FASTENER TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE JAWS

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a tool with adjustable jaws for installing and removing fasteners such as bolts and screws and, more particularly, to a tool with adjustable jaws that is in the form of a socket allowing significant tool integrity and in which tool jaw adjustment is facilitated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adjustable socket wrenches are, of course, well known in the trade. Le Due United States Patent 4,864,901, Carnesi United States Patent 6,073,522, Roder United States Patent 4,136,555, Kolari et al United States Patent 4,967,625, McClure United States Patent _ n _ 5,375,489 and Voskanyan United States Patent 6,662,689 teach such representative prior art. However, there are disadvantages inherent in such prior art sockets. The aforementioned Ie Due, Carnesi, Roder, Kolari et al and Voskanyan references teach a non-integral housing or a housing of limited dimensions which housing fails to encompass the circumference of the fastener grasping jaws during operation. Thus, substantial torque transfer to the housing does not result which adversely affects tool integrity during operation. A further disadvantage of prior art is that jaw adjustment is tedious and play in the jaws occurs with the adjustment mechanisms there described. Yet a further disadvantage of the prior art is that the jaws move outside of the housing during operation. Changing the external shape of the tool may require more space. It is desirable to maintain the external dimensions of the socket under use because tool space may be at a premium.

SUMMBLRY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an adjustable tool used to grasp and loosen or tighten a fastener, said tool comprising a set of jaws, at least one of said jaws being movable on an axis transverse to said axis of said fastener to be tightened or loosened, said jaws defining an opening ranging between.fully open and fully closed positions, said movable jaw being located within a housing adjacent to and surrounding the periphery of said jaw, said housing being an integral member and said movable jaw being movable by an adjustment mechanism, said movable jaw operably contacting said housing in a force transfer relationship during said fastener loosening or fastener tightening operation.

According to a further.aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable tool having a set of jaws operable to grasp a fastener to be removed or installed, said tool having at least one movable jaw within said housing and mounted on a shaft radial to the axis of said fastener, said jaw being positioned within said housing, and an adjusting wheel accessible by a user and being connected to said shaft, said shaft having at least one groove formed therein and at least one ball within said groove which ball is rotatable within said groove. According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of loosening or tightening a fastener using a set of adjustable jaws, at least one of said jaws being movable within a housing, said method comprising forming an opening between said jaws to operably allow the grasping of said fastener, applying a torque to said jaws to rotate said fastener and transferring a substantial portion of said torque from said jaws to said housing while loosening or tightening said fastener.

According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of loosening or tightening a fastener using a set of adjustable jaws, at least one of said jaws being movable within a housing, said method comprising forming an opening between said jaws to operably allow the grasping of said fastener by rotating a shaft with a groove formed therein and a ball rotatable within said groove, said rotation of said shaft adjusting said opening of said jaws. .

According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable tool used to grasp and loosen or tighten a fastener, said tool comprising a set of jaws, at least one of said jaws being movable on an axis transverse to said axis of said fastener to be tightened or loosened, said jaws defining an opening ranging between fully open and fully closed positions, said movable jaw being located within a housing adjacent to and surrounding the periphery of said jaw, said housing being an integral member and said movable jaw being movable by an adjustment mechanism, said movable jaw being moved by a rotatable shaft operably connected to said jaw, said shaft adjusting the opening between said jaws between said fully open and fully closed positions, said shaft having a first and second groove formed therein and a pair of followers operably connected to said shaft, each of said followers being located in a respective one of said first and second grooves, said followers being positioned on opposite sides of said rotatable shaft.

According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable tool having a pair of jaws operable to grasp a fastener to be removed or installed, said jaws each being movable and each being mounted on an adjusting shaft which has an axis radial to the axis of said fastener and which has a pair of grooves located on each end of said adjustment shaft, said jaws being positioned within a housing and a pair of followers located between each of said jaws and said oppositely located grooves in said adjustment shaft, each of said pair of followers being located on opposite sides of said adjustment shaft within said respective jaw, each of said pair of followers being located in a different groove of said adjustment shaft.

