BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a hand tool and, in particular, to a swing wrench that has
both traditional and one-way driving features.
Related Art
[0002] Using a normal wrench to lock or unlock a polygonal bolt, the user usually has to
repeatedly remove and engage the wrench on the bolt. This is very tedious and time-consuming.
In view of this, many improved wrenches have been invented to solve the problem. Consequently,
the wrench can be used like a ratchet wrench; the user can conveniently swing the
wrench reciprocally to lock or unlock the bolt.
[0003] The improved structure of a moveable wrench disclosed in ROC Pat. No. M300,594 is
also proposed by the present inventor. It mainly includes a fixing jaw, a moving jaw,
a handle, a shaft, and a blocking pin. The joint between the front end of the handle
and the fixing jaw is used as the pivot point. When the user swings the handle back
and forth, the handle drives the blocking pin in the fixing jaw to move reciprocally
to unlock the moving jaw. The elasticity of the spring mounted on the shaft in the
main groove of the fixing jaw continuously keeps the moving jaw slightly away from
the fixing jaw and then back to the holding position. It thus achieves the effect
of locking or unlocking a polygonal bolt in a continuous way in one time.
[0004] However, the above-mentioned wrench structure is designed to only provide the single
function of rotating the bolt in one way, much like the ratchet wrench. It cannot
achieve the both traditional and one-way driving features at the same time. There
is, therefore, room for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An objective of the invention is to provide a swing wrench that can restricts the
swinging state of the wrench so that it has both traditional and one-way driving features.
[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the disclosed swing wrench includes: a
fixing jaw, a moving jaw, an acting set, a handle pivotally fixed at the bottom of
the fixing jaw, and a blocking pin. The fixing jaw has an accommodating tank. A sliding
track is provided above and in communication with the accommodating tank. One side
of the accommodating tank is formed with a through hole horizontally. A connecting
hole is formed in the through hole in the radial direction. The moving jaw is disposed
in the sliding track of the fixing jaw to move sideways along the sliding track. A
tooth part is provided at the bottom of the moving jaw. The acting set is disposed
in the accommodating tank of the fixing jaw. It contains a shaft and a spring. The
shaft has a first end, a second end, and a middle section between the two ends. The
part between middle section and the second end is slightly recessed to form a blocking
part. The second end and the blocking part of the shaft go into the through hole of
the fixing jaw. The blocking part corresponds to the connecting hole. The middle section
of the shaft is mounted with a roller that matches with the tooth part at the bottom
of the moving jaw. The spring is mounted around the middle section of the shaft, with
its two ends urging against the roller and the inner wall of the accommodating tank.
The blocking pin is disposed in the connecting hole of the fixing jaw. One end of
the blocking pin further connects to the front end of the handle. When the front end
of the handle rotates with respect to the fixing jaw, it drives the blocking pin to
slide. The other end of the blocking pin thus selectively blocks the blocking part
of the shaft.
[0007] The invention is
characterized in that one side of the front end of the handle is formed with a fixing part; that a fixing
element is inserted between the bottom of the fixing jaw and the fixing part of the
handle; that the fixing element has at least a limiting section, which can lock onto
or move away from the fixing part of the handle; and that a swing space forms between
the fixing part of the handle and the fixing element when the limiting section moves
away from the fixing part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given
herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention,
and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the first embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional assembly view of the first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element locks onto
the fixing part of the handle in the first embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element moves away
from the fixing part of the handle in the first embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element moves away
from the fixing part of the handle and the handle swings in the reverse direction
in the first embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the second embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional assembly view of the second embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts the A-A cross section of FIG. 7, showing the state of the fixing element
pivotally fixed in the pivotal connection groove of the fixing jaw;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element locks onto
the fixing part of the handle in the second embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element moves away
from the fixing part of the handle in the second embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element moves away
from the fixing part of the handle and the handle swings in the reverse direction
in the second embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the third embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element locks onto
the fixing part of the handle in the third embodiment; and
[0022] FIG. 14 shows the state when the limiting section of the fixing element moves away
from the fixing part of the handle in the third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which
proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references
relate to the same elements.
[0024] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4 for a first embodiment of the invention. This embodiment
provides a swing wrench comprising a fixing jaw 1, a moving jaw 2, an acting set 3,
a handle 4, a blocking pin 5, and a fixing element 6.
