Adjustable wrench
United States Patent Miner ADJUSTABLE WRENCH [75] Inventor: Earl L. Miner, Lebanon. Mo.  
 [73] Assignee: Detroit T001 &amp; Engineering Co., Lebanon, Mo.  
  22 Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 211 Appl. No: 403,796  
 [52] U.S.C1 ..8l/1ll;81/321 [51] Int. Cl B25b 13/28 [58] Field ofSearch ..8l/91 R, 111,115, 117, 81/118, 1778, 318, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 328, 393  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,795 6/1922 Ward 81/111 UX 1.716.382 6/1929 Nickerson 81/321 2,074,227 3/1937 Luckcy 81/111 UX Apr. 8, 1975 Primary E.\aminerAl Lawrence Smith Assislam E.\&#39;aminer-James G. Smith [57] ABSTRACT This wrench includes a pair of handle members, pivotally attached at one end and having jaws at the other end. The jaw opening is determined by the relative angularity of the handles and is controlled by an independent adjustment member which extends through the handle members adjacent the jaws and is movable relative to the handle members to different positions corresponding to specific jaw openings.  
 The adjustment can be achieved by means of interengaging flats which are provided on the adjustment member and the handle members and the range of adjustment can be changed by a substitution of parts.  
 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 81915 FIG. 5  
 FIG. 7  
  163 165 152 K 142 f -7 T Ili&#39;il I FIG. 9  
 ADJUSTABLE WRENCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable wrench and particularly to a wrench having jaws adjustable to specific jaw openings.  
  Broadly speaking. adjustable wrenches fall into two categories. In the first category are those wrenches having laterally disposed jaws which are moved linearly by a screw element: this category is exemplified by the familiar creacent wrench. The second category includes those wrenches which provide a pair of scissors-related handle members which are connected by means of a pivot element. which is movable relative to one of the handle members to specifically position the jaws.  
  The wrenches in the first category have several defects which are particularly apparent when they are used on nuts. The adjustment is not selective as to nut size and it is difficult to attain the correct jaw opening rapidly or accurately. Further. the jaw adjustment, once made, cannot be readily maintained without an auxiliary locking mechanism. Finally, there is no automatic indicator communicating the jaw setting to the user.  
  Wrenches in the second category have not been widely accepted and this is undoubtedly due to the inherent disadvantage of providing a pivot connection which is located intermediate the ends of the handle member. This arrangement results in a short jaw radius producing serious jaw misalignment and inferior mechanical advantage. Moreover, slippage of the relatively movable pivot fastener also causes problems.  
  The present wrench provides a tool which overcomes the deficiencies noted above.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This wrench includes angularly related handle members which are pivotally connected at one end to provide jaws, disposed at the other end, with maximum alignment accuracy and superior mechanical advantage.  
  A movable adjustment member disposed adjacent the jaws extends between the handle members and is engageable with said members to adjust the wrench to predetermined jaw openings corresponding to specific nut sizes.  
  One species of the invention provides a rotatable adjustment member bearing indicia corresponding to the specific jaw opening said member being replaceable to provide a different set ofjaw openings. Another species of the invention provides a sliding adjustment member movable to similar indicia provided on one of the handle members, said handle member being replaceable to provide a different set ofjaw openings. In both species the adjustment member provides selective jaw spacing to suit specific nut sizes and provide rapidly attainable .and automatically maintained adjustment without a special locking device.  
  The wrench comprises a minimum number of parts, and is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.  
  It is an object of this invention to provide a pair of elongate handle members having jaws at one end, said members being interconnected by pivot means at the other end for swinging movement of said jaws about the pivot axis; and to provide adjustment means disposed in spaced longitudinal relation from the pivot axis and extending transversely between said handle members for selectively determining the jaw opening.  
  It is an important object to provide an adjustment means which includes a movable adjustment member having a bearing face, and to provide openings in the handle members receiving the adjustment member, at least one of said openings including a bearing face engageable with the adjustment member bearing face. one of said bearing faces providing a plurality of flats and the other of said faces including a single flat selectively engageable ,with said plurality of flats to deter mine the jaw opening.  
