Articulating wrench assembly

Abstract

There is provided an articulating tool assembly for performing a mechanical task in a confined area, e.g., applying the torque to install or remove nuts threaded onto machine bolts or other hooks in confined or recessed areas. The articulating tool assembly has an elongated body portion having a handle section and a yoke section, a head portion including a head section and a head retaining section, and an actuation member defining an axle shaft with two spaced apart sprockets. The actuation member is provided for effectuating incremental articulating movements of the wrench head portion with respect to the elongated wrench body portion.

1 . An articulation assembly, comprising: 
 a first body portion including: 
 a first yoke arm extending therefrom; and  
 a second yoke arm extending therefrom, the second yoke arm being spaced a distance from the first yoke arm, wherein each yoke arm includes an engagement area;  
   a second body portion including: 
 a first knuckle positionable between the first and second yoke arms; and  
 a second knuckle positionable adjacent one of the first and second yoke arms, wherein each knuckle includes an engagement area; and  
   an actuation member movably supported by the yoke arms and the knuckles, the actuation member including: 
 a first locking member for selectively engaging the engagement area of the first yoke arm and the engagement area of the first knuckle; and  
 a second locking member for selectively engaging the engagement area of the second yoke arm and the engagement area of the second knuckle,  
   wherein the second body portion is rotatably supported about the actuation member to facilitate articulation of the second body portion in relation to the first body portion, and    wherein the actuation member is movable between the yoke arms from: 
 an engaged position in which the first locking member is engaged with the engagement areas of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle, and the second locking member is engaged with the engagement areas of the second yoke arm and the second knuckle to prevent articulation of the second body portion in relation to the first body portion, and  
 a non-engaged position in which the first locking member is at least disengaged from one of the engagement area of the first yoke arm and the engagement area of the first knuckle, and the second locking member is at least disengaged from one of the engagement area of the second yoke arm and the engagement area of the second knuckle to permit articulation of the second body portion in relation to the first body portion.  
   
   
   
       2 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement area of each yoke arm and of each knuckle is at least one of elliptical, triangular, polygonal, rectangular, and toothed.  
   
   
       3 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking members are shaped to complement the corresponding engagement areas of each yoke arm and each knuckle.  
   
   
       4 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulation member is at least one of tapered and stepped along a length thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second locking members includes at least one flattened surface for engaging a complementary surface of each yoke arm and each knuckle.  
   
   
       6 . An articulation assembly, comprising: 
 a first body portion having a yoke section extending therefrom, the yoke section including a first and a second yoke arm, wherein each yoke arm includes an engagement area;    a second body portion having at least one knuckle extending therefrom, wherein the at least one knuckle includes an engagement area, and wherein the at least one knuckle is positionable between the first and second yoke arms; and    an articulation member movably supported by the first and second yoke arms and the at least one knuckle, the articulation member including a first locking member for engaging the engagement area of the first yoke arm and the at least one knuckle, a second locking member for engaging the engagement area of the second yoke arm and the at least one knuckle,    wherein the second body portion is rotatably supported about the actuation member to facilitate articulation of the second body portion in relation to the first body portion, and    wherein the articulation member is movable between the yoke arms from an engaged position in which the first locking member is engaged with the engagement area of the first yoke arm and the engagement area of the at least one knuckle, and a non-engaged position in which the first locking member is at least disengaged from the engagement area of the at least one knuckle to permit articulation of the second body portion in relation to the first body portion.    
   
   
       7 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the engagement area of each yoke arm and of each knuckle is at least one of elliptical, triangular, polygonal, rectangular and toothed.  
   
   
       8 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second locking members are shaped to complement the corresponding engagement areas of each yoke arm and each knuckle.  
   
   
       9 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the articulation member is at least one of tapered and stepped along a length thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first and second locking members includes at least one flattened surface for engaging a complementary surface of each yoke arm and each knuckle.  
   
   
       11 . An articulation assembly, comprising: 
 a first body portion including: 
 a first yoke arm; and  
 a second yoke arm, the second yoke arm being spaced a distance from the first yoke arm, wherein each yoke arm includes an engagement area;  
   a second body portion operatively engagable with the first body portion, the second body portion including: 
 a first knuckle positionable adjacent the first or the second yoke arm; and  
 a second knuckle positionable adjacent the first or the second yoke arm, wherein each knuckle includes an engagement area; and  
   an actuation member movably supported by the first and second yoke arms and the first and second knuckles, the actuation member including: 
 a first locking member for selectively engaging the engagement areas of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle, or the engagement areas of the second yoke arm and the second knuckle; and  
 a second locking member for selectively engaging the other of the engagement areas of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle, or the engagement areas of the second yoke arm and the second knuckle,  
   wherein at least one of the first and second body portions is rotatably supported about the actuation member to articulate the second body portion and the first body portion relative to one another, and    wherein the actuation member is movable along the first and second yoke arms from: 
 an engaged position, wherein the first locking member is engaged with the engagement areas of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle or the second yoke arm and the second knuckle, and the second locking member is engaged with the engagement areas of the other of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle or the second yoke arm and the second knuckle, to prevent articulation of the second body portion and the first body portion relative to one another; and  
 a non-engaged position, wherein the first locking member is disengaged from at least one of the engagement areas of the first yoke arm and the first knuckle or at least one of the engagement areas of the second yoke arm and the second knuckle, and the second locking member is disengaged from the other of the at least one of the engagement areas of the second yoke arm and the second knuckle to permit articulation of the second body portion and the first body portion relative to one another.  
   
   
   
       12 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the engagement area of each yoke arm and of each knuckle is at least one of elliptical, triangular, polygonal, rectangular and toothed.  
   
   
       13 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second locking members are shaped to complement the corresponding engagement areas of each yoke arm and each knuckle.  
   
   
       14 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the articulation member is at least one of tapered and stepped along a length thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The articulation assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second locking members includes at least one flattened surface for engaging a complementary surface of each yoke arm and each knuckle.