US2627774A - Release attachment for wrenches and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1953 c. E. WALTER 2,627,774

RELEASE ATTACHMENT FOR WRENCHES AND THE LIKE Filed April 21, 1951 INVEN TOR. avm/nfs l'. Ww uw.

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 RELEASE ATTACHMENT FOR WRENCHES AND THE LIKE Charles Edward Walter, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application April 21, 1951, Serial No. 222,215

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an adjustable release attachment for wrenches, vice grips and similar tools.

Tools of that type are so constructed today that there is but one conventional way to break their grip. That is by spreading the handles through the use of both hands or the thumb oi one hand of the user. Since the term vice grip is used literally in connection with such tools, it logically follows that a considerable amount of pressure or force must be exerted in order to effect a release. And such an exertion is normally attended by unsatisfactory results not only to the hands of the user but to his disposition as Well. This is true since the handles of the tool generally fly open rapidly, thereby cracking, bruising or otherwise injuring the knuckles or hands of the user.

lt is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide an attachment for such tools which will make possible their easy and ready release from gripping or closed position. This is accomplished through the provision of a cam type variable fulcrum in the form of an adjustable bolt and plunger.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvement for wrenches, particularly of the type disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,280,005 issued to William Petersen on April lll, 1942 entitled Wrench. One disadvantage encountered by users of such a wrench lies in the difficulty of effecting a release thereof, With the present invention, such disadvantages are eliminated without in any manner aifecting the excellent operation or function of the tool itself.

A still further object of the present invention is to make possible the use of such tools in conned spaces. In view oi the diiiiculties inherent in releasing that type of tool, requiring both hands as it frequently does, it is obvious that their use in conned or limited spaces is undesirable if not practically impossible. On the other hand, through the medium oi the present invention, tool release is easily and readily accomplished regardless oi the size or limitations of the working space.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation view (with parts broken away) of a type of wrench with which the invention is shown to be associated.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section view of the invention in locked or gripping position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that the invention is shown in handle releasing position.

Fig. e is a longitudinal transverse section view thereof.

In the drawings a wrench oi the type shown in Letters Patent No. 2,280,005 issued to William ietersen on April le, 1942 is shown generally at Iii. No claim, of course, is made to the wrench per se, out only to the attachment associated therewith about which comment will hereinafter be made.

The wrench itself consists o an elongated handle portion i l of channel formation, having a :Fixed jaw i2 formed at its forward end and an internally threaded sleeve i3 formed at its rearward end.. A movable jaw Il is pivotally connected by the pin l5 to a portion of the handle II immediately adjacent the fixed jaw.

Pivotally connected at It to the inner end portion oi the movable jaw is the elongated lever il o channel formation which serves as the operating handle. Pivotally mounted at I8 between the side walls l@ of this handle is one end of a stub lever or ulcrum bar 20 having a centrally disposed lug 2i depending therefrom into operative engagement with the adjacent portion of the handle or lever il. The opposite end of said stub lever is transversely enlarged at 22 to provide a bearing for the plunger 23 hereinafter described.

The construction of the stub lever is such that its lug engages the adjacent portion of the channelled handle Il as the handle is being moved relative to handle l I, thereby precluding further relative movement therebetween until pivot I8 passes over center oi the line between pivot I6 and the bearing point of enlarged head 22 against plunger 23.

Spring 2li serves to maintain head 22 in contact with the inner face of the plunger, and also biases movable jaw i@ away from fixed jaw I2.

Up to this point the foregoing has described thc Petersen Wrench which is representative only, of the type of vice grip in connection with which applicants invention is designed to be used. No claim is made to such a wrench per se.

As mentioned above, experience has proven that when a wrench or the type described is to be released so that the article 25 may be removed from between its jaws, it is necessary to exert a considerable amount of pressure. The exact amount of pressure required has direct relation to the distance between pivot I6 and the bearing point of the head against the plunger, i. e. the

fulcrum. The further the plunger is adjusted outwardly, the less pressure is required to release the jaws. It is also apparent that the plunger can not be adjusted outwardly too far, else the wrench will not hold the article 25 in a vice like grip. If it is necessary to screw or unscrew the plunger, i. e. move it forwardly or rearwardly, a great deal of time will obviously be consumed, and the results will not always be satisfactory. On the other hand, with applicants attachment satisfactory results can be achieved with a minimum of time and effort. ing or bruising o the knuckles and hands when release is effected.

Applicants attachment consists of the plunger 23 which is loosely received and slidably accommodated within the bore 28 formed in the externally threaded shank 2l. The shank is adjustable within said internally threaded sleeve I3. Suitably connected to the rearward end of the sleeve is the enlarged block 28 having a transversely disposed bore formed therethrough. Disposed within this bore is the pin having a reduced central portion 3@ fashioned in the shape of the cam shown, and truncated end portions 3 l. Connected to either end of the pin is the substantially U-shaped handle 32.

While the throw of the plunger may be as desired, it is shown in the drawing to be approximately one-eighth of an inch. If it is necessary to move the plunger further forwardly or further rearwardly, it is, of course, possible to screw or unscrew the shank itself.

In operation, the shank is first adjusted to the desired position and the handle controlling the plunger is raised to a horizontal position, thereby forcing the plunger to its forwardmost position. (See Fig. 2.) The lever Il lis then moved upwardly until the lug engages it whereupon the pivoti8 connecting the stub lever to lever or handle il is moved to beyond center position as described above. The jaws of the wrench will then be locked in object gripping position.

When it is desired to release the jaws from such locked position it is necessary only to move the handle 82 upwardly (see Fig. 3) thereby through cam action permitting plunger 23 to be automatically forced rearwardly. Thereupon jaw release may be eiected readily and easily by pressing downwardly on lever I7.

And there is no crack- While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative :and not restrictive in character.

The invention claimed is:

In a wrench including a handle member having a xed jaw at one end, a movable jaw pivot- -ally connected to said handle member, an operating handle pivotally connected with the rearward portion of said movable jaw, the opposite end of said iirst mentioned handle having an internally threaded sleeve portion, a stub lever pivotally connected at one end to said operating Y handle, the opposite end of said lever having a head portion, the combination therewith of a release attachment comprising an externally threaded bolt received within said sleeve portion, said bolt having a longitudinal bore formed within its shank and a transversely disposed bore formed within its head, said bores communicating one with the other, a longitudinally recipro- .cable plunger disposed within said rst mentioned bore, the forward end of said plunger eX- tending beyond said bolt into abutting engagement with the head portion of said stub lever, and a rotary eccentric disposed within said second mentioned bore engageable by the opposite end of said plunger whereby the longitudinal position of said plunger may be varied by a change in the angular position of said eccentric, and means for varying the angular position of said eccentric.

CHARLES EDWARD WALTER.

REFERENCES *CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,299,454 Borchers Oct. 20, 1942 2,341,489 Tornborg Feb. 8, 1944 2,443,153 Wells June 8, 1948 2,489,895 Kash Nov. 29, 1949 2,500,261 Parker Mar. 14, 1950 2,514,130 Jones July 4, 1950 2,519,973 Mead Aug. 22, 1950

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