Adjustable wrench comprising a releasable worm gear

Abstract

The invention deals with an adjustable wrench comprising: a first jaw (8) and a second jaw (10) movable relative to the first jaw (8), wherein the second jaw (10) comprises a rack (12), a worm gear (18) movable into an engaged position wherein the worm gear (18) engages the rack (12) and wherein a rotation of the worm gear (18) causes the second jaw (10) to move relative to the first jaw (8), and into a disengaged position wherein the worm gear (18) does not engage the rack (12), a body (2) defining two surfaces, one of the surfaces comprising a first portion (14a) and a second portion (14b), the other surface comprising a third portion (16a) and a fourth portion (16b), the first portion (14a), the second portion (14b), the third portion (16a) and the fourth portion (16b) comprising a first point (140a), a second point (140b), a third point (160a) and a fourth point (160b) respectively, a biasing element (20) configured to urge the worm gear (18) toward the engaged position by applying forces on both surfaces, the biasing element (20) simultaneously contacting the first point (140a) and the third point (160a) when the worm gear (18) is in a position comprised between the engaged position and an intermediate position, and simultaneously contacting the second point (140b) and the fourth point (160b) when the worm gear (18) is in a position comprised between the intermediate position and the disengaged position, wherein the angle of incline (alpha) of the first portion (14a) at the first point (140a) relative to the third portion (16a) at the third point (160a) is greater than the angle of incline (beta) of the second portion (14b) at the second point (140b) relative to the fourth portion (16b) at the fourth point (160b).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to an adjustable wrench. Background technique [0002] A conventional adjustable wrench includes a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, and a worm gear. The second jaw includes a rack. The adjustable wrench includes a body defining a cavity for receiving the worm gear. The worm gear is rotatably mounted to the main body by a pin. The pin holds the worm gear in an engaged position where the worm gear engages the rack. A user can manually rotate the worm wheel, which causes the second jaw to move relative to the first jaw. Thus, the user is able to adapt the distance between the jaws to the diameter of the object to be grasped between the jaws, such as a nut. [0003] However, the movement of the second jaw is slower relative to the first jaw. [0004] In order to enable the user of an adjustable wrench to adjust the distance between the two jaws more quickly, it has been proposed to remove the pin to all...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, this would make the cavity larger and therefore make the body of the adjustable wrench bulky

Also, maneuvering the worm gear will be more difficult since more force will be required to move the worm gear from the engaged position to the disengaged position

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