According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of tightening or loosening a fastener using an adjustment tool comprising rotating an adjustment shaft which is operably connected to at least one movable jaw by way of a pair of followers operably moving within respective grooves on said adjustment shaft and each of said followers being positioned within said at least one movable jaw, said pair of followers being located on opposite sides of said adjustment shaft.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustment tool to tighten or loosen a fastener which adjustment tool comprises an adjustment shaft and first and second jaws operably moved by said adjustment shaft, said adjustment shaft having a first and second groove formed therein and being operable to move first and second followers operably mounted between said grooves and each of said movable jaws, said first. and second followers forming a pair of followers with one of said pairs of followers being positioned at one end of said adjustment shaft and the other of said pair of followers being positioned at the opposite end of said adjustment shaft, each follower of each pair of followers being located on opposite sides of said adjustment shaft and each follower of each pair of followers being located in a respective groove of said adjustment shaft.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of tightening or loosening a fastener with an adjustment tool having a pair of movable jaws each being mounted on opposed ends of an adjustment shaft, each of said movable jaws having a pair of followers, each of said followers of said pair being located in a respective one of a pair of grooves in said adjustment shaft, each of said followers of said pair being located on opposite sides of said adjustment shaft within said respective one of said jaws.

According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable tool used to grasp and loosen or tighten a fastener, said tool comprising a set of jaws, at least one of said jaws being movable on an axis transverse to said axis of said fastener to be tightened or loosened, said jaws defining an opening ranging between fully open and fully closed positions, said movable jaw being located within a housing adjacent to and surrounding the periphery of said jaw, said housing being an integral member and said movable jaw being movable by an adjustment mechanism comprising a rotatable indexing wheel and an adjustment shaft rotatable by said indexing wheel, said adjustment shaft having at least one groove formed therein, and further comprising a follower operably connected to said jaw and allowing the opening and closing of said movable jaw as said adjustment shaft is rotated by said indexing wheel, a passageway extending perpendicular to the axis of said adjustment shaft and from an opening on the outermost surface of said movable jaw to a position adjacent said adjustment shaft, said follower being inserted into said opening and along said passageway to assume a position within said groove of said adjustment shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric and exploded view of the adjustable socket according to the invention;

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are diagrammatic isometric and assembled views of the adjustable socket according to the invention;

Figures 3A and 3B are diagrammatic side and bottom views of the adjustable socket according to the invention with the jaws in their maximum open position;

Figure 3C is a diagrammatic isometric view similar to those of Figures 3A and 3B but also illustrating a fastener shown in phantom and being grasped by the jaws of the adjustable socket;

Figures 4A and 4B are views similar to those of Figures 3A and 3B but illustrate the jaws in their minimum or smallest position;

Figure 4C is a view similar to Figure 3C but illustrate the jaws in their minimum or smallest position;

Figures 5A and 5B are diagrammatic isometric views of the adjustable socket according to the invention with the jaw adjustment indices shown on the housing and on the adjusting wheel, respectively;

Figures 6A and 6B are diagrammatic isometric views of the adjustable tool illustrating a handle integral with the tool in a further embodiment of the invention;

Figures 7A and 7B are diagrammatic side cutaway- views of the adjustable tool illustrating ball and retainer insertion from the bottom according to a further aspect of the inventions-

Figure 7C, appearing with Figures 7A and 7B, is a diagrammatic isometric view of the adjustable tool illustrating ball and retainer insertion from the bottom;

Figure 8A is a diagrammatic side cutaway view of the adjustable tool with top and bottom ball mounting within the adjustable jaws according to yet a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 8B, appearing with Figure 8A, is a diagrammatic side view of the adjustment shaft used with the adjustable tool according to Figure 8A;

Figure 8C, appearing with Figures 8A and 8B, is a diagrammatic exploded view of he adjustable tool with top and bottom ball mounting within the adjustable jaws according -to the Figure 8A embodiment: of the invention; and

Figures 9A-9D illustrate a plurality of examples of adjustable jaws which may be used within the adjustable tool according to a further aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, an adjustable tool or adjustable socket is generally illustrated at 100 in Figure 1. It comprises four principal components, namely the body or housing 101, a pair of adjustable jaws 102, an adjusting or indexing wheel 103 and an adjustment shaft 104 which is fixed to and rotates with the adjusting wheel 103.

