Patent Description:
A conventional wrench is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects, usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts. Alternatively, wrenches may be used to keep such objects from turning. One type of wrench is called an open-end wrench, which usually has a U-shaped opening shaped to grip two opposite faces a polygonal fastener. As torque is applied to the wrench head it is transmitted to the fastener to turn the fastener in the appropriate direction.

Sockets or ring type wrenches are preferable to open jaw type wrenches because the torque applied to the socket is transmitted to the fastener via a much larger contact area and the ring head of the socket or wrench can transmit a far greater torque with less harmful distortion of the fastener and less chance of the socket or ring head damaging or slipping off the fastener. In order to fit and operate as many differing sizes of fasteners as possible with one tool the wrench can usefully be adjustable, by far the most common type relates to an adjustable wrench such as Huang <CIT> comprising a handle, a head, a slidable jaw, an axial rod and a worm gear. The head is formed with a fixed jaw, a sliding rail, and a receiving slot. The slideable jaw has a sliding rod slidable disposed in the sliding rail of the head. The axial rod and the worm gear dispose in the receiving slot of the head and the worm gear engages with the sliding rod of the slidable jaw to control the movement of the slidable jaw in relation to the fixed jaw so that an opening formed between the fixed and slidable jaw can be usefully adjusted for the operation of different sizes of fastener head whether metric or inch. The wrench normally grips only on the two opposing sides of the square or hexagonal fastener heads or workpiece.

In order to provide grip on more sides of hexagonal fasteners by the opposing jaws of the wrench, some prior art wrenches such as Pub. No. <CIT> have been provided that have V shaped gripping surfaces. As only the leading half of the hexagonal fastener head faces in the operated direction can be actually levered in the chosen drive direction the "V" shape recess must be deep enough to provide a suitable fastener drive engagement surface thus extremely limiting the size range of operated fasteners capable of being suitably operated. <CIT> comprises an adjustable wrench for use with speciality fasteners with <NUM> flat faces and <NUM> round faces having a fixed jaw with a V recess and a flat third gripping surface which is slidable when operated in the reverse or reposition direction, in order to form a ratcheting configuration. Hexagonal fasteners can be <NUM> face operated as long as the operated hexagonal fastener head still protrudes outwith the V recess for clamping by the moving jaw third flat face. In order to operate smaller sizes of fastener the nose of the fixed jaw is substantially parallel to the moving jaw face, the fastener can then be operated by only <NUM> faces.

<CIT>) illustrates a dual purpose wrench wherein the moving jaw can be alternated to function as a pipe wrench by removing the moveable jaw unit, reversing and inserting it back into the wrench body. What was previously the lower outer surface of the moving jaw now acts as a pivotal straight toothed surface, which in conjunction with the fixed jaw operating surface grips the worked pipe or round workpiece in order to rotate the same.

<CIT>), <CIT>) and <CIT> disclose a combination tool in the form of an "monkey wrench" or pipe wrench with a reversible jaw, the commercially successful device being the <CIT>, these devices when used in the pipe wrench mode require to be used in the non-intuitive opposite direction to that of the adjustable wrench normal torque use, even the pipe engagement teeth facing the reverse direction.

With these known wrenches it requires considerable rotation of the thumb operated worm screw to adjust from small to large operating sizes or remove and replace the moving jaw. Furthermore any attempt at making a useful three or four jaw grip upon the operated fastener cannot be accomplished over the fastener size range normally operated by a similar sized standard adjustable wrench.

It is an object of the invention to at least partially alleviate the above-mentioned disadvantages, or to provide an alternative to existing products.

<CIT> discloses an adjustable wrench comprising a wrench head provided with a fixed jaw, a movable jaw carried by the wrench head and a first movable jaw actuator mounted on said wrench head that engages teeth provided on the movable jaw. The adjustable wrench further comprises a spur gear that is in permanent engagement with the teeth on the movable jaw. When the spur gear is engaged by an engaging block provided on the wrench head it locks the movable jaw so that the wrench can be used to turn a nut that is gripped between the movable and fixed jaws. If the engaging block is moved out of engagement with the spur gear, the spur gear is released and can freewheel as when the wrench is rotated, the movable jaw moves away from the fixed jaw due to the resistance to turning provided by the nut.

The invention provides an adjustable wrench as specified in claim <NUM>.

