IP Library Granted Patent US 11,511,398
Granted Patent B2
US 11,511,398 · App. 17/417,275 · Granted Nov 29, 2022

Pipe wrench with improved design for side bite

Inventors: Noah Thomas Steen (Apex, NC); Kelsey David Gilmore (Fuquay-Varina, NC)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B25B13/5058B25B7/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,511,398
App. No.
17/417,275
Granted
Nov 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hand tool includes a handle section, a working end operably coupled to the handle section, and a jaw assembly disposed at the working end. The jaw assembly includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw. A span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable. Each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other. The array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth. The first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width.

Claims (35)

1. A hand tool comprising:

a handle section;

a working end operably coupled to the handle section; and

a jaw assembly disposed at the working end, the jaw assembly comprising a movable jaw and a fixed jaw,

wherein a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable,

wherein each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other,

wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth,

wherein the first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width, and

wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw further comprise a third set of teeth having a third width and the first depth, wherein the third width is less than both the first width and the second width.

2. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of teeth of the third set of teeth are disposed between a first tooth of the second set of teeth and a second tooth of the second set of teeth.

3. The hand tool of claim 2 , wherein at least one tooth of the third set of teeth is not disposed between the first tooth and the second tooth.

4. The hand tool of claim 2 , wherein the first set of teeth includes at least one tooth on each end thereof between which all teeth of the first set of teeth and the third set of teeth are disposed.

5. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein an apex of each tooth in the array of teeth is equidistant from an adjacent apex of each adjacent tooth regardless of whether the adjacent apex is on a tooth of the first, second or third sets of teeth.

6. The hand tool of claim 5 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the movable jaw have a first slope, and sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the fixed jaw have a second slope, and

wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

7. The hand tool of claim 6 , wherein one of the first slope and the second slope includes a curved surface.

8. The hand tool of claim 5 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on one of the movable jaw or the fixed jaw have a first slope away from the apex in a first direction, and a second slope away from the apex in a second direction, and

wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

9. The hand tool of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool comprises a pipe wrench.

10. A jaw assembly for a hand tool, the jaw assembly comprising:

a movable jaw; and

a fixed jaw,

wherein a span defined between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw is adjustable,

wherein each of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw includes an array of teeth defined by ridges that extend substantially parallel to each other,

wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw includes a first set of teeth having a first width and a first depth, and a second set of teeth having a second width and a second depth,

wherein the first depth is less than the second depth and the first width is less than the second width

wherein the array of teeth on each of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw further comprise a third set of teeth having a third width and the first depth, wherein the third width is less than both the first width and the second width, and

wherein a plurality of teeth of the third set of teeth are disposed between a first tooth of the second set of teeth and a second tooth of the second set of teeth.

11. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least one tooth of the third set of teeth is not disposed between the first tooth and the second tooth.

12. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first set of teeth includes at least one tooth on each end thereof between which all teeth of the first set of teeth and the third set of teeth are disposed.

13. The jaw assembly of claim 10 , wherein an apex of each tooth in the array of teeth is equidistant from an adjacent apex of each adjacent tooth regardless of whether the adjacent apex is on a tooth of the first, second or third sets of teeth.

14. The jaw assembly of claim 13 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the movable jaw have a first slope, and sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on the fixed jaw have a second slope, and

wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

15. The jaw assembly of claim 13 , wherein sidewalls of teeth in the array of teeth on one of the movable jaw or the fixed jaw have a first slope away from the apex in a first direction, and a second slope away from the apex in a second direction, and

wherein the first slope and the second slope are different.

Assignments (7)
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2021
From: STEEN, NOAH THOMAS; GILMORE, KELSEY DAVID
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056897/0342 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62785848 · Dec 28, 2018
Related Publication 20220126424A1 · Apr 28, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 1,081,301