GB2159080A - Spanner - Google Patents

Abstract

A spanner comprises a stem 12 having a jaw 14 at one end, which jaw has a pair of opposite sides providing a pair of substantially parallel inner faces for engaging with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like. The jaw is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the stem about a first axis 20 which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spanner and the one side of the jaw 14.1 is capable of pivotal movement relative to the rest of the jaw about a second axis 16 which is substantially parallel to the first axis 20. The first axis is off-set with respect to an imaginary centre line which is parallel to and equidistant from the pair of opposite inner engaging faces of the jaw. The first and second axes are on opposite sides of the centre line. The spanner further includes a projection 24 on the stem which is adapted to engage with the jaw to counteract relative pivotal movement of the one side of the jaw with respect to the rest of the jaw and to counteract the pivotal movement of the jaw with respect to the stem when the jaw, when engaged with a nut or bolt is turned in one direction and adapted to disengage with the jaw when the spanner is turned in the opposite direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spanner This invention relates to a spanner for turning a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like.

According to the invention there is provided a spanner comprising a stem having a jaw at one end, which jaw has a pair of opposite sides providing a pair of substantially parallel inner faces for engaging with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like, wherein the jaw is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the stem about a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spanner and the one side of the jaw is capable of pivotal movement relative to the rest of the jaw about a second axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis and wherein the first axis is off-set with respect to an imaginary centre line which is parallel to and equidistant from the pair of opposite inner engaging faces of the jaw and wherein the first and second axes are on opposite sides of the centre line and including a projection on the stem which is adapted to engage with the jaw to counteract relative pivotal movement of one side of the jaw with respect to the rest of the jaw and to counteract the pivotal movement of the jaw with respect to the stem when the jaw, when engaged with a nut, bolt, coupling or the like, is turned in one direction and adapted to disengage with the jaw when the spanner is turned in the opposite direction.

A jaw, as described, may be provided on each of the opposite ends of the stem.

The spanner according to the invention may be provided in different standard sizes to fit different sizes of bolts, nuts, couplings, or the like.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a spanner according to the invention, showing the spanner in a first operative position; Figure 2 is a side view of the spanner of Figure 1, showing the spanner in a second operative position; Figure 3 is a fractional plan of view of the stem of the spanner of Figure 1 with the pivotal jaw removed; Figure 4 is a fractional side view of the stem of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the one part of the pivotal jaw of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of the jaw part of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of the other part of the pivotal jaw of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a side view of the jaw part of Figure 7.

In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a spanner comprising a stem 12 having a jaw 14 at one end. The jaw 14 comprises a pair of side members 14.1 and 14.2. The side member 14.1 is capable of pivotal movement relative to the side member 14.2 about an axle 16 which is perpendicular to the plane of the spanner 10. (The plane of the spanner 10 coincides with the plane of the paper). As can be seen in Figure 6, the side member 14.2 is provided with a forked formation 18 for receiving the member 14.1 and the axle 16.

The entire jaw 14 is further capable of pivotal movement relative to the stem 12 about an axle 20 which is also perpendicular to the plane of the spanner 10. To effect the pivotal connection between the jaw 14 and the stem 12, the stem 12 is provided with a forked formation 22 (Figure 4) for receiving the jaw 14 and the axle 20.

A lateral projection 24 is provided on the stem 12 for alternatively engaging and disengaging with the jaw 14, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the axle 20 is offset with respect to an imaginary centre line (indicated by reference numeral 25) which is parallel to and equidistant from the opposite sides 14.1 and 14.2 of the jaw 14. As can also be seen, the projection 24 and the axle 20 are on opposite sides of the imaginary centre line 25.

As can further be seen from Figure 1, when the spanner 10 engaged with a nut or bolt (not shown) is turned in a clockwise direction, the projection 24 engages with the jaw 14 in such a fashion that both relative movement of the jaw 14 with respect to the stem 12 and the relative movement of the side member 14.1 with respect to the member 14.2 is counteracted. This results in the jaw 14 gripping the head of the bolt. However, when the spanner 10 is turned in the opposite direction (Figure 2), the projection 24 disengages with the jaw 14 and both modes of relative movement are allowed. This results in the jaw 14 releasing the head of the bolt.

The spanner 10 can, therefore, be moved relative to the bolt without necessarily removing the jaw 14 from the bolt. The result obtained is, therefore, similar to that of a conventional ratchet spanner.

Ey inverting the spanner 10, a nut or bolt will be gripped during an anti-clockwise turning of the spanner 10 and released during a clockwise turning of the spanner 10.

It is an advantage of the spanner 10 that it facilitates work in confined or awkward spaces.