The invention also includes a method of operating an adjustable wrench as specified in claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, said fixed and movable jaws define at least three gripping faces orientated such that, in use, when a drive torque is applied to said wrench head said gripping faces each transmit said torque to a respective face of a hexagonal workpiece engaged by said gripping faces.

Embodiments of the adjustable wrench may provide a low-cost tool that can be speedily adjusted, work on a relatively large range of normal fastener heads, pipe or pipe fitting sizes. The jaws of the adjustable wrench may define at least three gripping faces so that three faces of a workpiece can be engaged to provide an improved gripping capability when compared with wrenches that engage just two faces of the workpiece. Thus, embodiments of the adjustable wrench may provide a true three jaw grip that engages first, second and third faces of a hexagonal fastener that are each orientated to receive a drive torque.

The moveable jaw may be removed from the wrench head to allow reversing of its orientation and reinsertion to allow the provision of additional gripping faces on the movable jaw. At least one gripping surface may now be a toothed surface which forms a toothed ramp whereby when the wrench is operated in its drive direction upon a generally tubular workpiece initially positioned and gripped between the appropriately adjusted fixed and moveable jaw gripping surfaces. The tubular workpiece when operated may be retained within a V shaped recess, the opposing jaw surface comprising a toothed ramp or a further corresponding V shaped recess, at least one gripping surface being appropriately toothed.

In use, the operator robustly biases the wrench handle side-wards causing the outer edges of the wrench head gripping teeth to usefully impart substantial grip upon the worked cylindrical workpiece as the wrench is operated in the drive direction, when the wrench requires to be repositioned or reversed the operator merely straightens the handle back up negating the jaws grip upon the workpiece thereby imparting an extremely useful and simple ratcheting feature with no moving parts.

Embodiments of the adjustable wrench may use a worm gear having a longitudinally extending cut-out similar in shape, but slightly oversized compared to rack teeth of the movable jaw, as the first movable jaw actuator. When the worm drive is turned to a position wherein the cut-out faces the rack teeth, the movable jaw can be moved independently of the head portion for quick adjustment of the distance between the first and second workpiece faces. A known screw incorporating a sprung ball plunger, or similar can be further utilized in co-operation with a suitable notch within the worm drive in order to retain the worm drive in the disengaged position. Once the close approximate jaw setting is made the worm drive may be further rotated to re-engage the rack gear teeth so that the worm gear can be used to cause movement of the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw and further providing the known locking mechanism between the worm drive and the rack teeth.

In order to speed up the adjustment procedure, the second movable jaw actuator, which may be a thumbwheel may be used to move the movable jaw. The teeth of the thumbwheel engage the rack teeth and when the worm drive is positioned with the cut-out facing the rack teeth, the thumbwheel can be rotated in order to move the movable jaw speedily in order to quickly adjust the space between the fixed and movable jaws. The use of the thumbwheel when removing the movable jaw when turning it over and inserting back in order to convert the adjustable wrench between a parallel faced hexagonal or flat drive surfaced workpiece and generally round workpiece movable jaw engagement surfaces is particularly useful.

Embodiments of the adjustable wrench may have a means of locating the movable jaw in the required position, wherein the worm gear teeth can readily engage the movable jaw geared rack teeth from a disengaged position to an engaged position. In one embodiment the movable jaw has indentations or recesses for the location of the ball of a known sprung ball plunger or equivalent located within the head portion, the use of an indentation correctly positioned relative to each relevant geared rack tooth provides a useful means of conveniently indexing the movable jaw from one exact pre-locking position to another, the sprung ball further usefully retaining the movable jaw within the head portion whenever the worm gear cut out is aligned with the movable jaw gear rack. The sprung ball being further propelled against its corresponding spring during the relocation of the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw.

A further low-cost method of correctly positioning the worm gear cut out prior to its engagement with the geared rack teeth, is the use of a sprung steel blade retained within the worm gear aperture, having an engagement portion for the resilient contact with the geared rack teeth prior to the re-engagement of the worm gear teeth into the geared rack teeth during the final adjustment process. The engagement portion being capable of usefully flexing out of contact in order to allow the movable jaw to be robustly propelled as required inwards or outwards within the movable jaw receiving slot during the fast adjustment action.

In some embodiments, the adjustable wrench has second and third fixed jaw operating faces formed in a <NUM> degree V. In order to prevent the worked fastener from moving from the confines of the second and third fixed jaw operating faces during hexagonal fastener operation, the movable jaw has a small fourth face or proboscis which along with the first operating face within the movable jaw form an opposite <NUM> degree V face capable of robust three levered face operation of the worked fastener.

