Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     (1) Field 
     The present invention relates generally to hand tools, and, more particularly, to a tool system having a core wrench that is capable of receiving a variety of implements and attachments for performing specific manipulations such as gripping, hammering, screwing and ratcheting. 
     (2) Background of the Invention 
     Certain hand tools are commonly used and considered part of a standard tool collection found in households, cars, businesses and so forth. Examples of commonly used hand tools include wrenches, pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, hexes, and ratchet sets. With these tools a user can perform a variety of basic manipulations, repairs, improvements, and so forth. 
     Unfortunately, however, hand tools can be bulky, redundant, and prone to separation from other tools in a collection. As a result, one often has a difficult time finding the right screwdriver, or their hammer, and so forth. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an integrated tool system that includes implements and attachments to perform functions of many basic hand tools. It is desirable that this system is relatively compact, simple to use, multi-functional and reduces redundancy of standard tool collections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
     The present invention is directed to an integrated tool system that includes various implements and attachments for performing the functions of a variety of basic tools including pliers, wrenches, hammers, ratchets and screwdrivers. Many of the attachments are secured to rectangular jaws at the upper portion of the device. The lower portion of the device includes an ratcheting gear for accepting sockets, socket adaptors, ratchet extensions and so forth. The upper and lower portions are separable to reveal a receiver for hexes that is stored within the handle, thereby facilitating screwdriving and the like. The receiver also strengthens the structure of the device, thereby allowing greater leverage. 
     These and other aspects of the present inventions will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a core wrench; 
         FIG. 1A  is a view of a core wrench with internal reinforced walls shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a core wrench with a set of attachments in position for engagement with wrench jaws; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a core wrench with a set of attachments engaged; 
         FIG. 4  depicts multiple sets of attachments; 
         FIG. 5  depicts multiple sets of attachments; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a core wrench with a hammer attachment in position for engagement with wrench jaws; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a removable handle disengaged from a core wrench; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of a disengaged removable handle with a disengaged hex; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a perspective view of a ratchet wrench integrated with the removable handle, including a socket adaptor and socket; 
         FIG. 10  depicts an extender and several usages thereof; 
         FIG. 10A  depicts an extender; 
         FIG. 10B  depicts an open-end wrench extension; and 
         FIG. 11  depicts an alternate embodiment of an attachment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     The following structures are among the various FIGS:
           10 —tool;     12 —set screw;     13 —set screw aperture;     14 —set screw indentation;     15 —ball plunger;     16 —ball plunger aperture;     17 —worm screw;     20 —core wrench;     21 —grip;     22 —upper portion;     23 —lower portion;     25 —jaws;     27 —reinforced walls;     28 —channel;     30 —removable handle;     32 —receiver;     33 —sleeve;     35 —hex;     40 —ratcheting gear;     42 —socket adapter;     43 —socket;     50 —attachment;     51 —hammer attachment;     52 —planar edge wrench attachment;     53 —modified planar edge wrench attachment;     54 —angled edge wrench attachment;     55 —modified angled edge wrench attachment;     56 —needle nose pliers attachment;     57 —serrated edge wrench attachment;     58 —grasping implement;     60 —attachment slot;     62 —side slot;     65 —extender;     67 —ratchet extension; and     68 —open-end wrench extension.       

     Referring now to the drawings in general and  FIG. 1  in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred embodiments, and are not intended to limit the inventions thereto. As best seen in  FIG. 1 , core wrench  20  is generally divided into upper portion  22  and lower portion  23 , with distal end of upper portion  22  having two opposable jaws  25 , and the proximal end of upper portion  22  slidably engaging with the proximal end of lower portion  23 . The distal end of lower portion  23  defines rotating ratcheting gear  40 , and is generally surrounded by handle  30 . 
     Worm screw  17  moves one opposable jaw  25  relative to the other, while the other opposable jaw  25  is immovable, as is familiar in crescent wrenches. However, unlike a conventional crescent wrench, the jaws of the present invention are substantially rectangular in shape, not semi-circular. It has been determined that the rectangular shape lends itself to more secure connections to attachments and implements. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts inner structure of upper portion  22 , with two reinforced walls  27  (shown in phantom) running longitudinally along the edges of the proximal end, thereby defining channel  28 . As used herein, “reinforced” refers to providing greater strength due to thickness, material and/or other features. As best shown in  FIG. 7 , receiver  32  of lower portion  23  slides into channel  28  of upper portion  22 . This design strengthens the tool, keeps the receiver portion out of the way when not in use, and provides a readily available means for screwing and unscrewing set screws of the device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , attachment slot  60  of attachment  50  is sized to snugly fit over jaw  25 , so as to virtually eliminate unwanted lateral movement and be frictionally held in place prior to securing. Attachment  50  can be a variety of sizes and shapes, with preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . More specifically, preferred embodiments include modified planar edge wrench attachment  53 ; needle nose pliers attachment  56 ; serrated edge wrench attachment  57 ; angled edge wrench attachment  54 ; planar edge wrench attachment  52 ; modified angled edge wrench attachment  55 ; and grasping implement  58 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , it is possible to use dissimilar attachments. As an example, planar edge wrench attachment  52  and angled edge wrench attachment  54  are shown together. As would be understood, different attachments perform different function. For example, two angled edge wrench attachments  54  would provide the functionality of a wrench having a very wide span, approximately 3″ while serrated edge wrench attachment  57  would be particularly useful for gripping smooth cylindrical pipes. Grasping implement  58  is sized to fit over the tips of various attachments, for example modified angled edge wrench attachment  55 , and provide gripping action at the tip as needed. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , attachment  50  may be secured to jaw  25  by ball plunger  15 , which is embedded in jaw  25  and protrudes through ball plunger aperture  16 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , set screws  12  may traverse attachment (here, hammer  51 ) through set screw aperture  13  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and screw into set screw indentation  14 . It is preferred to provide both the ball plunger and corresponding ball plunger aperture  15 ,  16 , as well as the set screw, set screw aperture and set screw indentation  12 ,  13 ,  14  options for each attachment. In other words, it is preferred that each jaw  25  has ball plunger  15  on one side, and set screw indentation  14  on the other side, and each attachment  50  has ball plunger aperture  16  on one side, and set screw aperture  13  on the other side. Thus a user can use a set screw and/or ball plunger to fasten attachment  50  to core wrench  20 , although set screws only may be preferable for hammer attachment  51  for safety reasons. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , attachment slot  60  of hammer attachment  51  is sized to accept both jaws  25  simultaneously and in side-by-side orientation. It should be noted that hammer attachment  51  can be reversed, for example striking surface oriented right and prying surface oriented left, depending on intended use. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict connection between upper portion  22  and lower portion  23 , with lower portion  23  sliding into upper portion  22 . Connection between portions is preferably achieved by ball plunger  15  and ball plunger aperture  16 . It should be understood that the separable handle is also useful insofar as it is possible to use the device with a shortened handle, for example that depicted in  FIG. 1A . A shortened handle could be useful in a limited workspace. As shown, hex  35  is received into sleeve  33  of receiver  32 , and secured by set screw  12 . It should be understood that hex  35  can be a variety of tool bits such screw drivers, scrapers, chisels, borers, and the like. 
     The distal end of lower portion  23  defines ratcheting gear  40 , see  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , ratcheting gear  40  is capable of securely receiving socket adaptor  42 , which can receive, for example, socket  43 . As is understood by those in the art, socket adaptors and sockets can be connected in a myriad of ways to achieve ratcheting capability that ranges from very small to very large diameter heads. 
     Another implement of the present invention, depicted in  FIG. 10 , is extender  65 , which slips over side-by-side oriented jaws and provides leverage for securing open-end wrench extension  68 . It should be understood that open-end wrench extension  68  is depicted, but various tools, for example a box wrench, particularly those with elongated handles, could be used with extender  65 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , extender  65  defines ball plunger aperture  16 , and would therefore have ball plunger  15  underneath on open-end wrench extension  68 . Alternatively, extender  65  could retain ball plunger  15 , with ball plunger aperture  16  defined by open-end wrench extension  68 . This could be useful where tool, for example open-end wrench extension  68 , has a thin elongated portion, and is incapable of retaining a ball plunger. 
     An alternative embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 11 , wherein attachment defines side slot  62  (having 4 slot walls), versus attachment slot  60  (having 5 slot walls). In this embodiment it is desirable to have dual set screws  12 , and not employ ball plungers. 
     Although the dimensions of present invention could be varied, the following approximate dimensions are preferred: length of upper portion  22  is 3″; length of lower portion  23  is 3″; exposed portion of jaws  25  are each 1.2″ tall, 0.75″ wide, and ⅜″ thick; maximum clearance between jaws  25  is 1⅜″; diameter of ratcheting gear  40  is sized to receive a ¾″ hex, or a 6, 8 or 12 point bolt or nut. An example of a suitable ¾″ hex is commercially available from Kobalt Manufacturing. Dimensions of reinforced walls  27  are thicker than adjoining walls, and are about 0.45″ thick; sleeve  33  is sized to receive ¼″ hex; and channel  28  is 3″ deep, 0.40″ tall and 0.60″ wide. Slots  60  are sized to snugly receive jaws  25 . It is desirable to use Press-Fit stainless steel body spring plunger with stainless steel balls, 25″ body diameter, 1.5-3.5 lb nose force ball plungers which are commercially available from McMaster-Carr of Atlanta, Ga. It is desirable that the present invention is manufactured out of true steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, plastic, aluminum, and/or titanium. 
     In use, one could select appropriate attachments  50 , and insert jaws  25  into attachment slots  60 . Attachments  50  could be secured using set screw  12 , ball plunger  15 , or both. Removable handle  30  could be pulled from upper portion  22  to expose receiver  32  with hex  35  if needed to tighten set screws  12 , if needed. Removable handle  30  could then be slideably engaged with upper portion  22 , thereby returning tool  10  to useable configuration. Worm screw  17  could be adjusted to achieve desired span of attachment  50 , and desired manipulations could be performed. Grasping implement  58  could be added to attachment  50  if slippage is a concern. If hammering action is desired, jaws  25  could be brought to side-by-side position using worm screw  17 , and hammer attachment  51  would be connected, preferably using set screws  12 . If an open-end wrench is needed, one could connect extender  65  to side-by-side jaws  35 , and add extension  68 , or the like. If ratcheting action is desired, one could insert socket  43  and/or socket adapter  42  into ratcheting gear  40  and use. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, the length of the handle, jaws, and so forth could be varied. The device can include a ruler or other length measuring demarcation. Also, additional attachments could be used. Set screws, ball plunger and corresponding attachment sites can be located differently as shown. Also, it is possible to paint or otherwise coat the invention for longevity or aesthetic reasons. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims. Ranges set forth herein include all increments there between, and approximations are +/−5%.

Technology Category: 7