Improvements in and relating to Wrenches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wrenches.
I, EBENEZER WANZER RIDER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Racine, in the County of Racine and State of Wisconsin, one of the
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Figure 1 represents a side view partly in section, of wrench opened and ready
for closing by shoving the outer jaw in to fit the nut.
Figure 2 represents a like view of wrench with screw raised, disengaging thumb-
screw with thread on upper side of outer jaw, thus allowing the outer jaw to
slip out.
Figure 3 is a detail view showing in side elevation the movable jaw having the
ratchet or rack on its upper side.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the movable thumb piece having the rack that also
acts as a screw thread.
Figure 5 is a detail showing a plan view of the underside of the inner jaw &c.
This invention is designed to work quickly when being adjusted to fit a nut, and
also has the screw action to use in case the jaws do not fit tight enough when
pushed up to nut by the quick ratchet action; and the novelty consists in the
construction and combination of parts of the device by means of which this end is
attained, all as will now be more fully set forth, and explained, as well as pointed
out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.
In my device the outer jaw, A, is movable and slides in and out of the handle, B,
and inner jaw, b. The handle and inner jaw are constructed of one piece and
hollow to admit the shank or bar, a, of the outer jaw, and also the coiled spring, C,
as shown in Figure 1. This coiled spring, C, is placed inside of the handle, one
end resting on the inner side of outer end of same, and the other end against the
inner end of the shank, a, of outer jaw or the extension, a', of same.
spring is for the purpose of pushing out the outer jaw quickly when the thread or
thumb-screw, D, Figure 4, is disengaged from the rack or thread, a², on upper side
of the shank of the outer jaw bar, as shown in Figure 2. This rack is preferably
slightly concave in cross section.
This
The small end, d, of the thumb-screw, D, passes into the socket or hole, e, in
the block, E, which is pivoted inside of the upper front part of the inner jaw at e'.
Said socket end is headed on the other side, yet loose enough to be swiveled so as
to be allowed to turn freely in the hole, e. As thus combined with the other parts,
the part, D, has a double action, one being the turning of the screw either to right
or left, and the other to raise and lower the same.
Now, when all the parts are together, as shown in Figure 1, the outer jaw is slid
into inner jaw and handle and passes along until the rack or ratchet, a², on its
upper face, as shown in Figure 3, connects with the screw-threaded ratchet, d', on
the thumb-screw. The same hold and cause the jaw to be held in and rigid at the
point of stopping. Should the jaw need to be moved in farther it will merely be
necessary to push it in, and as the threads on the outer jaw are constructed straight
on the outer side and slanting on the inner side, that is, like a rack, as shown in
Figure 3, and the threads on the thumb-screw, Figure 4, are straight on the
opposite direction or side, and slanting on the other, that is, like a rack, as shown
in Figure 4, the outer jaw is easily slid in and the coiled spring is pressed together.
Should one wish to open the jaws, simply press upon outer end of screw, D, and
the threads will be disengaged, as shown in Figure 2, and the jaw is instantly

page_text: thrown out by reaction, the coiled spring, C, being then ready in an instant to be
pushed in to fit nut.
In the inside of the upwardly extending front end of the portion, B, and so
placed as to press upon the block, E, is placed a leaf spring, G. Its office is to
press down this block so as to cause the thread on D, to come into close contact
with the thread, a², on the upper side of the shank of the jaw, A.
In the under or back side of the wrench is a slot, b, which is for the purpose of
putting a lug, g, through and into the lower edge of the outer jaw bar. After the
outer jaw is shoved into the inner jaw and handle, the lug, g, is passed through
the slot, 1, and screwed into the bar of outer jaw, and allowed to extend out about,
say of an inch. This answers for two purposes; first, as a stop to prevent the
outer jaw from flying out further than a certain distance, and then, second, for
the purpose of taking hold with the fore-finger or thumb to pull the outer jaw in
to fit a nut in case one desires to use the wrench with one hand.
Thus we have in the wrench both the slow screw movement, should it be desired,
as it often is, to tighten the jaws on to the nut, and the quick ratchet action
which is so desirable in a wrench, and both so perfectly combined that either can be
worked most perfectly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim'is:
1. The handle, B, having the block, E, pivoted inside the front jaw, and the
part, D, having ratchet thread, d, and swivelled in said block and adapted to act
as a thumb-screw to move the jaw, A, outward, and the spring, G, fixed to handle, B,
to press the part, D, down, and the movable outer jaw, A, having ratchet teeth, a²,
on its upper face, all combined and operating as set forth.
2. The hollow handle, B, slotted at ', on the underside and having spring, C,
inside it, and the ratchet teeth piece, D, swivelled in the pivoted block, E, and the
outer jaw, A, having the shank, o, upon which the said spring acts, and the lug, g,
fixed to the jaw, A, and movable in the slot, b, and acting as a stop and thumb piece,
all combined as set forth and operating as described.
Dated this Twenty-first day of June 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.