  It is another object to provide an adjustment means which includes resilient means between the handle members tending to urge said members into engagement with the adjustment member.  
  Yet another object is to provide one of said elongate handle members with a channel-shaped configuration having sidewalls including transversely aligned openings receiving the adjustment member, the other handle member being received between said sidewalls and including an opening substantially alignable with the transversely aligned openings of the first handle member to receive the adjustment member therethrough.  
  It is an important object to provide an adjustment member having a shank, which includes an intermediate portion engageable within the opening of the second handle member, and flanking portions engageable with the openings of the first handle member.  
  It is an important object to provide a species of the invention in which openings in the first handle member provide journal bearings rotatablymounting the adjustment member, and to provide the intermediate portion of the adjustment member with a plurality of flats, disposed at different distances from the center of rotation, and selectively engageable with a single flat in the opening of the second handle member, to vary the separation of the handle members incrementally, as the adjustment member is rotated, to determine the jaw opening.  
  It is an important object to provide another species of the invention in which the first handle member open ings are provided with parallel sides defining guide slots receiving the flanking portions of the adjustment member and to provide the opening of the second handle member with a plurality of stepped bearing faces defining a plurality of flats, and to provide the intermediate portin of the adjustment member with a single flat selectively engageable with the stepped flats to vary the separation of the handle members, as the adjustment member is moved translationally along the slots, to determine the jaw openings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating the wrench parts;  
  FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the wrench in the assembled condition;  
 FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;  
 FIG. 5 is an end view of the adjustment member;  
  FIG. 6 is a partially disassembled elevational view of a modified wrench;  
  FIG. 7 is an end view of the adjustment member of the modified wrench;  
  FIG. 8 is a plan view of the modified adjustment member; and  
 FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of the modified adjustment member in an operative position corresponding to a specific jaw opening.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing and first to the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 5, it will be understood that the wrench includes a pair of elongate handle members 10 and 11, which are pivotally connected at one end, and which are provided with jaws 12 and 13, respectively, at the other end. The jaw spacing is determined by means of an adjustment member 14, which extends between the handle members 10 and 11 to control the amount of overlap of said members. The adjustment member 14 is held in place by a resilient means such as a spring, which tends to urge said handle members away from each other and into bearing engagement with said adjustment member.  
  The component parts of the wrench will now be described more specifically. The handle member 10 is substantially channelshaped and includes opposed sidewall portions 15 and a connecting, reinforced bight portion 16. The sidewall portions 15 include opposed openings 17, which are transversely aligned and provide circular bearing faces 18. The handle member 10 is provided with a transverse pin 20, which is received within apertures 21 provided in the sidewall portions 15. The handle member 11 includes a body portion 19 which is nestably received between said sidewall portions and is formed at the pivot end into a slot 22 which receives the pin 20. Said pin and slot constitute a pivot means by which the handle members 10 and 11 are connected for swinging movement of the jaws 12 and 13 relative to each other. As shown particularly in FIG. 1 the handle member 11 includes an opening 23 defined by an arcuate face 24 and a bearing flat 28 providing a first bearing face. The openings 17 and the opening 23 are substantially transversely alignable to receive the adjustment member 14 therethrough.  
  In the preferred embodiment a compression spring 26 provides the resilient means between the handle members. The compression spring 26 is received within a cylindrical pocket 27 provided in the body portion 19 of the handle member 11. The spring 26 projects outwardly of said pocket in the uncompressed condition and is engageable with the bight portion 16 of the handle member 10 when the adjustment member is in position. The spring 26,tends to urge said handle members apart and thereby cooperates with the adjustment member 14 to provide an adjustment means determining the jaw opening.  
