Title: AUTOMATIC SPANNER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic spanner which is able to engage or disengage a bolt or a nut, and in particular an automatic spanner by which a bolt or a nut can be fast engaged or disengaged with the help of a continuous normal or reverse direction rotation in a state that a bolt and a nut are stably held.

Background Art

Generally, a spanner is a typical tool for engaging or disengaging a bolt or a nut. The spanner includes a bar shaped body, a handle formed at one side of the body, and a head formed at the other side of the body. The head of the spanner is provided with a pair of jaws for thereby stably holding a head of a bolt or a nut with the help of a holding groove. In case that a work for engaging or disengaging a bolt or a nut is performed using a spanner, the head of a bolt or a nut is held in the holding groove formed by the jaws of the head, and the body is rotated in one direction while holding the handle with a hand. So, the bolt or nut held by the jaws of the head is rotated in the same direction for thereby engaging the bolt or nut. When it is needed to disengage the bolt or nut, the body is rotated in the reverse direction(counterclockwise direction).

The conventional spanner is classified into a monkey spanner, a latch spanner or something. The above spanner is selected depending on a work condition. Here, the monkey spanner may be used when engaging or disengaging

a bolt or nut, in which one of a pair of jaws relatively moves toward the other one while adjusting a distance between the jaws for thereby being used for various dimensions of bolts and nuts. The latch spanner may be also used for easily and fast engaging or disengaging a bolt or a nut with the help of a latch gear and a stop member, which are provided for one way rotation of a head.

In case that it is needed to engage a bolt or a nut in a small area space having a very small height, a flat type spanner is used. In this case, the latch spanner cannot be used. When a conventional spanner is used for the above work, it is needed to repeatedly perform the procedures that the bolt or nut is rotated at a certain angle, and the jaws of the spanner are removed from the head of the bolt or nut, and then are inserted again to hold and rotate the same at a certain angle. So, workability is significantly decreased.

To overcome the above problems, a spanner having a latch mechanism with a thin thickness able to perform a needed work without a socket is disclosed, but the construction and structure of a latch mechanism are so complicated. Manufacturing the above spanner has many problems, and it costs too much.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic spanner which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic spanner which is able to fast engage and disengage a bolt or a nut since a continuous work for repeatedly rotating a bolt or a nut in a normal direction or a reverse direction is possible a state that the bolt or nut is stably held. To achieve the above objects, there is provided an automatic spanner

which comprises a body; a head which includes a first jaw formed at one side of the body and is protruded for a contact with a horizontal side of a hexagonal head of a bolt or a nut, a second jaw which is protruded opposite to the first jaw and has an end cut at a certain inclination angle, and first and second connection sides formed between the first and second jaws with a certain inclination angle for thereby forming a certain groove between the same; a protrusion member which is inserted into the second connection side of the head and slides, with one end of the same being exposed on the second connection side; and an elastic member which is installed between the second connection side of the head and the protrusion member for thereby providing an elastic force to the protrusion member, whereby the bolt or nut held by the head rotates together when the body and head rotate in one direction, and does not rotate owing to the second jaw and the protrusion member when the body and head rotate in the other direction.

The protrusion member includes an engaging part inserted into the interior of the second connection side of the head, and a contact part which is integral with the engaging part and is exposed on the second connection side and contacts with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut.

The contact part has a contact side having a certain inclination with the contact side contacting with the bolt or nut. There is further provided an escape prevention pin which is fixedly inserted into an engaging hole formed at the head and protrusion member at the dame vertical line for thereby preventing an escape of the protrusion member, whereby the diameter of the escape prevention pin is smaller than the engaging hole of the protrusion member so that the protrusion member can slide. An engaging hole of the protrusion member has a longitudinal shape so

that the protrusion member can slide-reciprocate in one direction, and both ends of an inner side correspond to the outer side of the escape prevention pin.

An end of the second jaw has an inclination angle of 30 through 50° with respect to the contact side with the bolt or nut. A margin prevention part is provided on the first connection side of the head for preventing a margin with respect to the head of the bolt or nut.

The margin prevention part has a contact side with the bolt or bolt, which is formed at a certain inclination angle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner of an automatic spanner of Figure 1 ; Figures 4 and 5 are schematic cross sectional views illustrating a procedure for engaging a bolt using an automatic spanner of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic cross sectional views for describing a procedure that a bolt is engaged using an automatic spanner of Figure 6.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner of Figure 1 , and

Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating the major elements of an automatic spanner of an automatic spanner of Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 through 3, the automatic spanner according to the present invention comprises a body 100, a head 200, a protrusion member 300, and an elastic member 400. An escape prevention pin 500 is preferably further provided.

