Патент USA US2397729

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Gttorneg
April 2, 1946.A
w. E. .DRAKE'
l 2,397,729v
4‘wRENcH
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Filed Dec. 24, 1945 '
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Patented Apr. 2, 1946
2,397,729 ï '
UNITED STATES PATENTr-oÈl-*ICE
lVVRENCII `
Winfred E.. Drake, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; J. H.
McNally, administrator of said Winfred E.
Drake, deceased, assignor of fifty .one-hun
dredths to ‘George F. McGlocklin, Bonners
Ferry, Idaho
Application December 24, 19435 Serial No. '515,473
5 Claims.
This invention relates to improvements in
wrenches, and more particularly, in ñeXible jaw
(c1. ‘s1-10o)
'
l
,
. its method of operation, together> with additional
objects and advantages thereof, will best be un~
wrenches of the common type‘referred to as
derstood vfrom the following description of Ispe
ciñc embodiments when read in connection with
Stillson wrenches.
It is an important object of my invention to
the accompanying drawings in which:
'
provide, in a wrench of the type wherein rela
Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred form of
tive movable handle and shank each having a
_my wrench'with portionsxbroken away .and others
jaw, simple and easily 'operable clutch means for
shown in‘section forconvenience of illustration;
maintaining adjustment between the shank and
Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the planel
the handle without interfering with the utility 10 indicated as 2-2 of Figure l;
of the wrench.
' Figure 3 is a side view of the movable jaw and
Another object of the present invention is the
its shank,`the latter being partly in section;
provision, in a wrench of the type described, of
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wedge;
wedging members and a lock therefor to clutch
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tapered
the shank to the jaw handle in adjusted relation 15 sleeve employed in the clutch mechanism;
in a simple operating mechanism devoid of lcom
Figure `6 is a side View of aimodiñed form of
plicated parts.
wrench employing thel principles ofmy inven
A still further object of the invention resides
tion,
in the provision in a iiexible jaw wrench of the
j
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>
Figure '7 is a cross-sectional> view taken on line
type described of clutching means between the 20 'i-«T of Figure 6; and
y
shank and handle to hold the same in adjusted
Figure 8 isa perspective view- of a filler block
relation 'without interfering with the flexibilityused in >connection -with my wrench.
of the jaws.
A wrench ofv the flexible jaw type must have
The foregoing objects and others ancillary
at'least two totally 'distinct characteristics; it
must be capable of rrapid and secure adjustment
thereto I prefer to accomplish as follows:
According to a preferred embodiment of my
without loss ofY iiexibility; and it must provide
a'locking'means for an infinite number of ad
justed positions Ywithin the range of adjustment
invention, I dispose upon a Wrench handle, hav
- ing a ñxed jaw thereon, a shank guide to dexi
bly and pivotally mount a shank including a jaw
and also clutch means between said handle and
Shank to retain the jaws in adjusted position.
which `means are simple to construct and posi
lsu
tive in operation. ~ Accordingly, a Apreferred em
bodiment of my invention, referring to Figures
1 through 5 of the drawings, is constituted by
Wrench handle i0 having iixed thereon` jaw l2
Specifically, the clutch means_comprises opposed
, unequal wedges one of which is on the jaw shank
and the other is independently mounted to abut
said first wedge and the shank guide; A tapered
sleeve encompasses said wedges and retains them
byk pin I8 forms the passage 20.' Blockl I 6 has
in adjusted position to thereby retain the jaws
groove 22 on its rear, face‘for a purpose later to
and outstanding on one’side av pair of flanges I4
which witnñller block i6 secured therebetween
as 'thus adjusted. The arrangement and inclu
be described.
'
sion of such wedge clutching means in a iiexible
In the passage v2!)~ isi loosely mounted the
jaw wrench is an important phase of my inven 40 shank 24 of the jaw 2B opposite to jaw I2 and
tion. Spring means may be included in the
movable relative thereto to grip objects. Shank
wrench between the handle and shank to press
24= lies in the assembledA wrench alongside the
the two apart and it is preferable to include re
handle I0 and has a groove '28 on that face near
tractor spring means to tend to draw the sleeve
est the handle in which is `placed thefspring 30
toward the shank guide to maintain thefwedges 45 anchored at 32 to theshank near its rear end
in clutching relation to each other. Spring
and forwardly to hook 34 on »the handle. Out
means voperable to move the shank longitudinally
wardly acting Vsprings '36', 36 each having a cap
relative the handle may also be employed to
38ì press on the -inner'faee'of shank 24 to tend
facilitate the adjusting of the clutch mechanism
to kspread the same from the handle. Cheek
during such times as the sleeve is- removed from 50 plates 40 onthe handle cover these springs and
a
close encompassing position.
