US2723581A - Spanner wrench - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1955 L. SCHWAIGER 2,723,581

SPANNER WRENCH Filed Nov. 13, 1952 ATTORNEY hired States Patent n ice 2,723,581 Rntented Nov. 15, 1955 SPANNER WRENCH Leo.Schwaiger, Cullman, Ala. Application November 13, 1952, Serial No. 320,210 4 Claims. (Cl. 8190) The present invention pertains to wrenches, and more particularly to special dcuble-endedwrenches adapted for use with special nuts of a character hereinafter described.

The Wrench which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention is particularly useful in situations where the range of angular movement of the wrench is restricted by the presence of mechanical obstructions.

An object of the invention is the provision of a double ended wrench which is adapted for use with regularly shaped nut having a central .axis of symmetry. The periphery of the nut has a plurality of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided recesses formed therein. Each recess includes two opposed flat convergent sides the planes of which, if outwardly extended, would intersect each other in a line of intersection which lies in a plane passing through the central axis of symmetry of the nut and which also passes through the center of the recess. This line of intersection is located radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the nut and the angle .of intersection of the extended planes of the convergent sides is preferably greater than 30 in order to provide inner corners in each recess for engagement by a tooth portion of the wrench. The third or inner side of each nut recess extends between the inner ends of the convergent flat sides and is of convexly curved shape, the center of curvature being located at the axis of symmetry of the nut.

The external peripheral configuration of the said nut may be either circular or hexagonal, or may take the shape of any desired regular polygon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which is adaptable for use with a variety of nuts, the said nuts being characterized by the provision of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided peripheral recesses as described above.

Generally, the wrench which forms the subject matter of the present invention is preferably a double-ended wrench, although it may be a single-ended wrench, if desired. The wrench is characterized by a tooth which engages in a corner of the nut recess and a cooperating surface which holds the tooth positively engaged in the corner during the turning of the nut by the wrench.

In a double-ended wrench in accordance with the invention, one nut engaging portion at one end of the wrench has an outwardly opening recess formed therein which is arranged to embrace a peripheral portion of the nut which extends between two adjacent ones of the nut recesses. The corner engaging tooth is disposed at one end of the wrench recess and the surface which holds the tooth engaged in the corner of the nut recess is disposed at the opposite side of the wrench recess. For a polygonal nut, the wrench recess is shaped to receive and provide clearance for a corner of the nut which is included in the peripheral portion embraced by the wrench recess. The nut may be engaged by a generally radial movement of the wrench toward the center of thenut accompanied by an angular movement for engaging the tooth in the corner of the nut recess. Both ends of the wrench are angularly related to each other and to the central handle portion so that with either end of the wrench in engagement with the .nut, the longitudinal axis of the handle portion is directed toward the centralaxis of the nut.

Other and further object of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1, showing the other end of the wrench in engagement with the nut.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing ditferent positions of said wrench when engaging or disengaging the special nut.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a doubleended wrench designated generally as 10. The wrench It) comprises an elongated central handle portion 11. A first nut engaging portion 12 is disposed at one end of the handle portion 11. A second nutengaging portion 13 is disposed at the other end of the handle portion 11.

The second nut engaging portion 13 comprises a concavely curved outer end surface 14 adapted for engagement with the convexly curved inner side of any of the nut recesses. There is a sloping lateral surface on the second nut engaging portion 13 which extends inwardly toward the handle portion 11 from one end of the concave surface 14 and defines with the concave surface 14, a tooth 15. The sloping lateral surface slopes at an angle for engagement with one of the flat convergent sides of a nut recess with the concave end surface 14 in engagement with one of the convexly curved inner surfaces of the nut as shown in Figure .3, the tooth 15 being engaged in an inner corner of the nut recess adjacent to the fiat side which is engaged by the sloping lateral surface.

There is a two-sided notch 16 formed in the lateral surface of the second nut engaging portion 13 of the wrench. A first one of the sides of the notch 16 ex tends from the apex portion of the notch 16 the other end of the concave surface ll4 remote from the tooth 15.

This .first side is curved to guide the tooth 15 into an inner corner of the nut recess as shown in Figure 4. This first side is also spaced from the sloping lateral surface adjacent the tooth 15 to substantially fill the space between the outer ends of the convergent sides of the nut recess for positively maintaining the tooth 1S engaged in the inner corner of the nut recess during turning of the nut by the wrench 10. A second side of the notch 16 extends laterally outwardly from the apex of the notch and defines a shoulder for abutting engagement with the periphery of the nut as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the second side of the notch is flat and engages against a flat portion of the side of a hexagonal nut.

