The present invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to pipe wrenches.
Pipe wrenches are typically used to rotate, tighten, or otherwise manipulate workpieces (e.g., pipes, valves, fittings, other plumbing components, etc.). Some types of pipe wrenches include a bottom jaw and a hook jaw movable with respect to the bottom jaw to adjust the spacing between the jaws. Because pipe wrenches are often used to apply torque to round work pieces, the jaws typically include teeth for improved grip.
In some instances, to increase a length of a handle of a conventional pipe wrench, a piece of conduit is crimped onto the handle. By coupling the conduit to the handle, an overall weight of the pipe wrench increases and modifications to the tool may affect life of the tool or may lead to premature failure.
In one aspect, a wrench includes a body having a head with an aperture and a handle portion having a bore. The handle portion defines a longitudinal axis. The wrench also includes a first jaw coupled to the head with the first jaw including first teeth, a second jaw extending through the aperture of the head with the second jaw including a threaded portion and second teeth, an actuator coupled to the threaded portion of the second jaw such that rotation of the actuator relative to the second jaw moves the second teeth of the second jaw relative to the first teeth of the first jaw, and an extension handle slidably received within the bore of the handle portion along the longitudinal axis. The extension handle is moveable relative to the handle portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The wrench further includes a locking mechanism including a collar coupled to the handle portion and moveable into a locked position to inhibit movement of the extension handle relative to the handle portion and an unlocked position to allow movement of the extension handle relative to the handle portion. The collar includes an opening sized for the extension handle to extend through the opening. The locking mechanism also includes a wedge engageable with the handle portion and the extension handle when the collar is in the locked position.
In another aspect, a wrench includes a body having a head with an aperture and a handle portion having a bore. The handle portion defines a longitudinal axis. The wrench also includes a first jaw coupled to the head with the first jaw including first teeth, a second jaw extending through the aperture of the head with the second jaw including a threaded portion and second teeth, an actuator coupled to the threaded portion of the second jaw such that rotation of the actuator relative to the second jaw moves the second teeth of the second jaw relative to the first teeth of the first jaw, and an extension handle coupled within the bore of the handle portion in a first orientation and a second orientation. The extension handle includes a first gripping portion defining a first length with the first gripping portion extending beyond the handle portion when the extension handle is in the first orientation, a second gripping portion defining a second length with the second length being less than the first length. The second gripping portion extends beyond the handle portion when the extension handle is in the second orientation. The extension handle also includes a locking member positioned between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion. The locking member engages the handle portion to secure the extension handle in the first orientation and the second orientation.
In yet another aspect, a wrench includes a body having a head with an aperture and a handle portion defining a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis centrally extends through a first end of the handle portion adjacent the head and a second end of the handle portion opposite the first end. The wrench also includes a first jaw coupled to the head with the first jaw including first teeth and an edge. The edge is transverse to the longitudinal axis and distal to the aperture of the head. The edge defines a width of the first jaw. The wrench further includes a second jaw extending through the aperture of the head with the second jaw including a threaded portion and second teeth. The wrench further includes an actuator coupled to the threaded portion of the second jaw such that rotation of the actuator relative to the second jaw moves the second teeth of the second jaw relative to the first teeth of the first jaw. A length is measured from the edge of the first jaw to the second end of the handle portion parallel to the longitudinal axis. A ratio of the width of the first jaw over the length is less than 0.06.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “about” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
The wrench 10 also includes a first or bottom jaw 35, which includes first teeth 40, coupled (fixedly or removably coupled) to the head 25. The wrench 10 further includes a second or hook jaw 45, which includes second teeth 50, extending through an aperture 55 of the head 25. The hook jaw 45 includes threads 60 that engage an actuator or thumb wheel 65 so that when the thumb wheel 65 is rotated in a desired direction, the hook jaw 45 moves in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 30 of the handle portion 20 for a distance between the first teeth 40 of the bottom jaw 35 and the second teeth 50 of the hook jaw 45 to be adjusted. Accordingly, as the thumb wheel 65 rotates in a first direction, the second teeth 50 of the hook jaw 45 move toward the first teeth 40 of the bottom jaw 35 for the teeth 40, 50 to grip a workpiece positioned between the bottom jaw 35 and the hook jaw 45. Alternatively, as the thumb wheel 65 rotates in a second direction, the second teeth 50 of the hook jaw 45 move away from the first teeth 40 of the bottom jaw 35 for the teeth 40, 50 to release the workpiece.
