TWI912117B - Open-end wrench structure - Google Patents

Abstract

An open-end wrench structure comprises a body having a handle portion and a driving portion, with the driving portion located at one end of the handle portion and including a driving slot. The bottom of the driving slot is provided with a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface connected to each other, forming a predetermined angle. A movable member is pivotally disposed within the driving slot and is rotatable between a first angle and a second angle. When the movable member rotates to the first angle, it abuts against the first abutting surface, and when it rotates to the second angle, it abuts against the second abutting surface.

Description

Open wrench structure

This invention relates to open-end wrenches, and in particular to an open-end wrench structure suitable for nuts of various sizes.

An open-end wrench is a common hand tool primarily used for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts. It works by using its open end (two parallel metal plates) to clamp the edge of the nut, applying torque by rotating it. Open-end wrenches have a simple structure and flexible use, making them suitable for most common repair and assembly work. Due to their simple and lightweight design, open-end wrenches are commonly used tools in home, auto repair, and construction industries.

Traditional open-end wrenches were typically designed with fixed sizes, meaning each wrench could only be used with nuts or bolts of a specific size. While this design was simple, it also caused many inconveniences. Especially in equipment that requires disassembly and assembly, when nuts and bolts come in a variety of sizes, traditional open-end wrenches could not accommodate them all, forcing users to prepare multiple different sizes of open-end wrenches to deal with different situations.

For example, during the installation or maintenance of air conditioners, especially the copper pipe section of the outdoor unit, there are often multiple bolts and nuts that need to be tightened or loosened, and these nuts may vary in size. In this case, traditional open-end wrenches face significant challenges. Installers must prepare multiple different sizes of open-end wrenches to ensure they can fit all the nuts, which not only increases the workload but may also affect work efficiency due to inconvenience in carrying them.

Therefore, how to provide an open-end wrench structure that can handle nuts or bolts of various sizes simultaneously without changing tools is one of the urgent problems that industry players and R&D personnel in related fields need to solve.

The main purpose of this invention is to provide an open-end wrench structure that can loosen nuts of different sizes without changing tools.

To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides an open-end wrench structure comprising: a body having a handle and a driving part; the driving part being disposed at one end of the handle and having a driving groove; the bottom of the driving groove having a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface connected together; wherein a predetermined angle is sandwiched between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface; and a movable member pivoted in the driving groove and rotatable between a first angle and a second angle; when the movable member rotates to the first angle, the movable member abuts against the first abutment surface; when the movable member rotates to the second angle, the movable member abuts against the second abutment surface.

In one embodiment, the driving part further has a third abutment surface connected to the second abutment surface and opposite to the first abutment surface, such that the first abutment surface, the second abutment surface, and the third abutment surface together enclose the driving groove; when the movable member rotates to the first angle, the movable member is generally parallel to the third abutment surface; when the movable member rotates to the second angle, the movable member is generally perpendicular to the third abutment surface.

In one embodiment, the driving part further has a third abutment surface connected to the second abutment surface and opposite to the first abutment surface, such that the first abutment surface, the second abutment surface, and the third abutment surface together enclose the driving groove; when the movable member rotates to the first angle, the movable member is generally parallel to the first abutment surface and the third abutment surface and perpendicular to the second abutment surface; when the movable member rotates to the second angle, the movable member is generally perpendicular to the first abutment surface and the third abutment surface and parallel to the second abutment surface.

In one embodiment, the movable member has a movable claw with a fourth abutment and a fifth abutment on opposite sides; when the movable member rotates to the first angle, the fourth abutment abuts against the first abutment of the driving part, and the fifth abutment faces the third abutment; when the movable member rotates to the second angle, the fifth abutment abuts against the second abutment of the driving part, and the fourth abutment is connected to the first abutment and the third abutment.

In one embodiment, when the movable member is rotated to the first angle, the distance between the fifth abutment and the third abutment is less than the distance between the first abutment and the third abutment when the movable member is rotated to the second angle.

In one embodiment, the drive unit has a sleeve portion disposed between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface, with a first pivot hole penetrating its center; one end of the movable claw is provided with two opposing pivot arms and a sleeve groove formed between the two pivot arms, each of the two pivot arms having a second pivot hole in its center; when the movable member is connected to the drive unit, the sleeve portion passes through the sleeve groove and passes through the two second pivot holes of the two pivot arms and the first pivot hole of the sleeve portion via a pivot, so that the movable claw is pivotally disposed on the sleeve portion.

