Improvements in the Construction of Spanners, Wrenches, and other like Nipping and Gripping Tools.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spanners, Wrenches, and other
like Nipping and Gripping Tools.
I, JOHN HOWLETT, of 6 Cave Street, in the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of spanners, wrenches,
and other like nipping and gripping tools; and has for object to construct such
tools or implements in a simple manner, and of great strength; whilst at same time
is provided an easy and effectual means of shifting the jaws thereof and locking
them securely at any required distance apart.
In accordance with this invention I construct the main leg or handle carrying
the upper jaw of the spanner or wrench of stamped, cast, or forged metal, and
upon one or both sides of same I form grooves running from the front edge to the
centre which grooves 1 enlarge at their termination for the purpose hereinafter
described. Or, a vertical slot may be cut right through this leg or handle having
branch slots running therefrom in a similar manner to the grooves aforesaid.
The other leg (or I may if desired have two such legs) carrying the under jaw
(or jaws) I prefer to make hollow and having two sides and a back rivetted, brazed,
or welded, together.
In a suitable position upon the under jaw or jaws, and to form the pivot upon
which the jaws work I have a stud pin or pins which is or are inserted in the
required groove formed as aforesaid upon the main leg or handle and dropped
Or, where
into the enlarged portion of said groove which forms a stop for same.
the slot is cut right through the main leg as aforesaid one pin will pass there-
through and connect the under jaw or jaws to the upper jaw. The width of the
opening of the jaws is easily adjustable by sliding the pivot pin or pins into such
groove or slot as will give the opening required. Where the side grooves are used,
and not the slots formed right through the main leg or handle, I make such main
leg or handle with a suitable projection for preventing the handles becoming
detached.
As a modification of the above arrangement and in lieu of the grooves or slots
hereinbefore described I may form the main leg or handle round instead of flat,
and with a screw thread thereon to a depth of say two or three inches. Around
this screwed part of the leg or handle I have a hollow ball or socket internally
screw threaded to suit the thread upon the leg aforesaid, and into this ball 1 screw
said leg or handle. I form this metal ball with two projecting pins, one on either
side. The under jaw leg or handle is also in this modification formed hollow and
the two sides can either be bent to form the back or left hollow and just sufficient
metal left into which to secure rivets. This makes the handle much lighter. Before
the sides are put together I stamp them outwards sufficiently to form a kind of
socket with hole through centre. Then I place the metal ball or socket above
described in position, the pins on same projecting a little distance through either
side of the hollow handle. It is then rivetted together, the ball or socket being
retained in its proper position. The main leg or handle is screwed up and down to
obtain the desired opening as may be required.
Dated the 19th day of September 1893.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for the Applicant..

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Spanners, Wrenches, and other
like Nipping and Gripping Tools.
I, JOHN HOWLETT, of 6 Cave Street, in the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull,
Plumber 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 improvements in the construction of spanners, wrenches,
and other like nipping and gripping tools, and has for object to construct such tools
or implements in a simple manner and of great strength; whilst at same time is
provided an easy and effectual means of shifting the jaws thereof and locking them
securely at any required distance apart.
In accordance with my invention, I construct the main leg or handle carrying
the upper jaw of the spanner or wrench, of stamped, cast or forged metal, and upon
one or both sides of same, I form grooves running from the front edge to the
centre; these grooves being enlarged at their termination, for the purpose berein-
after explained. Or, a vertical slot may be cut right through this leg or handle
with branch slots running therefrom in a similar manner to the first above mentioned
grooves.
The other leg (or, I may, if desired, have two such legs) carrying the under jaw
(or jaws) I prefer to make hollow and having two sides and a back, rivetted,
brazed, or welded together. In a suitable position upon the under jaw (or jaws)
and so as to form a working pivot, I have stud pin or pins which is or are inserted
in the required groove formed as aforesaid upon the main leg or handle and
dropped into the enlarged portion of said groove which forms a stop for same. Or,
where the slot is cut right through the main leg as aforesaid, one pin will pass
therethrough and connect the under jaw or jaws to the upper jaw. The width of
the opening of the jaws is easily adjustable by sliding the pivot pin or pins into
such groove or slot as will give the opening required. Where the side grooves are
used, and not the slots formed right through the main leg or handle, I make such
main leg or handle with a suitable projection for preventing the handles becoming
detached.
As a modification of the above arrangement and in lieu of the grooves or slots
hereinbefore described, I may form the main leg or handle round instead of fat,
and with a screw thread thereon to a depth of say two or three inches. Around
this screwed part of the leg or handle I have a hollow ball or socket internally
screw threaded to suit the thread upon the leg aforesaid, and into this ball I screw
said leg or handle. I form this metal ball with two projecting pins, one on either
side. The under jaw, leg, or handle is also in this modification formed hollow and
the two sides can either be bent to form the back or left hollow and just sufficient
metal left into which to secure rivets. This makes the handle much lighter.
Before the sides are put together I stamp them outwards sufficiently to form a kind
of socket with hole through centre. Then place the metal ball or socket above
described in position, the pins on same projecting a little distance through either
side of the hollow handle. It is then rivetted together, the ball or socket being
retained in its proper position. The main leg or handle is screwed up and down to
obtain the desired amount of opening as may be required.
And in order that this my invention may be the better understood I have appended
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which like letters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views.
Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a double headed spanner or wrench having
slots s formed from the left hand edge to the centre of the main leg a which is
secured to the other leg or handle by means of a pivot c, and the two arms are
prevented from becoming detached by means of the stop piece p.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side view of the main leg or handle as shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a front view of a double-headed spanner, shewing the two
handles a and b held together by means of two pins & working in grooves e cut in
the main leg or handle a.
Figure 4 is a side view of the main leg or handle a shewing the grooves e cut in.
same but not extending to the edge of said leg.
Figure 5, is a front view of a double headed spanner the two legs a, b, held
together by means of two projections h, formed on the sides of the leg band.
working in grooves e cut in leg a.
Figure 6 is a side view of a spanner whereby the two arms a, b, work side by
side and are held in position by means of a screw or bolt travelling in slots s cut
right through the said arm a of the formation as shewn in Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a back view of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a side view of the modification which I may use in connection with
this invention as above described.
Figure 9 is a front view of Figure 8, shewing the screwed arm a¹ working
through an internally screw threaded hollow ball or socket g, having a projection
on each side y', which is inserted in the semi-circular arm b', said arms being held
together by means of the lug and bolt l.
Figure 10 is a cross section through line A B Figure 9, and
Figure 11 is a cross section through line C. D. Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved spanners, wrenches, and other like gripping and nipping tools and
mode of constructing same, substantially as herein described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of November 1893.