[0025] The fixing jaw 1 has an accommodating tank 11. A sliding track 12 is provided above
and in communication with the accommodating tank 11. A pivotal groove 13 is formed
below the accommodating tank 11, connecting to the exterior. One side of the accommodating
tank 11 is formed horizontally with a through hole 14. A connecting hole 15 is formed
inside the through hole 14 in the radial direction. The connecting hole 15 further
connects with the pivotal groove 13.
[0026] The moving jaw 2 is disposed in the sliding track 12 to move sideways therein. The
moving jaw 2 and the fixing jaw 1 form a holding zone 21 with a variable gap. The
bottom of the moving jaw 2 has a tooth part 22.
[0027] The acting set 3 is disposed in the accommodating tank 11 of the fixing jaw 1: It
includes a shaft 31 and a spring 32. The shaft 31 has a first end 311, a second end
312, and a middle section 313 between the two ends 311, 312. The part between the
middle section 313 and the second end 312 is slightly recessed to form a blocking
part 314. The second end 312 and the blocking part 314 of the shaft 31 go into the
through hole 14 of the fixing jaw 1 in such a way that the blocking part 314 corresponds
to the connecting hole 15. The middle section 313 of the shaft 31 is mounted with
a roller 33 with a screw structure. The roller 33 matches with the tooth part 22 at
the bottom of the moving jaw 2, so that the roller 33 can drive the moving jaw 2 to
move sideways as it rotates. This adjusts the gap of the holding zone 21. The spring
32 is mounted around the middle section 313 of the shaft 31, with its both end urging
the roller 33 and the inner wall of the accommodating tank 11, respectively.
[0028] The handle 4 has a shaft hole 41 at the front end so as to pivotally connect to the
pivotal groove 13 at the bottom of the fixing jaw 1 using a pivotal axis 42. The handle
4 can expand or collapse along an arc line. A concave groove 43 is further formed
at the front end of the handle 4 opposite to the pivotal axis 42 for accommodating
an elastic object 44 (a spring in this embodiment). The elastic object 44 urges against
the inner side of the pivotal groove 13 using its one end. Moreover, a fixing part
45 of a particular shape is disposed by the concave groove 43 of the handle 4. The
opposite side to the pivotal axis 42 at the front end of the handle 4 is inserted
with a buckle ring 46.
[0029] The blocking pin 5 is disposed in a slidable way in the connecting hole 15 of the
fixing jaw 1. One end of the blocking pin 5 further connects to the buckle ring 46
on the handle 4. When the front end of the handle 4 pivotally rotates with respect
to the fixing jaw 1, it drives the blocking pin 5 to slide. Therefore, the other end
of the blocking pin 5 can selectively block the stopping part 314 of the shaft 3.
[0030] The fixing element 6 has a ladder shape and is disposed on one side of the pivotal
groove 13 of the fixing jaw 1. The two adjacent planes of the fixing element opposite
to the fixing part 45 are formed with a limiting section 64 whose shape corresponds
to the fixing part 45 of the handle 4. The end surface of the fixing element 6 has
a fixing hole 67. The outer side at the bottom of the fixing jaw 1 is formed with
a sliding groove 16 corresponding to the fixing hole 67. A pin 63 goes from the sliding
groove 16 outside the pivotal groove 13 into the fixing hole 67 of the fixing element
6. On the end of the pin 63 facing the outer side of the fixing jaw 1 is formed with
a pushing part 631. In this way, the user can push the pushing part 631 of the pin
63 so that the fixing element 6 is driven by the pin 63 to slide along the sliding
groove 16. It then locks onto or moves away from the fixing part 45 of the handle
4.
[0031] When the fixing element 6 uses its limiting section 64 to lock onto the fixing part
45 of the handle 4, the handle 4 is restricted by the limiting section 64 not to swing.
When the position of the fixing element 6 is adjusted so that the limiting section
64 moves away from the fixing part 45 of the handle 4, a swing space 7 for the handle
4 to pivotally rotate with respect to the fixing jaw 1 is formed between the fixing
part 45 of the handle 4 and the limiting section 64 of the fixing element 6.