The adjustable jaws 102 fit entirely within the housing 101 and have two radial holes 110 in their inner portion which holes 110 allow the adjustment shaft 104 to pass therethrough. Two further radial holes 111 (only one of which is illustrated in Figure 1) are provided in housing 101. These holes 111 have an axis which is coincident: with the axis of radial holes 110. Two grooves 112 are provided on adjustment shaft 104, one left hand and the other right hand. The grooves 112 have followers in the form of traveling balls 1.13 which are maintained in position within the grooves 112 by way of retaining pins 114 inserted through complementary holes 120 in each of the respective jaws 102.

The adjusting wheel 103 is mounted on the adjustment shaft 104 and is retained in position on adjustment shaft 104 by way of retaining pin 121.

Adjusting wheel 103 conveniently utilises a detent mechanism generally illustrated at 105 and which includes a plurality of recesses or indentations 122 machined around one of the circumferential faces of the adjusting wheel 103 and which further includes a ball 123, a spring 125 and a set screw 130. The recesses 122 serve as indexing positions to maintain the jaws 102 in predetermined positions as the adjusting wheel 103 is rotated. Ball 123 is located in housing 101 and is inserted through a complementary hole 124. Spring 125 is positioned outside the ball 123 for providing an inwardly directed force on ball 123 and set screw 130 maintains the ball 123 and spring 125 in position within the housing 101. Ball 123 therefore rolls on the face of the adjusting wheel 103 between the recesses 122 and, when a recess or indentation 122 is reached, the ball 123 will fall partially into the recess 122 and therefore tend to maintain the adjusting wheel 103 and adjustment shaft 104 in their selected position.

Adjusting wheel 103 may conveniently also have grooves 131 about its circumference which grooves allow for easier manual rotation by the finger or hand of a user.

The housing 101 may conveniently include graduations 132 printed thereon as seen in Figure 5A. In this event, the inside surface 133 of the jaws 102 (Figure 3B) is referenced against the graduations 132 to indicate to the user the extent of the opening of the jaws 102 such that facilitated cross reference is provided between the opening of the jaws 102 and the size of the fastener 134 (Figure 3C) intended to be tightened or loosened. Alternatively, indexing 140 can be provided on the adjusting wheel 103 to similarly indicate the opening of the jaws 102 to the user as seen in Figure 5B. Housing 101 may also conveniently provide a circumferential head 141 which includes a square cavity 154 (Figure 2B) allowing, for the entry of the square drive of a ratchet or force bar (not shown) as is known.

OPERATION

With reference to Figure 1, the assembly of the adjustable socket 100 conveniently proceeds by dropping both of the jaws 102 into the inverted housing 101 and positioning them in their open position as best seen in Figures 3A and 3B. The traveling balls 113 are then each inserted through radial holes 110 and into longitudinal holes 142 where they fall under the influence of gravity until they reach the horizontal inside surface 143 of housing 101 as best seen in Figure 3A. Adjustment shaft 104 is then inserted into radial hole 111 in housing 101 and adjusting wheel 103 is inserted through its complementary opening 144 in housing 101 and has its center hole 150 manually aligned with the adjustment shaft 104 which is pushed through the center hole 150 of adjusting wheel 103 and into the oppositely located radial hole 111 (Figure 3A) in housing 101. Retaining pin 121 is then inserted into the receiving hole 151 of the adjusting wheel 103 and is pushed through the receiving hole 152 in adjustment shaft 104.

The housing 101 and its assembled components are then again inverted back to their normal position and the balls 113 previously inserted into holes 142 will move under gravity into contact with the adjustment shaft iθ4. Adjustment shaft 104 is rotated by way of adjusting wheel 103 until the balls 113 enter the left and right hand grooves 112 respectively. The retaining pins 114 are each inserted into the jaws 102 by way of holes 120 and the balls 113 are then held in place in contact with the grooves 112 as best seen in Figure 3A.

