US3928877A

US3928877A - Lug nut wrench tool

Info

Publication number: US3928877A
Application number: US543475*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert L Tregoning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-01-10
Filing date: 1975-01-23
Publication date: 1975-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-30

Abstract

A lug nut wrench which consists of a bar having a lug-nut engaging socket at one end has a lateral projection with a chisel-shaped end adapted for the removal of hub caps. The bar has an extension beyond such lateral projection, for grasping by the hand to hold the nut firmly on the lug while the tool is being turned by means of the extension.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Tregoning Dec. 30, 1975 [5 LUG NUT WRENCH TOOL D158,629 5/1950 Weynand 29/245 X [76] Inventor: Robert L. Tregoning, 920 North FOREIGN PATENTS 0 ATI N Market Fredenck 21701 1,084,267 7/1954 France 81/177 B 22] i Jam 23 1975 582,192 8/1933 Germany..- 81/121 R [21] Appl' 543475 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Related US. Application Data Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker [62] Division of Ser. No. 322,387, Jan. 10, 1973, Pat. No.

3,872,521 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. 01.. 7 1 G; 29 245; 81 /177 B A lug nut Wrench which consists of a bar having 9 [51] Int. Cl. B25F 1/00 nnt engaging Socket at one end has a lateral Projection 58 Field of Search 7/1 G; 29/245; 81/177 B, with a chisel-Shaped end adapted for the removal of g 17 R, 2 R hub caps The bar has an extension beyond such lateral projection, for grasping by the hand to hold the [56] Ref Cited nut firmly on the lug while the tool is being turned by UNITED STATES PATENTS means of the extension.

476,465 6/1892 Jordan 7/1 G 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 3,928,877

FIG. 1

FIG. 2

we NUT WRENCH Tool. This is a division of application Ser. No. 322,387, filed Jan. 10, 1973, and now US. Pat. No. 3,872,527.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to tools for turning lug-nuts and removing hub caps.

2. The Prior Art Tools of this nature are well known in the art, being commonly a bar portion having a lug-nut engaging socket in one end, and having the other part bent away so as to form a handle for use in turning the socket.

Anyone whohas changed a tire using such a tool is aware that it is difficult to keept the socket from slipping off the lug-nut, particularly if the lug-nuts have been put on by a power tool which makes them extremely tight. Under these circumstances, it is not uncommon for the user of the tool to have the socket slip off the lug-nut, whereupon the pressure being applied and the sudden release may cause thehands to strike parts of the wheel or fender, causing skinned knuckles and other discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a tool of this type for removing lug-nuts in which the danger of having the lug-nut socket slip off the nut is almost eliminated.

According to the invention, the bar which carries the socket at one end is extended outwardly beyond the point at which the offset leverage portion leaves the bar, so that it can be grasped by the hand with the result that the socket can be kept on the nut even when very considerable pressure is being applied to the laterally extending leverage part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows one form of the tool according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a modified form thereof.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, there is a bar 2 having at one end a lug-nut engaging socket 4. A leverage and hub cap removal portion 6 extends angularly and laterally from the bar 2 at the point 8 and terminates in a chisel-shaped edge '10 for removing lug-nuts. This is a standard structure. However, according to the invention, the bar 2 has an upward extension 12 beyond the point 8 sufficiently long (4 to 6 inches, for example) to be at least substantially as wide as the ordinary hand, so as to permit it to be grasped by the hand of the user, for holding the socket 4 on the lug-nut while pressure is applied to the extension 6.

The arrangement in FIG. 2 differs only in that instead of the straight angular lateral extension 6, there is an extension 14 perpendicular to the bar 2 and then an upward extension 16 forming a leverage portion.

While I have described herein two forms of the invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto and hereinafter appended.

I claim:

1. An automotive tool comprising a straight bar having at one end a socket for a lug-nut and having at an intermediate point along its length an outwardly directed first member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the bar and a second member extending from the end of said first member remote from the bar parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar in a direction away from the socket and terminating at a distance from a plane through said socket perpendicular to the axis of the bar greater than the distance from said plane to the end of said bar remote from the socket, said second member having a wedge-shaped end for removal of the hub cap, said bar extending on the opposite side of said point from said socket by a distance at least substantially as great as the width of the normal human hand.