One-handed pipe wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11458601-B2
Application number	US-202016794587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 21, 2019
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A truly one-handed operable pipe wrench is provided which includes a handle having a first end and a second end, a fixed jaw disposed at the second end of the handle, and a rotatable jaw pivotally attached to the second end of the handle. The rotatable jaw includes a first engaging end and a second driven end. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the handle. The lever arm includes a handle portion and an actuating portion. When the lever arm rotates relative to the handle, the actuating portion is in contact with the second driven end of the rotatable jaw causing the rotatable jaw to rotate relative to the second end of the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe wrench comprising:
a handle comprising a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a first side extension and a second side extension forming a slot therebetween;
a fixed jaw disposed at the second end of the handle, the fixed jaw comprising an attachment projection configured to be inserted into the slot between the first and second side extensions;
a rotatable jaw pivotally attached to the second end of the handle between the first and second side extensions via a first pinned connection, the first pinned connection defining a first pivot point, the rotatable jaw comprising a first engaging end on a first side of the first pivot point and a second driven end on a second side of the first pivot point;
a lever arm pivotally attached to the handle via a second pinned connection, the second pinned connection defining a second pivot point, the lever arm comprising a handle portion extending from the second pivot point toward the first end of the handle and an actuating portion extending through the slot of the handle and contacting an external surface of the second driven end of the rotatable jaw; and
a spring configured to bias the rotatable jaw towards the fixed jaw and into a closed position, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

2. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion of the lever arm is formed with a u-shaped slot, and the handle at least partially fits within the u-shaped slot.

3. The pipe wrench of claim 2 , wherein the u-shaped slot of the handle portion comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall.

4. The pipe wrench of claim 3 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall each comprise an attachment flange.

5. The pipe wrench of claim 4 , wherein the second pinned connection comprises a second pin that extends through the handle and the attachment flanges of the first and second sidewalls, and a second circlip securing the second pin and allowing for relative rotation of the handle and the attachment flanges.

6. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the lever arm provides at least a two-to-one mechanical advantage for rotating the rotatable jaw when the lever arm is rotated about the second pivot point causing the actuated end of the lever arm to drive the external surface of the second driven end of the rotatable jaw to rotate the rotatable jaw about the first pivot point.

7. The pipe wrench of claim 1 wherein the first pinned connection comprises a first pin that extends through the rotatable jaw and the first and second side extensions, and a first circlip securing the first pin and allowing for relative rotation of the rotatable jaw the first and second side extensions.

8. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the torsion spring has a first portion which engages the fixed jaw and a second portion which engages the rotatable jaw.

9. The pipe wrench of claim 1 , wherein the torsion spring is located between the first and second side extensions of the handle.

10. A pipe wrench comprising:
a handle comprising a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a first side extension and a second side extension forming a slot therebetween;
a fixed jaw disposed at the second end of the handle, the fixed jaw comprising an attachment projection configured to be inserted into the slot between the first and second side extensions;
a rotatable jaw pivotally attached to the second end of the handle between the first and second side extensions via a first pinned connection, the first pinned connection defining a first pivot point, the rotatable jaw comprising a first engaging end on a first side of the first pivot point and a second driven end on a second side of the first pivot point; and
a lever arm pivotally attached to the handle via a second pinned connection, the second pinned connection defining a second pivot point, the lever arm comprising a handle portion extending from the second pivot point toward the first end of the handle and an actuating portion extending through the slot of the handle and contacting an external surface of the second driven end of the rotatable jaw, and
a torsion spring disposed at the second end of the handle, the torsion spring having a first arm connected to the attachment projection of the fixed jaw, the first arm abutting against a straight portion of a raised profile disposed on an inside surface of each of the first and second side extensions, and the torsion spring having a second arm that interfaces with an internal surface of the second driven end of the rotatable jaw, wherein the torsion spring biases the second driven end of the rotatable jaw to move the rotatable jaw about the first pivot point such that the first engaging end of the rotatable jaw moves towards the fixed jaw.

11. The pipe wrench of claim 10 wherein the fixed jaw comprises a convex set of teeth.

12. The pipe wrench of claim 11 , wherein the rotatable jaw comprises a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth disposed at an angle relative to the first row of teeth.

13. A pipe wrench comprising:
a handle comprising a first end and a second end;
a fixed jaw disposed at the second end of the handle;
a rotatable jaw pivotally attached to the second end of the handle, rotatable jaw comprising a first engaging end and a second driven end;
a lever arm pivotally attached to and extending through the handle, the lever arm comprising a handle portion and an actuating portion wherein when the lever arm rotates relative to the handle, the actuating portion is in contact with the second driven end of the rotatable jaw causing the rotatable jaw to rotate relative to the second end of the handle; and
a spring configured to bias the rotatable jaw towards the fixed jaw and into a closed position, wherein the spring is a torsion spring.

14. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the fixed jaw comprises a convex set of teeth.

15. The pipe wrench of claim 14 , wherein the rotatable jaw comprises a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth disposed at an angle relative to the first row of teeth.

16. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the handle portion of the lever arm is formed with a u-shaped slot, and the handle at least partially fits within the u-shaped slot.

17. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the handle comprises a tethering aperture at the first end.

18. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the torsion spring has a first portion which engages the fixed jaw and a second portion which engages the rotatable jaw.

Assignees

• Js Products Inc

Inventors

• Chen Chungeng

Classifications

• B25B13/505 Primary

  Pivotally moving or adjustable · CPC title

• B25B23/16

  Handles (in general B25G) · CPC title