Patent ID: 7111529

Claim:
In a ratchetable open-ended wrench for turning a rotatable element with a flat-to-flat dimension, the wrench having (1) first and second jaws, (2) a base area connecting the jaws, (3) a retractable jaw member slidable within a slot in the second jaw and projecting toward the base area, and (4) a first cover plate on a first side of the second jaw to limit the lateral movement of the retractable jaw member within the slot, the improvement wherein the cover plate is a load-bearing structural member within the second jaw by virtue of the cover plate being projection-welded tote second jaw on both sides of the slot by virtue of metal flow from projections on both sides thereof, whereby the cover plate serves the dual functions of providing encasement of the retractable jaw member and additional structural integrity to the second jaw.