Pipe wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11207762-B2
Application number	US-201916389638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A pipe wrench with an extendible handle is provided. The extendible handle may include a web and a flange to reduce bending stress. The pipe wrench may include a locking button that slides within a channel of the web to lock the extension handle at predetermined extended or retracted lengths. The locking button selectively enables the extension or retraction of the extension handle relative to the first handle of the pipe wrench. The locking button is biased by a spring and coupled to the extension handle with an e-clip. The body, the first handle, and/or the extension handle can include composite materials. In some embodiments, carbon fiber reinforced plastics, fiberglass reinforced plastics, and/or other reinforced polymers are used to form one or more features of the pipe wrench.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a lower jaw coupled to the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw comprising a threaded portion and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded portion of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper contact region of the upper jaw relative to the lower contact region of the lower jaw;
a handle comprising a distal end portion adjacent the head and a proximal end portion opposite the distal end portion, the proximal end portion comprising a bore; and
an extension handle comprising a beam configured to slidably extend and retract through the bore, the beam comprising a flange extending in a first direction and a web extending in a second direction, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

2. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , further comprising an end cap at a proximal end of the extension handle, the end cap comprising concave recesses shaped to receive one or more fingers of an operator's hand.

3. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the extension handle is non-threadably coupled to the handle.

4. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the flange extends from the web to form a cross-section comprising a central axis extending through the web and the flange and the flange extends through the central axis.

5. The pipe wrench of claim 4 , wherein the beam comprises two flanges on either side of the web that extend in a transverse direction through the central axis, wherein the flanges extend from the central axis in both directions.

6. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the head and the handle form a continuous integral component and the beam is extruded to form the flange and the web as a continuous integral beam.

7. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the head, handle, and a part of the extension handle are formed from a polymer material and the lower jaw, the upper jaw, the flange, and the web are formed from a metal material.

8. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lever locking members pivotably coupled to an outer surface of the handle, the lever locking members configured to fit within detents of the extension handle to lock the extension handle.

9. The pipe wrench of claim 8 , wherein the outer surface of the handle includes one or more side surfaces and wherein one or more lever locking members couple to the side surfaces such that the lever locking members do not extend beyond the proximal end portion of the handle.

10. The pipe wrench of claim 8 , wherein the one or more lever locking members further include a first end configured to fit within detents of the extension handle and a second end, opposing the first end.

11. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a channel within the web of the extension handle, the channel comprising locking locations with a first width interconnected by narrow portions with a second width, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

12. The pipe wrench of claim 11 , further comprising a locking button coupled to the handle and extending through the channel of the web on the extension handle, the locking button comprising a thick section that has a first diameter configured to lock the extension handle through the locking location of the channel and a narrow section extending from the thick section and having a second diameter configured to traverse through the narrow portions of the channel, wherein the first diameter of the thick section is greater than the second diameter of the narrow portion.

13. A pipe wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a lower jaw coupled to the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw including a threaded portion and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded portion of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper contact region of the upper jaw relative to the lower contact region of the lower jaw;
a handle comprising a distal end portion adjacent the head and a proximal end portion opposite the distal end portion, the proximal end portion comprising a bore; and
an extension handle comprising an I-beam cross-sectional shape, the extension handle configured to slidably extend and retract through the bore, the extension handle comprising flanges extending on either side of a web in a direction transverse to the web.

14. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the flanges are rectangular in cross-sectional shape.

15. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the cross-section of the I-beam is symmetric about a central axis and has a concave web, wherein the flanges are curved.

16. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , further comprising an end cap at a proximal end of the extension handle, the end cap configured to receive an operator's hand to extend or retract the end cap.

17. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the head, handle, and a part of the extension handle comprise a fiber reinforced plastic constituent; and wherein the lower jaw and the upper jaw comprise a die-forged steel, and the I-beam comprises an aluminum alloy.

18. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , further comprising a lever coupled to the handle and extending through a channel of the web on the extension handle, the channel comprising a first continuous portion at a non-locking location and a second portion including a plurality of apertures at a locking location, wherein the second portion configured to lock the extension handle through the locking location of the channel, the continuous portion of the channel interconnecting the locking locations.

19. The pipe wrench of claim 18 , wherein the handle further includes a side surface, and wherein the lever is coupled to the side surface at a proximal end of the handle such that the lever does not extend beyond a proximal edge of the handle reducing unwanted actuation of the lever.

20. A pipe wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a lower jaw coupled to the head, the lower jaw comprising a plurality of teeth that define a lower contact region;
an upper jaw partially extending through the aperture of the head, the upper jaw comprising a threaded portion and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded portion of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper contact region of the upper jaw relative to the lower contact region of the lower jaw;
a handle comprising a distal end portion adjacent the head and a proximal end portion opposite the distal end portion, the proximal end portion comprising a bore;
an extension handle comprising an I-beam configured to slidably extend or retract through the bore, the I-beam comprising flanges extending in a transverse direction on either side of a web;
a channel within the web of the extension handle, the channel comprising locking locations interconnected by narrow portions; and
a locking button coupled to the handle and extending through the channel of the web, the locking button comprising a thick section configured to lock the extension handle through the locking location of the channel and a narrow section co

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Lownik Matthew A
• Blumenthal Aaron S

Classifications

• B25G1/043

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25G1/04 Primary

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title

• B25B13/5058 Primary

  Linearly moving or adjustable, e.g. with an additional small tilting or rocking movement · CPC title

• B25B13/16

  by screw or nut · CPC title