Embodiments of the adjustable wrench may have a head portion comprising a fixed jaw having a smooth or alternately toothed flat plane surface generally <NUM> degrees to the sliding rail faces. The movable jaw may have a generally V shaped recess having gripping teeth angled in the preordained drive direction, for the rotation of tube-like workpieces when the profile is employed and appropriately adjusted.

In use, in order to employ a further simple ratcheting motion upon the surface of the worked pipework or tube-like workpiece, the wrench is near adjusted to the circumferential size upon the pipe, in order to initiate the required grip the wrench handle is then biased in a side-wards direction whereas the outer angled toothed profiles of the utilized V shaped recess or recesses grip the surface of the pipe in order to rotate the said pipe in the drive direction. When utilized in the reverse or reposition direction the handle is usefully returned to a non- biased generally right-angled position relative to the worked pipe whereas the inclined gripping teeth are now profiled in a non-gripping position or direction and the wrench can be usefully repositioned with ease.

In some examples, a movable jaw angled toothed operating surface may be replaced with a hard rubber like gripping surface for use upon soft or decorative fittings or pipework surfaces in order to prevent or at least diminish the marking of the same. The further use of a clip on plastic or non-mark material guard on the opposing gripping surface further diminishes the possibility of damage.

A full and enabling disclosure of the invention will now be provided by way of a description of some examples and with reference to the drawings, in which:.

<FIG> shows an adjustable wrench <NUM> having a head portion <NUM> at one end of an elongate handle portion <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> comprises a fixed jaw <NUM>, a movable jaw <NUM> and a first movable jaw actuator comprising a worm drive <NUM> disposed in a worm drive aperture <NUM>. The first movable jaw actuator is operable to cause movement of the movable jaw <NUM> to adjust the width of a jaw opening <NUM> that is defined between the fixed and movable jaws.

<FIG> shows the components of the adjustable wrench <NUM> in a disassembled condition. The components of the adjustable wrench <NUM> include the handle portion <NUM>, the head portion <NUM>, the worm gear aperture <NUM> and an axle pin bore <NUM>. A V shaped recess <NUM> is defined in the fixed jaw <NUM> and the head portion <NUM> defines a moving jaw receiving slot <NUM>. The moving jaw receiving slot <NUM> extends transverse to the handle portion <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, the moving jaw slot <NUM> may be inclined with respect to the handle portion <NUM> and may extend between opposed sides of the head portion <NUM> so as to be open at each end. The movable jaw <NUM> may define a first operating face <NUM> and the fixed jaw <NUM> may define a second operating face <NUM> and a third operating face <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> defines a sliding rail first face <NUM> and the movable jaw <NUM> defines a jaw alignment face <NUM>. There may be respective sliding rail first faces disposed one on either side of the moving jaw receiving slot <NUM> and respective jaw alignment faces <NUM>. The movable jaw <NUM> has a nose <NUM>. The movable jaw <NUM> is provided a rack 41comprising rack teeth <NUM>, The movable jaw <NUM> may define a fourth gripping face <NUM> of the adjustable wrench <NUM>.

The worm drive <NUM> comprises a generally cylindrical body having a worm axle bore <NUM> extending along the longitudinal axis of the body and toothing <NUM> winding around the body. The worm drive <NUM> is mounted in the worm gear aperture <NUM> on a worm axle <NUM> that extends through the axle pin bore so that the worm axle bore defines an axis of rotation of the first movable jaw actuator that is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body. The worm drive <NUM> is provide with a worm cut out <NUM> that defines a gap in the toothing <NUM>. The worm drive cut-out <NUM> extends along the length of the worm drive body.

The first movable jaw actuator is provided with a first movable jaw actuator locator configured to engage a locator formation provided on said first movable jaw actuator to locate the worm drive body in a position in which the worm cut out <NUM> faces the rack teeth <NUM>. The locator formation comprises a worm detent profile <NUM> and the first movable jaw actuator locator comprises a sprung ball plunger <NUM>.

The head portion <NUM> further comprises a second movable jaw actuator comprising a thumbwheel <NUM>. The thumbwheel <NUM> comprises a disc-like body provided with thumbwheel teeth <NUM>, a thumbwheel axle bore <NUM> to receive an axle pin <NUM> and a friction ring to receive a friction ring <NUM>. The thumbwheel teeth <NUM> are disposed around the periphery of the disc-like body and projection radially outwardly with respect to the thumbwheel axle bore <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, the thumbwheel <NUM> is mounted in a recess disposed to one side of the head portion <NUM>. The worm drive <NUM> and thumbwheel <NUM> are arranged such that their respective axes of rotation are mutually perpendicular while the axis of rotation of the worm drive extends generally parallel to the moving jaw slot <NUM>.