The first nut-engaging portion 12 of the wrench it? has a wrench recess 17 formed therein which opens outwardly away from the handle portion 11. The wrench re cess 17 receives and provides clearance for a peripheral portion of the nut which extends between two adjacent ones of the nut recesses. As shown in Figure l, the wrench recess 1'7 may embrace a corner of the nut which is disposed midway between two adjacent nut recesses.

The wrench recess 17 has a sloping lateral surface which is adapted for engagement with the flat side of either of the two nut recesses which is adjacent to the embraced peripheral portion of the nut and this sloping lateral surface terminates in a tooth 18 for engagement in the corner at the inner end of the engaged flat side of the nut recess as shown in Figure 1.

At the other side of the wrench recess 17, the nut engaging portion 12 is shaped to form a leg which is adapted to enter the nut recess which is adjacent to the other end of the embraced peripheral portion of the nut, with the tooth 18 engaged in the inner corner of the adjacent nut recess as shown in Figure 1. The end of the leg terminates in a concave end surface 19 which is shaped for abutting engagement with the convex inner side of the recess which the leg has entered. The leg is provided with a lateral surface which engages against the edge of the embraced peripheral portion of the nut as shown in Figure l for positively holding the tooth 18 en gaged in the inner corner of the nut recess during turning of the nut by the wrench 10.

In the embodiment illustrated, the wrench is shown in engagement with a nut 29 which is of regular hexagonal configuration having a central axis of symmetry. The periphery of the nut 20 has a series of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided nut recesses 21 formed therein. Each nut recess 21 comprises two opposed flat convergent sides the planes of which, if outwardly extended would intersect in a line of intersection spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the nut. This line of intersection lies in a plane passing through the central axis of the nut and which also passes through the center of the recess. Moreover, from an inspection of the drawing, it can be seen that the interior angle of intersection between these two extended planes will be greater than 30, thus providing a sufiicient amount of inward slope to the flat sides of each nut recess to assure positive nut turning engagement of either of the wrench teeth 15 or 18 in an inner corner of the nut recess without danger of the tooth slipping out of the engaged nut recess. The third or inner side of each nut recess 21 is convexly curved and the center of curvature is located at the central axis of symmetry of the nut 20. The peripheral portion 22 of nut 20 which is adapted to be embraced in the wrench recess 17 comprises a corner of the nut which is located midway between two adjacent nut recesses.

The toothed end 13 of wrench may be applied to the nut 20 as illustrated in Figure 4, the successive positions thereof being shown in Figure 4, the tooth being progressively guided into engagement with the inner corner 23 of the nut recess 21 by the action of the curved surface of notch 16, the tooth 15 being positively held engaged in the inner recess corner 23 as the flat shoulder which extends laterally from the apex of notch 16 comes into abutting engagement with the flat side of the nut 20.

In operation, the nut may be turned progressively in the same direction 30 degrees at a time by the alternate use of opposite ends of the wrench 10.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench for use with a regularly shaped nut having a central axis of symmetry, the periphery of said nut having a plurality of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided nut recesses formed therein, each nut recess having two opposed flat convergent sides the planes of which, it outwardly extended, would intersect each other in a line of intersection which lies in a plane passing through said central axis and through the center of said nut recess, said line of intersection being spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said nut and the interior angle of intersection between said extended planes being greater than 30 degrees, and each nut recess having an inner third side which extends between the inner ends of said fiat sides and is of convexly curved shape of which the center of curvature is located at said central axis,

said wrench comprising: an elongated handle portion and a nut engaging portion disposed at one end of said handle portion, said nut engaging portion having a wrench recess formed therein which opens outwardly away from said handle portion and is shaped to provide clearance for embracing the peripheral portion of said nut which extends between any two adjacent ones of said nut recesses, one side of said wrench recess having a sloping lateral surface adapted for engagement with the fiat side of either of said two nut recesses which is adjacent to one end of said embraced peripheral portion and terminating at its outer end in a tooth for engagement in the corner at the inner end of said engaged side of said nut recess, said nut engaging wrench portion at the other side of said wrench recess being shaped to form a leg adapted to enter the nut recess which is adjacent to the other end of said embraced peripheral portion with said tooth engaged in said corner and to bring the end of said leg into abutting engagement with said inner third side of the recess which said leg has entered, said leg having a lateral surface at said other side of said wrench recess which engages against the edge of said embraced peripheral portion adjacent to said entered nut recess for positively holding said tooth engaged in said corner during turning of said nut by said wrench.

