US2006073A - Improved wrench - Google Patents

Description

H. W. HARRER IMPROVED WRENCH June 25, 1935.

Original Filed Jan. 16, 1934 Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 16, 1934, Serial No. 706,808 Renewed February 4, 1935 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches and has for its object to provide a wrench having slidable jaws and a releasable ratchet mechanism for moving the jaws into tight gripping relation, operable by the handle of the wrench. upon application of force thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the above-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and eicient in operation and inexpensive to man.- ufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a side elevation view of the wrench,

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same,

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the lower end of the handle showing the compartment for the extra jaw faces, and,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on lines II-II of Fig. l.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 denote a pair of jaws disposed in confronting relation and having shanks and 8 extending therefrom at right angles. The shank I has a longitudinal groove 5 extending along its upper edge, adapted to slidably receive the correspondingly shaped rib I formed on the lower edge ofthe shank 8, thus slidably connecting the jaws together. The handle I I may be straight or of the' S-type and has its upper end bifurcated, as at I2, to straddle the shanks of the jaws. The handle is pivotally connected to the jaw 6 by the pivot pin I3 extending through the bifurcated end and the jaw. A yoke i4 is disposed in the base of the bifurcation I2 of the handle and straddles the shank 'I of the jaw 5. A pin I5 extends through the yoke I4 and slot i6 extending longitudinally of the shank l, the ends of the pin being slidably mounted in the vertical slots II formed in the walls of the bifurcation I2. The upper edge of the slot I6 is provided with ratchet teeth I8 which are engaged by the pin I5, the pin being normally held in engagement with the ratchet teeth. by the coil spring I9 mounted on the shank 20 ofthe yoke I4. The shank 2D extends through an opening 2I in the handle and has its lower end pivotally connected, es at 22, to the release lever 23 which is pivotally mounted in a recess in the handle, as at 24. The jaws and 6 are provided with removable jaw faces 25 which are held in place by set screws 25 and formed in the lower end of the handle I I is a compartment 21 for the storing of extra jaw faces and a pivoted closure plate 28, normally covers the compartment.

In use, the jaws 5 and 6 may be quickly adjusted by actuating the lever 23 to pull down the yoke I4 and release the pin I5 from engagement with the ratchet teeth I8. When the jaws have been adjusted, the lever is released and through action of the coil spring I9 the pin I5 is moved into engagement with the ratchet teeth I8, so that when force is applied to the handle the jaws are moved still further towards each other into tight gripping relation, preventing the jaws from slipping on the object to which the wrench has been adjusted. To release the wrench the handle is moved in the reverse direction and the pin I5 rides over the ratchet teeth, opening the jaws instantly.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. A wrench comprising a pair of jaws having Shanks extending at right angles thereto and slidably connected together to permit the jaws to move towards and away from each other, a handle having a bifurcated end straddling the shanks and pivotally connected to one of said jaws, a yoke disposed in the base of the bifurcation of the han- :Ile and straddling the shank of the other jaw, a pin extending through said yoke having its ends slidably mounted in slots formed in the walls of the bifurcation, ratchet teeth formed in the jaw shank straddled by said yoke, adapted to be engaged by said pin and means for actuating said yoke to release said pin from engagement with said ratchet teeth.

2. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, Shanks extending at right angles to said jaws and slidably connected together, a slot extending longitudinally of the movable jaw shank having ratchet teeth along its upper edge, a handle having a bifurcated end straddling said Shanks and through an opening in said handle, a coil spring mounted on said stem normally holding said pin in engagement with said ratchet teeth and a lever pivotally mounted in said handle and connected to said stem, for actuating said yoke to release said pin from engagement with said ratchet teeth.

HERBERT W. HARRER.

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