Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
  • B66F15/00—Crowbars or levers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K37/00—Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass
  • B23K37/04—Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
  • B23K37/0408—Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work for planar work
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B11/00—Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders
  • B25B11/002—Magnetic work holders
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/53796—Puller or pusher means, contained force multiplying operator
  • Y10T29/53896—Puller or pusher means, contained force multiplying operator having lever operator
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/53909—Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/53983—Work-supported apparatus

Definitions

• the present invention is a tool for releasably attaching to sheets of material and applying a prying or pushing force
• a lap- joint is where the ends of metal sheets overlap each other. Then the edge of each sheet is welded to the face of the other sheet
• a butt-joint is where the two sheets are aligned edge-to-edge. Once the edges are properly aligned, they are welded together. Both of these methods of joining metal sheets require the edge of one sheet to align with the face or edge of the other sheet.
• the sheets of materials typically do not align properly with each other. Variations in the constiuction and properties of the sheets to be joined often keep the edge of one sheet from closely following the face or edge of the other sheet. Those variations can result in the edge of one sheet being too far from the face or edge of the other sheet for the two to be properly joined. Thus, the areas for the lap-joint or butt-joint must be brought into closer alignment before joining can be carried out.
• This method for joining metal sheets has several drav/backs. For example, it is time consuming. It can take workers several hours to complete the process of welding blank nuts into place, installing the key-plate and bull pins, aligning the sheets, welding the sheets, and removing the bull pins, the key-plate, and blank nuts.
• An additional limitation of the above method is that it can damage the surface of the metal sheets that are joined, This occurs because the blank nuts must be welded into place and then removed by cutting. This leaves portions of a weld that must often be ground down to smooth out the surface. In some situations, the removal of the blank nuts and their welds requires the surface of the metal sheets to be inspected and x-rayed to confirm that no structural damage was caused by the welding of the nuts.
• the typical method is also difficult to adjust once the process is started, Because the blank nuts are the anchor points for the process and because they are welded into place, if the blank nuts are not placed in the right location the very first time, the whole process has to be undone and started over at the beginning. This only adds to the time and expense of using this method. Similarly cumbersome methods e ⁇ !st for joining large sheets of non-metallic materials like plastics and wood, Joining these materials is often done by laying the sheets on a work surface, such a floor or table. Then a weight is applied to the upper sheet to force it down to the lower sheet.
• one or more embodiments of the present invention addresses those disadvantages in novel and unique ways.
• One embodiment of the present invention relies on a switchable magnetic device such as that described in Patents Nos. 6,707,360 and 7,102,495 or alternatively such as an electromagnet.
• a handle is attached to the switchable magnetic deyice by a fork having a spine and two prongs.
• the handle and fork are constructed of materials such as aluminum or magnesium alloys, that are relatively unaffected by magnetic fields.
• the spine of the fork is affixed to one end of the handle and the prongs are rotatably mounted, using means that are well known in the art, to opposing sides of the switchable magnetic device, such that the handle and fork can rotate about the switchable magnetic device.
• the switchable magnetic device When the switchable magnetic device is activated and attached to a sheet of metal that is highly susceptible to a magnetic field such as a ferrous metal, the switchable magnetic device acts as an anchor point about which the handle can rotate.
• Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize a boss attached to the handle.
• the boss is affixed or rotatably mounted to the handle and oriented such that the boss faces the same direction as the bottom of the switchable magnetic device.
• the switchable magnetic device is anchored in place and the handle is rotated to allow the boss to contact the a work piece and apply a pushing or prying force to it.
• the end of the boss that is opposite from the handle is specially shaped to cause the desired type of contact with the metal sheet being worked on.
• An additional embodiment of the invention utilizes a means for releasably attaching to the top-face of a sheet of material that is not highly susceptible to a magnetic field such as a non- ferrous metal or plastic,
• Such means for releasably attaching can be a vacuum box.
• a handle is attached to a fork having a spine and two prongs, The spine of the fork is affixed to one end of the handle and the prongs are rotatably mounted, using means that are well known in the art, to opposing sides of the means for releasably attaching to the top-face of a sheet of material that is not highly susceptible to a magnetic field.
• the handle and fork can then rotate about the means for releasably attaching to the top-face of the sheet of material
• Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize a boss attached to the handle.
• One end of the boss is affixed or rotatably mounted to the handle and oriented such that the other end of the boss faces the same direction as the bottom of the means for releasably attaching to the top-face of a sheet of material that is not highly susceptible to a magnetic field, In this way and when, the means for attaching to the top face of a flat work piece is activated, the handle can rotate to allow the boss to contact the work piece and perform work on it.
• the end of the boss that is opposite from the handle can be specially shaped to cause the desired type of contact with the metal sheet being worked on.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.
• a switchable magnetic device 1 is used,
• the switchable magnetic device 1 is activated by rotation of a switch 2, such that when the switch 2 is in one position, a magnetic field is created along the bottom face, which is the face opposite the switch 2, of the switchable magnetic device 1.