In one embodiment, the movable part further has two washers, respectively formed on opposite sides of the sleeve and between the two pivot arms, each of the two washers having a third pivot hole in the center for the pivot shaft to pass through.

In one embodiment, the main body has a second driving part and a second driving groove disposed in the second driving part at one end of the handle away from the driving part, and the shape of the second driving groove is different from the shape of the driving groove.

In one embodiment, the drive groove is a U-shaped groove, and the second drive groove is a hexagonal groove.

In one embodiment, the body further includes a third driving part and a fourth driving part, disposed on the body and respectively adjacent to the second driving part; the third driving part has a first quincunx hole penetrating the body along the thickness direction; the fourth driving part has a second quincunx hole penetrating the body along the thickness direction, and the diameter of the first quincunx hole is different from the diameter of the second quincunx hole.

In one embodiment, the body further includes a fifth driving part disposed on the body and adjacent to one of the driving parts and the second driving part; the fifth driving part has a socket that penetrates the body along the thickness direction, and a chamfered groove is formed around one side of the socket.

The following are preferred embodiments based on the purposes, effects and structural configurations disclosed in this invention, and are explained in detail with reference to the diagrams.

The following description with reference to the various drawings is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that these drawings and descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "upper" and "lower", "left" and "right", "front" and "back", "first" and "second", etc., used in the description are used to clearly explain the relative positions between components or mechanisms and are not intended to be limiting.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an open-end wrench structure 1, which mainly comprises a body 10 and a movable component 20. Wherein:

The body 10 includes a handle 11, a drive part 12, a second drive part 13, a third drive part 14, a fourth drive part 15, and a fifth drive part 16. The handle 11 is for a user to grip and use. The drive part 12 is located at one end of the handle 11 and has a first gripper 120 and a second gripper 121 disposed opposite to each other. A drive groove 122 is formed between the first gripper 120 and the second gripper 121.

The driving unit 12 includes a first abutment surface 123, a second abutment surface 124, and a third abutment surface 125. The first abutment surface 123 is formed on one side of the first jaw 120. The second abutment surface 124 is formed on the bottom side of the driving groove 122 along the depth direction, located between the first jaw 120 and the second jaw 121, and connected to the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125. The third abutment surface 125 is formed on one side of the second jaw 121 and is opposite to the first abutment surface. The first abutment surface 123, the second abutment surface 124, and the third abutment surface 125 together enclose the U-shaped driving groove 122. The first abutment surface 123 and the second abutment surface 124 are at a predetermined angle, and the second abutment surface 124 and the third abutment surface 125 are also at a predetermined angle. In this embodiment, the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125 are perpendicular to the second abutment surface 124, and the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125 are separated by a predetermined distance from each other.

The driving unit 12 further includes a sleeve 126 disposed between the first abutment surface 123 and the second abutment surface 124. The sleeve 126 is generally cylindrical, and its thickness is less than the thickness of the first abutment surface 123 and the second abutment surface 124. A first pivot hole 127 penetrating along the thickness direction is provided in the center of the sleeve 126.

The second driving part 13 is located at one end of the handle 11 away from the driving part 12, and has a third jaw 130 and a fourth jaw 131 disposed opposite each other. A second driving groove 132 is formed between the third jaw 130 and the fourth jaw 131. In this embodiment, the second driving groove 132 is a hexagonal groove.

The third driving part 14 is disposed on the body 10 and adjacent to the driving part 12. The third driving part 14 has a first pentagonal hole 140 that penetrates the thickness direction of the body 10 and is closed. The fourth driving part 15 is disposed on the body 10 and adjacent to the second driving part 13. The fourth driving part 15 has a second pentagonal hole 150 that penetrates the thickness direction of the body 10 and is closed. The diameters of the first pentagonal hole 140 and the second pentagonal hole 150 are different; in this embodiment, the diameter of the first pentagonal hole 140 is larger than the diameter of the second pentagonal hole 150. In another embodiment, the diameter of the first quincunx hole may be smaller than the diameter of the second quincunx hole, or the quincunx holes of the third drive part and the fourth drive part may be changed to round holes, hexagonal holes or dodecagonal holes, etc.

The fifth drive unit 16 is disposed on the body 10, and in this embodiment, it is adjacent to the second drive unit 13. The fifth drive unit 16 has a socket 160 that penetrates the thickness direction of the body 10 and is closed, and a tapered chamfered groove 161 is provided on each of the two opposite sides of the socket 160. The diameter of the socket 160 corresponds to the shank diameter of a hand tool (such as a Phillips head screwdriver, a slotted head screwdriver, an Allen head screwdriver, etc.), so that the hand tool can be inserted into the socket 160 of the fifth drive unit 16 and rotated to lock or unlock the corresponding screw.

