Wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9061402-B2
Application number	US-201313796946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Jun 6, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2015
Grant date	Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

A wrench is configured to rotate a fastener. The wrench includes a handle and a head pivotally coupled to the handle. The head includes a first jaw configured to engage the fastener and a second jaw configured to engage the fastener. The second jaw is movable with respect to the first jaw to adjust a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw. The wrench also includes an actuator operable to move the second jaw with respect to the first jaw to adjust the distance. The handle is pivotally coupled to the head such that rotation of the handle with respect to the head moves the second jaw toward the first jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench configured to rotate a fastener, the wrench comprising:
a handle;
a head pivotally coupled to the handle, the head including,
a first jaw configured to engage the fastener, and
a second jaw configured to engage the fastener, the second jaw movable with respect to the first jaw to adjust a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw,

an actuator operable to move the second jaw with respect to the first jaw to adjust the distance,
wherein the handle is pivotally coupled to the head such that rotation of the handle with respect to the head moves the second jaw toward the first jaw,
wherein the actuator includes a worm gear,
wherein the actuator further includes a rack gear engaged with the worm gear, the rack gear fixed to the second jaw for movement with the second jaw, wherein the worm gear is rotatable with respect to the first jaw to move the rack gear and the second jaw with respect to the first jaw to adjust the distance between the first jaw and the second jaw,
further comprising a lever including a first end portion and a second end portion, and the lever pivotally coupled to the head between the first end portion and the second end portion of the lever, wherein the second end portion of the lever contacts the handle to pivot the lever in response to rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the first end portion of the lever contacts the worm gear to move the worm gear, the rack gear, and the second jaw toward the first jaw in response to rotation of the handle with respect to the head and pivotal movement of the lever with respect to the head.

2. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the worm gear is a double lead worm gear.

3. The wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the worm gear, the rack gear, and the second jaw away from the first jaw.

4. The wrench of claim 3 , wherein the biasing member includes a coil spring.

5. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the head includes an aperture and wherein the rack gear is at least partially received within the aperture and the rack gear slides within the aperture to adjust the distance between the first jaw and the second jaw.

6. The wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the second jaw away from the first jaw.

7. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the handle contacts the first jaw to limit pivotal movement of the handle with respect to the head.

8. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the handle is an elongated handle having a front end portion and a rear end portion, wherein the head is pivotally coupled to the handle at the front end portion, and wherein an aperture extends through the handle at the rear end portion of the handle.

9. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the first jaw includes a contact surface configured to engage the fastener and the second jaw includes a contact surface configured to engage the fastener, and wherein the contact surface of the first jaw is parallel to the contact surface of the second jaw.

10. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is rotatable to move the second jaw with respect to the first jaw to adjust the distance, and wherein the handle is pivotally coupled to the head such that rotation of the handle with respect to the head moves the second jaw toward the first jaw without rotation of the actuator.

11. A wrench configured to rotate a hex head nut, the wrench comprising:
a handle;
a head pivotally coupled to the handle, the head including,
a first jaw including a first contact surface configured to engage the hex head nut, and
a second jaw including a second contact surface configured to engage the hex head nut, the second contact surface parallel to the first contact surface, the second jaw movable with respect to the first jaw to adjust a distance between the first and second contact surfaces,

a rack gear fixed to the second jaw for movement with the second jaw relative to the first jaw;
a worm gear rotatable with respect to the first jaw to move the rack gear and the second jaw with respect to the first jaw to adjust the distance between the first contact surface and the second contact surface; and
a lever pivotally coupled to the head, the lever pivotable with respect to the head to move the second jaw toward the first jaw in response to rotation of the handle with respect to the head to increase a clamping force of the first jaw and the second jaw on the hex head nut;
wherein the lever includes a first end portion and a second end portion, and the lever is pivotally coupled to the head between the first end portion and the second end portion of the lever, wherein the second end portion of the lever contacts the handle to pivot the lever in response to rotation of the handle with respect to the head, and wherein the first end portion of the lever contacts the worm gear to move the worm gear, the rack gear, and the second jaw toward the first jaw in response to rotation of the handle with respect to the head and pivotal movement of the lever with respect to the head.

12. The wrench of claim 11 , wherein the worm gear is a double lead worm gear.

13. The wrench of claim 11 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the worm gear, the rack gear, and the second jaw away from the first jaw.

14. The wrench of claim 11 , wherein the head includes an aperture and wherein the rack gear is at least partially received within the aperture and the rack gear slides within the aperture to adjust the distance between the first jaw and the second jaw.

15. The wrench of claim 11 , wherein the handle contacts the first jaw to limit pivotal movement of the handle with respect to the head.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Harvey Kyle

Classifications

• B25B13/14 Primary

  by rack and pinion, worm or gear · CPC title