The adjustable wrench <NUM> further comprises a movable jaw movement resistor in the form of a detent mechanism comprising a moving jaw sprung plunger <NUM>, sprung ball <NUM> located in the plunger and a plurality of detent recess <NUM> provided on the movable jaw <NUM>. The moving jaw sprung plunger <NUM> is mounted in a screw hole <NUM> provided in the head portion <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the adjustable wrench <NUM> with a part of the handle portion <NUM> and the head portion <NUM> sectioned in order to illustrate the arrangement of the movable jaw <NUM> and first and second movable jaw actuators on the head portion <NUM>. The toothing <NUM> of the worm drive <NUM> is shown engagingrack teeth <NUM>, while the worm drive cut-out <NUM> is in an inoperative position. For illustration purposes the first, second and third operating faces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are shown engaging a large hexagonal fastener <NUM>. The alignment face <NUM> within the movable jaw <NUM> keeps the fastener <NUM> in the optimum position whereas the fastener driven faces <NUM> can be usefully engaged when operated in the drive direction D in order to robustly operate as required the said fastener <NUM>. As only the half of the said fastener face <NUM>, that which is in the chosen drive direction D, the said driven faces <NUM> actually does any rotational leverage, only that said portion <NUM> need be operated by the said fixed or moving jaws <NUM>, <NUM>. One example of the optional said fourth gripping face <NUM> is further illustrated within the said moving jaw <NUM>. By only acting upon the actual half of the fastener faces <NUM> which are driven <NUM>, this thereby usefully reduces the overall projected length of the said jaws <NUM>, <NUM> vastly improving the wrenches use in situations wherein the said fastener <NUM> is adjacent to obstructions O. In particular said hexagonal fasteners <NUM> are operated in their chosen said drive direction D normally by only half the span (that which is in the driven direction D) of the relevant gripped generally flat operating surfaces <NUM> of the said driven portions <NUM>, the said fastener <NUM> said fastener driven faces illustrated being usefully fully engaged by all three operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of the said wrench <NUM>. It is noted that the leverage of the said driven portions <NUM> is at its greatest the nearer to the fastener points <NUM> the said operating face <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> applied force is employed.

<FIG> illustrates a modification of the adjustable wrench <NUM> in which the second operating face <NUM> defined by the fixed jaw is substantially straight and the first operating face <NUM> defined by the movable jaw <NUM> is also straight so that the sides of the jaw opening <NUM> are generally parallel. The first and second jaw operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> may be notched <NUM> to improve their ability to grip objects. As an aid to gripping some types of workpieces, the movable jaw <NUM> may comprise a V-shaped recess <NUM> said that defines fourth and fifth gripping surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. In this example, the fourth and fifth gripping surfaces are provided with teeth <NUM>. The toothing <NUM> of the worm drive <NUM> is shown engaging the rack teeth <NUM>, while the the worm drive cut-out <NUM> is shown in an inoperative position.

<FIG> ishows the adjustable wrench <NUM> with the the said first, second, third and fourth operating faces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> engaging a relative small hexagonal fastener <NUM>. To facilitate gripping of smaller sizes of fastener the nose <NUM> of the movable jaw <NUM> may be configured to be movable into the V-shaped recess <NUM> defined by the fixed jaw <NUM> Although not shown in the drawing, the adjustable wrench 1may have first and second movable jaw actuators as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> show the movable jaw <NUM>, said worm gear drive <NUM> and thumbwheel <NUM> removed from the wrench 1and with the worm drive cut-out <NUM> in an inoperative position similar to that shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The worm drive toothing teeth <NUM> is shown engaged with the rack teeth <NUM> and the worm drive cut-out <NUM> is not facing the rack teeth. The thumbwheel teeth <NUM> are also engaged with the rack teeth <NUM>.