With reference to
As best shown in
To lock the extension handle 70 in a desired position relative to the handle portion 20, the collar 115 is rotated in a first direction 165 (
To unlock the extension handle 70 allowing the extension handle 70 to move relative to the handle portion 20, the collar 115 is rotated in a second direction 170 (
In operation, an operator of the wrench 10 can grip the handle portion 20 and/or the extension handle 70 (a portion of the extension handle 70 extending beyond the handle portion 20) to rotate the wrench 10 and ultimately the workpiece gripped between the teeth 40, 50.
The illustrated wrench 310 includes a body 315 having a handle or gripping portion 320 defining a longitudinal axis 330 and a head 325. A bottom jaw 335, which includes first teeth 340, is coupled to the head 325 and a hook jaw 345, which includes second teeth 350, extends through an aperture 355 of the head 325. The hook jaw 345 includes threads 360 that engage a thumb wheel 365.
The wrench 310 also includes an extension handle 370 selectively coupled within a bore 375 of the handle portion 320. The illustrated extension handle 370 includes a first gripping portion 475, a second gripping portion 480, and a collar or locking member 415 positioned therebetween. With reference to
The illustrated extension handle 370 can be coupled to the handle portion 320 in two orientations. To position the extension handle 370 in a first orientation (
To position the extension handle 370 in a second orientation (
As the first gripping portion 475 is longer than the second gripping portion 480, the operator can transmit more torque to the workpiece when the extension handle 370 is in the first orientation than the second orientation.
The illustrated wrench 610 includes a body 615 having a handle or gripping portion 620 having first and second ends 632, 634 defining a longitudinal axis 630 and a head 625. The body 615 is manufactured from aluminum (e.g., an aluminum alloy). The illustrated handle portion 620 is integrally formed with the head 625 as a single component. The wrench 610 also includes a bottom jaw 635, which includes first teeth 640, coupled to the head 625. As best shown in
The wrench 610 further includes a hook jaw 645, which includes second teeth 650, extending through an aperture 655 of the head 625. As also best shown in
With reference back to
As best shown in
The illustrated wrench 610 includes various relationships, characteristics, and ratios that improve ergonomics in performing tasks (e.g., overhead use of the wrench 610) and allows for use of the wrench 610 including the long handle portion 620 (relative to the size and configuration of the jaws 635, 645) for tasks in which available free space is limited. For example, a ratio of the maximum distance 850 over the length 855 of the wrench 610 is about 0.11. In other embodiments, the ratio of the maximum distance 850 over the length 855 can be between about 0.05 and about 0.17, or the ratio of the maximum distance 850 over the length 855 can be between about 0.07 and about 0.13. In further embodiments, the ratio of the maximum distance 850 over the length 855 can be less than about 0.13. In addition, a ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the length 855 of the wrench 610 is about 0.04. In other embodiments, the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the length 855 can be between about 0.04 and about 0.07, or the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the length 855 can be between about 0.03 and about 0.05. In further embodiments, the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the length 855 can be less than about 0.06. Furthermore, a ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the maximum distance 850 is about 0.37. In other embodiments, the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the maximum distance 850 can be between about 0.4 and about 0.7, or the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the maximum distance 850 can be between about 0.28 and about 1. In further embodiments, the ratio of the bottom jaw width 830 over the maximum distance 850 can be less than about 1. The wrench 610 includes additional relationships, characteristics, and ratios of the component(s) that improve ergonomics of the wrench 610, which are not explicitly described herein. In other embodiments, at least some of the relationships and ratios described herein are applicable to different pipe wrenches (e.g., pipe wrenches including a smaller or a larger bottom jaw width, a smaller or a larger maximum distance between the jaws, a smaller or a larger length of the handle portion, etc.).
The relationships, characteristics, and ratios of the wrench 610 described herein provide a better performing and a better ergonomic configuration than a conventional pipe wrench including a conduit crimped onto the handle. For example, the illustrated wrench 610 is lighter weight than the conventional pipe wrench including the conduit (advantageous for overhead applications, for example, sprinkler applications), and the illustrated wrench 610 is configured to transmit more torque to the workpiece than the conventional pipe wrench including the conduit.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application is continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/493,249, filed Oct. 4, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/223,411, filed Apr. 6, 2021, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/976,939, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,994,405, filed May 11, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/524,250 filed on Jun. 23, 2017 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/504,778 filed on May 11, 2017, the entire contents of all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62524250 | Jun 2017 | US | |
62504778 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15976939 | May 2018 | US |
Child | 17223411 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17493249 | Oct 2021 | US |
Child | 17820767 | US | |
Parent | 17223411 | Apr 2021 | US |
Child | 17493249 | US |