  The adjustment member 14, which is received by the openings 17 and 23 includes an enlarged knob 30 and a shank 31. The shank 31 includes journal portions 32 and 33 and a recessed intermediate portion 34, which is defined by a plurality of bearing flats, indicated by numerals 35, 36 and 37 in the embodiment shown, and collectively providing a second bearing face. When the shank 31 is received within the openings 17 and 23 the journal portions 32 and 33 are engaged in journal relation by opposed bearing faces 18. One of the bearing flats, flat in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, engages the bearing flat 28 of the opening 22. Importantly, as shown in FIG. 5 the flats 35, 36 and 37 are spaced at different radial distances from the journal axis of the shank 31. Thus, the jaw opening can be determined by rotating the adjustment member 14 so that the shank flat corresponding to the desired jaw opening engages the flat 28 of the handle member 11. For example, in the embodiment shown engagement of flats 35, 36 and 37 sequentially results in jaw openings indicated by corresponding letters a, b and c in FIG. 2. As will be clear from FIG. 3 the smaller the radial distance of the chosen shank flat from the journal axis, the greater the corresponding jaw opening. As also shown in FIG. 3 the shank journal portions 32 and 33 are engageable with the body 19 of the handle member 11 in the vicinity of the bearing flat 25 and thereby preclude inadvertent withdrawal of the adjustment member 14 which is effectively locked in place. It will be understood that in order to adjust the jaw opening the knob 30, and hence the shank 31 must be rotated. Such rotation results in the inward camming of the handle member 11 against the spring 26 by the shank intermediate portion 34 until the transition portion between adjacent flats is passed, at which time the spring 26 assists the rotation of the knob 30 and urges the shank 31 into the new position. This action is accompanied by an audible click, which indicates to the user that the new position has been achieved. The knob 30 of the adjustment member 14 in the preferred embodiment is provided with indicia corresponding to specific jaw openings, e.g., one-half, seven-sixteenths and three-eights inch for use on conventional nuts and bolts of these sizes. The knob 30 thereby provides a dial indicating the jaw opening corresponding to a particular size of nut. The handle member 11 is preferably sufficiently narrow that it does not project outwardly of the channel-shaped handle member 10 thereby avoiding inadvertent squeezing during use.  
  It will be understood that a structural juxtaposition of shank parts and openings could be effectuated to provide the same result. That is, the intermediate shank portion could be so configurated as to provide ajournal portion, received by a circular journal opening in member 11, in which event the opposed flanking portions would be so configurated as to provide flats received by aligned openings in the sidewalls 15, which would be configurated to provide a pair of flats corresponding to the flat 28 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
 In the modified device shown in FIGS. 6-9 the varia-.  
 tion in jaw spacing is accomplished by means of an adjustment member which moves translationally rather than rotatively. The adjustment is accomplished by providing a different adjustment member and different handle member openings than are provided in the first embodiment.  
  In other respects the component parts are substantially the same as for the embodiment already discussed. For example, the handle member is substantially channel-shaped and includes opposed sidewall portions and a connecting bight portion 116. The handle member 110 is provided with a jaw 112 at one end and a transverse pin at the other end which is received within apertures 121 provided in the sidewalls 115. The handle member 111 includes a body portion 119, which is nestably received between the sidewall portions 115 and includes ajaw 113 at one end and a slot 122 at the other end receiving the pin 120 of the handle member 110. The handle member 111 includes a spring 126 accommodated within a pocket 127 to provide a resilient means between the handle members tending to urge them apart.  
  The modified device includes an adjustment member 114 which is received within openings provided in the handle members and 111 and the specific struc tural arrangement of parts is as follows.  
