Patent Application
20190152041
The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous tools. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous hand-operated crank tools. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous hand-operated crank tools for use in operating a trap door on a hopper trailer.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Hoppers, such as grain hoppers, frequently have doors or trap doors arranged at or near a bottom of the hopper. The trap door may be mechanically opened to release the contents from the hopper. Some tractor trailers, trucks, and other vehicles have hoppers arranged at or near a lower surface of the vehicle. In many cases, hopper doors, and particularly hopper doors arranged on tractor trailers and other vehicles, may be difficult to open and/or close due to their location. Similarly, other doors arranged at or near a lower surface of tractor trailers, trucks, and other vehicles may be difficult to open and/or close due to their location. In particular, operators may have difficulty accessing the trap door using manual tools. Automatic or partially automatic trap door mechanisms may be relatively expensive to implement and maintain.
Thus, there is a need in the art for trap door operating mechanisms. Particularly, there is a need in the art for hand-operated tools for opening and closing trap door mechanisms. More particularly, there is a need in the art for hand-operated crank handles for opening and closing semi-trailer trap doors.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.
The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, relates to a crank tool having a first handle arranged on a first axis, a second handle arranged on a second axis different from the first axis, and a tooling end arranged on a third axis different from the first and second axes. The crank tool may additionally have an extension portion extending between the first and second handles. In some embodiments, the first, second, and third axes may be parallel. Moreover, the tooling end may be arranged on a tooling arm having a length of between approximately 20 inches and approximately 30 inches. The extension portion may be a first extension portion and the crank tool may include a second extension portion extending between the second handle and the tooling arm or tooling end. The first extension portion may have a length of between approximately 12 inches and approximately 24 inches and the second extension portion may have a length of between approximately 6 inches and approximately 12 inches. In some embodiments, the tooling end may include a socket head, which may be readily removable. The socket head may have an outer diameter or width of at least approximately two inches in some embodiments. Moreover, the tooling end may have a quick coupling mechanism for receiving a socket head. The tooling end may include a pivotable joint. In some embodiments of the crank tool, the third axis may be arranged between and equidistant from the first and second axes.
The present disclosure, in one or more embodiments, additionally relates to a tool system for operating trailer trap doors, the system having a hand-operated handle and a plurality of socket heads, each socket head having a recess sized and shaped to engage an attachment mechanism. The hand-operated handle may include a first handle arranged on a first axis, a second handle arranged on a second axis, and a tooling end arranged on a third axis and configured to receive a socket head. Each of the plurality of socket heads may be associated with a hopper trailer make and/or model. The attachment mechanism may be a bolt, nut, or screw. The tooling end may include a quick coupling mechanism for receiving a socket head. In some embodiments, each socket head may have an outer diameter or width of at least approximately 2 inches. In some embodiments, the hand-operated handle may include a first extension portion extending between the first handle and the second handle and a second extension portion extending between the second handle and the tooling arm. The third axis of the hand-operated handle may be arranged between and equidistant from the first and second axes. Moreover, the first second, and third axes may be parallel.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:
The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous tools for operating trap doors, such as those arranged on lower surfaces of hopper trailers or other bottom-unloading vehicles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous hand-crank tools for manually operating hopper trap doors. In some embodiments, a crank tool of the present disclosure may be used to operate a rack and pinion trap door. A crank tool of the present disclosure may have a tooling end configured to engage a bolt, nut, screw, or other mechanical component. For example, the tooling end may have a socket head. A crank tool of the present disclosure may have two handles arranged such that a user may grasp each handle with one hand. Each handle may be arranged on an axis offset from an axis of rotation of the tool, such that a user may use both of the user's arms as leverage to rotate the tool and thus rotate the bolt, nut, or screw, for example. Moreover, a crank tool of the present disclosure may be configured to reach into particularly narrow and/or otherwise hard to reach places, such as beneath a hopper trailer or other vehicle. The crank tool may additionally allow a user to operate a trap door of a hopper trailer or other bottom-unloading vehicle, for example, while standing upright or nearly upright, thus reducing the need to bend down or crouch to operate the hopper trap door.
