Retention apparatus for portions of adjustable wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034001-B2
Application number	US-201816204992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2018
Priority date	Apr 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for use with an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the remaining parts of the adjustable wrench when the wrench fractures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device is secured to two separate areas of the hook portion.

2. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device includes a first layer or strip of material disposed on a portion of the hook portion of the L-shaped movable jaw and a second layer or strip of material is disposed over at least a portion of the layer or strip of material to limit the displacement of the broken portion of the adjustable wrench after the wrench fails.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first layer or strip of material is disposed completely around a portion of the hook portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first layer or strip of material is disposed on an outer portion of the hook portion of the L-shaped movable jaw.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first or second layer or strip of material is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a metallic material, a shrink wrap material, or a combination thereof.

6. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device is an enclosure device that encapsulates a part of the hook portion to limit the displacement of the broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fails.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the enclosure device encapsulates substantially all of the L-shaped movable jaw that extends from the tunnel on the opposite side of the tunnel from the handle while leaving the serrated jaw of the L-shaped movable jaw exposed to engage a work object.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the enclosure device is secured to the handle, the L-shaped movable jaw, or the handle and the L-shaped movable jaw.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the enclosure device is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, a fabric material, a cloth material, or a combination thereof.

10. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device is a rod element that extends through the L-shaped movable jaw.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the rod element extends through the lever arm and the hook portion of the L-shaped movable jaw.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the rod element is a bolt or a rivet.

13. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device includes a C-shaped plate secured to the hook portion of the L-shaped movable jaw.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the C-shaped plate is secured to one side of the handle and a corresponding side of the hook portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the C-shaped plate includes a first end portion attached to the hook portion and a second end portion attached to the handle, the second end portion having a lip portion disposed thereon to contact a work object when the adjustable wrench fails.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the C-shaped plate further includes an extension element disposed on the second end portion having an elongated opening disposed therein and the handle has a pin element disposed thereon to engage with the elongated opening to permit the C-shaped plate to extend and retract as the L-shaped movable jaw extends and retracts.

17. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprising:
a handle having a handle end and a flat serrated jaw surface;
an L-shaped movable jaw having a hook portion, a lever arm, and a serrated jaw, the lever arm having a terminal end; and
a projection extending from the handle having a tunnel therein for accepting the lever arm of the L-shaped movable jaw;

wherein the restraint device includes a lanyard device attached to the hook portion and another part of the L-shaped movable jaw or another part of the adjustable wrench.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein one end of the lanyard device is releasably attachable to the adjustable wrench to facilitate the lanyard device's disposal around a work object for which the adjustable wrench is used.

19. A restraint apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
at least one restraint device attached to an adjustable wrench to limit the displacement of a broken portion of the adjustable wrench relative to the adjustable wrench after the adjustable wrench fractures, the adjustable wrench comprises:
at least one handle;
a first jaw having a first gripping surface; and
a second jaw having a second gripping surface wherein the second jaw is movable with res

Assignees

• Thru Tubing Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Watson Brock
• Schultz Roger
• Kliewer Greg
• Ferguson Andy

Classifications

• B25B7/02 Primary

  Jaws · CPC title

• B25B13/14

  by rack and pinion, worm or gear · CPC title

• B25B13/12

  the jaws being slidable · CPC title

• B25B13/58

  Jaw attachments · CPC title

• B25B7/04

  adjustable · CPC title