摘要 |
A wrench has a pair of jaws that are disposed on a handle and spaced to define an opening for a workpiece. A first one of the jaws defines a stationary workpiece engaging surface adjacent the opening, and a plate defining a second workpiece engaging surface adjacent the opening is movably mounted to a second one of the jaws to allow selective movement of the plate relative to the stationary workpiece engaging surface between: a) a first state in which the plate is immobile with respect to the first jaw so that rotation of the handle in a first direction causes the plate and the first jaw to grasp the workpiece between the respective engaging surfaces and turn the workpiece in a first direction, and b) a second state in which the plate is movable with respect to the first jaw so that rotation of the handle in a second, opposite direction causes the plate to move in multiple directions with respect to the first jaw to enable the respective engaging surfaces to slide over the workpiece, thereby allowing the workpiece to remain stationary. Thus, the wrench tightens (or loosens) the workpiece when rotated in the first direction, and slips over the workpiece in a "ratcheting" manner when rotated in the second, opposite direction.
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