Ratchet action wrench
United States Patent 1 1 Wilson Apr. 22, 1975 RATCHET ACTION WRENCH [75] Inventor: Marshall K. Wilson, Wabash. Ind.  
 [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization.  
 lnc., New York, N.Y. apart interest 22 Filed: Nov. 8. I973 211 App]. No.: 414,154  
 Primary Exuminen-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Daniel Jay Tick [57] ABSTRACT A ratchet action wrench comprises a handle having a rounded cam-shaped end. A pivot pin projects from the handle in the area of the cam-shaped end and a second pin projecting therefrom and spaced from the pivot pin. A head has a slot formed therein and is pivotally mounted-on the pivot pin via the slot. The head has an inclined edge abutting the second pin and an arm extending from the edge for applying manual pressure. The pivot pin is accommodated in the slot and movable therein. A jaw member has an inclined edge abutting the edge of the cam-shaped end of the handle. A first compression spring is coupled between the head and the jaw member for urging the jaw memher to separate from the head to fit around a nut. A second compression spring is coupled between the head and the handle for urging the head to abut the jaw member to clamp a nut.  
 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures RATCI-IET ACTION WRENCH DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ratchet action wrench.  
  Objects of the invention are to provide a ratchet action wrench which is simple. easy. convenient and rapid to handle. is rapidly adjustable at its jaw. provides a ratchet action and provides a tight grip on a nut in accordance with a pressure increase on the handle.  
  In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect. it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. wherein:  
  FIG. I is a side view of an embodiment of the ratchet action wrench of the invention in closed non-operative condition;  
  FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. I in operative condition clamping a nut;  
  FIG. 3 is a side view of the head of the wrench of the invention;  
 FIG. 4 is an end view of the head 5 of FIG. 3;  
  FIG. 5 is a side view of the jaw member 9 of the wrench of the invention; and  
 FIG. 6 is an end view of the jaw member 9 of FIG. 5.  
  In the FIGS., the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.  
  The ratchet action wrench of the invention comprises a handle I having a rounded cam-shaped end 2. A pivot pin 3 projects from the handle 1 in the area of the camshaped end 2. A second pin 4 spaced from the pivot pin 3 projects from the handle I.  
  A head 5 has a slot 6 formed therein and is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 3 via the slot. The head 5 has an inclined edge 7 abutting the second pin 4. The head 5 has an arm 8 extending from the edge 7 for applying manual pressure. The pivot pin 3 of the handle 1 is accommodated in the slot 6 and movable therein.  
  A jaw member 9 has an inclined edge 10 abutting the edge II of the cam-shaped end of the handle 1.  
  A first compression spring I2 is coupled between the head 5 and the jaw member 9 for urging the jaw member to separate from the head to fit around a nut 13 (FIG. 2). The compression spring 12 is seated in a bore I4 formed in the head 5.  
  A second compression spring 15 is coupled between the head 5 and the handle I for urging the head to abut the jaw member 9 to clamp the nut I3.  
  The head 5 is adjusted in position to adjust the clamping opening between the jaw member 9 and the head by pressing down on the arm 8 of the head. The pressure on the arm 8 exerts pressure on the second pin 4 via the inclined edge 7 of the head 5. This causes the head 5 to move away from the cam-shaped end 2 of the handle. The cam-shaped end 2 is thus moved away from the inclined-edge 10 of the jaw member 9 via the pivot pin 3 and the slot 6, permitting the jaw member to drop open due to the action of the first compression spring 12. When the pressure on the arm 8 is released, the second compression spring 15 exerts a force greater than that of the first compression spring 12 and causes the jaw member 9 to move back into contact with the nut 13.  
  The jaw member 9, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, has a pair of flanges 9a and 9b extending from both sides thereof for its entire length. The flanges 9a and 9c are slidably positioned in a pair of grooves 14a and 14b, re spectively, formed in the inside surfaces 16a and 16b.  
 respectively. of a slot I6 formed through the head 5. as shown in FIG. 4. This prevents disengagement of the jaw member 9 in transverse directions.  
  The jaw member 9 is prevented from disengaging at the top of the head 5 by the edge (FIG. 6) of the jaw member 9 coming into contact with the edge 5a of the head (FIG. 3).  
  The jaw member 9 is prevented from disengaging at the bottom of the head 5 when the inclined edge 10 of the jaw member comes into contact with the camshaped end 2 of the handle I. This occurs after the pivot pin 3 terminates further motion of the handle 1 by abutting the end 6a of the slot 6 formed in the head 5 (FIG. 3) and the second pin 4 perpendicularly abuts the inclined edge 7 of the head.  
  The spring I5 (FIGS. 1 and 2) normally keeps the handle 2 and the jaw member 9 together.  
  The ratchet action of the wrench is provided by moving the handle 1 counterclockwise, when tightening the grip on the nut I3, and clockwise, when releasing the grip on the nut. When the handle 1 is moved so that the head 5 and the jaw member 9 are spaced from each other, the second pin 4 exerts pressure on the inclined edge 7 of the head and forces the handle away from the inclined edge I0 of the jaw member. This permits the jaw member 9 to move slightly away from the head 5 to enable them to separate from the nut 13. The nut is gripped tighter by the motion of the camshaped end 2 of the handle 1 when said handle is moved about the pivot pin 3. The distance between the point of contact of the edge I] of the cam-shaped end 2 of the handle and the inclined edge I0 of the jaw member 9 and the pivot pin 3 remains constant.  
  The ratchet action takes place after the wrench is opened by manually squeezing the handle 1 and the arm 8 together to receive a nut. As the handle I is rotated through a small angle in a direction opposite that in which the nut is to be rotated. the cam-shaped end 2, which is integral with the handle, moves slightly away from the inclined edge I0 of the jaw member 9 due to the action of the second pin 4 riding upon the inclined edge 7 of the head 5, pushing the head forward and the handle back.  
  On a larger nut. it is necessary to exert a forward thumb pressure on the arm 8 to relieve the tension effect due to the increased perpendicular angle of the second pin 4 against the inclined edge 7.  
  After the decrease in pressure, the nut itself acts as a cam and moves the jaws apart sufficiently to abut another flat of the nut. The ratchet action occurs in 60 increments on a hexagonal nut.  
  While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment. I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
 I claim:  
 1. A ratchet action wrench, comprising a handle having a rounded cam-shaped end and a pivot pin projecting therefrom in the area of the cam-shaped end and a second pin spaced from the pivot pin and projecting therefrom;  
 a head having a slot formed therein and pivotally mounted on the pivot pin via the slot and having an inclined edge abutting the second pin and an arm extending from said edge for applying manual pressecond compression spring means coupled between the head and the handle for urging the head to abut the jaw member to clamp a nut. 2. A ratchet action wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head has a bore formed therein and the first compression spring means is seated in the bore.