  The sidewall portions 115 of the handle member 110 include opposed rectangular openings 140, which are transversely aligned and are defined by guide faces 141 and ends 142. The body 119 of the handle member 111, on the other hand. includes a stepped opening 143 which is defined by a plurality of upper bearing flats 144, 145 and 146; lower flats 147, 148 and 149 and ends 150 and 151. As shown in FIG. 9 steps 152 and 153 provide longitudinally spaced shoulders between the upper bearing flats and steps 154 and 155 provide longitudinally spaced shoulders between the lower flats. Flats 144, 145 and 146 collectively provide a sec ond bearing face. The adjustment member 114 includes a knob and a shank 161. The shank 161 consists of spaced sliding portions 162 and 163 and a reduced intermediate portion 164. The sliding portions 162 and 163 are substantially the same width as the rectangular opening 143 and are slidably received by the guide faces 141. The adjustment member 114 is translationally movable by means of the knob 160 so that the flat 165 of the recessed intermediate portion is selectively engageable with the upper bearing flats 152, 153 and 154 to determine the jaw spacing. The shoulders and ends of the stepped opening limit translational movement of the adjustment member 114 and preclude slippage from one position to the next. For example, in the structural arrangement of parts shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate flat 165 is in bearing engagement with the upper bearing flat 145, to provide an in termediate jaw opening position. and the shank intermediate portion is engaged by shoulder 152. It will be understood that shoulders 152 and 154 and shoulders 153 and 155 are longitudinally spaced sufficiently to permit relative movement between the stepped opening 143 and the adjustment member shank 161. The shank intermediate portion 164 is wider than the step width in the direction of the axis of the adjustment member 114 so that the flanking portions 162 and 163 engage the handle member 111 and provide lateral stop means under spring action precluding inadvertent removal of the adjustment member 114. The arrangement is generally similar to that shown by FIG. 3 for the previous embodiment. The adjustment member 114 is removed by squeezing the handle members 110 and 111 together slightly. The handle member 110 is provided with indicia longitudinally of the guide openings 143 adjacent corresponding upper flats to indicate the jaw opening. The stepped opening 143 can be provided in a removable insert indicated by numeral 170.  
  It is thought that the structural features of these adjustable wrenches have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure the assembly and operation of the wrenches will be briefly described.  
  The pivotal connection of the handle members at the end remote from the jaws provides, in effect, a relatively long radius of movement. The result of this long radius is that the misalignment of the jaws, which results from the angular relationship between the handle members is at an absolute minimum and much less than is the case with conventional adjustable wrenches of the type that are pivoted at a point close to the jaws. The arrangement also provides increased mechanical advantage in its holding power.  
  With reference to the first embodiment the wrench consists essentially of four parts, namely the two handle members 10 and 11, the adjustment member 14 and the spring 26. The handle members 10 and 11 are connected by orienting them relative to each other so that the slotted end 22 of member 11 can be hooked onto the pin 20. The spring 26 is inserted within the pocket 25 and the members 10 and 11 swung toward each other until the spring 26 is compressed by the bight portion 16. By suitably squeezing the handle members until the openings 17 and 23 are aligned to provide clear passage, the adjustment member 14 is inserted. Because ofthe notched configuration of the adjustment member shank 27 and the spring-loaded engagement by body opening flat 25 with a selected adjustment flat, such as flat 35, the adjustment member is held in place against movement relative to its own axis as shown in FIG. 3. When knob 30 is rotated. the flat 35 cams the members 10 and 11 apart to permit the members 10 and 11 to be adjusted to another jaw opening. The adjustment member 14 can be replaced with another adjustment member identical except as to the arrangement of flats. For example, the flats can be disposed at radial distances corresponding to metric system jaw openings, the knob of the substituted adjustment member being marked with appropriate indicia.  
  With regard to the modified device shown in FIGS. 6-9 the jaw opening adjustment is made by simply moving the adjustment member 114 translationally relative to the guide openings 140. As the adjustment member is moved from left to right, the jaw opening increases and the handle members 110 and 111 move apart with an audible click under the action of the spring 126 as the shank 161 passes into alignment between associated spaced shoulders such as 152 and 154 of the stepped opening 143. The handle members 110 and 111 are squeezed together to permit the adjustment member 114 to be moved in the opposite direction. The modified wrench can be made to provide a different set ofjaw openings by removing insert and substituting another insert having a stepped opening in which the incremental shoulder step distances are different. Although the adjustment member in the preferred embodiments provides controlled sepatation of the handle members at specific jaw openings it will be understood that the wrench may be adapted for variable jaw opening by the use of a screw-type adjustment member disposed in the handle member openings and engageable between said handle members to move them against the action of the spring.  
