Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/256,137, filed Oct. 29, 2009, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a ratchet wrench. More particularly, the present invention relates to a T-Handle wrench. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A conventional ratchet wrench includes a wrench head attached to a handle. The wrench head includes a shaft configured to receive a socket. The socket is used to engage an object, such as a bolt head. Generally, the socket is used for a single sized bolt head. The conventional ratchet wrench also includes a grip and slide mechanism configured to allow the wrench head and the socket to rotate relative to the handle in a first direction and remain fixed relative to the handle in a second direction. Even though the conventional ratchet wrench may be useful in rotating the bolt head, there is still a need for an improved ratchet wrench. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention generally relates to a T-Handle wrench. In one aspect, a wrench is provided that includes a shaped handle. The wrench further includes a plurality of jaws operatively attached to the handle. The wrench also includes a sleeve member disposed around the jaws. Additionally, the wrench includes a push button assembly configured to move the sleeve member relative to the jaws, wherein the movement of the sleeve member causes the jaws to move between a retracted position and an extended position. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a method of operating a wrench is provided. The method includes the step of providing a wrench having a shaped handle with jaws operatively attached via pin members and a sleeve member disposed around the jaws. The method also includes the step of moving the sleeve member from an upper portion of the jaws to a lower portion of the jaws. Additionally, the method includes the step of rotating the jaws around the pin members from a retracted position to an extended position. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect, a wrench is provided. The wrench includes a T-shaped body. The wrench further includes a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw has an upper portion attached to the T-shaped body via a pin and a lower portion that includes a tapered surface. Additionally, the wrench includes a sleeve member disposed around the jaws, wherein the sleeve member has an inner surface that interacts with the tapered surface of the lower portion of each jaw when the sleeve member moves relative to the jaws. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a T-Handle wrench. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the T-Handle wrench. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the T-Handle wrench with jaws in a retracted position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the T-Handle wrench with jaws in an extended position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of the T-Handle wrench engaging an object. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a T-Handle wrench  100 . Generally, the T-Handle wrench  100  is configured to grip an object and then allow a user to apply a torque to the object. As shown, the T-Handle wrench  100  includes a handle  120 , a push button  125 , a collar member  130 , a sleeve member  105  and jaws  110 ,  115 . As will be described herein, a user will apply a force to the push button  125  which causes the sleeve member  105  to move away from the handle  120 . As a result, a lower portion of the jaws  110 ,  115  will move radially outward to allow the T-Handle wrench  100  to grip the object, such as a bolt head. 
         [0016]    The jaws  110 ,  115  are movable between a retracted position (see  FIG. 3 ) and an extended position (see  FIG. 4 ). In the extended position, the jaws  110 ,  115  may be used to engage and grip the object. The jaws  110 ,  115  are also movable to any number of intermediate positions between the retracted position and the extended position. The intermediate positions allow the T-Handle wrench  100  to be used with a range of different sized objects (e.g. different sizes of bolt heads). The T-Handle wrench  100  in  FIG. 1  shows two jaws, however, any number of jaws may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the T-Handle wrench  100 . As shown, the T-Handle wrench  100  includes a push button assembly  150 . Generally, the push button assembly  150  is used to move the sleeve member  105  relative to the jaws  110 ,  115 . The sleeve member  105  is connected to the push button assembly  150  via connection member  190 . The push button assembly  150  includes the push button  125 , a handle rod  160 , a wedge member  145  and a button biasing member  155  which are disposed in the handle  120 . The push button  125 , the handle rod  160  and the wedge member  145  are interconnected via connection member  175 . The push button assembly  150  further includes an upper push rod  180 , a lower push rod  140 , a rod biasing member  185  and washers  235 . The rod biasing member  185  is configured to bias the upper push rod  180  into engagement with the wedge member  145 . In the embodiment illustrated the components of the push button assembly  150  and the sleeve member  105  move relative to the other components of the T-Handle wrench  100 . As will be described herein, the components of the push button assembly  150  interact with the other components of the T-Handle wrench  100  to allow the jaws  110 ,  115  to move 
         [0018]    The T-Handle wrench  100  further includes the collar member  130 . Generally, the collar member  130  is a switch mechanism that allows the jaws  110 ,  115  to either rotate relative to the handle  120  or to be fixed relative to the handle  120 . The collar member  130  is rotatable between a first position, a second position and a third position. In the first position, the jaws  110 ,  115  of the T-Handle wrench  100  are allowed to rotate relative to the handle  120  in a first direction and the jaws  110 ,  115  are fixed relative to the handle  120  in a second opposite direction. In the second position, the jaws  110 ,  115  of the T-Handle wrench  100  are fixed relative to the handle  120  in the first direction and the second opposite direction. In the third position, the jaws  110 ,  115  of the T-Handle wrench  100  are fixed relative to the handle  120  in the first direction and the jaws  110 ,  115  are allowed to rotate relative to the handle  120  in the second opposite direction. The collar member  130  is interconnected with a slide mechanism  135  via connection member  205  and the handle  120  via connection member  280 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the T-Handle wrench  100  with jaws  110 ,  115  in the retracted position. As shown, the jaws  110 ,  115  are held in the retracted position by the sleeve member  105 . Specifically, the sleeve member  105  includes inner surfaces  240 ,  245  that are in contact with tapered surfaces  210 ,  215  of the jaws  110 ,  115  and the movement of the sleeve member  105  relative to the jaws  110 ,  115  controls rotational movement of the jaws  110 ,  115  around pins  230 . 