The body 100 is formed in a longitudinal bar shape and has a handle for grabbing the same. As shown in Figure 1 , a head, of which one side is open, is provided at one side of the body 100 for holding a bolt or a nut. A holding groove is formed at the other side of the body 100 for engaging or disengaging a bolt or a nut in a state that a rectangular or hexagonal bolt is held thereby. The body 100 is similar with the body of a common spanner. So, the detailed description of the same will be omitted.

The head 200 has a holding part at one side of the body 100 for holding a hexagonal bolt or nut. The inner side of the same has a certain shape corresponding to an outer construction of a bolt or a nut. The head 200 includes a first jaw 210 and a second jaw 220. An opening is formed in the head 200 through the first and second jaws 210 and 220. So, a head part of the bolt or nut is inserted between the first and second jaws 210 and 220. The inserted head of the bolt or nut is held by means of the inner side of the head 200.

At this time, the inner side of the head 200 is formed of an opposite side of the first and second jaws 210 and 220, and a connection side which connects the first and second jaws 210 and 220. The above connection side is formed of a first connection side 230 extended from the inner side of the first jaw 210, and a second connection side 240 extended from the inner side of the second jaw 220. The first and second connection sides 230 and 240 are formed at certain slant angles for thereby forming a certain groove between the same. The hexagonal head of the bolt or nut horizontally contacts with the inner sides of the first and second jaws 210 and 220. The first and second connection sides 230 and 240 can also contact with the outer horizontal sides, respectively, for thereby reliably holding the head 200. Preferably, the opposite side of the first and second jaws 210 and 220 and the first and second connection sides 230 and 240 has the shapes corresponding to the outer shape of the bolt or nut.

The end of the second jaw 220 of the head 200 has a certain slant side, preferably, with a slant angle of 30 through 50° with respect to a contact side of the bolt or nut, namely, an outer horizontal side. An angle of 40° is more preferred. In case that the body 100 and the head 200 rotate in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction along with the protrusion member 300, the bolt or nut does not rotate, and only the body 100 and the head 200 rotate. The above construction will be described later.

The protrusion member 300 is inserted into the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and slide-reciprocates. One end of the protrusion member 300 is exposed on the second connection side 240. The exposed end contacts with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut. In case that the body 100 and the head 200 rotate in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction along with the

second jaw 220 of the head 200, the bolt or nut does not rotate, and only the body 100 and the head 200 rotate. Namely, when a rotational force is applied to the bolt or nut, the angle is adjusted, and the applied force can be distributed. The above construction will be described later. The protrusion member 300 is integral with the engaging part 310 inserted into the interior of the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and is exposed on the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and contacts with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut. Here, the contact part 320 is preferably formed so that the contact side 322 with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut has a certain inclination. So, in case that the contact side 322 of the contact part 320 contacts with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut, the contact side 322 is not entirely contacted, namely, is contacted with a certain space, so that the contact part 320 can slightly roll on an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut. The contact part 320 has a thickness larger than the engaging part 310 so that the contact side 322 has a wider contact area contacting with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut. It has a thickness smaller than the second connection side 240 of the head 200 for a good outer appearance.

The engaging part 310 is inserted into the engaging groove 242 formed on the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and slide-reciprocates in the engaging groove 242. The engaging groove 242 has a length longer than the engaging part 310 so that the engaging part 310 can move in a certain movable space. The insertion groove 242 is formed at an inner side of the engaging groove 242 for inserting the elastic member 400 therein.

The elastic member 400 provides a certain elastic force so that the protrusion member 300 semi-automatically slides in one direction and provides a

function for preventing an impact that is applied to the protrusion member 300 by the bolt or nut when engaging or disengaging the bolt or nut. The elastic member 400 is installed between the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and the protrusion member 300. In more detail, one end of the elastic member 400 is fixedly inserted into the insertion groove 244 formed at an inner side of the engaging groove 242 of the second connection side 240, and the other end of the same is connected with the protrusion member 300. When an external force is applied, the elastic member 400 allows the contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300 to have a certain space from the second connection side 240. Here, the elastic member 400 is preferably a spring.