In the event the detent mechanism 105 is incorporated in the adjustable tool 100, ball 123 is inserted into hole 124 in housing 101 and is followed by the insertion of spring 125 and set screw 130 to hold the ball 123 and spring 125 in their operating position with ball 123 being forced against the facing surface of adjusting wheel 103. When the adjusting wheel 103 is rotated, the ball 123 will enter one of the various recesses 122 which serve an indexing function for the adjusting wheel 103 and jaws 102.

In operation following assembly, the jaws 102 are then adjusted by way of manual rotation of the adjusting wheel 103 to fit, for example, a bolt 134 shown in phantom in Figure 3C. The adjustment shaft 104, due to the grooves 112 and balls 113 moving relative thereto, will allow jaw adjustment from the fully open to the fully closed positions, in less than a single revolution of the adjustment wheel 103.

When the bolt 134 is tightly grasped by the jaws 102, the adjustable tool 100 is rotated by the insertion of the square drive of a ratchet or force bar (not illustrated) into the female and complementary cavity 154 (Figure 2B) as desired to remove or to install the fastener or bolt 134. As the adjusting tool 100 is rotated under the influence of the ratchet or force bar, the flats 160 of the jaws 102 will contact with the inside surfaces 153 of the housing 101. This allows the torque acting on the jaws 102 during rotation of the fastener 134 to be transferred to the housing 101. This is useful since the integrity of the jaws 102 which are grasping the fastener 134 is maintained because of the lower forces absorbed by the jaws 102. It further allows an increased torque to be applied to the fastener 134 during fastener rotation. The use of the grooves 112 and balls 113 further allows for considerably less play between the jaws 102 as opposed to a screw with a helical flight formed around the screw.

Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. For example, the ball detent mechanism described as comprising ball 123, spring 125 and set screw 130 may be simply deleted with the adjusting wheel 103 being rotated without the various detent positions. Alternatively, the detent mechanism can remain but the recesses 122 in the face of the adjusting wheel can be deleted. This might be useful, for example, where it is desired to make a finer adjustment for closing or opening the jaws 102 than would be provided by subsequent recesses 122. The adjustment shaft 104. and its associated hardware could likewise be replaced with alternative mechanisms for moving the jaws 102, such as a wedge type mechanism with a V-groove and a wedge for a follower and it is intended that the term "adjustment shaft" cover those additional mechanisms when used in association with the housing 101. A locking mechanism for the adjusting wheel 103 could be provided to securely hold the jaws 102 in position once the desired position of the jaws 102 is obtained. Further, the insertion of the balls 113 and the retaining pins 114 could take place in the jaws 102 a different manner from that described; that is, the balls 113 could be inserted into holes drilled in the bottom of the jaws 102 rather than in the top portion as is described. And an alignment mechanism for the jaws 102 additional to the adjustment shaft 104 could be provided such as a horizontal shaft which extends through the jaws 102 in a position separate from that of the axis of holes 110. This could likewise provide improved tool integrity during operation. While the adjusting tool 100 is described in association with adjustable jaws 102 which grasp the outside of a fastener, it is apparent that the jaws 102 could instead grasp the inside of a cavity within the fastener. The jaws could then take the form, for example, of an adjustable alien wrench. Likewise, while the adjusting tool 100 is described as being separate from a ratchet or force bar 106 , the latter being illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, it is apparent it could also be a unitary tool which incorporates a ratchet or force bar 106 as illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B as part of the tool itself. While the adjusting wheel 103 is described as being manually adjusted by a user, such adjustment is contemplated to also be accomplished by way of an actuator which could rotate the adjusting wheel 103 or adjustment shaft 104 under the influence of pneumatic, electric or hydraulic power as desired by the user. This would be useful, for example, when the tool 100 is used in an automatic assembly operation where the tool 100 needs to be opened and closed more rapidly than under the normally contemplated uses of intermittent fastener removal and installation. Further, while the housing 101 is described as being a single member, it would of course be possible to make the housing 101 in two(2) or more segments which are subsequently welded or otherwise joined together and it is intended to cover these additional modifications to the housing in the term "integral member".