[0032] Please refer to FIG. 3. When the user wants to rotate a polygonal bolt 8, he or she
first uses the roller 33 to adjust the gap of the holding zone 21 for holding the
polygonal bolt 8. At this moment, the blocking pin 5 at the front end of the handle
4 engages with the stopping part 314 of the shaft 31 in the fixing jaw 1. The holding
zone 21 keeps a fixed gap. When the user pushes the pushing part 631 of the pin 63
so that the limiting section 64 of the fixing element 6 and the fixing part 45 of
the handle 4 match with each other, the handle 4 cannot swing with respect to the
fixing jaw 1. This is because the front end of the handle 4 is restricted by the limiting
section 64 of the fixing element 6. Such a design enables the invention to have the
features of a traditional wrench.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 4, when the user pushes the pushing part 631 of the pin 63
so that the limiting section 64 of the fixing element 6 moves away from the fixing
part 45 of the handle 4, a swing space 7 for the handle 4 to swing with respect to
the fixing jaw 1 forms between the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the limiting
section 64 of the fixing element 6. When the user uses the pivotal axis 42 at the
front end of the handle 4 as a pivot and rotates the wrench 4 in reverse direction,
as shown in FIG. 5, the handle 4 swings toward the swing space 7. The elastic object
44 at the front end of the handle 4 is urged by the inner side of the pivotal groove
13 to compress. The stopping pin 5 is driven by the handle 4 to move away from the
stopping part 314 of the shaft 31, no longer blocking the shaft 31. Therefore, when
the front end of the moving jaw 2 is pushed by the blunt angle of the polygonal bolt
8, the moving jaw 2 and the roller 33 are pushed outward together. The spring 32 inside
the accommodating tank 11 is urged by the roller 33 to compress. As a result, the
gap of the holding zone 21 is slightly larger for the user to easily swing the handle
4 in reverse.
[0034] When the user rotates the wrench 4 in the forward direction, it restores as shown
in FIG. 4. The compressed elastic object 4 restores due to its elasticity. The front
end of the handle 4 drives and pushes the stopping pin 5 to slide to the stopping
part 314 of the shaft, forming a blocking state again. The compressed spring 32 also
pushes the roller 33 originally moving outward back to its original position. The
holding zone 21 thus restores its original gap. The user can then rotate the polygonal
bolt 8 repeatedly and continuously without moving away and engaging steps. The action
of locking or unlocking the polygonal bolt 8 can therefore be readily completed.
[0035] Please refer to FIG. 6 to 8 for a second embodiment of the invention. It differs
from the first embodiment in that the fixing element 6A has a concave part 61 on its
end surface for accommodating an elastic element 62. As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing
element 6A is accommodated on one side of the pivotal groove 13 of the fixing jaw
1. A pin 63A goes from the outer side of the pivotal groove 13 into the concave part
61 of the fixing element 6A. The elastic element 62 urges between the inner wall of
the pivotal groove 13 and the concave part 61. The fixing element 6A is thus pivotally
disposed in the pivotal groove 13 and opposite to the fixing part 45 of the handle
4. A limiting section 64A with a shape corresponding to that of the fixing part 45
of the handle 4, a slightly recessed moving section 65, and a protruding pushing part
66 are formed around the fixing element 6A. The user can push the pushing part 66
to rotate the fixing element 6A, so that the fixing element 6A selectively uses its
limiting section 64A or moving section 65 to face the fixing part 45 o the handle
4. In this embodiment, the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 has a curved recessing surface,
while the limiting section 64A has a curved protruding surface. Therefore, when the
fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the limiting section 64A of the fixing element
6A are engaged, the contact between the two curved surfaces provides the required
locking effect. Such a configuration can effectively resist the torque produced by
the swing of the handle 4.
[0036] When the limiting section 64A of the fixing element 6A faces the fixing part 45 of
the handle 4, they are engaged so that the handle 4 is restricted by the limiting
section 64A not to swing. Moreover, when the position of the fixing element 6A is
adjusted so that the limiting section 64A and the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 move
away from each other and the moving section 65 faces the fixing part 45 of the handle
4, a swing space 7A for the handle 4 to swing with respect to the fixing jaw 1 is
formed between the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the moving section 65 of the
fixing element 6A.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 9. When the user pushes the pushing part 66 of the fixing element
6A so that the limiting section 64A of the fixing element 6A engages with the fixing
part 45 of the handle 4, the front end of the handle 4 is restricted by the limiting
section 64A of the fixing element 6A so that the handle 4 cannot swing with respect
to the fixing jaw 1. This also enables the embodiment to have the features of the
traditional wrench.
