Open-ended wrench

• US 4,774,862 A
• Filed: 05/19/1987
• Issued: 10/04/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Scull, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RACHUBA, MAURINA T
• Application Number:
  US07/052,017
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 81/119, 81/121, 81/176.1, 81/176.15, 81/176.2, 81/177.1, 81/177.8
• US Class Current: 81/119
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/08 of open jaw type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access

Abstract

The invention is a single jaw (52) seven point (70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82) open-ended wrench (50) having a double square socket (64) attached to one opposite ends (60) spaced by an opening (62) from the other opposite end (58). The jaw (52) is dynamically stiffened and has a substantial jaw support (66). Where the arc of the jaw ends, there are flat surfaces (96, 102 and 98, 104) to receive opposite flat sides (108, 110) of a six point nut (112) or the nut may be received by moving the wrench in the direction of the axis of the nut to thereby engage it. The drive socket (64) is positioned at 90° from the jaw opening (62).

Claims

1. An open-ended wrench for use on a multi-sided member of selected size, comprising:

(a) a jaw formed substantially as an arc, the substantial arc having an open end and having two spaced opposing ends of the arc at the open end, said open end sized to engage said multi-sided member from a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of said member;

(b) said arced-jaw having a thickness and having a series of equally and circumferentially spaced internal notch-shaped points extending toward an outer surface of the arc;

each notch-shaped point having two flat walls extending outwardly toward the outer surface of the arc and being joined at their outer ends to form a notch-shaped point;

(c) said internal notch-points being engageable with respective points of a properly sized multi-sided member which member points are formed at ends of two flat sides of the multi-sided member;

the flat sides forming each point of said multi-sided member being engageable with at least one respective flat wall of a notch-point in which the member point is engageable;

the points of the multi-sided member and the points of the arced-jaw being generally parallel to the axis of the multi-sided member when the respective points are engaged; and

(d) a handle for rotating the arced-jaw, said handle extending from one of said opposing ends from adjacent the open end and extending outwardly away from the jaw and from the one opposing end along a line of direction generally through said opposing ends, whereby when said points of said multi-sided member are engaged in the points of the arced-jaw and when said arced-jaw is rotated by said handle, said multi-sided member is gripped and rotated for tightening or loosening, said arced-jaw is in tension around the multi-sided member as it is rotated to prevent said arced-jaw from spreading and slipping on the multi-sided member.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

said handle adjacent the open end has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the jaw.

3. The invention according to claim 2 in which:

said wrench has seven internal points.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

(a) each of said opposing ends has a flat surface, said flat surfaces facing each other;

(b) said opposing flat surfaces being engageable with opposite flat sides of a properly sized and shaped multi-sided member on and through said flat surfaces and at least one point of the nut being engageable in said internal points of the arc for rotation of the multi-sided member.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

said arced-jaw being engageable with a properly sized multi-sided member in the direction of the axis of said multi-sided member, internal points of the arc being slidable onto points of the multi-sided member.

6. The invention according to claim 5 in which:

said internal points are formed substantially within a semicircle of said arc.

7. The invention according to claim 5 in which:

said flat wall forming the internal points being positioned to engage flat sides joined at points on the multi-sided member substantially within the semicircle.

8. The invention according to claim 1 in which:

said internal points are formed substantially within a semicircle of said arc.

9. The invention according to claim 8 in which:

(a) each of said opposing ends has an outer flat surface extending outwardly of said semicircle, said outer flat surfaces facing each other;

(b) said opposing flat surfaces being engageable with opposite flat sides of a properly sized multi-sided member, on and through said outer flat surfaces, and at least one point of the multi-sided member being engageable in an internal point of the arc for rotation of the multi-sided member;

(c) an inner flat surface inwardly of each of said opposing ends and being within said semicircle, said inner flat surfaces facing each other;

(d) each outer flat surface being in longitudinal alignment with an inner flat surface adjacent a corresponding opposing end so that said inner flat surfaces engage the same flat sides of a multi-sided member for rotation as do the corresponding outer flat surfaces.

10. The invention according to claim 9 in which:

said arc including said opposing ends extends for about 240°

.

11. An open-ended wrench for use on a multi-sided member, comprising:

(a) a jaw of substantial arc form, the arc-shaped jaw terminating in two spaced opposing ends having an open end therebetween;

(b) said arc-shaped jaw having a series of equally and circumferentially spaced notch-shaped internal points extending toward an outer surface of the jaw;

each notch-shaped point having two flat walls extending outwardly toward the outer surface of the arc and being joined at their outer ends thereby forming the notched-shaped point;

(c) said internal notch-shaped points being engageable with respective points of a properly sized multi-sided member which member points are formed at an end of two flat sides of the multi-sided member;

the flat sides forming each point of said multi-sided member being engageable with at least one respective flat wall of a notch-point in which the point of said multi-sided member is engageable;

the points of the multi-sided member and the points of the arced-jaw being generally parallel to the axis of the multi-sided member when the respective points are engaged; and

(d) a handle extending along the jaw from one of said opposing ends from adjacent the open end, said handle extending outwardly away from the jaw and from the one opposing end along a line of direction generally through said opposing ends, said handle having its center line in substantial alignment with two internal opposing points in the jaw, each of said last two internal points being adjacent a respective opposing end, a line through said jaw center and in alignment with said last internal points being substantially perpendicular to an arc center line centrally spaced between the opposing ends, whereby when said multi-sided member is gripped and rotated for tightening or loosening by said jaw, said jaw is in tension around the multi-sided member as it is rotated to prevent said jaw from spreading and slipping on the multi-sided member.

12. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

said handle means adjacent the open end and said jaw have thicknesses that are substantially equal.

13. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

said open end is sized to engage said multi-sided member from a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the multi-sided member.

14. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

said wrench has seven internal points.

15. The invention according to claim 14 in which:

said internal points are formed substantially within a semicircle of said arc.

16. The invention according to claim 14 in which:

(a) five of said seven points are formed within the jaw away from said opposing ends;

(b) two of the seven points are formed within the jaw adjacent the opposing ends; and

(c) one half of the last two points and said five points are formed within a semicircle of the arc.

17. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

said arc including said opposing ends extends for about 240°

.

18. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

said jaw is formed to engage four, six, and twelve point multi-sided members in the direction of the axis of the multi-sided members, internal points of the jaw being slidable onto points of the multi-sided members.

19. The invention according to claim 11 in which:

(a) each of said opposing ends have an outer flat surface, said outer flat surfaces facing each other;

(b) said facing surfaces being engageable with opposite flat sides of a properly shaped and sized multi-sided member, on and through said outer flat surfaces, and at least one point of the multi-sided member being engageable in one internal point of the arc for rotation of the multi-sided member.

20. The invention according to claim 19 including:

(a) an internal point immediately inwardly of said outer flat surface of each opposing end;

(b) a semicircle of said jaw terminating at said last internal points immediately inwardly of said outer flat surface of each opposing end; and

(c) an inner flat surface immediately inwardly of each last internal point within said semicircle, said inner flat surfaces opposing each other so that they may engage said opposite flat sides of said multi-sided member respectively engaged by said outer flat surface of said jaw.