While it is contemplated that a pair of jaws are provided and that this pair moves simultaneously under the influence of the adjustment shaft 104 and adjusting wheel 103, it is clear that only one jaw might move while the adjustment process occurs with the remaining jaw being stationary. The stationary jaw could also be formed as part of the inside of the housing 101.

Yet a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7A through 1C. In this embodiment and whereas the balls 113 used to contact adjustment shaft 104 were added through holes 110, 142 according to the Figure 1 embodiment of the invention, the balls 115 are added to the adjustable tool 100 through the longitudinal hole 145 which extends at right angles to the axis of adjustment shaft 104. To assemble the tool 100 in this embodiment, the adjustable tool 100 is inverted with the longitudinal hole 145 extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the jaws 102. The adjustment shaft 104 is inserted through holes 111 in housing 101, holes 110 in the jaws 102 and hole 150 (Figure 1) in the indexing wheel 103. Thereafter, the balls 115, one in each jaw 102, are inserted into the holes 145 and drop into the grooves 112 in the adjustment shaft 104. Respective springs 116 are then dropped down into the holes 145 following the balls 115 and roll pins or spacers 117 of a predetermined length are inserted into the holes 145 following springs 116. Set screws 118 are inserted lastly into the holes 145 and as the threads on the set screws 118 are complementary to the threads inside hole 145, the set screws 118 are rotated until they each provide appropriate pressure on roll pins or spacers 117 and springs 116 thereby to maintain both of the balls 115 is operable and firm contact with the grooves 112 in the adjustment shaft 104. Alternatively and to assist in achieving the objective of fewer parts, the set screws 118 may be dispensed with and replaced with simple roll pins 119 which extend the length of the hole 145 from springs 116 and which provide appropriate pressure on balls 115 when they are in their final position .

Yet a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8A through 8C. In this embodiment, a pair of followers or balls 113, 115 are diametrically opposed from each other on each end of the adjustment shaft 104. In this embodiment, rather than two grooves 112 formed in the adjustment shaft 104 as in the Figures 1, 3 and 7 embodiments, there are four grooves 112, 175 formed in the adjustment shaft 104 for the balls 113, 115. This allows the balls 113, 115 to be positioned in the diametrically opposed positions on each end of the shaft 104 just described. This technique of using a pair of balls 113, 115 (Figure 8A) diametrically opposed from each other on the top and bottom of shaft 104 with respective grooves 112, 175 is valuable to prevent the pivoting of the jaws 102 around a single ball 113 as disclosed in association with the Figure 1 embodiment and single ball 115 in the Figure 7 embodiment and further proscribes excessive play between the jaws 102 which can arise over time and/or which may arise if the torque on the tool 100 is of a high value when attempting to loosen or tighten the fastener to which the tool 100 is operably connected and which is located between the jaws 102. The integrity of the opening between the jaws 102 which opening is adjusted by way of the indexing wheel 103 is thereby enhanced when the desired opening is reached and the resistance provided by the combination of the balls 113, 115 acts on the grooves 112, 175 and through adjustment shaft 104 on the jaws 102.

In this embodiment, the tool 100 is assembled by initially inserting the spring 116 and ball 115 into hole 180 either from the top of the respective jaw 102 or from the hole 110 which is adapted to receive the shaft 104. The ball 115 and its respective spring 116 will fall to the bottom of the hole 180 in jaw 102 and will not interfere with the entry of the adjustment shaft 104 into hole 110. Likewise, ball 113 is inserted into hole 180 either from the top of the jaw 102 or, again, from the radial hole 110. Ball 113 and hole 180 are designed to have a very slight interference fit so that as the assembly applies a force on ball 113 as it is inserted into hole 180, the ball 113 is lightly held in position within hole 180 and is pushed up until it poses no interference with adjustment shaft 104 as the adjustment shaft 104 is pushed through hole 110 in jaw 102 and thence through hole 111 in the sidewall of tool 100.

