Pipe wrench with improved design for side bite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511398-B2
Application number	US-201917417275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Dec 28, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A hand tool includes a handle section, a working end operably coupled to the handle section, and a jaw assembly disposed at the working end. The jaw assembly includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw. A span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable. Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other. The array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A hand tool comprising:
a handle section;
a working end operably coupled to the handle section; and
a jaw assembly disposed at the working end, the jaw assembly comprising a movable jaw and a fixed jaw,
wherein a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable,
wherein each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other,
wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth,
wherein the first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width, and
wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw further comprise a third set of teeth having a third width and the first depth, wherein the third width is less than both the first width and the second width.

2. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of teeth of the third set of teeth are disposed between a first tooth of the second set of teeth and a second tooth of the second set of teeth.

3. The hand tool of claim 2 , wherein at least one tooth of the third set of teeth is not disposed between the first tooth and the second tooth.

4. The hand tool of claim 2 , wherein the first set of teeth includes at least one tooth on each end thereof between which all teeth of the first set of teeth and the third set of teeth are disposed.

5. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein an apex of each tooth in the array of teeth is equidistant from an adjacent apex of each adjacent tooth regardless of whether the adjacent apex is on a tooth of the first, second or third sets of teeth.

6. The hand tool of claim 5 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the movable jaw have a first slope, and sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the fixed jaw have a second slope, and
wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

7. The hand tool of claim 6 , wherein one of the first slope and the second slope includes a curved surface.

8. The hand tool of claim 5 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on one of the movable jaw or the fixed jaw have a first slope away from the apex in a first direction, and a second slope away from the apex in a second direction, and
wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

9. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool comprises a pipe wrench.

10. A jaw assembly for a hand tool, the jaw assembly comprising:
a movable jaw; and
a fixed jaw,
wherein a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable,
wherein each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other,
wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth,
wherein the first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width
wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw further comprise a third set of teeth having a third width and the first depth, wherein the third width is less than both the first width and the second width, and
wherein a plurality of teeth of the third set of teeth are disposed between a first tooth of the second set of teeth and a second tooth of the second set of teeth.

11. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one tooth of the third set of teeth is not disposed between the first tooth and the second tooth.

12. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first set of teeth includes at least one tooth on each end thereof between which all teeth of the first set of teeth and the third set of teeth are disposed.

13. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein an apex of each tooth in the array of teeth is equidistant from an adjacent apex of each adjacent tooth regardless of whether the adjacent apex is on a tooth of the first, second or third sets of teeth.

14. The jaw assembly of claim 13 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the movable jaw have a first slope, and sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the fixed jaw have a second slope, and
wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

15. The jaw assembly of claim 13 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on one of the movable jaw or the fixed jaw have a first slope away from the apex in a first direction, and a second slope away from the apex in a second direction, and
wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Steen Noah Thomas
• Gilmore Kelsey David

Classifications

• B25B23/00

  Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers (bolt tensioners B25B29/02) · CPC title

• B25B7/10

  with adjustable fulcrum · CPC title

• B25B13/50 Primary

  for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes · CPC title

• B25B7/02

  Jaws · CPC title

• B25B13/5058 Primary

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