The escape prevention pin 500 is provided for preventing an escape of the protrusion member 300. The escape prevention pin 500 allows the protrusion member 300 to keep being engaged after it is inserted into the second connection side 240 of the head 200. At this time, an engaging hole 250 is formed in the second connection side 240 of the head 200 for obtaining a tight insertion of the escape prevention pin 500. The engaging hole 330 is formed in the engaging part 310 of the protrusion member 300 on the same line as the engaging hole 250 of the head 200. The escape prevention pin 500 is inserted into the engaging hole 250 of the head 200 and the engaging hole 330 of the protrusion member 300, respectively. The escape prevention pin 500 has a certain diameter similar with the engaging hole 250 of the head so that it cannot be easily escaped from the engaging hole 250 of the head 200. However, since the protrusion member 300 slides and reciprocates, it is preferred that the diameter of the escape prevention pin 500 is larger than the diameter of the engaging hole 330 of the protrusion member 300. The engaging hole 330 of the protrusion member 300 is formed in a

longitudinal shape so that the protrusion member 300 can slide-reciprocate in one direction. Both ends of the inner side of the same correspond to the outer side of the escape prevention pin 500. So, the escape prevention pin 50 is able to prevent an escape of the protrusion member 300 as well as is able to play as a stop member in both directions when the protrusion member 300 slide-reciprocates.

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic cross sectional views illustrating a procedure that the bolt is engaged using an automatic spanner of Figure 1. The engagement of the bolt or nut using the automatic spanner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 4, when the bolt is engaged, the head 200 is pushed toward the bolt as seen in "a", and the head of the bolt is held between the first and second jaws 210 and 220. The head of the bolt contacts with the contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300 engaged to the second connection side 240 of the head 200. So, the head of the bolt is stably held by means of the opposite sides of the first and second jaws 210 and 220 and contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300, respectively. So, with the help of the protrusion member, a certain space is formed between the head of the bolt and the first and second connection sides 230 and 240 of the head 200 as seen in "b".

When the body 100 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the head 200 integral with the body 100 is rotated in the clockwise direction. At this time, a rotational force of the clockwise direction is applied to the bolt held by the head 200, so that the bolt rotates in the clockwise direction as seen in "c" and "d".

In the conventional art, the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated by a certain angle, and then the head 200 is removed from the head of the bolt, and then the head 200 is pushed toward the initial holding portion, and the body 100

and the head 200 are rotated. Namely, in the conventional art, the above procedure should be repeatedly performed. However, in the present invention, it is possible to perform a continuous bolt engagement or disengagement work without removing the head 200 from the head of the bolt. The body 100 and the head 200 are rotated at a certain angle, and as shown in Figure 5, the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction as seen in "a", so that the rotational force is not applied to the head of the bolt, and only the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Here, only the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated owing to the second jaw 220 of the head 200 and the protrusion member 300. Being differently from the first jaw 210, an end of the second jaw 220 of the head 200 is cut at a certain inclination angle(at about 45° with respect to the surface contacting with the outer horizontal side of the head of the bolt), so that a certain space is formed between the second jaw and the outer horizontal side of the head. Since the protrusion member 300 contacts with the had of the bolt, the outer horizontal side of the head of the bolt does not directly contact with the first and second connection sides 230 and 240 of the head 200, so that a certain space is formed. With the above space, the head 200 does not apply a rotational force to the head of the bolt and rotates in the counterclockwise direction. In this case, the contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300 has a certain inclination at its contact side with the head of the bolt, so that it can roll.

As shown in Figures 5B through 5D, when the head 200 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, a rotational force is not applied to the head of the bolt, so that only the head 200 can be rotated with the helps of the space formed between the second jaw 220 and the head of the bolt, the space formed between

the first and second connection sides and the head of the bolt, and the protrusion member 300 which can roll. So, it returns to the head 200 in a state that the head of the bolt is held.

At this time, the head of the bolt is not fully held by means of the head 200, namely, it maintains spaced apart from the protrusion member 300 at a certain interval as seen in "d". The head 200 is pushed toward the head of the bolt by applying an external force for thereby implementing a stable holding state as seen in "e".

As shown in Figure 4B, the initial holding state is obtained. When the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated in the clockwise direction, it is possible to engage the head of the bolt. Thereafter, the body 100 and the head 200 are repeatedly rotated in the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction for thereby implementing a continuous engaging work of the bolt.

