US2844060A

US2844060A - Metal bending pry tool

Info

Publication number: US2844060A
Application number: US620048A
Authority: US
Inventors: William K Hagerty; Charles L Hagerty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-02
Filing date: 1956-11-02
Publication date: 1958-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-22

Description

y 8 w, K. HAGERTY ETAL 5 METAL BENDING PRY TOOL File d Nov. 2, 1956 IN V EN TORS 8 M W H H K .m

MW H mmm A Mm METAL BENDING PRY TOOL William K. Hagerty, Alhambra, and Charles L. Hagerty,

' El Monte, Calif.

Application November 2, 1956, Serial No. 620,048

7 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) The invention relates to tools used by mechanics in v United States Patent automobile body repair shops for straightening out body metal and more particularly to an elongated bar type of tool known as a pry tool.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of the character described with which the user may with ease and facility and while working in a comfortable position, apply to the dented portion of the body to be straightened, and in a most'precise manner, a graduated and full range of prying force as may be required to restore the original shape of the metal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of the character above which is so designed and functions as to be eifective in very tight and confined working spaces, therebysubstantially extending the useful application of a tool of this character to the straightening out of automobile body metal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of the character described which is particularly adapted for production in sets using different sizes of pry bars and with a desired interchangeability and coordinated use of the several parts, resulting in an economical set of tools having a wide range'of use.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a pry tool of the character described which 'is composed of a minimum number of simply yet sturdily formed parts designed to withstand the rugged use to which they are put over a long and useful life.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a pry bar forming of the set of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a completev pry constructed in accordance with the present invention but part , showing a different size pry bar forming part of the set.

a coordinated combination of a pair of pry bars forming the set. and withone of such bars shown in position of use within a sectionvof an automobile body.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pry tool taken substantially onthe plane of line 66 of Figure 4 but {withthepry bar deleted and with a lever extension bar inserted,

The prytool of the present invention and as best illustool v trated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawing consists, briefly, of an elongated bar 11 having a prying end 12 and an opposite handle end 13 adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning of the prying end 12 in juxtaposition to a dented portion 14 of an automobile body 15 to be straightened, a hand lever 16 mounted for longitudinal reciprocation on the bar 11 to and from the handle end 13 and projecting laterally from the bar for engagement in and by the other hand of the user so as to alford a coordinated leveraging of the prying end 12 against the dented portion 14; and means 18 for detachably fastening the hand lever in selected longitudinal position on the bar 11.

In order to afford an improved leveraging of the end 12 against the dented portion, the end 12 is preferably formed in a lateral offset or curved, as here shown, from the length of the elongated bar 11. Also to provide a most precise working of the body metal, the prying end 12 is preferably pointed at its tip 21. Desirably also the length of the pry bar 11 is tapered in cross-section, which tapering cooperates with the curvature selected at the end 12 to permit the sliding of the hand lever 16 over and around the tip onto and from the bar.

In order to best secure the hand lever 16 to the bar against relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bar, so that the lever may be effective in applying rotary torque to the bar, the bar and lever are preferably formed with a sliding polygonal interfit, which has the further important advantage of permitting selectable circumferential positioning of the lever on the bar with respect to the lateral direction of offset of the prying end 12. This feature is most important in enabling the tool to be used in certain confined spaces and is here accomplished by forming the bar 11 of polygonal (here square) cross-section, as seen in Figure 4, and by the provision in the base end 23 of the lever 16 of a transverse opening 24 conforming in shape to the cross-section of the bar. Thus the opening 24 is formed with polygonal internal walls which are placed in wall-to-wall sliding engagement with the polygonal external walls of the bar 11 so as to positively prevent relative rotation.

