Flex-head wrench
A wrench including a handle having a first yoke at a first end and a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, at least a first tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity. Each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/476,123 filed Apr. 15, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to wrenches. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wrench including a flex-head defining a drive cavity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWrenches are known that are capable of engaging two different sized fasteners. A ratchet wrench may be, for example, capable of engaging a ⅞ inch fastener with one end of the wrench and a ½ inch fastener at the opposite end of the wrench handle. Thus, the number of wrenches required to insure a user can engage a given number of differently sized fasteners is reduced by half.
As well, wrenches having heads that pivot with respect to the wrench's handle axis (“flex-head” wrenches) for adjusting fasteners in hard to reach locations are known. Existing flex-head wrenches typically include a fastener-engaging head portion that is attached to a handle at a pivot joint so that a user may adjust the angular position of the head portion relative to the handle. As well, flex-head wrenches may include locking mechanisms for securing the head portion in the desired position relative to the handle during use. Often, these flex-head wrenches are not adequately suited for adjusting the angle of the head portion relative to the handle with only one hand. More specifically, when the locking mechanism is disengaged from the head portion to allow for adjustment, the head portion pivots freely about the handle. As such, a user must grasp the head portion with one hand for positioning while operating the locking mechanism with the remaining hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods. One embodiment of the present invention provides a wrench including a handle having a first yoke at a first end and a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, at least a first tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity. Each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a wrench including a handle having a first end and a second end, a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first end of the handle at a pivot axis, at least a first tool head of the first plurality of tool heads defining a drive aperture, a ratchet wheel rotatably received in the drive aperture of the first tool head, the ratchet wheel defining a first drive cavity, and a pawl disposed within the drive aperture of the first tool head, the pawl being operatively coupled to the ratchet wheel. Each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable with respect to the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads about the pivot axis.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a wrench including a handle having a yoke defined by a pair of arms at a first end, a tool head including a hub defining a mounting bore, a pivot pin passing through the mounting bore of the tool head and arms of the yoke such that the tool head is pivotably attached to the handle, and a retention mechanism including a recess defined by an inner wall of the mounting bore and a plate spring, the plate spring being disposed in the recess such that it contacts the pivot pin, wherein the plate spring exerts a biasing force on the pivot pin.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention according to the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation, not limitation, of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring now to
A first yoke 104 and a second yoke 105 are formed by pairs of parallel legs extending from opposite ends of handle 102. Although they are preferably offset relative to each other by 90°, as shown, the configurations of the yokes and corresponding tool heads on opposite ends of wrench 100 are largely identical and, therefore, only first yoke 104 and first and second tool heads 120 and 140 are discussed. As best seen in
As best seen in
As shown, first and second drive cavities 126 and 128 are contiguous, meaning the cavities as defined by the respective gripping surfaces open into each other in the axial direction without separation by an intermediate structure. Because first and second drive cavities 126 and 128 have different operative diameters so that they may engage different sized fastener heads, a ledge 130 extends outwardly between the contiguous ends of the drive cavities. Ledge 130 acts as an abutment only for those fasteners being engaged by first drive cavity 126 as it is the larger of the two drive cavities.
Referring additionally to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described above, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For example, the flex-head feature can be used with tool heads having various drive cavity configurations and alternate retention mechanisms. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A wrench, comprising:
- a handle having a first yoke at a first end;
- a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first yoke at a first pivot axis, each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads having a drive cavity and a hub defining a mounting bore;
- a pivot pin passing through the mounting bores of the first plurality of tool heads and the first yoke such that the first plurality of tool heads is coupled to the first yoke;
- and a plurality of retention mechanisms, each including a semi-cylindrical recess defined by an inner wall of each of the mounting bores and a plate spring, the plate spring being disposed in the semi-cylindrical recess such that it contacts the pivot pin,
- wherein the plate spring exerts a biasing force in a radial direction on the pivot pin,
- wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the first pivot axis independently of the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads, and
- each hub of the first plurality of tool heads is adjacently positioned on the first pivot axis and each drive cavity is positionable on a longitudinal center axis of the handle passing through a longitudinal center of the first pivot pin.
2. The wrench of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of tool heads further comprises at least a first tool head and a second tool head, wherein the drive cavity of the first tool head further comprises a first drive cavity configured to drivingly engage a workpiece of a first predetermined size and a second drive cavity configured to drivingly engage a workpiece of a second predetermined size, and wherein each of the first and second predetermined sizes is different from each other of the first and second predetermined sizes.
