank into two separated parallel blades, before
described, and if the beveled ribs are used, the outer edges of the blades are milled
or otherwise beveled to correspond. This produces a moving member in which the
parts are integral, as shown in Fig. 10, and is the preferred construction, but many
of the advantages of this invention can be accomplished by forming the movable
member of two or more pieces, as clearly indicated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and
uniting the portions by sweating, brazing or in any other desired manner.
The handle portion A, A', is preferably made in a similar manner, by first
cutting a blank of the desired outline, and then milling the opposite faces or other-
wise operating upon the blank to form the ribs D, D', and the channels e, e¹, on
opposite sides of the webs E, E', and when the ribs are undercut or beveled this
may be accomplished by a suitable milling tool or otherwise. In. cutting or
stamping the blank the proper openings or slots F, F', are formed.
The adjusting and holding devices for the handle and moving portions of the
wrench may be variously formed and still perform the function of holding the parts
together and adjusting and securing them in their adjusted positions. Thus, in
Fig. 1, is illustrated one form of adjusting devices, while in Fig. 14, is another
different form, these parts being shown more in detail in the other views. In
Fig. 1, there is a screw G, supported to turn without sliding in the handle
portion A, and provided with a cylindrical head G', secured to the nut G, as by

page_text: a pin or rivet g, and mounted in an opening or slot F, forming an extension of the
slot F, the edges of the slot being provided with shoulders forming bearings for
the head G. The end g¹, of the screw extends beyond the head G', into an
opening in the end of the handle portion, as shown in Fig. 1, and instead of
connecting the head G¹ to the screw by a rivet, the head may be formed integral
with the screw and be centered by means of a pin or screw passing through the
opening in the end of the handle portion and into a recess in the head, in which
case, of course, the screw would not project beyond the head, as shown.
The sliding member B, is provided with a longitudinal recess G³, to receive the
screw G, and this may be formed by boring the shank of the handle portion
longitudinally to any desired extent or completely through the same before the
blank is milled to form the blades 63, so that after they are formed the recess will
be partly in the adjacent inner sides of each of the blades, as shown in Figs. 6, 7
& 8. This recess or channel G2, should be sufficient to permit the screw to pass
freely through it, but should be provided with a narrower threaded portion to
engage the threads of the screw. These threads may be formed in the sliding
member itself, or in a part inserted into the sliding member, and there is shown a
nut G³, having two heads g, and a shank G, connecting the heads, having a screw-
threaded opening g', to receive the threaded screw. This shank in one diameter
is adapted to fit an opening H, in the blades of the movable member B, but in its
other diameter is adapted to pass through the slot H (Fig. 5) so that it is readily
introduced into the opening and turned to bring the wide part of the shank to the
position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, with the threaded opening g', in line with
the axis of the screw G. The heads g³, are preferably shaped so as to embrace
the outer surfaces of the parallel blades, as shown in Fig. 8, and thus aid in
preventing any possible spreading of said blades, as well as in holding the nut in
position. It will be seen that while the sliding member is recessed at G³, to
receive the screw G, the recess is formed in the inner faces of the blades 63,
without extending through the same, thus preserving the continuity of the blades
transversely, and securing greater strength and rigidity than if the blades were
slotted, and the arrangement of the nut in the opening H, not only provides a
simple and convenient means for adjusting the parts, but also a means for
connecting the blades and holding them against any tendency to separate.
The adjusting devices shown in Fig. 1 are somewhat simpler in construction,.
and in this case the parallel blades &, Fig. 5A, are provided with a perforation I,
to receive the externally threaded nut I', which has bearings for its ends in the
slot, and the screw-threads of which engage the teeth of the racks i, on one or
both of the edges of the longitudinal opening F. In this case the nut I', travels
with the moving portion in adjusting the movable head. A screw J, may be
inserted in the parallel blades 6, after the parts are assembled to aid in holding
them together and against the web E', and to prevent any possible spreading, the
screw, of course, moving in the slot F¹.
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 14-23, the same general principles will
apply, except that instead of making the shank of the moving portion of two
parallel blades adapted to embrace a central web in the handle portion, the handle
portion is made hollow or recessed, having two parallel external sides, and the
shank is made of a single piece adapted to enter the hollow or recessed handle
portion, and the adjusting device, consisting of an externally threaded nut, is fitted
in a recess in the handle and has bearings thereon and engages the teeth of a rack
on the moving portion.
In making the handle portion A, from a plate of metal of the proper thickness
there is cut or stamped or otherwise formed a blank, shown in Fig. 15, and the
back edge of this is milled to form a longitudinal recess K (Fig. 17) leaving two
cheek pieces K', parallel to each other, and the edges of these cheek pieces may be
bent over so that their edges meet, as shown in Fig. 20, forming the outer closure
of the recess.
As it is desirable, however, to have greater strength opposite the