[0038] When the user pushes the pushing part 66 of the fixing element 6A so that the moving
section 65 of the fixing element 6A faces the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the
limiting section 64A moves away from the fixing part 45 of the handle 4, as shown
in FIG. 10, a swing space 7A for the handle 4 to swing with respect to the fixing
jaw 1 is formed between the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the moving section
65 of the fixing element 6A. Therefore, when the user uses the pivotal axis 42 at
the front end of the handle 4 as a pivot and rotates the wrench 4 in reverse, as shown
in FIG. 11, the handle 4 can swing toward the swing space 7A. In this case, the swing
wrench in this embodiment achieves the feature of locking or unlocking a polygonal
bolt in a continuous way.
[0039] FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the invention. It differs from the above-mentioned
two embodiments in that the limiting section 64B and the moving section 65B are formed
around the fixing element 6B. One end of the pin 63B goes from the outer side of the
pivotal groove 13 into the concave part 61B of the fixing element 6B, thereby connecting
to the fixing element 6B. The other end of the pin 63B bends outward to form an exerting
part 631 B. When the user applies a force on the exerting part 63 1 B, it brings the
fixing element 6B into rotation simultaneously. The fixing element 6B can selectively
use its limiting section 64B or the moving section 65B to face the fixing part 45
of the handle 4.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 13, when the user rotates the exerting part 631B so that the limiting
section 64B faces the fixing part 45 of the handle 4, they are engaged to prevent
the handle 4 from swinging. When the user rotates the exerting part 631 B so that
the limiting part 64B of the fixing element 6B moves away from the fixing part 45
of the handle and the moving section 65B faces the fixing part 45, as shown in FIG.
14, a swing space 7B for the handle 4 to swing with respect to the fixing jaw 1 is
formed between the fixing part 45 of the handle 4 and the moving section 65B of the
fixing element 6B.
[0041] In summary, the disclosed swing wrench achieves the goal of having both traditional
and one-way driving features by adjusting the position of the fixing element 6. Not
only is it easy to operate, its simple structure also makes the assembly and machining
relatively convenient.
[0042] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments,
this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications
of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent
to people skilled in the art. Therefore, it is contemplated that the appended claims
will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.
1. A swing wrench comprising a fixing jaw (1), a moving jaw (2), an acting set (3), a
handle (4) pivotally fixed to the bottom of the fixing jaw (1), and a stopping pin
(5), with the fixing jaw (1) having an accommodating tank (11), a sliding track (12)
being disposed above and in communication with the accommodating tank (11), one side
of the accommodating tank (11) being formed horizontally with a through hole (14),
a connecting hole (15) being formed in the radial direction inside the through hole
(14), the moving jaw (2) being disposed in the sliding track (12) of the fixing jaw
(1) to slide sideways therein, a tooth part (22) being formed at the bottom of the
moving jaw (2), the acting set (3) being disposed in the accommodating tank (11) of
the fixing jaw (1) and including a shaft (31) and a spring (32), the shaft (31) having
a first end (311), a second end (312), and a middle section (313) between the first
end (311) and the second end (312), the part between the middle section (313) and
the second end (312) being slightly recessed to form a stopping part (314), the second
end (312) of the shaft (31) and the stopping part (314) being inserted into the through
hole (14) of the fixing jaw (1), the stopping part (314) corresponding to the connecting
hole (15), a roller (33) being mounted on the middle section (313) of the shaft (31)
and matching with the tooth part (22) at the bottom of the moving jaw (2), the spring
(32) being mounted around the middle section (313) of the shaft (31) with both ends
urging against the roller (33) and the inner wall of the accommodating tank (11),
the stopping pin (5) being disposed in the connecting hole (15) of the fixing jaw
(1) with one end connecting to the front end of the handle (4) so that when the front
end of the handle (4) rotates with respect to the fixing jaw (1) the front end of
the handle (4) drives the stopping pin (5) to slide, rendering the other end of the
stopping pin (5) to selectively block the stopping part (314) of the shaft (31),
characterized in that:
one side at the front end of the handle (4) is formed with a fixing part (45), a fixing
element (6) is disposed between the bottom of the fixing jaw (1) and the fixing part
(45) of the handle (45), the fixing element (6) has at least one limiting section
(64) to engage or disengage the fixing part (45) of the handle (4), and when the limiting
section (64) disengages the fixing part (45) a swing space (7) is formed between the
fixing part (45) of the handle (4) and the fixing element (6).