3. The wrench of claim 2, further comprising a ratchet wheel rotatably received in the first tool head, wherein each of the first drive cavity and the second drive cavity are defined by the ratchet wheel.
4. The wrench of claim 3, further comprising a direction control mechanism mounted in the first tool head and movable between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position such that torque is applicable to the workpiece in either a first rotational direction when the direction control mechanism is in the first predetermined position or a second rotational direction when the direction control mechanism is in the second predetermined position.
5. The wrench of claim 4, further comprising a pawl movably disposed within the first tool head, the pawl being operably coupled to both the ratchet wheel and the direction control mechanism.
6. The wrench of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second yoke disposed at a second end of the handle; and
- a second plurality of tool heads coupled to the second yoke at a second pivot axis,
- wherein each tool head of the second plurality of tool heads is pivotable about the second pivot axis of the second yoke independently of the other tool heads of the second plurality of tool heads.
7. The wrench of claim 6, wherein the first and second yokes are each defined by a pair of arms, the arms of the first yoke lie in a first plane, the arms of the second yoke lie in a second plane, and the first plane is transverse to the second plane.
8. The wrench of claim 1, wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is fully rotatable through 360° about the first pivot axis of the first yoke.
9. The wrench of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet wheel rotatably received in each tool head, wherein the drive cavity of each tool head is defined by the corresponding ratchet wheel.
10. The wrench of claim 1, wherein the drive cavity of the first tool head is defined by a through-bore, the through-bore opening to opposite sides of the first drive head.
11. A wrench, comprising:
- a handle having a first end having a first yoke formed by a pair of arms and a second end;
- a first plurality of tool heads coupled to the first end of the handle at a first pivot axis, each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads defining a drive aperture and a hub defining a mounting bore, the hub of each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads being disposed between the arms of the first yoke;
- a pivot pin passing through the mounting bores of the first plurality of tool heads and the arms of the first yoke such that the first plurality of tool heads is pivotably attached to the handle; and
- a plurality of retention mechanisms, each including a semi-cylindrical recess defined by an inner wall of each of the mounting bores and a plate spring, the plate spring being disposed in the semi-cylindrical recess such that it contacts the pivot pin, the plate spring exerting a biasing force in a radial direction on the pivot pin;
- a ratchet wheel rotatably received in the drive aperture of each tool head, each ratchet wheel defining a first drive cavity; and
- a pawl disposed within the drive aperture of each tool head, each pawl being operatively coupled to a corresponding ratchet wheel,
- wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is pivotable with respect to the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads about the first pivot axis, and each drive aperture is positionable along a longitudinal center axis of the handle, and
- each hub of the first plurality of tool heads is adjacently positioned on the first pivot axis and each drive cavity is positionable on a longitudinal center axis of the handle passing through a longitudinal center of the first pivot pin.
12. The wrench of claim 11,
- wherein the first plurality of tool heads comprises at least a first tool head and a second tool head,
- wherein the first drive cavity of the first tool head is configured to drivingly engage a workpiece of a first predetermined size and the ratchet wheel of the first tool head further comprises a second drive cavity configured to drivingly engage a workpiece of a second predetermined size, and
- wherein each of the first and second predetermined sizes is different from each other of the first and second predetermined sizes.
13. The wrench of claim 11, further comprising a direction control mechanism mounted in the first tool head and movable between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position such that torque is applicable to a workpiece in either a first rotational direction when the direction control mechanism is in the first predetermined position or a second rotational direction when the direction control mechanism is in the second predetermined position.
14. The wrench of claim 13, wherein the pawl is operably coupled to the direction control mechanism.
15. The wrench of claim 11, further comprising:
- a second yoke disposed at a second end of the handle; and
- a second plurality of tool heads coupled to the second yoke at a second pivot axis,
- wherein each tool head of the second plurality of tool heads is pivotable with respect to the other tool heads of the first plurality of tool heads about the second pivot axis of the second yoke.
16. The wrench of claim 15, wherein the first pivot axis of the first yoke is transverse to the second pivot axis of the second yoke.
17. The wrench of claim 11, wherein each tool head of the first plurality of tool heads is fully rotatable through 360° about the first pivot axis of the first yoke.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 22, 2011
Date of Patent: Apr 7, 2015
Patent Publication Number: 20120260775
Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc. (Sparks, MD)
Inventors: Christopher Lance (Towson, MD), Tim McKenzie (Cockeysville, MD)
Primary Examiner: Hadi Shakeri
Application Number: 13/188,830
International Classification: B25B 13/06 (20060101); B25B 13/46 (20060101); B25B 23/16 (20060101); B25B 13/04 (20060101); B25B 13/56 (20060101);