form the sides of a groove _in which the shank
The novel features that I consider characteris
tic of my invention are setforth with particu
slides in adjusting movements.
larity in the appended claims. The invention
itself, however, both as to its organization and
’
As can `best be Seen in Figure 3 the vshank has a.v
rearward flare» on its outer edge formed by the'
' wedge portion âl-,fhere shown as integral with- the
shank but which may obviously be separably as
' from or a new hold securedwìthmore >advantage
sociated therewith.V The wedge portion provides
to the mechanic.
the face 46v which' slopes upward and rearward l
with relation to the axis of the handle ID.
~ A wedge V48 is superposed upon face 45 with‘
.Adjustment of the jaws is obtained by drawing
the encompassing sleeve rearward from engage
ment about the wedges which thereby become
its widest portion on head 49 resting in groove
loose permitting the springs 30 or 14 to urge the
_
22 ofthe shank guide...> Face 50 'ofthe wedge lies
movable jaws in each case away 'from the handle '
upon face 4Q of the shank wedge portion.
jaws.l Extension of the jaws is thus more or less
automatic. Closing of them is produced by man
The _
term “unequal” is used herein to refer tothe dif-g
'Y fering taper angles of the wedge and the wedge 10 ual manipulation of the shank rearward against
_ the action ofthe aforementioned springs. When
portion; i.V e., one has greater taper than the
the jaws are set in a desired relation, the sleeve
other. It is to be understood that each has great#
around‘the Vwedges is released and permitted to
er than zero angle of taper. The wedge and the
closely engage and clamp them'together to regainV
wedge portion are preferably unequal so that the
clutching action.
rit theWhile
I have shown and described particular
space they occupy between'facel 5I on the shank
' 24 and face 53 on theV wedge is greater forward
embodiments of 'my invention, >it will occur t'o
thanthat to the rear. A sleeve 52 tapered in ac
Y jcordance'with the relative tapering'of the two
' those skilled in the art that various changes and- _
modifications may be made without departing ’
surfaces 5l and 53 encompasses the wedge as_well
from th‘e invention, and I, therefore, aim in the
appended claims to cover all such'changes and
' as the shank and its wedge portion to maintainV
' the two paits in* frictional engagement at the -
lmodifications -as fall within the true spiritl and
various adjusted positions of the shank.
scope of my invention.
Sleeve 52 has an ear V54 to which' may be at-V Y
f
-
Thus having described my inventiony'I claim: I
Vtached spring 56 at one end. rThe other end of
the spring is secured forwardlyto the handle by
loop member58. This spring tends to constantly
_1. A wrench, comprising: relatively movable
opposed jaws, one of said jaws being attached
to a shank adjustable with respect to said other
_ urge the sleeve 52 forward into close engagement
about the wedges to lock them together. `
jaw', guide'means between said other jaw and
adjustable shank _forguiding and pivotally sup
In Figures 6 and 7 I show'a slightly modified
form of my'invention‘in‘ which theprimary dif
30
porting said shank, opposed unequal wedges and
a tapered sliding sleeve'encompassing said shank
and wedges, said sleeve being slidable relative said
other jaw, said wedges‘being- carried by said
^ of the movable jaw. Handle E0 has jaw B2 rela-`
shank and guide means and Vsaid sleeve serving
tiveV to which is mounted the -opposed jaw 64 on
to limit relative movement of said wedges and of
shank' 66. YShank 66 Vhas a wedge portion . 68
said shank with respect to saidother j_aw.
against which is placed the wedge 'lil that is` re
V2. A wrench, comprising: relatively movable
tained iny clutching position by sleeve 12. A spring
_opposed jaws, one of said jaws beingV attached
'i4 operates to urge the sleeve forwardly to gripping
to a shank adjustable with respect .to said other
'relation on the wedges `and'springlâ tends to
_spread the shank 66 from handle 60. ' A sleeve 18 40 jaw, guidel means 'between said other jaw and
adjustable shank for guiding and pivotally sup
is slidably'mounted on handle portion 6D and has
ference over the device ‘above described resides
in the formation of the guide means for the shank
porting said shank, opposed unequal wedges and
Y' a forward slotted ear (notshown) which enclosesY
a pin (not shown) that limits movement of the
sleeve 18. -A yoke 84 between sleeve 12 and ear
sa iinksthe two parts together, when maman .
pressure is applied totrigger portion 86 of the
sleeve 18, the sleeve V‘l2 is drawn rearward'against Y n
the spring 14 to loosen the wedges.