1. A spanner comprising a stem having a jaw at one end, which jaw has a pair of opposite sides providing a pair of substantially parallel inner faces for engaging with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like, wherein the jaw is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the stem about a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spanner and the one side of the jaw is capable of pivotal movement relative to the rest of the jaw about a second axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis and wherein the first axis is off-set with respect to an imaginary centre line which is parallel to and equidistant from the pair of opposite inner engaging faces of the jaw and wherein the first and second axes are on opposite sides of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Spanner This invention relates to a spanner for turning a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like. According to the invention there is provided a spanner comprising a stem having a jaw at one end, which jaw has a pair of opposite sides providing a pair of substantially parallel inner faces for engaging with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like, wherein the jaw is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the stem about a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spanner and the one side of the jaw is capable of pivotal movement relative to the rest of the jaw about a second axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis and wherein the first axis is off-set with respect to an imaginary centre line which is parallel to and equidistant from the pair of opposite inner engaging faces of the jaw and wherein the first and second axes are on opposite sides of the centre line and including a projection on the stem which is adapted to engage with the jaw to counteract relative pivotal movement of one side of the jaw with respect to the rest of the jaw and to counteract the pivotal movement of the jaw with respect to the stem when the jaw, when engaged with a nut, bolt, coupling or the like, is turned in one direction and adapted to disengage with the jaw when the spanner is turned in the opposite direction. A jaw, as described, may be provided on each of the opposite ends of the stem. The spanner according to the invention may be provided in different standard sizes to fit different sizes of bolts, nuts, couplings, or the like. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a spanner according to the invention, showing the spanner in a first operative position; Figure 2 is a side view of the spanner of Figure 1, showing the spanner in a second operative position; Figure 3 is a fractional plan of view of the stem of the spanner of Figure 1 with the pivotal jaw removed; Figure 4 is a fractional side view of the stem of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the one part of the pivotal jaw of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of the jaw part of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of the other part of the pivotal jaw of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a side view of the jaw part of Figure 7. In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a spanner comprising a stem 12 having a jaw 14 at one end. The jaw 14 comprises a pair of side members 14.1 and 14.2. The side member 14.1 is capable of pivotal movement relative to the side member 14.2 about an axle 16 which is perpendicular to the plane of the spanner 10. (The plane of the spanner 10 coincides with the plane of the paper). As can be seen in Figure 6, the side member 14.2 is provided with a forked formation 18 for receiving the member 14.1 and the axle 16. The entire jaw 14 is further capable of pivotal movement relative to the stem 12 about an axle 20 which is also perpendicular to the plane of the spanner 10. To effect the pivotal connection between the jaw 14 and the stem 12, the stem 12 is provided with a forked formation 22 (Figure 4) for receiving the jaw 14 and the axle 20. A lateral projection 24 is provided on the stem 12 for alternatively engaging and disengaging with the jaw 14, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively. As can be seen from Figure 1, the axle 20 is offset with respect to an imaginary centre line (indicated by reference numeral 25) which is parallel to and equidistant from the opposite sides 14.1 and 14.2 of the jaw 14. As can also be seen, the projection 24 and the axle 20 are on opposite sides of the imaginary centre line 25. As can further be seen from Figure 1, when the spanner 10 engaged with a nut or bolt (not shown) is turned in a clockwise direction, the projection 24 engages with the jaw 14 in such a fashion that both relative movement of the jaw 14 with respect to the stem 12 and the relative movement of the side member 14.1 with respect to the member 14.2 is counteracted. This results in the jaw 14 gripping the head of the bolt. However, when the spanner 10 is turned in the opposite direction (Figure 2), the projection 24 disengages with the jaw 14 and both modes of relative movement are allowed. This results in the jaw 14 releasing the head of the bolt. The spanner 10 can, therefore, be moved relative to the bolt without necessarily removing the jaw 14 from the bolt. The result obtained is, therefore, similar to that of a conventional ratchet spanner. Ey inverting the spanner 10, a nut or bolt will be gripped during an anti-clockwise turning of the spanner 10 and released during a clockwise turning of the spanner 10. It is an advantage of the spanner 10 that it facilitates work in confined or awkward spaces. CLAIMS

1. A spanner comprising a stem having a jaw at one end, which jaw has a pair of opposite sides providing a pair of substantially parallel inner faces for engaging with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like, wherein the jaw is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to the stem about a first axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the spanner and the one side of the jaw is capable of pivotal movement relative to the rest of the jaw about a second axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis and wherein the first axis is off-set with respect to an imaginary centre line which is parallel to and equidistant from the pair of opposite inner engaging faces of the jaw and wherein the first and second axes are on opposite sides of the centre line and including a projection on the stem which is adapted to engage with the jaw to counteract relative pivotal movement of the one side of the jaw with respect to the rest of the jaw and to counteract the pivotal movement of the jaw with respect to the stem when the jaw, when engaged with a nut, bolt, coupling, or the like, is turned in one direction and adapted to disengage with the jaw when the spanner is turned in the opposite direction.

2. A spanner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A spanner substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.