• a magnetic field is created along the bottom face, which is the face opposite the switch 2, of the switchable magnetic device 1.
• the switchable magnetic device can be attached to materials that are highly susceptible to a magnetic field such as ferrous metals.
• a handle 4 and a fork 8 are attached to the switchable magnetic device 1.
• the handle 4 is comprised of an elongated shaft that is affixed at one end to the fork 8.
• the fork has two prongs 9 and 10 that each have holes near their terminal ends.
• the prongs 9 and 10 are rotatably mounted to the switchable magnetic device 1.
• the handle 4 and fork 8 are made of a material that is relatively unaffected by a magnetic field, such as non-ferrous alloys like stainless steel, aluminum, or magnesium, or polymers, carbon fiber, or wood.
• the fork 8 is rotatably mounted to the switchable magnetic device by means of shoulder bolts 3 and 1 1 .
• the shoulder bolts 3 and 11 pass through the holes in the prongs 9 and 10 and thread into the swtichable magnetic device 1.
• the shoulder bolts 3 and 1 i have a diameter that is slightly smaller than the holes in the prongs 9 and 10.
• the shoulder bolts 3 and 11 also have a non-threaded surface that rests within the holes in the prongs 9 and 10,
• the height of the shoulder bolts 3 and 1 1 is such that when they are fully threaded into the switchable magnetic device, the shoulder bolts 3 and 1 1 bottom out before binding against the prongs 9 and 10 of the fork 8,
• the difference in the diameter of the shouMer bolts 3 and 11 and the holes in the prongs 9 and 10 and the length of the shoulder bolts 3 and 1 1 permit the fork 8 and handle 4 to rotate freely about the shoulder bolts 3 and 1 1 and the switchable magnetic device 1.
• the prongs 9 and 10 could be rotatably mounted to a shroud, housing, or clamp that attaches to the switchable magnetic device 1.
• a boss 5 is attached to the handle 4.
• the boss 5 has a first end and a second end.
• the first end of said boss 5 is aligned on and affixed to the handle 4, such that the second end of said boss 5 is oriented in the same direction as the bottom face of said switchable magnetic device 1.
• the present invention can be used to align the edge of one piece of material to the edge of another.
• the switchable magnetic device 1 can be placed near the edges of the two work piece such that the switchable magnetic device 1 rests on and attaches to a first work piece 13 while the boss 5 is able to contact and act upon the second work piece 12.
• the handle 4 can be rotated so that the boss 5 contacts the second work piece 12 and the operator can transmit a pushing or prying force to the second work piece 12.
• the present invention is shown creating a butt-joint between the first work piece 13 and the second work piece 12.
• the boss 5 is permanently affixed to the handle 4. This can be done by welding the boss 5 to the handle 4, by casting the boss 5 as part of the handle 4, by using adhesive to join the boss 5 to the handle 4, by press- fitting the boss 5 to the handle 4, or by many other means well known in the art for permanently joining two materials.
• the boss 5 can be releasably mounted to the handle 4.
• Such means include bolting the boss 5 to the handle 4, using a key-way to slidably attach the boss 5 to the handle 4, and many other means well known in the art.
• the boss 5 can be rotatably mounted to the handle 4. This could include the use of tabs on the handle 4 and the boss 5, where a bolt, pin, bearings, bushings, or any other means that is well known in the art, passes through the tabs to rotatably join the boss 5 to the handle 4. In such an embodiment of the present invention, the boss 5 would be able to rotate independent of the hand'e 4. It should fisrther be noted that in the embodiment shown in figures 1, 2, and 3, the second end of the boss 5 has a flat surface.
• the second end of the boss 5 can have alternative shapes.
• the surface of the second edge of the boss 5 can be an arch so that the contact area between the boss 5 and the surface of a work piece approximates a line.
• the shape of the surface of the second end of the boss 5 can be spherical such that the contact area between the boss 5 and the surface of a work piece approximates a point. In this way, the shape of the second end of the boss can be shaped to provide the desired type of contact between the boss and the work piece.
• the handle 4 can be reinforced and strengthened by the use of a support 7 affixed to the handle 4 on the surface opposite the boss 5.
• the support 7 adds strength to the handle 4 to allow it to transmit a greater pushing force with a lesser risk of breaking the handle 4. While this is not necessary for every embodiment of the invention, such a support 7 can prove advantageous to some embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 6 Another embodiment of in the present invention includes a guard 6.
• the guard 6 is attached to the first end of the handle 4.
• the guard 6 extends from the handle 4 in the same direction as the boss 5.
• the guard 6 protects an operators hand from being pinched between the handle 4 and the work piece should the switchable magnetic device 1 break loose from its work piece, should the work piece suddenly and unexpectedly give way, or should any other unexpected event cause the handle 4 to move suddenly and unexpectedly into contact with the woik piece.
• the guard 6 would stop the movement of the handle 4 before the handle 4 trapped and pinched the operator's hand.
• Such a guard 6 is not necessary for every embodiment of the invention, but can prove advantageous on some embodiments.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
• Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40581654

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2007
  • 2007-10-29 US US11/926,649 patent/US7587800B2/en active Active
• 2008
  • 2008-10-29 WO PCT/US2008/081620 patent/WO2009058892A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-10-29 JP JP2010532213A patent/JP5419228B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-10-29 EP EP08846154A patent/EP2222592A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-10-29 AU AU2008318763A patent/AU2008318763B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-10-29 CN CN200880121639.8A patent/CN101903282B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-09-14 US US12/559,323 patent/US8240017B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-04-04 US US13/439,033 patent/US9187302B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-04-04 US US29/417,475 patent/USD683203S1/en active Active

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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