A set screw 25 threaded through the lever end 23 and bearing against the bar 11, and preferably formed with a finger-engaging head 26 here provides the means 18 for detachably fastening the lever in its selected longitudinal position on the bar. The set screw may be advanced or retracted to grip the tapering cross-section of the bar 11 when the lever handle 16 is set at different points along the length of the bar. It will also be noted, with reference to Figure 2, that the length of the opening 24 is related to the curvature of the prying end 12 and the reduction in cross-section of the bar 11 so as to enable the lever 16 to be slid off from the bar at its tip 21 or reinserted into the bar by threading the tip 21 through the opening'24. 1

As a further important feature of the present invention, the hand lever 16 is formed with a socket 27 opening to the outer end 28 of the lever for receipt of a lever extension such as another pry bar which may, similar to the handle 16, be engageable by one handof the user so as to afford, with the bar end 13, a coordinated leveraging of the prying end 12 against the dented portion, the extension 11c aflording the operator greatly increased mechanical advantage and also the opportunity in many instances of working the 'dented portion from a more comfortable position.

The pry tool is preferably furnished in a set of three lengths of pry bars 11a (see Figure 1), 11b (see Figures 2, 3 and 5), and 110 (see Figure 5). These are desirably of essentially similar shape and having the same cross-sectional size over the majority of their length so as to enable the use of a single lever 16 with any of them and so as to enable the use of any of the bars as a lever extension insertable in the lever socket 27. This interchangeability and coordinated use of parts results in a most economical set of tools having a maximum range of application.

In keeping with the foregoing coordinated use of the several parts, the socket 27 is preferably formed of a tapered curved cross-section, 'as best seen in Figures 4 and 6, so as to conform generally with the typical shape of the prying end 12 of each of the pry bars. This curved interfit between the socket and the pry bar end 12, as seen in Figure 6, disposes the length of the pry bar at a proper and convenient angle as seen in Figure 5, and also prevents rotation of the pry bar extension lie in the socket 27. Since very large mechanical advantage is attained with the use of the lever extension 11c, care must be exercised to prevent the breaking of the extension 110 in use when large forces are applied to its outer end. As an important feature of the present construction the interfit between the socket 27 and bar end 12 permits a limited resilient flexing of the end 12 within the socket when the lever extension is put under load so as to better distribute the strain over the inserted end 12 of the bar. With reference to Figure 6 it will be seen that the inside curved face 33 conforms closely to the juxtaposed curved face 34 of the socket 27. At its opposite outer curved side 36, the bar 110 recedes away from the opposed curved side 37 of the socket towards the outer end 28 of the lever, leaving clearance for flexing of the bar lie when under load. Preferably the inner end of the bar 110 and the inner end of the socket 27 fit rather closely, as illustrated, to provide a firm engagement yet loose enough to permit easy insertion and withdrawal of the bar. Accordingly, as bar 110 is placed under load, the inserted end 12 is permitted to resiliently flex, placing the outer curved side 36 of the bar end into progressive faceto-face contact with the inside face 37 on the sockeso as to fully distribute the load over the full length of the inserted end. By means of this arrangement, breakage of the bar ends 12 while used as a lever extension is substantially completely eliminated.

In one of the important uses of the tool, the pry bar 11 is rotated about its longitudinal axis by force applied to the lever 16 or lever extension so as to swing the pointed end 12 against the portion of the car body to be straightened. In such use the handle end 13 is socketed firmly in one hand of the user for precise holding and positioning of the bar 11 but permitting its rotation about its longitudinal axis. To facilitate this holding and improve the usefulness and effectiveness of the tool, we preferably provide the end 13 with a ball shape, here provided by a ball handle 29 attached to the end 13 and which may be conveniently cupped in the palm of the hand of the user for firm grasping of the ball while journalling the bar for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The selectable positioning of the hand lever 16 along the length of the bar enables the use of the tool as a measuring device, particularly usable where the operator must Work blind in reaching a dented portion, in enabling the operator to first measure the distance of the dented portion from a convenient edge of the body metal. Thus the operator may place the lever 16 at an edge of the body and while working at the exterior of the body, slide the bar through the lever opening 24 until the point 12 is at the dented portion to be straightened. The set screw 25 is tightened to set the measurement and the operator may then extend the tool around the underor back-side of thebody metal until the lever 16 is positioned at the-indexing edge of the body, when the tip 21 will be precisely'located at the dent to be straightened. A most effective use of the tool involving this kind of operation and also one not normally feasible with pry tools, is in straightening out a dent in a door panel, as depicted in Figure 5.- In such case an opening 31 may be made in the bottom 32 of the door panel so as to permit the insertion of the bar 11 up through the hollow interior of the panel to position the prying tip 21 at the dent 14. In effecting this insertion the plane of the curvature of the prying tip may be set parallel to the plane of the door panel, and the lever 16 positioned on the bar so as to extend away from the face of the door panel for convenient manual engagement. The two handles 16 and 29 afford a coordinated rotary and leveraging action which may be applied by the user while in a comfortable position viewing the exterior surface of the door panel to thus permit a most precise working out of the dented portion. After prying out the dented portion and removal of the tool, the small opening 31 made in the door panel may be sealed by leading or other means well known in the art.

