Spring pivoted, ratcheting lever wrench

• US 5,771,761 A
• Filed: 04/16/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazimierz M. Binkowski
• Original Assignee: Kazimierz M. Binkowski
• Inventors: Binkowski, Kazimierz M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meislin, D. S.
• Application Number:
  US08/632,821
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 81/92-100, 81/106-109, 81/110-111, 81/126, 81/129.5, 81/155, 81/165-167
• US Class Current: 81/99
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/28 the jaws being pivotally movable
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/46 of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle

Abstract

A wrench includes a fixed jaw (16) at one end of a handle (15) and a pivoted jaw (19) joined to the handle by a pivot (20) disposed in a plane (30). A spring (25) urges the pivoted jaw through a gripping position in which flat gripping surfaces (17, 18) are parallel and separated by a distance which equals the size of the bolthead or nut to be turned. The plane (30) extends through the proximal edges of the surfaces (17, 18) which are flat from the plane to the distal edges of the jaws, and perpendicular to the plane. An auxiliary lever (45) assists in ratcheting. The wrenches may be single ended, double ended, or adjustable, in which case, an integral pivot bar (50) slides within the wrench handle perpendicular to the gripping surfaces (17, 18). A plurality of springs (25b, 25c) may be used.

Claims

1. A spring pivoted, ratcheting lever wrench for use in gripping opposed parallel flat surfaces of a bolthead or nut which are separated by a distance defining the size of said bolthead or nut, and rotating said bolthead or nut, comprising:

a handle having two ends and a fixed jaw disposed at one end thereof, said fixed jaw having a first flat surface;

a pivoted jaw having a second flat surface, said pivoted jaw joined to said handle near said one end by a pivot and rotatable through a gripping position in which said second surface is parallel to said first surface and spaced therefrom by said distance;

said first and second surfaces each having a proximal edge near said pivot and a distal edge opposite to the respective one of said proximal edges, said distal edges being the extreme distal edges of said jaws, respectively; and

means resiliently urging said pivoted jaw to rotate in a direction to bring said second surface closer to said first surface;

characterized by the improvement comprising;

the axis of said pivot being within a plane which includes the respective proximal edges of said first and second flat surfaces when in said gripping position and which is perpendicular to said first flat surface, said first flat surface extending from said plane to the extreme distal edge of said fixed jaw, and said second flat surface extending from said plane to the extreme distal edge of said pivoted jaw, thereby providing a nut or bolthead with unimpeded access to the space between said first and second flat surfaces when said pivoted jaw is rotated to a position in which said second surface is parallel with said first surface; and

a secondary lever extending from the proximal edge of said first surface generally toward said second surface in a position to engage a flat surface of a bolthead or nut when said bolthead or nut is engaged by said first flat surface.

2. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said pivot is slidable along said handle within said plane, thereby to adjust the distance between said flat surfaces when in the gripping position, thereby to render said wrench adjustable to fit boltheads and nuts of a variety of sizes.

3. A wrench according to claim 2 wherein said pivot is connected to a rack which is slidable along said handle;

and comprising;

a worm gear journaled in said handle in engagement with said rack, rotation of said worm gear adjusting the size of said wrench.

4. A wrench according to claim 3 wherein said pivot is formed integrally with said rack.

5. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a torsion wire spring.

6. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a helical compression spring.

7. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a helical tension spring.

8. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a plurality of springs.

9. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a plurality of helical tension springs.

10. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said handle includes a recess in the vicinity of said pivot for receiving said pivoted jaw.

11. A wrench according to claim 1 wherein said pivoted jaw is bifurcated in the vicinity of said pivot for receiving said handle.

12. A wrench according to claim 11 wherein said pivoted jaw is formed of two mirror-image pieces joined together.

13. An adjustable, spring pivoted, ratcheting lever wrench for use in gripping opposed parallel flat surfaces of boltheads or nuts which are separated by different distances defining the respective sizes of said boltheads or nuts, and rotating said boltheads or nuts, comprising:

a handle having two ends and a fixed jaw disposed at one end thereof, said fixed jaw having a first flat surface;

a pivot disposed in said handle near said one end, the position of said pivot being adjustable along said handle;

a pivoted jaw having a second flat surface, said pivoted jaw joined to said handle by said pivot and rotatable through a gripping position in which said second surface is parallel to said first surface and spaced therefrom by a selectable distance;

said first and second surfaces each having a proximal edge near said pivot and a distal edge opposite to the respective one of said proximal edges, said distal edges being the extreme distal edges of said jaws, respectively; and

means resiliently urging said pivoted jaw to rotate in a direction to bring said second surface closer to said first surface;

characterized by the improvement comprising;

the axis of said pivot at different positions within said handle remaining within a plane which includes the respective proximal edges of said first and second flat surfaces when in said gripping position and which is perpendicular to said first flat surface, said first flat surface extending from said plane to the extreme distal edge of said fixed jaw, and said second flat surface extending from said plane to the extreme distal edge of said pivoted jaw, thereby providing a nut or bolthead with unimpeded access to the space between said first and second flat surfaces when said pivoted jaw is rotated to a position in which said second surface is parallel with said first surface; and

a secondary lever extending from the proximal edge of said first surface generally toward said second surface in a position to engage a flat surface of a bolthead or nut when said bolthead or nut is engaged by said first flat surface.

14. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said pivot is connected to a rack which is slidable along said handle;

and comprising;

a worm gear journaled in said handle in engagement with said rack, rotation of said worm gear adjusting the size of said wrench.

15. A wrench according to claim 14 wherein said pivot is formed integrally with said rack.

16. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said means comprises a helical tension spring.

17. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said means comprises a plurality of springs.

18. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said means comprises a plurality of helical tension springs.

19. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said handle includes a recess in the vicinity of said pivot for receiving said pivoted jaw.

20. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said pivoted jaw is bifurcated in the vicinity of sid pivot for receiving said handle.

21. A wrench according to claim 13 wherein said pivoted jaw is formed of two mirror-image pieces joined together.