Adjustable fastener engaging tool
View Patent ↗An adjustable fastener engaging tool includes a plurality of jaws slidably disposed in a retainer. An actuator engages a driver jaw resulting in the jaws either moving in a first direction to enlarge a fastener-receiving aperture cooperatively formed by the jaws, or the jaws moving in a second direction to reduce the fastener-receiving aperture to grip or release a fastener.
1. An adjustable fastener engaging tool, comprising:
a retainer having a plurality of linear grooves defining a track;
a plurality of jaws corresponding in number to the number of linear grooves disposed in the retainer, each jaw having a guide portion extending therefrom and into one of the grooves of the track; and
an actuator that engages at least one of the jaws;
wherein actuating the actuator translates into linear motion at least one of the jaws engaging the actuator; and
wherein adjacent jaws push against one another as the actuator is actuated resulting in the jaws either moving linearly within the grooves in a first direction to enlarge a fastener-receiving aperture cooperatively formed by the jaws or the jaws moving linearly in a second direction within the grooves to reduce the fastener-receiving aperture.
2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the fastener-receiving aperture has a configuration matching a multi-faceted peripheral edge of a fastener.
3. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of jaws comprises six jaws.
4. The tool of claim 3 , wherein the six jaws cooperatively define a hexagonal-shaped fastener-receiving aperture.
5. The tool of claim 1 , including a retainer plate covering at least a portion of the jaws and the retainer.
6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the retainer plate has a plurality of grooves defining a track that each receives a guide portion of each jaw therein.
7. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the retainer has an upper portion defining an opening for receiving a drive tang of a rachet, and the jaws are encircled by a socket wall.
8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is connected to a handle or has a handle extending therefrom.
9. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the tool comprises a closed-end wrench.
10. The tool of claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises a manually actuated lever pivotally attached to the handle and having an end engageable with a driver jaw.
11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each jaw comprises an end face and an inner face, wherein the end face of a jaw slidably engages an inner face of an adjacent jaw as the jaws are moved.
12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the inner faces of the jaws cooperatively define the fastener-receiving aperture and engage the peripheral edges and corners of a fastener.
13. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the jaws comprise a driver jaw engaged with the actuator and a plurality of follower jaws.
14. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a thumb screw that engages at least a portion of a driver jaw.
15. The tool of claim 1 , including a selector operably coupled to the actuator for selectively preventing forward or reverse movement of the actuator.
16. The tool of claim 1 , wherein ends of adjacent grooves intersect with one another.
17. An adjustable fastener engaging tool, comprising:
a retainer having a plurality of linear grooves defining a track;
a plurality of jaws corresponding in number to the plurality of grooves, the jaws comprising at least one driver jaw and a plurality of follower jaws, each jaw having a guide portion slidably disposed in a groove of the track; and
a thumb screw actuator that engages at least a portion of only the at least one driver jaw;
wherein each jaw comprises an end face and an inner face, wherein the end face of a jaw slidably engages an inner face of an adjacent jaw, the inner faces of the jaws cooperatively forming a multi-faceted fastener-receiving aperture and engage peripheral edges and corners of a fastener;
wherein adjacent jaws push against one another as the actuator is actuated resulting in the jaws either moving linearly in a first direction to enlarge the fastener-receiving aperture or the jaws moving linearly in a second direction to reduce the fastener-receiving aperture.
18. The tool of claim 17 , including a retainer plate covering at least a portion of the jaws and the retainer.
19. The tool of claim 18 , wherein the retainer plate has a plurality of grooves corresponding to the number of jaws and defining a track that receives the guide portion of each jaw therein.
20. The tool of claim 18 , wherein the retainer has an upper portion defining an opening for receiving a drive tang of a rachet, and the jaws are encircled by an elongated socket wall.
21. The tool of claim 17 , including a selector operably coupled to the actuator for selectively preventing forward or reverse movement of the actuator.
22. The tool of claim 17 , wherein the retainer is connected to a handle or has a handle extending therefrom and wherein the tool comprises a closed-end wrench.
23. The tool of claim 17 , wherein ends of adjacent grooves intersect with one another.