When it is needed to disengage the bolt using the automatic spanner of the present invention, the automatic spanner is turned over. In this case, differently from the engaging work, the body and head are rotated in the counterclockwise direction for thereby disengaging the bolt. When they are rotated in the clockwise direction, only the body and head are rotated.

Figure 6 is a view of major elements of the automatic spanner of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the automatic spanner of the present invention comprises a body 100, a head 200, a protrusion member 300, an elastic member(not shown) and an escape prevention pin 500.

Since the body 100, the protrusion member 300, the elastic member and the escape prevention pin 500 are the same as the first embodiment of the present invention, the descriptions of the same will be omitted.

The head 200 is the same as the first embodiment of the present invention except that a margin prevention part 231 is further provided.

As shown in Figure 6, the margin prevention part 231 is protruded from the first connection side 230 of the head 200. The margin prevention part 231 is able to prevent a certain margin with respect to the head of the bolt or nut. In other words, when the head of the bolt or nut is held by means of the head 200, a certain space is formed between the first connection side 230 and the head of the bolt or nut with the help of the protrusion member 300 installed in the second connection side 240. With the above space, a rotational force may not be properly applied to the head of the bolt or nut when engaging or disengaging the bolt or nut or the head of the bolt or nut mat be escaped. At this time, the margin prevention part 231 is formed on the first connection side 230 at a certain height corresponding to the protrusion member 300 of the second connection side, so that the margin prevention part 231 contacts with an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut for thereby preventing the above-described problems.

The margin prevention part 231 has a contact side with the head of the bolt or nut like the protrusion member 300. Namely, the contact side with an outer horizontal side of the head of the bolt or nut has a certain inclination. When it contacts with an outer horizontal surface of the bolt or nut like the protrusion member 300, the entire sides are not contacted. Namely, a certain space is formed between the contacting sides, so that the margin prevention part 231 rolls on an outer horizontal side of the bolt or nut. So, when the head 200 is rotated in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, the bolt or nut does not rotate, but only the head 200 is rotated. Figures 7 and 8 are schematic cross sectional views illustrating a procedure

that the bolt is engaged using an automatic spanner of Figure 6. The engagement of the bolt or nut using the automatic spanner according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

As shown in Figure 7, when the bolt is engaged, the head 200 is pushed toward the bolt as seen in "a", and the head of the bolt is held between the first and second jaws 210 and 220. At this time, the head of the bolt contacts with the contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300 engaged to the second connection side 240 of the head 200 and the margin prevention part 231 protruded from the first connection side 230, respectively. So, the head of the bolt is stably held by means of the opposite sides of the first and second jaws 210 and 220 and the contact part 320 of the protrusion member 300 and the margin prevention part 231.

A certain space is formed between the protrusion member 300 and the margin prevention part 231.

When the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated in the clockwise direction, the head held by the head 200 receives a rotational force with the helps of the first and second jaws 210 and 220, the protrusion member 300 and the margin prevention part 231 and rotates in the clockwise direction as seen in "c" and "d".

After the bolt or nut is rotated at a certain angle, as shown in Figure 8, the bolt 100 and the head 200 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction as seen in "a", and the head of the bolt is not provided with a rotational force, and only the body 100 and the head 200 rotate in the counterclockwise direction. Here, only the body 100 and the head 200 are rotated like in the automatic spanner of the first embodiment of the present invention. The margin prevention part 231 has a contact side contacting with the head of the bolt, which has a certain inclination, so that the rotation of the head 200 is not interfered.

As shown in Figures 8B through 8D, when the head 200 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the rotational force is not applied to the head of the bolt, so that only the head 200 is rotated. It returns to its original state with the head of the bolt being held by the head 200. At this time, the head of the bolt is not fully held by means of the head 200, so that a certain space is formed between the protrusion member 300 and the margin prevention part 231 as seen in "d". When the head 200 is pushed toward the head of the bolt by applying a certain external force as seen in "e", the initial holding state is obtained as shown in Figure 7B. As the body 100 and the head 200 are repeatedly rotated in the clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction, so that the bolt can be stably engaged.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, it is possible to easily and fast engage or disengage a bolt or a nut by continuously performing a normal or reverse direction rotation of the body and head without separately engaging or disengaging the bolt or nut.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.