 I claim as my invention:  
 1. An adjustable wrench, comprising:  
 a. a first elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a jaw at one end and opposed side portions disposed between said ends, said side portions including transversely aligned openings,  
 b. a second elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a coacting jaw at one end and a body portion disposed between said ends and receivable between said side portions of said first handle member, said body portion having an opening therethrough substantially alignable with the transversely aligned openings of the first handle member.  
 c. at least one opening of one of said handle members defining a bearing flat,  
 d. pivot means interconnecting said handle members at the other end for swinging movement of said jaws about the pivot axis,  
 e. a rotatable adjustment member extending transversely between said handle member openings and mounted in journal relation to one of said handle members, said adjustment member including a plurality of bearing flats selectively engageable with the bearing flat of said one opening to determine the jaw opening, and  
 f. resilient means urging said handle members into engagement with the adjustment member.  
 2. An adjustable wrench as defined in claim 1, in  
 which:  
 g. the openings in the first handle member provide journal bearings,  
 h. the opening in the second handle member provides the bearing flat, and  
 i. the adjustment member includes spaced bearing portions journal mounted within the openings of the first handle member, and an intermediate recessed portion providing said plurality of bearing flats disposed at different distances from the axis of rotation of the adjustment member.  
 3. An adjustable wrench as defined in claim 2, in  
 which:  
 j. the adjustment member includes a knob carrying circumferentially spaced indicia indicating the jaw opening.  
 4. An adjustable wrench, comprising:  
 a. a first elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a jaw at one end and opposed side portions disposed between said ends said side portions having transversely aligned openmgs.  
 b. a second elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a coacting jaw at one end and a body portion disposed between said ends and receivable between said side portions of said first handle member, said body portion having an opening therethrough, substantially alignable with the transversely alighed openings of said first handle member,  
 0. at least one opening of one of said handle members providing a plurality of bearing flats,  
 d. pivot means interconnecting said handle members at the other end for swinging movement of said jaws about the pivot axis,  
 c. a translationally movable adjustment member extending transversely between said handle member openings and mounted in aliding relation to one of said handle members, said adjustment member including a bearing flat selectively engageable with the bearing flats of said one opening to determine the jaw opening,  
 f. resilient means urging said handle members into engagement with the adjustment member,  
 g. the openings in the first handle member providing a guide slot,  
 h. the opening in the second handle member being stepped to provide the plurality of bearing flats disposed in offset relation from each other, and  
 i. the adjustment member including spaced bearing portions slidingly mounted within said guide slot, and an intermediate recessed portion providing said one bearing flat.  
 5. An adjustable wrench as defined in claim 4, in  
 which:  
 j. the first handle member includes longitudinally spaced indicia indicating the jaw opening when aligned with the adjustment member.  
 6. An adjustable wrench, comprising:  
 a. a first elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a jaw at one end and a side portion disposed between said ends, said side portion including a transverse opening and a transverse portion,  
 b. a second elongate handle member having opposed ends, said member including a coacting jaw at one end and a body portion disposed between said ends and receivable adjacent&#39;said side portion of said first handle member, said body portion having an opening therethrough substantially alignable with the transverse opening of the first handle member,  
 0. at least one opening of one of said handle members defining a bearing flat,  
 d. pivot means interconnecting said handle members at the other end for swinging movement of said jaws about the pivot axis,  
 e. a rotatable adjustment member extending transversely between said handle member openings and mounted in journal relation to one of said handle members, said adjustment member including a plurality of bearing flats selectively engageable with the bearing flat of said one opening to determine the jaw opening, and t f. resilient means urging said handle members into engagement with the adjustment member.