<FIG> correspond generally to <FIG>, but show the worm drive cut-out <NUM> in a position in which it faces the rack teeth <NUM> so that the worm drive toothing <NUM> does not engage the rack teeth. This allows the movable jaw <NUM> to be propelled back and forth by operation of the thumbwheel <NUM> in order to open or close the jaw gap <NUM> (not shown) or remove or install the said movable jaw <NUM> relatively quickly. The resiliently biased engagement of the sprung ball <NUM> of the sprung ball plunger in the moving jaw detents <NUM> impedes the traversing of the movable jaw <NUM> during the adjustment of the jaw opening <NUM> prior to the engagement of the worm drive toothing <NUM> with the rack teeth <NUM>. As the sai movable jaw <NUM> moves back and forth, the sprung ball <NUM> pops in and out of the moving jaw detents <NUM> slightly impeding movement of the movable jaw <NUM> and so reducing the likelihood of inadvertent removal of the movable jaw from the head portion <NUM>. The moving jaw detents <NUM> are configured to such that when engaged by the sprung ball <NUM> the toothing <NUM> is aligned with the rack teeth <NUM> to ensure the correct and easy alignment of the toothing <NUM> with the rack teeth <NUM> for when the user wishes to re-engage the worm drive <NUM> with the rack <NUM>.

<FIG> shows in top view, the worm drive <NUM> and the spring ball plunger <NUM> with the detent spring ball <NUM> engaging in the worm detent profile <NUM> to locate the worm drive cut-out <NUM> in its inoperative position.

<FIG> the said worm drive <NUM> and the spring ball plunger <NUM> separate from one another. The detent sprung ball <NUM> is protruding from the end of the sprung ball plunger <NUM> profile.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the previously described adjustable wrenches <NUM> gripping differing sizes of tubular workpiece <NUM> between as shown in <FIG> a said generally straight notched <NUM> fixed jaw second operating face <NUM> and a toothed V shaped recess <NUM> incorporating gripping toothed moving jaw fourth <NUM> and fifth <NUM> operating faces. The said fixed jaw <NUM> said second operating face <NUM> is in this example substantially straight, as an aid to gripping some types of workpieces, the said jaw operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are in best practice toothed or notched <NUM>. In use, in order to employ a simple ratcheting motion upon the surface of the said worked pipework or tube like workpiece <NUM>, the said wrench <NUM> is near adjusted to the circumferential size upon the said pipe or the like <NUM>, in order to initiate the required grip the said wrench handle <NUM> is then biased in a side-wards direction whereas the outer angled toothed profiles of the utilized V shaped recess <NUM> or alternately recesses <NUM>, <NUM> grip the surface of the said pipe <NUM> in order to rotate the said pipe <NUM> in the drive direction. When utilized in the reverse or reposition direction the said handle <NUM> is usefully returned to a non-biased generally right angled position relative to the said worked pipe <NUM> whereas the best practice inclined gripping teeth within the said V shaped recess <NUM>, <NUM> are now profiled in a non-gripping position or direction and the said wrench can be usefully repositioned with ease. The said geared rack 41said teeth <NUM> are illustrated engaging the said worm gear <NUM> said teeth <NUM>, the said worm cut out <NUM> not utilized.

In the illustrated example, the movable jaw <NUM> comprises a jaw member and an elongate member. The elongate member as a first side and a second side. The first and second sides are disposed in opposed spaced apart relation. The jaw member projects from the first side and the rack teeth <NUM> project from the second side. The elongate member is received in the moving jaw receiving slot <NUM>. The first and second movable jaw actuators are rotatable to move the movable jaw towards and away from the fixed jaw. The rotational movement of the first and second movable jaw actuators cause translational movement of the movable jaw on the head portion <NUM> to vary the size of the jaw opening. The first movable jaw actuator is configured to move the movable jaw by a distance X for each Y degrees of rotation of the first movable jaw actuator and the second movable jaw actuator is configured to move the movable jaw by a distance Z for each Y degrees of rotation of the second movable jaw actuator. The distance X is less than distance Z. Thus, the second movable jaw actuator is able to provide a coarse or rapid movement of the movable jaw, while the first movable jaw actuator is able to provide a fine or slow movement of the movable jaw. Thus, in the illustrated examples, the pitch of the toothing on the worm drive is less than the pitch of the teeth on the thumbwheel.

In the illustrated examples, a first locator formation is provided on the first movable jaw actuator and a first locator member is mounted on the head portion to engage the first locator formation. The first locator member is resiliently biased to engage the first locator formation. In the illustrated examples, the first locator formation is a recess provided in the first movable jaw actuator and the first locater member is a spring-loaded ball. The ball may be carried by a threaded pin that can be screwed into a screw hole provided in the head portion. In other examples, the first locator formation may be a projection and the first locator member may be provided with a recess to receive said projection.