The movable member 20 is movably pivoted in the drive groove 122 of the drive unit 12 and can rotate between a first angle and a second angle to change the width and depth of the drive groove 122. Specifically, the movable member 20 includes a movable claw 21, two washers 22, and a pivot 23. One end of the movable claw 21 is provided with two pivot arms 210 spaced a certain distance apart, and a set of grooves 211 is formed between the two pivot arms 210. Each pivot arm 210 is generally cylindrical, with a second pivot hole 212 penetrating through the center along the thickness direction. The fitting slot 211 is used to fit onto the fitting portion 126 of the drive unit 12, so that the two pivot arms 210 are clamped on opposite sides of the fitting portion 126, and the first pivot hole 127 of the fitting portion 126 corresponds to the two second pivot holes 212 of the two pivot arms 210. The other end of the movable claw 21 extends away from the two pivot arms 210. The movable claw 21 has a fourth abutment surface 213 and a fifth abutment surface 214 on opposite sides. When the movable member 20 moves to the first angle, the movable claw 21 is generally parallel to the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125 and perpendicular to the second abutment surface 124, and the fourth abutment surface 213 abuts against the first abutment surface 123, while the fifth abutment surface 214 faces the third abutment surface 125. When the movable member 20 moves to the second angle, the movable claw 21 is generally perpendicular to the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125 and parallel to the second abutment surface 124, and the fifth abutment surface 214 abuts against the second abutment surface 124, while the fourth abutment surface 213 connects the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125. The two washers 22 are respectively disposed between the sleeve portion 126 and the two pivot arms 210, and each of the two washers 22 has a third pivot hole 220 in the center corresponding to the first pivot hole 127 and the two second pivot holes 212. The two washers 22 are used to reduce the frictional resistance generated by the movable claw 21 when it rotates. The pivot 23 passes through the two second pivot holes 212 of the movable claw 21, the two third pivot holes 220 of the two washers 22, and the first pivot hole 127 of the sleeve portion 126 in a detachable manner, so that the movable claw 21 is pivoted in the sleeve portion 126 and rotates relative to the drive groove 122.

According to the above structural configuration, the open-end wrench structure 1 of the present invention provides a structure for rotating nuts or bolts with six drives, including the drive groove 122 formed by the movable member 20 of the drive part 12 at the first angle, the drive groove 122 formed by the movable member 20 of the drive part 12 at the second angle, the second drive groove 132 of the second drive part 13, the first star hole 140 of the third drive part 14, the second star hole 150 of the fourth drive part 15, and the insertion hole 160 of the fifth drive part 16. These can be used to engage nuts or bolts of different sizes.

It should be noted that the driving part 12, by switching between the first angle and the second angle via the movable member 20, can provide driving grooves 122 with different widths and depths to accommodate nuts or bolts of two different sizes. Specifically, since the movable claw 21 has a certain thickness, when the movable member 20 is in the first angle, the distance between the fifth abutment surface 214 and the third abutment surface 125 is smaller than the distance between the first abutment surface 123 and the third abutment surface 125 when the movable member 20 is in the second angle, and the distance between the second abutment surface 124 and the opening on the top side of the driving groove 122 when the movable member 20 is in the first angle is smaller than the distance between the fourth abutment surface 213 and the opening on the top side of the driving groove 122 when the movable member 20 is in the second angle. Therefore, when the movable part 20 moves to the first angle, the drive groove 122 is narrower and deeper, which can be used to engage a smaller-sized screw 100, as shown in Figure 3; when the movable part 20 moves to the second angle, the drive groove 122 is wider and shallower, which can be used to engage a larger-sized screw 200, as shown in Figure 4. In this way, users can perform locking and unlocking operations on nuts or bolts of various sizes without changing tools, effectively improving work efficiency and reducing the economic and space costs associated with carrying multiple tools.

In summary, the open-end wrench structure provided by this invention, through the movable member disposed in the drive unit, allows for the alteration of the size of the drive groove, thereby accommodating nuts or bolts of different sizes. Furthermore, the second drive unit located on the other side of the main body, as well as the first star-shaped hole, the second star-shaped hole, and the round hole penetrating the main body, can also accommodate nuts or bolts of corresponding sizes, enabling the user to complete the locking and unlocking of nuts or bolts of various sizes using a single open-end wrench.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the technology and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may modify and change the above embodiments without departing from the technical principles and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be as described in the patent application below.

