Patent Application
20160176025
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tool accessories and, more particularly, to a pipe wrench having a selectively deployable smooth engaging surface and tooth engaging surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use and design of various types of wrenches to provide grip and/or mechanical advantage is well known. A common wrench design is that of a pipe wrench, which is typically includes an adjustable jaw configured to be locked in the frame such that any forward pressure on the handle tends to pull the jaws tighter together. Pipe wrenches may include teeth on its engaging surface, whether angled or straight, or possibly a smooth engaging surface suitable for use on other fittings. A problem which still exists, however, is that a single pipe wrench typically includes teeth that are oriented a particular fixed way or a smooth surface that is not interchangeable. Thus, there remains a need for a pipe wrench that utilizes a changeable engaging surface so as to allow a user to selectively deploy a toothed engaging surface or a smooth engaging surface. It would be helpful if such a changeable pipe wrench eliminated the need for a user to carry multiple styles of pipe wrenches to ensure having a suitable engaging surface. It would be additionally desirable for such a changeable pipe wrench to include attachments for both the fixed side of the engaging surface and the adjustable side of the engaging surface to enable a full or partial engaging surface conversion as desired by a user.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a changeable pipe wrench adapted to allow a user to configure a single pipe wrench into several distinct engaging surface styles. The primary components in Applicant's rotating changeable pipe wrench are a wrench base, an adjustable jaw, and two reversible attachment components. When in operation, the changeable pipe wrench enables a user to deploy one of several different engaging surfaces without needing different pipe wrenches. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.
A changeable pipe wrench for selectively interchanging and employing discrete engaging surface styles through a single wrench. The changeable pipe wrench comprises a wrench base and adjustable jaw for providing a means for turning pipes and fittings with a rounded surface, a first reversible attachment component for providing a reversible base means for engaging, a second reversible attachment component for providing a reversible jaw means for engaging, and a rivet for each of said reversible attachment components. The wrench base and adjustable jaw are configured to receive and operate with a one of said reversible attachment components, typically with the smooth side on each facing or the tooth side on each facing. One of the reversible attachment components is attached to the wrench base through a base attachment slot disposed on the wrench base fastened with a rivet. The other reversible attachment components is attached to the adjustable jaw through a jaw attachment slot disposed on the adjustable jaw and fastened with a rivet. In this regard, the attachment slots and rivets provide an attachment means for securing. The adjustable is attached to and operated by the wrench base through a conventional adjustable jaw sliding track. By using the different sides of the reversible attachment components, the engaging surface of the changeable pipe wrench can be adjusted to suit whatever task the user is performing. Accordingly, a separate wrench for work with separate engaging surfaces is not required.
It is an object of this invention to provide a pipe wrench that utilizes a changeable engaging surface so as to allow a user to selectively deploy a toothed engaging surface or a smooth engaging surface.
It is another object of this invention to provide a changeable pipe wrench that eliminated the need for a user to carry multiple styles of pipe wrenches to ensure having a suitable engaging surface.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a changeable pipe wrench that includes attachments for both the fixed side of the engaging surface and the adjustable side of the engaging surface to enable a full or partial engaging surface conversion as desired by a user.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular
The adjustable jaw 120 includes an inverted âTâ shaped attachment slot 122 in which the second reversible attachment component 140 is received and a rivet aperture 123 that enables the removable fastening of the second reversible attachment component 140.
The first reversible attachment component 130 and second reversible attachment component 140 are identical structures that each include a component tooth side 131, 141 and a component smooth side 132, 142 either of which may be faced outwardly from the wrench base 110 or adjustable jaw 120 when the first or second reversible attachment component 130, 140 is attached thereto (as illustrated in
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
