My invention relates to wrenches, and particularly to monkey wrenches, and has for its object to provide a new quick-acting monkey wrench for use on all types of machinery.

A further object is to provide a wrench which will be strong, quick-acting, easily adjusted and easily handled.

A still further object is to provide a wrench which will be very economical to build and will be light in weight, economizing in materials when building it.

These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views and as described in the specification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which I have shown the best and most preferred manner of building my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench. Figure 2 is a view of one-half of the head or jaw of the wrench. Figure 3 is a view of the other half of the head. Figure 4 is a side view of the handle of the wrench. Figure 5 is a plan view of the sliding nut. Figure 6 is a view of the bar of metal used to make the threaded portion of the wrench. Figure 7 is an end view of the same.

In the drawings I have shown the handle A of the wrench as made up of a bar of metal bent or stamped to form a U-shaped handle, with notches 1 cut along one inner side of one leg of the said handle. The head B of the wrench and the sliding jaw C are made by stamping, from sheet metal, halves 3 and 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The said halves of metal are provided with semi-circular holes 5, 6 and 7, so that when two halves are placed face to face the holes pass therethrough from top to bottom. Both the head and the jaw are made alike and when the halves 3 and 4 are placed together the two pieces are welded together by electric welding or other similar processes, and the handle portion A is then secured in the head, with both legs passing through the holes 5 and 7 of the jaw C. The holes 5 and 7 of the jaw C are slightly larger than the diameter of the legs of the handle portion A and a tap is then run through the central hole 6, forming threads therein. The threaded or screw portion D of the wrench is made by taking a bar of metal 8, having a flat portion 9 formed on one end thereof, and cutting threads 10 in the said bar 8 to fit the threads 6^a formed in the hole 6 of the jaw C. The flat portion 9 is then twisted to form a quick-acting screw thread 9^a. A sliding nut F is then provided, having a hole 16 medially therethrough threaded to fit the threads of the screw 9^a and with two spaced apart holes 11 and 12 bored therethrough of slightly larger diameter than the legs of the handle portion A on which the nut operates when the wrench is assembled. A spring 13 is then secured to one side of the said nut F, which spring has a bend therein at right angles to the main body thereof and with a hole 14 bored therethrough larger than the diameter of the leg of the handle, with one side of the said hole having a portion as a cord of a circle left therein to engage with the notches 1 of the said handle so that when the spring is released it will hold the nut F from sliding in either direction on the handle.

To assemble my wrench the lower end of the portion D is tapered and is inserted in a hole bored in the inner face of the lower or U-shaped portion of the handle, the sliding nut F is placed on the screw portion 9^a with the holes 11 and 12 over the legs of the handle and with the spring 13 adapted to engage with the notches 1 of one leg of the handle. The jaw C is then placed on the legs of the handle with the holes 5 and 7 over the said legs and with the threads of the hole 6 engaging with the threads 10 of the screw portion D. The head B of the wrench is then placed over the ends of the legs of the handle and welded thereto, and a plug of metal is placed in the top of the hole 6 above the end of the screw portion D, which is fitted therein. With the head and the jaw welded together and the head welded onto the handle, the wrench is ready for use.

The operation of my wrench is as follows:

When it is desired to engage a bolt head or a nut the head of the wrench is placed over the nut and the sliding nut F moved until the jaw C is in engagement with the other side of the nut. The spring 1³ is then engaged with the notches 1 and the nut may be turned in either direction without the wrench becoming loosened or coming off from the nut. To disengage the wrench the finger of the operator is pressed against the spring 13, disengaging it from the notch, and the sliding nut F may then be moved, releasing the wrench by moving the jaw C away from the nut.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim :—

1. In a wrench of the class described, the combination of a handle portion formed by bending a metal bar in a U-shape, with notches formed on the inner side on one of said legs of said handle; a head secured on the free ends of the legs of said handle forming one jaw of the wrench; a jaw slidable on said handle, having holes therethrough adapted to slide on said legs, and with a central threaded hole therethrough; a threaded screw portion carried between said head and the bend in said handle, having the top portion thereof with a slow thread cut therein, on which said jaw is carried, and the lower end of said portion formed into a twisted screw; a sliding nut carried on said handle, with a threaded hole therethrough adapted to rotate the screw portion of said screw when it is moved up and down said handle; and a spring secured to said nut having a hole therethrough, through which one leg of said handle is passed, said spring adapted to engage with the notches on the leg of said handle to prevent said nut and coacting parts from moving.

2. In a wrench of the class described the combination of a handle portion formed by bending a metal bar in a U-shape, with notches formed on the inner side of one of said legs; a head secured on the free ends of said legs forming one jaw of the wrench; a jaw slidable on said handle having holes therethrough adapted to slide on said legs, and with a threaded hole centrally therethrough; a double threaded screw portion carried between said head and the bend in said handle with the top thread, a slow thread and the lower thread in the form of a twisted screw; a sliding nut carried on said handle having a hole therethrough adapted to rotate said screw portion when the nut is moved on said handle; and a spring secured on said nut with one end portion adapted to engage in said notches in the handle to prevent the nut from moving except when said spring is disengaged.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

Edwin J. Evans.