Patent ID: 7784382

Claim:
An adjustable wrench comprising: a body provided with a first jaw at one end; a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; a lever mechanism coupled to the body and the second jaw to effect motion of the second jaw relative to the first jaw; and, a locking mechanism having a free state in which the first and second jaws are able to move relative to each other, and a locking state in which the first and second jaws are locked from movement away from each other, the locking mechanism changing from the free state to the locking state after an object is gripped between the first and second jaws, the locking mechanism comprising a pawl coupled with the lever mechanism, wherein the pawl is arranged to move linearly into engagement with the body when the locking mechanism changes state from the free state to the locking state, the engagement of the pawl with the body preventing motion of the first and second jaws away from each other, the locking mechanism comprising a link pivotally coupled with the lever mechanism, and wherein the pawl is coupled to the link by a pivot pin, one of the link and the pawl being provided with a linear slot along which the pivot pin slides in a manner wherein pivotal motion of the link is translated into linear motion of the pawl.