2. The swing wrench of claim 1, wherein a pivotal groove (13) is formed at the bottom
of the fixing jaw (1), the front end of the handle (4) is pivotally disposed in the
pivotal groove, the fixing element (6) is accommodated on one side of the pivotal
groove (13), a fixing hole (67) is formed on the end surface of the fixing element
(6), a sliding groove (16) is formed outside the bottom of the fixing jaw (1) opposite
to the fixing hole (67), a pin (63) goes from the sliding groove (16) outside the
pivotal groove (13) into the fixing hole (67) of the fixing element (6), and the fixing
element (6) is driven by the pin (63) to engage or disengage the fixing part (45)
of the handle (4) along the sliding groove (16).
3. The swing wrench of claim 2, wherein the two adjacent planes of the fixing element
(6) opposite to the fixing part (45) are formed with a limiting section (64) whose
shape matches with that of the fixing part (45) of the handle (4).
4. The swing wrench of claim 2, wherein a pushing part (631) is formed on the outer side
of the pin (63) that faces the fixing jaw (1).
5. The swing wrench of claim 1, wherein the front end of the handle (4) has a shaft hole
(41), a pivotal axis (42) is pivotally inserted at the bottom of the fixing jaw (1)
so that the handle (4) swings along an arc curve to expand or collapse.
6. The swing wrench of claim 5, wherein a concave groove (43) is formed on the side of
the front end of the handle (4) opposite to the pivotal axis (42) for accommodating
an elastic object (44) that urges against the bottom of the fixing jaw (1) using its
one end.
7. The swing wrench of claim 1, wherein a pivotal groove (13) is formed at the bottom
of the fixing jaw (1), the front end of the handle (4) is pivotally disposed in the
pivotal groove (13), the fixing element (6) is accommodated on one side of the pivotal
groove (13), a concave part (61) is formed on the end surface of the fixing element
(6) for accommodating an elastic element (62), a pin (63) goes from the outer side
of the pivotal groove (13) into the concave part (61) of the fixing element (6), the
elastic element (62) urges against the inner wall of the pivotal groove (13) and the
concave part (61) so that the fixing element (6) is pivotally disposed in the pivotal
groove (13) and opposite to the fixing part (45) of the handle (4).
8. The swing wrench of claim 7, wherein the limiting section (64), a moving section (65)
and a pushing part (66) are formed around the fixing element (6) so that the user
pushes the pushing part (66) to make the limiting section (64) or the moving section
(65) oppose to the fixing part (45) of the handle (4).
9. The swing wrench of claim 8, wherein the fixing part (45) and the limiting section
(64) have corresponding shapes, the fixing part (45) having a curved recessing surface
and the limiting section (64) having a curved protruding surface, so that when the
fixing part (45) and the limiting section (64) are engaged the two curved surfaces
together restricts the swinging of the handle (4).
10. The swing wrench of claim 8, wherein the and le section (65) of the fixing element
(6) is recessed and, when the moving section (65) of the fixing element (6) is opposite
to the fixing part (45) of the handle (4), a swing space (7) is formed between the
fixing part (45) and the fixing element (6) for the handle (4) to swing with respect
to the fixing jaw (1).
11. The swing wrench of claim 1, wherein a pivotal groove (13) is formed at the bottom
of the fixing jaw (1), the front end of the handle (4) is pivotally disposed in the
pivotal groove (13), the fixing element (6) is accommodated on one side of the pivotal
groove (13), a concave part (61) is formed on the end surface of the fixing element
(6) for accommodating an elastic element (62), a pin (63) goes from the outer side
of the pivotal groove (13) into the concave part (61) of the fixing element (6), the
elastic element (62) urges against the inner wall of the pivotal groove (13) and the
concave part (61), and one end of the pin (63) connects to the fixing element (6)
and its other end bend outwards to form a pushing part (631).