GB2098903A

GB2098903A - Band wrench

Info

Publication number: GB2098903A
Application number: GB8115468A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ALLEN TIMOTHY FERGUS DRYDEN
Current assignee: ALLEN TIMOTHY FERGUS DRYDEN
Priority date: 1981-05-20
Filing date: 1981-05-20
Publication date: 1982-12-01
Also published as: GB2098903B

Abstract

The wrench comprises a flexible band 1 for being a closed loop for gripping around said object; and a handle assembly having an inlet 3 on a plug 4 for receiving the loop ends of said band, said assembly being provided with a shank 6a for advancing said plug into a sleeve 6b to reduce said loop and thereby enable said loop to grip releasably an object. The shank end has a bore 9 for an Allen key or a transverse bore 7 for a tommy bar 8. The band has elongate slots 2 for accepting projections on the object. The band may be in the form of a chain. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Band Wrench The present invention provides a wrench for releasably gripping a twistable object, said wrench comprising: a flexible band constituting a closed loop for being placed around said object; a handle in which is a portion of said loop; and tension means for applying tension to said loop portion so that said loop portion will move in said handle and thereby reduce said loop so that said loop will grip said object.

The flexible band can be constituted in any suitable way, e.g. at least a portion of the band can be a single member (e.g. a strap or belt) or a plurality of members (e.g. a chain or other flexible linkage). In order to aid said gripping, gripping surface of the loop can have at least one conformation having enhanced frictional properties, e.g. point projections or flange projections, and/or gripping surface can be provided with frictional material. Material of the band will preferably be chosen so that the band does not damage the twistable object. The band can be made from at least one material, e.g. leather, metals, or polymeric materials.When the twistable object has at least one sideways projection (e.g. a capstan prong on a tap stem), the wall of the loop can comprise at least one aperture for receiving at least one said projection so that the projection abuts wall material of said aperture.

The hollow handle can be a single member or a plurality of members. Preferably the handle's inlet (through which the received portion of loop enters) is adapted to facilitate passage of the loop portion through that inlet, e.g. the edge of the inlet can be rounded and/or have antifrictional properties. Nylons are one example of materials having antifrictional properties from which the handle can be made. The handle can be made from at least one material, e.g. polymeric materials or metals. Loop contacting surface of the handle can have a release coating, e.g. comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone.

The tension means can be provided in any suitable way. Preferably, the tension means comprises first and second screw threads in threaded engagement with each other, said received loop portion (e.g. an endless portion or terminals of a band having opposite ends) being coupled to said first screw thread so that rotation of said second screw thread relative to said first screw thread will cause said first screw thread to draw said received portion further into the handle. One example of the first screw thread is constituted by a plug movable within the handle, and optionally able to move out from the outer end of the handle. The handle can have a threaded conformation constituting the second screw thread. In another example, the second screw thread is constituted by a nut, which can be provided at the bottom of the handle or at an intermediate portion of the handle.

Different embodiments of the wrench can have at least one application, e.g. be chosen for domestic use (e.g. removing covers, lids, or stoppers) or technical use (e.g. in plumbing or workshops). The handle can abut against an abutment so that the wrench is then a locking device preventing rotation of the twistable object.

In the accompanying schematic drawing, one example of the wrench is shown. This wrench has a flexible leather band 1 constituting a closed loop having slots 2 for receiving respective projections from e.g. the capstan top of a tap. The band has opposite ends anchored in a slot 3 in the head of an externally threaded plug 4 for engagement with an internal thread 5 inside a hollow handle portion 6a, which optionally: (a) is externally knurled (not shown), (b) has an optional aperture 7 for receiving a tommy bar 8 for rotating handle portion 6a relative to plug 4, and (c) has an optional keyway 9 for receiving an Allen key. Rotation of handle portion 6a thereby enables the leather loop to be contracted or expanded. A handle portion 6b is seatable on stepped exterior of handle portion 6a so that portion 6b can be held while portion 6a is turned.Portion 6b is optionally externally knurled (not shown).

1. A wrench for gripping an object, said wrench comprising: a flexible band for being a closed loop for gripping around said object; and handle means having an inlet for receiving at least one portion of said band, said handle means being provided with means for advancing said band into or out of said inlet so as to reduce or enlarge said loop and thereby enable said loop to grip releasably said object.

2. A wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein said band has at least one aperture for receiving a projection from said object when that object has at least one said projection.

3. A wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one said aperture is elongate in the longitudinal direction of said band.

4. A wrench as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein there is a plurality of said apertures, adjacent said apertures being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said band.

5. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said band has opposite ends, corresponding end portions of said band being received at least partly in said handle means.

6. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said band is endless, a portion of said band being received at least partly in said handle means.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Band Wrench The present invention provides a wrench for releasably gripping a twistable object, said wrench comprising: a flexible band constituting a closed loop for being placed around said object; a handle in which is a portion of said loop; and tension means for applying tension to said loop portion so that said loop portion will move in said handle and thereby reduce said loop so that said loop will grip said object. The flexible band can be constituted in any suitable way, e.g. at least a portion of the band can be a single member (e.g. a strap or belt) or a plurality of members (e.g. a chain or other flexible linkage). In order to aid said gripping, gripping surface of the loop can have at least one conformation having enhanced frictional properties, e.g. point projections or flange projections, and/or gripping surface can be provided with frictional material. Material of the band will preferably be chosen so that the band does not damage the twistable object. The band can be made from at least one material, e.g. leather, metals, or polymeric materials.When the twistable object has at least one sideways projection (e.g. a capstan prong on a tap stem), the wall of the loop can comprise at least one aperture for receiving at least one said projection so that the projection abuts wall material of said aperture. The hollow handle can be a single member or a plurality of members. Preferably the handle's inlet (through which the received portion of loop enters) is adapted to facilitate passage of the loop portion through that inlet, e.g. the edge of the inlet can be rounded and/or have antifrictional properties. Nylons are one example of materials having antifrictional properties from which the handle can be made. The handle can be made from at least one material, e.g. polymeric materials or metals. Loop contacting surface of the handle can have a release coating, e.g. comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone. The tension means can be provided in any suitable way. Preferably, the tension means comprises first and second screw threads in threaded engagement with each other, said received loop portion (e.g. an endless portion or terminals of a band having opposite ends) being coupled to said first screw thread so that rotation of said second screw thread relative to said first screw thread will cause said first screw thread to draw said received portion further into the handle. One example of the first screw thread is constituted by a plug movable within the handle, and optionally able to move out from the outer end of the handle. The handle can have a threaded conformation constituting the second screw thread. In another example, the second screw thread is constituted by a nut, which can be provided at the bottom of the handle or at an intermediate portion of the handle. Different embodiments of the wrench can have at least one application, e.g. be chosen for domestic use (e.g. removing covers, lids, or stoppers) or technical use (e.g. in plumbing or workshops). The handle can abut against an abutment so that the wrench is then a locking device preventing rotation of the twistable object. In the accompanying schematic drawing, one example of the wrench is shown. This wrench has a flexible leather band 1 constituting a closed loop having slots 2 for receiving respective projections from e.g. the capstan top of a tap. The band has opposite ends anchored in a slot 3 in the head of an externally threaded plug 4 for engagement with an internal thread 5 inside a hollow handle portion 6a, which optionally: (a) is externally knurled (not shown), (b) has an optional aperture 7 for receiving a tommy bar 8 for rotating handle portion 6a relative to plug 4, and (c) has an optional keyway 9 for receiving an Allen key. Rotation of handle portion 6a thereby enables the leather loop to be contracted or expanded. A handle portion 6b is seatable on stepped exterior of handle portion 6a so that portion 6b can be held while portion 6a is turned.Portion 6b is optionally externally knurled (not shown). CLAIMS

7. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said band is a single member.

8. A wrench as claimed in claim 7, wherein said band is a strap.

9. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said band is a leather or polymeric strap.

10. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said band is a plurality of members.

11. A wrench as claimed in claim 10, wherein said band is a chain.

1 2. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least a portion of said band is made from at least one material.

1 3. A wrench as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said band is made from leather, metal, or polymeric material.

14. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said handle means is adapted to facilitate said advance of said band.

1 5. A wrench as claimed in claim 14, wherein loop contacting surface of said handle means has a release coating.

16. A wrench as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein said inlet has a rounded edge and/or anti-frictional properties.

1 7. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said handle means is made from at least one material.

1 8. A wrench as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said handle means is made from polymeric material(s) or metal(s).

19. A wrench as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said handle means is made from a nylon.

20. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, said loop has a closure thereof in said handle means.

21. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein said handle means comprises: a plug for receiving at least one portion of said band; and a barrel having a bore for receiving said plug, said bore and the exterior of said plug being in screw threaded engagement with each other so that, when said loop is around said object, said barrel can be rotated to enable said plug to move axially and thereby enable said loop to be reduced or enlarged.

22. A wrench as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one portion of said band is connected to said plug.

23. A wrench as claimed in claim 22, wherein an end of said plug has a slot; and said band has opposite ends, those ends being anchored in said slot.

24. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said handle means comprises a hand holdable sleeve for containing at least a portion of said barrel, said barrel and said sleeve being rotatable relative to each other.

25. A wrench as claimed in claim 24, wherein said sleeve is in sliding contact with said barrel.

26. A wrench as claimed in claim 24 or 25, wherein said barrel has first and second opposite end portions, said first end portion containing said inlet, said barrel having à shank portion extending axially at least a portion of the distance between the extremities of said first and second end portions of said barrel, said sleeve being seated on said shank portion.

27. A wrench as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shank portion has opposite ends respectively terminating at the extremity of said first end portion of the barrel but terminating before the extremity of said second end portion of the barrel.

28. A wrench as claimed in claim 26, wherein said second end portion of the barrel is at least partly wider than said shank portion.

29. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said bore extends partly into said second end portion of the barrel.

30. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein said second end portion of the barrel has at least one aperture for receiving means for rotating the barrel.

31. A wrench as claimed in claim 30, wherein a first said aperture is transverse of said second end portion of the barrel.

32. A wrench as claimed in claim 31, wherein said first aperture is adapted to receive a tommy bar.

33. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 32, wherein a second said aperture is axial of said second end portion of the barrel.

34. A wrench as claimed in claim 33, wherein said second aperture is adapted to receive an Allen key.

35. A wrench as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

36. A wrench as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 35, when said loop grips said object.

37. A wrench as claimed in claim 36, wherein said object is the top of a tap.

38. A wrench as claimed in claim 36 or 37, when said handle means abuts an abutment so that the wrench is then a locking device for resisting rotation of said object.