1: Open-end wrench structure 10: Body 11: Handle 12: Drive unit 120: First jaw 121: Second jaw 122: Drive groove 123: First abutment surface 124: Second abutment surface 125: Third abutment surface 126: Sleeve part 127: First pivot hole 13: Second drive unit 130: Third jaw 131: Fourth jaw 132: Second drive groove 14: Third drive unit 140: First star-shaped hole 15: Fourth drive unit 150: Second star-shaped hole 16: Fifth drive unit 160: Insertion hole 161: Chamfer groove 20: Moving part 21: Moving jaw 210: Pivot arm 211: Sleeve groove 212: Second pivot hole; 213: Fourth abutment surface; 214: Fifth abutment surface; 22: Washer; 220: Third pivot hole; 23: Pivot shaft; 100: Smaller threaded fastener; 200: Larger threaded fastener

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the movable member in a first angle. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the movable member in a second angle.

1: Open wrench structure

10: The Body

11: Handle

12: Drive Unit

122: Drive slot

13: Second Drive Unit

132: Second drive bay

14: Third Drive Unit

140: First plum blossom hole

15: Fourth Drive Unit

150: Second plum blossom hole

16: Fifth Drive Unit

160: Socket

20: Active Items

Claims (9)

An open-end wrench structure includes: a body having a handle and a driving part; the driving part is disposed at one end of the handle and has a driving groove; the bottom of the driving groove has a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface connected to each other; wherein a predetermined angle is sandwiched between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface; and a movable member pivoted in the driving groove and rotatable between a first angle and a second angle; when the movable member rotates to the first angle, the movable member abuts against the first abutment surface; when the movable member rotates to the second angle, the movable member abuts against the second abutment surface; The driving part further includes a third abutment surface, which is connected to the second abutment surface and opposite to the first abutment surface, such that the first abutment surface, the second abutment surface, and the third abutment surface together enclose the driving groove; when the movable part rotates to the first angle, the movable part is generally parallel to the first abutment surface and the third abutment surface and perpendicular to the second abutment surface; when the movable part rotates to the second angle, the movable part is generally perpendicular to the first abutment surface and the third abutment surface and parallel to the second abutment surface. The open-end wrench structure as described in claim 1, wherein the movable member has a movable claw with a fourth abutment and a fifth abutment on opposite sides; when the movable member is rotated to the first angle, the fourth abutment abuts against the first abutment of the driving part, and the fifth abutment faces the third abutment; when the movable member is rotated to the second angle, the fifth abutment abuts against the second abutment of the driving part, and the fourth abutment is connected to the first abutment and the third abutment. The open-end wrench structure as described in claim 2, wherein when the movable member is rotated to the first angle, the distance between the fifth abutment and the third abutment is less than the distance between the first abutment and the third abutment when the movable member is rotated to the second angle. As described in claim 2, the open-end wrench structure includes a drive unit with a sleeve disposed between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface, and a first pivot hole penetrating its center; one end of the movable claw is provided with two opposing pivot arms and a sleeve groove formed between the two pivot arms, each of the two pivot arms having a second pivot hole in its center; when the movable member is connected to the drive unit, the sleeve is inserted into the sleeve groove and passes through the two second pivot holes of the two pivot arms and the first pivot hole of the sleeve through a pivot, so that the movable claw is pivotally disposed in the sleeve. The open-end wrench structure as described in claim 4, wherein the movable part further comprises two washers, respectively formed on opposite sides of the sleeve and between the two pivots, and each of the two washers has a third pivot hole in the center for the pivot to pass through. The open-end wrench structure as described in claim 1, wherein the main body has a second driving part and a second driving groove disposed in the second driving part at one end of the handle away from the driving part, and the shape of the second driving groove is different from the shape of the driving groove. The open wrench structure as described in claim 6, wherein the drive groove is a U-shaped groove and the second drive groove is a hexagonal groove. The open-end wrench structure as described in claim 6 further includes a third driving part and a fourth driving part disposed on the body and adjacent to the second driving part, respectively; the third driving part has a first star-shaped hole penetrating the body along the thickness direction; the fourth driving part has a second star-shaped hole penetrating the body along the thickness direction, and the diameter of the first star-shaped hole is different from the diameter of the second star-shaped hole. The open wrench structure as described in claim 6 further includes a fifth drive unit disposed on the body and adjacent to one of the drive units and the second drive unit; the fifth drive unit has a socket penetrating the body along the thickness direction, and a chamfered groove is formed around one side of the socket.