Thereafter, the jaws 102 are inserted into the housing 101 and indexing wheel 103 is likewise inserted into housing 101 between the jaws 102 and with it being accessible to a rotating action as has been described through slot 144 (Figure 8C) . Adjustment shaft 104 is then inserted into tool 100 through hole 111 and is pushed through the hole 110 of nearest most jaw 102, thence through hole 150 in indexing wheel 103, hole 110 in furthermost jaw 102 and finally through hole 111 in the outermost surface of housing 101 adjacent hole 110 in jaw 102.

Roll pin 171 is added above ball 113 through hole 173 in jaw 102 (Figure 8C) and roll pin 172 is added through hole 174 in jaw 102. The roll pins 171, 172 maintain the balls 113, 115 in contact with their respective grooves 112, 175 on the adjustment shaft 104 as the adjustment shaft 104 is rotated by the indexing wheel 103 when a fastener is to be grasped by the jaws 102 .

It will be appreciated that the assembly operation has been described in respect of the jaw 102 shown on the left hand side of the housing 101 as illustrated in Figure 8A but that the assembly operation is identical for the jaw 102 located on the right hand side of the housing 101 as well if, indeed, the rightwardly located jaw 102 is to be movable.

In operation, the indexing wheel 103 will be rotated to accommodate a fastener 134 (Figure 3C) to be tightened or loosened. The fastener 134 will be positioned between the jaws 102 and the indexing wheel 103 will be rotated which in turn rotates adjustment shaft 104 and moves jaws 102. When the fastener is firmly grasped by the jaws 102, torque is applied to the tool 100 by way of a force bar or ratchet mechanism (not shown) . The jaws 102, being in firm contact with the fastener, will rotate the fastener as the user desires either to tighten or loosen the fastener 134. It will be appreciated that the pivot action of the jaws 102 about the adjustment shaft 104 is reduced significantly because of the force distribution action between the jaws 102, the balls 113, 115, the adjustment shaft 104 and the outside of the housing 101 of the tool 100.

Referring now to Figures 9A through 9D, a plurality of different shapes are contemplated for the jaws 102 which jaws 102 may be desired for the specific application with which the tool 100 is intended to be used. The jaws 102 in Figure 9A can be used, for example, with a standard shaped bolt or nut such as fastener 134 (Figure 3C) where the two bearing surfaces of each of the jaws 102 contact the fastener 134. The jaws 102 in Figure 9C can be used to more firmly grasp a fastener 134 or a nut which is worn and the jaws 102 of Figure 9D can be used to grasp a circular fastener or a shaft. The jaws 102 of Figure 9B may usefully accommodate fasteners of another specific design. In addition and although not illustrated, it is contemplated that a rubber or otherwise flexible insert may be utilised as a liner for the jaws 102 or may indeed even replace the jaws 102 if such inserts are contemplated to be useful for a specific application to tighten or loosen a fastener or simply to grasp a member. In the latter operation and while the tool 100 has been specifically described as being for use in association with the tightening or loosening of fasteners, it is also intended that the grasping and rotation of various other members is intended to fall within the language of "tightening and loosening" as there may be applications wherein a specific member is desired to be grasped and rotated without necessarily tightening and loosening such a member.

While the use of springs 116 in both the Figure 7 and Figure 8 embodiments have been described, it is contemplated that these springs 116 may not need to be used and that the use of the roll pins 172 or spacers 117 (Figure 7A) may be sufficient to maintain the balls 115 in contact with their respective grooves 175 assuming the positions of the roll pins 172 and spacers 117 are appropriately adjusted to maintain the balls 115 in contact with their respective grooves 112.

Likewise, although the assembly operation and indeed, the operating configuration has generally been described as incorporating a pair of movable jaws 102, it will be appreciated that one of the jaws 102 could be fixed or, indeed, be a single member with housing 101 and that only one jaw 102 would move. In this embodiment, the torque applied to the fastener would not necessarily act through the axis of the fastener so that the torque would be somewhat unbalanced. Nevertheless, the advantages of the tool 100 would generally remain and would still have substantial utility to remove the fasteners or nuts in association with which the tool is intended to be used.

It is further contemplated that the term "fasteners" is intended to cover screws, bolts, nuts, nails or virtually any item which is used to secure two members or which item is intended to be grasped and rotated.

Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the specific embodiments described herein should be taken as illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting its scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.