We claim:

1. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a prying end and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning of said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and projecting laterally from said bar for engagement in and by the other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said prying end against said dented portion, and means for detachably fastening said hand lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

2. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a curved pointed end and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning of said curved pointed end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and projecting laterally from said bar for engagement in and by the other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said curved pointed end against said dented portion, and means for detachably fastening said hand lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

3. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally offset prying end and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and projecting laterally from said bar for engagement in and by the other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said prying end against said dented portion, said bar and lever being formed with a slidable polygonal interfit permitting selectable longitudinal positioning of said lever on said bar in respect to the lateral direction of olfset of said prying end, and means for detachably fastening said lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

4. A pry tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said laterally offset prying end is curved from the length of said bar and tapered in cross-section to a pointed tip, the curvature of said end and reduced cross-section cooperating to permit slidable movement of said hand lever over and around said tip onto and from said bar.

5. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a prying end and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and having a length projecting laterally from said bar and formed with a lengthwise extending socket opening to the 'outer end of said lever for receipt of a lever extension engageable by the other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging. of said prying end against said dented portion, and means for detachably fastening said lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar.

6. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally offset prying end curved from the length of said bar and tapered in cross-section to a pointed tip and an opposite handle end having a ball shape adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion and for journaling said bar for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a hand lever slidably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and having a length projecting laterally from said bar and formed With a lengthwise extending socket opening to the outer end of said lever for receipt of a lever extension engageable by the other hand of the user so as to afford a coordinated leveraging of said prying end against said dented portion, said bar and lever being formed with a slidable polygonal interfit permitting selectable longitudinal positioning of said lever on said bar in respect to the lateral direction of oflfset of said prying end, and means for detachably fastening said lever in selected longitudinal positions on said bar, the curvature of said oflset end and the reduction in crosssection thereof cooperating to permit sliding movement of said lever over and around said tip onto and from said bar.

7. A pry tool for smoothing out dented portions of an automobile body and the like comprising, an elongated bar having a laterally ofiset prying end curved from the 6 length of said bar and tapered in cross-section to a pointed tip and an opposite handle end adapted for engagement in one hand of the user for positioning said prying end in juxtaposition to said dented portion, a hand lever slidv ably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said bar to and from said handle end and having a length projecting laterally from said bar and formed with a lengthwise extending socket opening to the outer end of said lever, a second elongated bar formed similarly to said first elongated bar to provide interchangeability therewith and for insertion of its tapered curved end into said socket, said socket being formed to provide a curved interfit with said inserted end having suificient clearance from a Wall of said socket to permit the resilient flexing of said inserted end under load, so as to place said Wall in face-to-face contact with the inserted end and distribute said load thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,485,487 Ferguson Oct. 18, 1949 2,485,489 Ferguson Oct. 18, 1949 2,485,490 Ferguson Oct. 18, 1949 2,600,723 Back June 17, 1952 2,756,621 Jones July 31, 1956 2,768,544 Back Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,190 Canada July 29, 1952