US3799011A

US3799011A - Lug wrench

Info

Publication number: US3799011A
Application number: US00285312A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-31
Filing date: 1972-08-31
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26

Abstract

This invention relates generally to lug wrenches that are commonly used to remove the nuts or lug bolts that secure an automobile wheel to the break drum and more particularly to a lug wrench of the impact type that will enable the user to easily remove in seconds the most rusted and impacted on nut and one which otherwise would be impossible to remove using conventional automobile supplied apparatus.

Description

United States Patent [191 Davis, Jr.

[451 Mar. 26, 1974 LUG WRENCH [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 285,312

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1918 Lawrence 81/177BX l/l969 Van Nostrand 8l/52.3

2,744,431 5/1956 Scime 8l/52.3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 177,973 4/1922 Great Britain 81/185 Primary Examiner.lames L. Jones, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates generally to lug wrenches that are commonly used to remove the nuts or lug bolts that secure an automobile wheel to the break drum and more particularly to a lug wrench of the impact type that will enable the user to easily remove in seconds the most rusted and impacted on nut and one which otherwise would be impossible to remove using conventional automobile supplied apparatus.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LUG WRENCH It is a common experience upon having a flat tire to be unable to mount the spare because of the inability to remove the wheel securing nuts. This condition is becoming more common with the increasing use, by service stations and garages, of the power driven impact wrench. Such wrenches, if improperly adjusted or applied too long to the wheel securing nuts, so tighten these nuts that removal with conventional apparatus is impossible.

A recent police report in a travel journal indicated that at least half the cars stranded by the side of the road with flat tires were there because of the inability of the driver to remove the damaged wheel. It is for this reason that the police in several states are required to carry an extended pull bar and socket to assist these drivers stranded because of the tightness of the wheel securing nuts.

While this tool was designed primarily for removing rusted or impacted on wheel securing nuts, it may also be used to so impact on a nut as to prevent its removal except by using this tool or a power driven impact wrench and in this manner prevent wheels being stolen by thieves equipped only with conventional lug wrenches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple wrench of the impact type that will enable a woman or even a child of ten to take off the most rusted and impacted on wheel securing nut or lug bolt with relative ease. In fact there is no way a power driven impact wrench can tighten a wheel securing nut that cannot be easily removed with this tool in a matter of sec onds.

A further object is to provide a manual impact wrench particularly adaptable for removing automobile wheel securing nuts quickly and easily regardless of the degree of rust or tightness of the nut.

A further object is to provide a simple lug wrench of the manual impact type that by removing or inserting one or more sleeve-like hexagonal bushings within the socket of the tool, the tool is adaptable to fit varying sizes of nut or lug bolt heads.

A still further object is to provide a simple tool of the character described that is cheap to manufacture, rugged in construction, yet highly reliable in operation and which may be more readily understood by referring now to the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view in elevation of the tool of the invention.

FIG. 2, is a fragmentary end view in elevation of the socket end portion of the tool.

FIG. 3, is a fragmentary plan view in elevation of the enlarged impact surfaces provided upon the impact arms.

FIG. 4, is a view in elevation of the socket portion of the tool and showing the arrangement and securement of a hexagonal insert within the tool socket enabling its use for a different size nut.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the invention is shown as including a hexagonal socket portion 2 of a size suitable for being received over an automobile wheel securing nut such as those that secure the wheel to the break drum ofthe car. Axially, extending from the closed end of the socket is a relatively short handle portion 3 preferably over which is sleaved and cemented thereto a ribbed, fluted or knarled rubber or plastic gripping member 4.

Extending obliquely backwards from the socket end of the tool and preferably at an angle of from 15 to from the handle axis are what here will be called impact arms 5, the ends of which are so formed as to include somewhat enlarged portions 6 which provide the im pact surfaces of the tool. These arms radiate from the socket head of the tool in such a manner that when a blow is applied to these impact surfaces 6 the force of the impact is carried along the arm to the socket with very little effect being felt at the handle portion 4 of the tool.

The design of the tool is such that the socket end portion of the tool is maintained as small and compact as practical for allowing the tool to work freely within the confines of an automobile rim and thereby leaving the arms 5 free to extend obliquely outward and readily accessible for being struck with a hammer or like tool for impacting off the rim securing nuts. When using this tool, a light tapping with a hammer upon the impact surfaces 6 will loosen the most rusted and impacted on rim securing nut. After loosening of the nut, the nut may then be spun off by rotating the handle portion 4 of the tool.

While the tool is shown as having two impact arms extending from the socket end of the tool, it is understood that one or even three or more arms will suffice. Further, while the arms 5 are shown as radiating backwards from the socket head proper, the tool will work with the arms secured to the handle. Preferably just back of the socket.

FIG. 4 shows a variation of the invention wherein a hexogonal insert 7 is shown as sleeved into the socket portion 2 of the tool and secured as by the set screw 8. This arrangement enables the user to adapt the tool to the size of the wheel securing nuts as lug bolts of his particular car. Generally, all passenger car wheels are secured with nuts that are either 3/4 or l3/ l in size.

While the tool as shown is on working concept of the invention, it is understood that various modifications and variations in its configeration may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the device as herein shown.

I claim:

I. An impact assist lug wrench for removing the nuts securing an automobile wheel to the break drum including a socket portion for being received over the nut to be loosened, a handle portion the axis thereof extending axially from the closed end of said socket, said handle portion including a frictional gripping surface upon the opposite end of said handle from said socket, one or more arms affixed to and extending from the body of said socket in the direction of said handle at an angle of from 15 to 80 from said handle axis and to which an impact may be applied to assist rotation of said handle and socket.

2. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein enlarged impact surfaces are provided upon the free end of said arms.

3. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hand gripping surface is provided upon the end portion of said handle opposite said socket.

4. A lug wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein a removable hexagonal insert within the socket end portion of the tool adapts the tool for differing size nuts.

Claims

1. An impact assist lug wrench for removing the nuts securing an automobile wheel to the break drum including a socket portion for being received over the nut to be loosened, a handle portion the axis thereof extending axially from the closed end of said socket, said handle portion including a frictional gripping surface upon the opposite end of said handle from said socket, one or more arms affixed to and extending from the body of said socket in the direction of said handle at an angle of from 15* to 80* from said handle axis and to which an impact may be applied to assist rotation of said handle and socket.