Extendable wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11890742-B2
Application number	US-202117395068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2021
Priority date	Aug 4, 2020
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A pipe wrench is provided with an extendable handle that fits within a cavity of the head. A lever locks the extended length of the extendable handle along a continuous spectrum between a maximum and a minimum extension of the handle. The lever includes cam surfaces. In an unlocked position, the thickness of the lever between the pivot and a friction plate is less than the thickness between the pivot and the friction plate in the locked position. The friction plate is a composite comprising a top lever plate, a midsection, and a concave surface. The lever plate and concave surface include hard, durable materials, and the midsection is a soft elastic material that redistributes frictional forces across the frictional block. The channel-lock prevents inadvertent overextension and/or accidental removal of the extendable handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the wrench;
a lower jaw coupled to a second end of 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 section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded section of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw;
an extendable handle received within the bore of the head;
a lever comprising an end, the end comprising at least two cam surfaces; and
a friction block;
wherein the lever is rotatable about a pivot between a locked position in which the extendable handle is fixed with respect to the head and an unlocked position in which the extendable handle is adjustable with respect to the head;
wherein the head further comprises a rear surface, and the rear surface includes a recess shaped to receive the lever when the lever is in the locked position and wherein the friction block is positioned between the lever and the extendable handle;
wherein the end of the lever engages the friction block in both the locked position and in the unlocked position.

2. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the lever applies a normal force on the friction block when in the locked position and the friction block distributes the normal force to the extendable handle such that the extendable handle is secured at a desired length.

3. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the friction block includes a concave surface layer formed from a first material and having a first hardness, a midsection layer formed from a second material and having a second hardness, and a plate layer having a flat rectangular shape and formed from a third material and having a third hardness.

4. The wrench of claim 3 , wherein the second material is a compressible elastic material such that the normal force on the concave surface layer is distributed between the concave surface layer, the midsection layer and the plate layer and wherein the second hardness is less than the first hardness and the third hardness.

5. The wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a channel lock mechanism including:
a channel extending longitudinally within the head;
a biased projection coupled to the extendable handle, the biased projection configured to slide within the channel during adjustment of the extendable handle;
a pocket at the first end of the head configured to capture the biased projection such that the extendable handle is retained within the bore; and
an angled groove within the head.

6. The wrench of claim 5 , wherein the extendable handle is in the unlocked position and extended to a maximum length the angled groove interfaces with the biased projection such that the biased projection is pushed inward and the extendable handle is released from the bore.

7. The wrench of claim 1 , the lever further comprising a gripping end and an arm coupled to an inner surface of the lever, the gripping end opposing the pivot and the arm extending across the inner surface in a perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the lever.

8. The wrench of claim 1 , further comprising an end cap at a proximal end of the extendable handle, the end cap including a hole extending through the end cap and defining a rotatable handle loop configured to receive a tether.

9. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the at least two cam surfaces comprise a first cam surface and a second cam surface and wherein the first cam surface of the lever applies a first force on the friction block in the locked position and the second cam surface applies a second force on the friction block in the unlocked position.

10. A pipe wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench;
a lower jaw coupled to a second end of 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 section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads engaged with the threaded section of the upper jaw such that rotation of the actuator moves the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw;
an extendable handle received within the bore of the head; and
a channel lock mechanism configured to retain the extendable handle within the bore;
a handle length locking mechanism including a lever pivotally coupled to the head and a friction element contacting the lever, the lever comprising a base and a wall at an end, wherein the lever is rotatable about a pivot between a locked position in which the lever pushes the friction element into engagement with an outer surface of the extendable handle such that the extendable handle is fixed with respect to the head and an unlocked position in which the base faces the upper jaw and the extendable handle is adjustable with respect to the head;
wherein the head further includes a rear surface of the head with a recess shaped to receive the lever when the lever is in the locked position and a friction block positioned between the lever and the extendable handle.

11. The pipe wrench of claim 10 , the channel lock mechanism including:
a channel extending longitudinally within the head;
a biased projection coupled to the extendable handle, the biased projection configured to slide within the channel during adjustment of the extendable handle;
a pocket at the first end of the head configured to capture the biased projection such that the extendable handle is retained within the bore; and
an angled groove within the head.

12. The pipe wrench of claim 11 , wherein the extendable handle is in the unlocked position and extended to a maximum length the angled groove interfaces with the biased projection such that the biased projection is pushed inward and the extendable handle is released from the bore.

13. The pipe wrench of claim 10 , wherein the base applies a first force on the friction element in the locked position and the wall applies a second force on the friction element in the unlocked position.

14. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein a base thickness is defined between an edge of the pivot and a base surface and wherein a wall thickness is defined between an edge of the pivot and a wall surface.

15. The pipe wrench of claim 14 , wherein the base thickness is greater than the wall thickness.

16. The pipe wrench of claim 13 , wherein the first force is different from the second force.

17. The pipe wrench of claim 10 , wherein the friction element includes a bottom layer having a concave surface and formed from a first material, a midsection layer formed from a second material, and a plate layer having a rectangular shape and formed from a third material.

18. A pipe wrench, comprising:
a head comprising an aperture;
a bore at a first end of the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the pipe wrench;
a lower jaw coupled to a second end of 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 section and a plurality of teeth that define an upper contact region;
an actuator comprising threads eng

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Lownik Matthew A

Classifications

• B25G1/043 Primary

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25B13/5058 Primary

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

• B25B13/481

  for operating in areas having limited access · CPC title

• B25G1/046

  with free-turning section at end of handle remote from tool · CPC title