Y .
an encompassing tapered sleeve, said wedgesand
sleeve being carried by said shank and v'guide for
limiting movement of said shank, andmanually
engageable means on said handle and connected
to said tapered -sleeve to move the same in a
manner to loosen the wedges to permit movement '
of the shank relative thehandle.
The guide for theshank 66 comprises plates 90
.
.
3. A wrench, comprising: ahandle havingjse
pivotally’mounted on each side of the handle on 50
cured thereto a ñrst jaw, a second jaw,a shank
pin 92 and having'block 94 which is grooved at 96
secured to said second jaw, a shank guide secured
to receive a head end portion of the wedge‘lß.
to said _handle for guiding and pivotally support
A U-shaped loop V98 Yloosely encloses the op
ing said shank, spring~ means between said han
dle and shank operableY to pressïsaid shank in
posite edge of handle 60 and a leaf spring |60'
secured in place by screw I 02 presses the U-mem
ber and the guide plates’into more lateral posi
' _ tion and urges the shank there enclosed
alignment with the handle _60.
'
f Operationr
said shank guide away from said handle, said
toward _
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’ .shank having a wedge portion, a wedge unequal
to said wedge portion and positioned oppositely
in contact withV the wedge portion of the shank,
60 said shankguide-having a guide groove and said
„
'4 With the wrench in the set position of the
jaws shown in Figures 1V and 6it will be apparent
that an object maybe gripped between the jaws.
wedge acting on said shank guide in sliding posi'f ' Y
Turningpressure is Vapplied to anobject when
the handle is swungV downward or _clockwise ac_
said wedgeto retain the shank in ñXed longi-'nA
tudinal relationto said handle but without inter-y
cording to the viewsof the drawings. " The `wedges
fering with pivotal movement of the shank.
tion in said'groove, and a tapered _sleeve encom
passing said shank and its wedge portion and
cured thereto a ñrst jawba second jaw, a shank
secured to said second jaw, a shank guide secured
against longitudinal'movement which would tend
'to said handle for'guiding and pivotally support
to open thevjaws apart.-A The same is true of the
showing of Figure 6.
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V4. A wrench;V comprising: a'handle having ~se
` in Figure 1 are retained _in clutching relationY by
'_ thetapered sleeve 52 and th'e‘shank 24 is held
.
’ ing said shank, said Yshank having a wedge por» _
When the wrench is swung counterclockwise to
tion, a wedge unequal to said wedge portion and
theg‘showing .of th‘e two 'figures »of 'thedrawings
the jaws ?tend to loosen on'therobjectg'being
_ gripped and the wrench may be Ldiseng'agedîthere.-4
n positioned loppositely in 'contact Ywith ‘ the wedge'
portion _of the shank, said shank-guide havingv a
guide groove and saldwedge acting onsaidshank
Y
2,397,729
guide in sliding position in said groove, a tapered
sleeve encompassing said shank and its wedge
portion, said Wedge to retain the shank in ñxed
longitudinal relation to said handle but without
interfering with pivotal movement of the shank,
and spring means urging said sleeve into clamp
ing engagement? about said wedge portion and
.
3
ing said shank, said shank having a Wedge por
tion, a Wedge unequal to said wedge portion and
positioned oppositely in contact therewith, -guide
means between the wedge and said shank guide
' for guiding in and out movement of said wedge;
and a tapered sliding sleeve encompassing said
shank,` its wedge portion, and said wedge to retain
said Wedge.
f
,
the shank in fixed longitudinal relation >to said
5. A wrench, comprising: a handle having se
handle but without interfering with pivotal move
cured thereto a first jaw, a second jaw, a shank 10 ment of the shank and said second jaw.
secured to said second jaw, a shank guide secured
to said handle for guiding and pivotally support
n
WINFRED E. BRAKE.