page_text: stationary jaw a', the blank is properly shaped so that when the edges are bent
over, as at k, they will overlap, as shown in Fig. 19, forming a double thickness of
metal for a certain distance opposite the stationary jaw a'. These overlapping
edges may be brazed together or otherwise secured, forming a longitudinal recess K,
extending throughout the handle portion.
The moving portion B, is preferably cut or punched from a piece of metal of
uniform thickness in the shape indicated in Fig. 21, including the dotted lines, and
the movable jaw 62, is formed integral therewith. It is desirable, of course, that
the width of the movable jaw should correspond with that of the stationary jaw a²,
and heretofore it has been common to obtain this desired width by forging the
movable portion out of relatively thick material, so as to utilize the thick material
for the jaw and to cut down or reduce the shank of the movable portion to the
desired thickness. Such operations are expensive in material and time, and it is
preferable to make the jaw originally of the shape shown in Fig. 21, and to upset
the material of said jaw until the working surface is of the desired width, as shown
in Fig. 22, or of a width corresponding to the width of the stationary jaw. It has
been found that this jaw can be thus formed by upsetting its edge to the required
thickness without difficulty, and it has the advantage that all the material of the
movable portion is integral and produced without waste of material and at little
expense of time.
The movable portion is provided with a rack L, formed on the edge, the shank
being cut away, as shown in Figs. 21 & 23, and these teeth are engaged by an
exterually threaded nut M, fitting a recess M', in the rear edge of the handle
portion, and this nut is preferably provided with projecting trunnions m, which
extend between the cheeks K', of the handle portion and retain the nut in
place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A wrench consisting of a handle portion having formed integral therewith
a stationary jaw, a movable portion having an integral movable jaw, and devices
substantially as shown and described for holding the parts together, adjusting
them to relative positions, and securing them in said adjusted positions.
2. A wrench comprising a handle portion having an integral stationary jaw,
ribs, and a connecting web with recesses on opposite sides of the web, a movable
portion having an integral movable jaw, separated parallel blades to embrace the
web of the bandle portion, and means substantially as described for holding and
adjusting the portions.
3. In a wrench, the combination with the handle portion having an integral
stationary jaw and central web with a longitudinal slot, of a movable portion having
an integral jaw, separated parallel blades, and adjusting devices mounted in the
longitudinal slot for holding and adjusting the movable portions with relation to
each other, substantially as described.
4. In a wrench, the combination with the handle portion having an integral
stationary jaw, ribs, a connecting web, and a longitudinal slot therein, of a movable
portion having an integral jaw and parallel blades fitting the handle portion, a
nut fitting the blades of the movable portion, and a screw mounted in the handle
portion engaging the nut, substantially as shown and described in connection with
Fig. 1.
5. In a wrench, the combination with the handle portion having an integral
stationary jaw, of a movable portion having an integral jaw the working edge
of the jaw being formed by swaging or upsetting the material, substantially as
described.
6. In a wrench, the combination with the handle portion having an integral jaw
aud a longitudinal slotted web having teeth on the edge of the slot, of a movable

page_text: portion having a perforation, and a nut mounted in the perforation in the movable
portion and engaging teeth on the handle portion, substantially as shown and
described in connection with Fig. 1^.
Dated the 1st day of October 1896
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.