2. A wrench for use with a regularly shaped nut having a central axis of symmetry, the periphery of said nut having a plurality of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided nut recesses formed therein, each nut recess having two opposed fiat convergent sides the planes of which, if outwardly extended would intersect each other in a line of intersection which lies in a plane passing through said central axis and through the center of said nut recess, said line of intersection being spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said nut and the interior angle of intersection between said extended planes being greater than 30 degrees, and each nut recess having an inner third side which extends between the inner ends of said fiat sides and is of convexly curved shape of which the center of curvature is located at said central axis, said wrench comprising: an elongated handle portion and a nut engaging portion disposed at one end of said handle portion, said nut engaging portion comprises a concavely curved outer end surface shaped for individual engagement with a portion of said convexly curved inner third side of any of said nut recesses, a sloping lateral surface extending inwardly toward said handle portion from one end of said concave end surface-at an angle for engagement with one of said convergent sides of said nut recess with said concave end surface in engagement with said convex third side thereof, and defining with said concave end surface a tooth adapted for engagement with an inner corner of said nut recess, said nut engaging portion having a two-sided notch formed therein at the side thereof opposite said tooth, said notch having an apex from which a first side of said notch extends to the other end of said concave end surface, said first side of said notch being curved and spaced from said sloping lateral surface to substantially fill the space between the outer ends of said convergent sides of said nut recess for guiding said tooth into engagement in and positively maintaining said tooth engaged in said corner during the turning of said nut by said wrench, and the second side of said notch extending laterally outwardly from said apex to define a shoulder for abutting engagement with the periphery of said nut.

3. A double-ended wrench for use with a regularly shaped nut having a central axis of symmetry, the periphery of said nut having a plurality of regularly spaced outwardly opening three-sided nut recesses formed therein, each nut recess having two opposed fiat convergent sides the planes of which, if outwardly extended,

would intersect each other in a line of intersection which lies in a plane passing through said central axis and through the center of said nut recess, said line of intersection being spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said nut and the interior angle of intersection between said extended planes being greater than 30 degrees, and each nut recess having an inner third side which extends between the inner ends of said flat sides and is of convexly curved shape of which the center of curvature is located at said central axis, said wrench comprising: a first nut engaging portion disposed at one end of said handle portion, said first nut engaging portion having a wrench recess formed therein which opens outwardly away from said handle portion and is shaped to provide clearance for embracing the peripheral portion of said nut which extends between any two adjacent ones of said nut recesses, one side of said wrench recess having a sloping lateral surface adapted for engagement with the fiat side of either of said two nut recesses which is adjacent to one end of said embraced peripheral portion and terminating at its outer end in a tooth for engagement in the corner atthe inner end of said engaged side of said nut recess, said first nut engaging portion of said wrench at the other side of said wrench recess being shaped to form a leg adapted to enter the nut recess which is adjacent to the other end of said embraced peripheral portion with said tooth engaged in said corner and to bring the end of said leg into abutting engagement with said inner third side of the recess which said leg has entered, said leg having a lateral surface at said other side of said wrench recess which engages against the edge of said embraced peripheral portion adjacent to said entered nut recess for positively holding said tooth engaged in said corner during turning of said nut by said first nut engaging portion of said wrench; and a second nut engaging portion disposed at the other end of said handle portion, said second nut engaging portion comprising a concavely curved outer end surface shaped for individual engagement with a portion of said convexly curved inner third side of any of said nut recesses, a sloping lateral surface extending inwardly toward said handle portion from one end of said concave end surface at an angle for engagement with one of said convergent sides of said nut recess with said concave end surface in engagement with said convex third side thereof, and defining with said concave end surface, a further tooth adapted for engagement with an inner corner of said nut recess, said second nut engaging portion having a twosided notch formed therein at the side thereof opposite said further tooth, said notch having an apex from which a first side of said notch extends to the other end of said concave end surface, said first side of said notch being curved and spaced from said sloping lateral surface to substantially fill the space between the outer ends of said convergent sides of said nut recesses for guiding said further tooth into engagement in and positively maintaining said further tooth engaged in said corner during the turning of said nut by said second nut engag ing portion of said wrench, the second side of said notch extending laterally outwardly from said apex to define a shoulder for abutting engagement with the periphery of said nut; said first and second nut engaging portions of said wrench being angularly related to each other and to said handle portion so that when said nut is engaged by either of said two nut engaging portions thereof, the longitudinal axis of said handle portion is directed toward said central axis of said nut, whereby said wrench may be used in a restricted space by the alternate use of said two nut engaging portions.

4. A double-ended wrench according to claim 3, in which said nut is of regular polygonal peripheral configuration, the corners of said nut being disposed midway between adjacent ones of said nut recesses, wherein said wrench recess of said first nut engaging portion is shaped to receive a corner of said nut, and in which said second side of said notch of said second nut engaging portion is flat and defines a fiat shoulder for abutting engagement with a side of said nut intermediate one of said recesses and the corner of said nut adjacent thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,779 Hagstrom Oct. 12, 1897 1,752,074 Gagne Mar. 25, 1930 2,420,458 Barker May 13, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Snap-On catalog TR, page 49, May 1951.

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