Open-end wrench with integral ratcheting means

{
  "publication_number": "US3717054A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Open-end wrench with integral ratcheting means",
  "abstract": "In order to provide an open-end wrench which will ratchet in one direction to permit sequential strokes of the wrench without removing it from the element being tightened or loosened, one of the jaws is rendered controllably retractable. The retractable jaw is biased toward the unretracted position by means of a compression spring disposed behind the retractable jaw element which is oriented to move linearly in a guide slot angularly toward and away from the element being operated upon as the ratcheting function is carried out. A detent pin extends through the retractable jaw element in a direction normal to a flat surface grasped within the jaws and is spring loaded toward the jaw surface. The other end of the detent pin comprises an enlarged head portion which restrains the detent pin compression spring on its undersurface and is curved on its upper surface to function as a detent cooperating with a recess in the stationary portion of the jaw carrying the retractable jaw element. The detent pin serves to lock the retractable jaw element in the grasping position so long as a flat area of the grasped element is flush with the detent pin end which causes the head end of the pin to remain locked in the detent bore. However, when the direction of the wrench is reversed, the natural tendency of the flat area of the element being operated upon to move away from the jaw surface proximate the detent pin coupled with pressure exerted on the retractable jaw element in an area nearer the open end of the wrench permits the pin to lift slightly and relax the retractable jaw element which is pushed angularly rearwardly from its locked position and ratchets until the direction is again reversed at which time a flat area of the element being operated upon will again constrain the detent pin, and hence the retractable jaw element, in the locked position. A locking pin is incorporated into the mechanism for preventing retraction of the ratcheting jaw in order that the wrench can function as an ordinary open-end wrench. To facilitate working ''''blindly,'''' a spring loaded retractable ball is disposed in the stationary jaw proximate the tip thereof to provide a slight locking effect once the nut or the like is located and the wrench is slid into position. Similarly, two small retractable pins are provided, one above the other, at the base of the nut-receiving opening and function to assist in maintaining the wrench engaged with the nut or the like being operated upon by providing a ''''stop'''' function against raising or lowering the working end of the wrench sufficiently to ''''lose'''' the nut. By engaging the nut in such a manner that one of the two superimposed pins is retracted and the other functions as a stop, slight pressure against the stop assists in maintaining engagement between the tool and the nut.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An open-end wrench for driving an element having a plurality of circumferentially distributed flats engaged by the wrench, said wrench comprising: A. a handle; B. a first jaw, said first jaw being stationary and having an inwardly directed flat surface; C. a second jaw; said second jaw including linearly retractable racheting means having an inwardly directed flat surface; and D. detent means extending through said racheting means and adapted to lock said racheting means in a fully extended element driving position when a flat of the driven element bears on said detent means and to release said racheting means when a flat of the driven element lifts from said detent means. An open-end wrench for driving an element having a plurality of circumferentially distributed flats engaged by the wrench, said wrench comprising: A. a handle; B. a first jaw, said first jaw being stationary and having an inwardly directed flat surface; C. a second jaw; said second jaw including linearly retractable racheting means having an inwardly directed flat surface; and D. detent means extending through said racheting means and adapted to lock said racheting means in a fully extended element driving position when a flat of the driven element bears on said detent means and to release said racheting means when a flat of the driven element lifts from said detent means.",
    "2. The open-end wrench of claim 1 in which said racheting means is spring-biased toward the fully extended element driving position; and said detent means comprises a detent pin having first and second ends, means for spring biasing said detent pin away from said flat surface of said racheting means, and a detent recess outwardly disposed from said racheting means in a fixed portion of said second jaw, the length of said detent pin and the depth of said detent recess being coordinated to lock said first end of said detent pin in said detent recess when said racheting means is in the fully extended position and a flat of the driven element bears on said second end of said detent pin, thereby locking said racheting means in the element driving position.",
    "3. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a locking pin adapted for manual selective engagement with said racheting means when said racheting means is in the fully extended position to constrain said racheting means against retraction whereby said wrench may be utilized as non-racheting open-end wrench.",
    "4. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a ball stop positioned proximate the end of said first jaw, said ball stop being captivated within a bore into said first jaw flat surface, said bore containing means for spring biasing said ball stop to extend normally, but retractably, outwardly from said first jaw flat surface a distance less than the radius of said ball stop."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B25B 13/08",
    "B25B 13/46",
    "B25B 23/0071"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 13/46"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "R Thompson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1971-07-19",
  "publication_date": "1973-02-20",
  "grant_date": "1973-02-20",
  "priority_date": "1971-07-19",
  "application_number": "US-3717054D-A",
  "family_id": "22591188",
  "cited_by_count": 35,
  "citations": [
    "DE268643C",
    "US1483110A",
    "US2730000A",
    "US2697372A"
  ]
}