         [0020]    The interconnection of the components of the push button assembly  150  is also shown in  FIG. 3 . The push button  125 , the handle rod  160 , the wedge member  145  and the button biasing member  155  are disposed in the handle  120 . The button biasing member  155  is configured to bias the wedge member  145  in a direction away from the upper push rod  180 . The wedge block  145  includes a surface  220  that is configured to contact a surface  225  of the upper push rod  180 . The movement of the push button  125  in a direction toward the upper push rod  180  compresses the button biasing member  155  and causes the surface  220  of the wedge block  145  to slide along the surface  225  of the upper push rod  180 . As a result, the upper push rod  180  and the lower push rod  140  are urged away from the handle  120  and the rod biasing member  185  is compressed. The push rods  140 ,  180  are connected to the sleeve member  105  via connection member  190  and as such, the movement of the push rods  140 ,  180  causes the sleeve member  105  to move relative to the jaws  110 ,  115 , thereby causing the tapered surfaces  210 ,  215  of jaws  110 ,  115  slide along the inner surfaces  240 ,  245  of the sleeve member  105 . In turn, a biasing member  195  causes the jaws  110 ,  115  to rotate around the pins  230  to a desired position. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the T-Handle wrench with jaws in an extended position. As shown, the movement of the push button  125  in a direction toward the upper push rod  180  has compressed the button biasing member  155  and causes the surface  220  of the wedge block  145  to slide along the surface  225  of the upper push rod  180 . As a result, the upper push rod  180  and the lower push rod  140  have been urged away from the handle  120  and the rod biasing member  185  is compressed. The movement of the push rods  140 ,  180  causes the sleeve member  105  to move away from the handle  120 , thereby allowing the tapered surfaces  210 ,  215  of jaws  110 ,  115  slide along the inner surfaces  240 ,  245  of the sleeve member  105 . At the same time, the jaws  110 ,  115  are biased outward by the biasing member  195  and rotate around the pins  230  to the desired position which may be the extended position or any number of intermediate positions. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a view of the T-Handle wrench  100  engaging an object  50 . The movement of the push rods  140 ,  180  causes the sleeve member  105  to move relative to the jaws  110 ,  115 , thereby allowing the tapered surfaces  210 ,  215  of jaws  110 ,  115  slide along the inner surfaces  240 ,  245  of the sleeve member  105 . At the same time, the jaws  110 ,  115  rotate around the pins  230  to the desired position. In one embodiment, the desired position is when the inner diameter of the jaws  110 ,  115  proximate the gripping surface  260 ,  265  is larger than the outer diameter of the object  50 . Thereafter, the gripping surfaces  260 ,  265  of the jaws  110 ,  115  may be placed around the object  50  and the push button  125  is released. Upon release of the push button  125 , the biasing member  155  moves the wedge member  145  away from the upper push rod  180  which causes the surface  220  of the wedge block  145  to slide along the surface  225  of the upper push rod  180 . As a result, the upper push rod  180  and the lower push rod  140  are urged toward the handle  120  and the rod biasing member  185  expands. The push rods  140 ,  180  are connected to the sleeve member  105  via connection member  190  and as such, the movement of the push rods  140 ,  180  causes the sleeve member  105  to move toward the handle  120 . As the sleeve member  105  moves toward the handle  120 , the tapered surfaces  210 ,  215  of jaws  110 ,  115  slide along the inner surfaces  240 ,  245  of the sleeve member  105 . In turn, the jaws  110 ,  115  rotate around the pins  230  to move the inner gripping surfaces  260 ,  265  of the jaws  110 ,  115  into engagement with the object  50 . Thereafter, the user may apply a torque to the object by using the T-Handle wrench  100 . The T-Handle wrench  100  may be disengaged from the object  50  by moving the jaws  110 ,  115  to the extended position in a similar manner as described herein. 
         [0023]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Technology Category: 7