IP Library Granted Patent US 9,669,528
Granted Patent B2
US 9,669,528 · App. 14/670,299 · Granted Jun 6, 2017

Illuminated pipe wrench tool assembly

Inventors: Brent Crawford (Kentfield, CA); Bill Reimann (Zhuhai, CN); Bill E. Brauner (Angels Camp, CA)
Assignee: ReadyMax, Inc.
B25B23/18B25B7/08B25B7/10B25B7/22B25B13/16B25B13/5058F21L4/00F21V33/0084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,669,528
App. No.
14/670,299
Granted
Jun 6, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighted pipe wrench assembly having a first wrench member and a second wrench member cooperatively joined. The first wrench member includes a head portion having a first jaw section and an interface section, and further includes an elongate neck portion having a longitudinal axis. A receiving channel extends laterally therethrough the interface section. A communication channel extends radially from the receiving channel to an end port which terminates at the work surface. A primary illumination device formed for removable, axial sliding receipt in the receiving channel of such that an output portion is aligned with the communication channel. A first end cap cooperate to securely abut and seat the illumination device therebetween, and secure to the coupling portion.

Claims (41)

1. A pipe wrench assembly comprising:

a first wrench member including a head portion having a first jaw section and an interface section, and an elongate neck portion having a longitudinal axis and integrally intersecting a work surface of said first jaw section at said interface section at generally a right-angle therebetween, said interface section further including a threaded interior wall defining a receiving channel extending laterally therethrough from one side to an opposite side thereof, said interface section further defining a communication channel extending radially from said receiving channel to an end port terminating at the work surface for light communication therebetween;

a second wrench member having a second jaw portion, a handle portion and a coupling portion integral between the second jaw portion and the second handle portion, said coupling portion cooperating with said elongate neck portion to orient the first and second jaw portions are in opposed relationship to one another, defining a work area, and to movably couple said first wrench member to said second member for selective movement in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis of said neck portion to selectively adjust the size of the work area;

a primary illumination device having an illumination output portion outputting a direct light beam therefrom, and having a housing formed and dimensioned for removable, axial sliding receipt in the receiving channel of said interface section such that said output portion is aligned with said communication channel;

a first end cap disposed in a first opening into said receiving channel, and configured for threaded engagement with said threaded interior wall of said interface section, and

a second end cap disposed in an opposite second opening into said receiving channel, and configured for threaded engagement with said threaded interior wall of said interface section, said first end cap and said second end cap threadably cooperating to securely abut and seat said illumination device therebetween.

2. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

said output portion of the illumination device includes an alignment key portion extending radially outward from said exterior surface of the housing, and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said illumination device, said alignment key being is formed and dimensioned for sliding receipt in a portion of said communication channel.

3. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 2 wherein

said communication channel tapers outwardly from the receiving channel to said end port.

4. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 3 wherein

said illumination device includes a button assembly on one end of said housing, and

said first end cap includes a cover disk portion defining a button port formed for receipt of at least a portion of said button assembly to enable operable access thereof when mounted in the first opening of the receiving channel.

5. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 4 , wherein

said illumination device includes a battery cover on an opposite end of said housing, and

said second end cap includes a cover disk portion defining a battery cover port formed for operable access to said battery cover when mounted the second opening of the receiving channel.

6. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 5 , wherein

each said first end cap and said second end cap include respective annular contact walls downwardly depending from an underside of the respective cover disk portion thereof, each respective contact wall having an exterior facing surface configured for threaded engagement with the threaded interior wall of said receiving channel, and each having an interior facing surface defining a respective receiving recess formed and dimensioned for respective seated receipt of the one end and the opposite end the housing when both the first end cap and the second end cap are threadably mounted to threaded interior wall.

7. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

said elongated neck of the first wrench member is threaded,

said coupling portion of the second wrench member defines a receiving channel extending from an upper portion thereof to a lower portion thereof proximate to said handle portion, said receiving channel being formed and dimensioned for sliding receipt of the neck portion longitudinally therethrough enabling relative movement of said first work surface toward and away from said second work surface, said second wrench member further including a manually threaded nut device disposed along a bottomside of said coupling portion in threaded engagement with the neck portion of said first wrench member.

8. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

said coupling portion of said second wrench member includes a first side, an opposite second side, and a front wall extending therebetween, said coupling portion further defining a receiving passage extending laterally therethrough from said first side to said second side thereof, said coupling portion further defining a communication aperture extending radially from said receiving passage to an end opening terminating at the front wall surface for light communication therebetween;

a secondary light device having a light output portion outputting a direct light beam therefrom, and having a housing formed and dimensioned for removable, axial sliding receipt in the receiving passage of said coupling portion of the second wrench member such that said output portion is aligned with said communication passage;

a first end cover disposed in a first opening into said receiving passage; and

a second end cover disposed in an opposite second opening into said receiving passage, said first end cover and said second end cover cooperating to securely abut and seat said light device therebetween.

9. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

said output portion of the light device includes an alignment key portion extending radially outward from said exterior surface of the housing, and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said light device, said alignment key being is formed and dimensioned for sliding receipt in a portion of said communication aperture.

10. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 9 wherein

said communication aperture tapers outwardly from the receiving passage to said end opening.

11. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 10 wherein

said light device includes a button assembly on one end of said housing, and

said first end cover includes a cover disk portion defining a button port formed for receipt of at least a portion of said button assembly to enable operable access thereof when mounted in the first opening of the receiving passage.

12. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

said light device includes a battery cover on an opposite end of said housing, and

said second end cap includes a cover disk portion defining a battery cover port formed for operable access to said battery cover when mounted the second opening of the receiving channel.

13. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 12 , wherein

an interior wall defining said receiving passage is threaded, and

at each of said first and second end cover being threadably mounted to said interior wall.

14. The pipe wrench assembly according to claim 13 , wherein

each said first end cover and said second end cover include respective annular contact walls downwardly depending from an underside of the respective cover disk portion thereof, each respective contact wall having an exterior facing surface configured for threaded engagement with the threaded interior wall of said receiving channel, and each having an interior facing surface defining a respective receiving recess formed and dimensioned for respective seated receipt of the one end and the opposite end the housing when both the first end cover and the second end cover are threadably mounted to threaded interior wall.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2017
From: READYMAX, INC.
To: R3A FAMILY INVESTMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042830/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2015
From: CRAWFORD, BRENT; REIMANN, BILL; BRAUNER, BILL E.
To: READYMAX, INC.
Reel/Frame 035638/0539 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 14201249 · Mar 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61971104 · Mar 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61871083 · Aug 28, 2013
Related Publication 20150196998A1 · Jul 16, 2015