In the illustrated examples, a plurality of second locator formations are provided on the movable jaw and second locator member is mounted on the head portion to engage the second locator formations. The second locator member is resiliently biased to engage the second locator formations. In the illustrated examples, the second locater member is a spring-loaded ball. The ball may be carried by a threaded pin that can be screwed into a screw hole provided in the head portion. The second locator formations comprise a series of recesses disposed in equi-spaced apart relation along the elongate member of the movable jaw. The engagement of the second locator member in successive second locator formations provides a degree of resistance to movement of the movable jaw by the first and second movable jaw actuators. Additionally, the second locator formations are configured such that when the second locator member engages a second locator formation, the toothing of the first movable jaw actuator is aligned with respective spaced defined by adjacent rack teeth. This makes it easy for a use to position the movable head relative to the first movable jaw actuator to allow the toothing of the first movable jaw actuator to be rotated smoothly into engagement with the rack teeth when the first movable jaw member is rotated to an operative position.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the dual jaw adjustable wrench <NUM>. The said wrench <NUM> shown gripping a large tubular workpiece <NUM> between a said fixed jaw <NUM>, V shaped <NUM> recess said second and third operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> and a gripping toothed, angled moving jaw <NUM> fourth operating face <NUM>.

<FIG> and <NUM> denote a prior art device <NUM> according to <CIT>. <FIG> shows the said device head portion <NUM> wherein three operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are utilized. The moving jaw <NUM> is prevented from accessing the V shaped recess <NUM> within the fixed jaw portion <NUM> by the obstruction of the fourth operating face <NUM>, the said moving and fixed jaws <NUM>, <NUM> remaining parallel to the said worm drive <NUM> and said sliding rails <NUM>, <NUM>. The resulting geometry of the said operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> giving only partial grip of the required fastener driven faces <NUM> when the said wrench is utilized in the said drive direction D, even if the said sprung ratcheting operating face <NUM> were to become fixed, the said fastener <NUM> grip imparted being little more than that of a conventional adjustable wrench while the manufacturing cost is invariably higher.

Fig. <NUM> shows the said device <NUM>'s first and second operating faces <NUM>, <NUM>'s problematic grip upon the said driven faces <NUM> of said smaller fastener <NUM> sizes. The smaller said fasteners <NUM> are unable to be operated by the optimal said third and fourth operating faces <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> denotes the head portion <NUM>, with moving and fixed jaws <NUM>, <NUM> of a prior art device <NUM>, according to <CIT>, the hexagonal fastener <NUM> displayed is gripped by four said operating faces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Although giving the appearance of a superior four said operating face <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> operating grip upon the said fastener faces <NUM>, when the said device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is utilized in the illustrated drive direction D the only functional actuation of the fastener driven portions <NUM> and thereby any required robust operation of the fastener <NUM>, is limited to said operating faces <NUM>, <NUM> as only these said faces <NUM>, <NUM> can actually usefully drive against the fastener drive portions <NUM> with any useful toque in the illustrated drive direction D. If the device <NUM> were utilized in the opposite to the displayed drive direction D, only the said faces <NUM>, <NUM> would act on the worthwhile fastener drive portions <NUM> as the fastener drive portions <NUM> would now be changed to the opposite end of the fastener drive faces <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An adjustable wrench comprising:
a wrench head (<NUM>) provided with a fixed jaw (<NUM>);
a movable jaw (<NUM>) carried by said wrench head; and
a first movable jaw actuator (<NUM>) mounted on said wrench head and rotatable about a first axis of rotation to move said movable jaw (<NUM>),
chararacterised by a second movable jaw actuator (<NUM>) mounted on said wrench head and rotatable about a second axis of rotation to move said movable jaw (<NUM>), and
in that said first movable jaw actuator (<NUM>) is configured to move said movable jaw by a distance X for each Y degrees of rotation of said first movable jaw actuator, said second movable jaw actuator (<NUM>) is configured to move said movable jaw by a distance Z for each Y degrees of rotation of said second movable jaw actuator and said distance X is less than said distance Z, and
said movable jaw (<NUM>) is provided with teeth engagable (<NUM>) by said first and second movable jaw actuators (<NUM>, <NUM>) and said first movable jaw actuator (<NUM>) is movable to an inoperative position in which said first movable jaw actuator is disengaged from said teeth (<NUM>) to enable actuation of said movable jaw (<NUM>) by said second movable jaw actuator (<NUM>).