Turning now to
The first 102 and second 104 handles may generally be configured to allow a user or operator to grip the crank tool 100 with both hands and rotate the tool about the third axis 112 by alternately rotating the handles about the third axis. The first handle 102 may be an end handle arranged at or near an end of the crank tool 100, opposing the tooling end 106. The second handle 104 may be a mid-tool handle arranged between the tooling end 106 and the first handle 102. Each handle 102, 104 may be sized and shaped to receive a user's hand, such that a user may use the handles to rotate the crank tool 100 in order to rotate a bolt, nut, screw, or other component engaged by the tooling end 106. Each handle 102, 104 may have a length of between approximately 3 inches and approximately 10 inches, or between approximately 4 inches and approximately 8 inches, or between approximately 5 inches and approximately 7 inches. Each of the handles 102, 104 may have one or more ergonomic features to allow for easier grip. In some embodiments, each of the one or more handles 102, 104 may have a rotatable cover or sheath, configured to rotate independent of the crank tool's rotation about the third axis 112. As previously indicated, the first handle 102 may be arranged on a first axis 108, the second handle 104 may be arranged on a second axis 110, and the tooling end 106 may be arranged on a third axis 112.
As may be appreciated with particular reference to
As indicated above, the first handle 102 and second handle 104 may be separated by a first extension portion 114. In some embodiments, the first extension portion 114 may extend between the first axis 108 and the second axis 110. In some embodiments, the first extension portion 114 may couple to each of the first 102 and second 104 handles with a rounded or curved connection, as shown for example in
It is to be appreciated that a the first 102 and second 104 handles may be laterally offset from one another. For example, a first midline may extend orthogonal to the first axis 108, and pass through a center of the first handle 102. A second midline may extend orthogonal to the second axis 110, and pass through a center of the second handle 104. The first and second midlines may be parallel with one another, but separated by a distance. The midlines extending through the centers of the two handles 102, 104 may be separated by a distance of between approximately 6 inches and approximately 30 inches, or between approximately 10 inches and approximately 24 inches, or between approximately 12 inches and approximately 18 inches. In other embodiments, the first and second midlines may be separated by any other suitable distance.
The second handle 104 and the tooling end 106 may be separated by a second extension portion 116. In some embodiments, the second extension portion 116 may extend between the second axis 110 and the third axis 112. In some embodiments, the second extension portion 116 may couple to each of the second handle 104 and the tooling arm 118 (or tooling end 106) with a rounded or curved connection, as shown for example in
With continued reference to
In some embodiments, a socket head 124, such as those shown in
In some embodiments, the receiving portion 120 may have a joint or hinge such that socket heads 124 or other tooling devices may be pivotable with respect to the crank tool 100. For example,
In other embodiments, other jointed or hinged connections may be used between the crank tool and the socket head. For example,
With reference back to
The crank tool 100 may generally be constructed of steel, aluminum, or any other metal or combination of metals. That is, the first handle 102, first extension portion 114, second handle 104, second extension portion 116, tooling arm 118, and/or socket head 124 may be constructed of one or more metals. The handles 102, 104, extension portions 114, 116, and tooling arm 118 may be constructed of a single metal rod in some embodiments, the metal rod having bends at suitable angles to form the different components. For example, a metal rod may have a first bend between the first handle 102 and first extension portion 114, a second bend between the first extension portion and the second handle 104, a third bend between the second handle and second extension portion 116, and a fourth bend between the second extension portion and tooling arm 118. The metal rod may have a diameter of between approximately 0.25 inches and approximately 2 inches, or between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately 1 inch. In other embodiments, the metal rod may have any other suitable diameter. In some embodiments, the crank tool 100 may be constructed of one or more rigid plastics. For example, a single plastic rod having bends at suitable angles, as described above with respect to the metal rod, may provide the handles 102, 104, extension portions 114, 116, and tooling arm 118.
In use, a crank tool of the present disclosure may allow a user or operator to manually operate a bolt, nut, screw, or other component. In particular, the crank tool may be used to manually operate a trap door, such as on a lower surface of a hopper trailer or other bottom-unloading vehicle. In particular, the crank tool may allow a user to reach a bolt, nut, screw, or other mechanism arranged in a partially obstructed or otherwise hard to reach location. For example, the relatively long length of the tool may provide a relatively long reach. Similarly, the narrow diameter or width of the tooling arm may allow for maneuverability of the tool into relatively small spaces. The arrangement of the two handles may allow an operator to use the leverage of both of the operator's arms to operate the tool. In this way, with one hand on each of the two handles, an operator may rotate his or her arms in a same direction to rotate the tool about the third axis (i.e. the tooling axis). With each of the two handles offset from the third axis, each handle may provide a lever for rotating the tool. In this way, the operator may thus use leverage of both arms in conjunction to rotate the tool. As described above, the handles may be generally arranged to allow an operator to comfortably grasp both handles and rotate his or her arms. The arrangement of the two handles may allow an operator to apply torque to a bolt, nut, screw, or other component with both arms. By allowing a user to apply torque with both arms, the crank tool may decrease the amount of effort or strength needed to open a trap door using other manual tools. In turn, this may allow an operator to operate a hopper trap door in less time than with other manual tools. Moreover, the arrangement of the handles and the angles and lengths of the extension portions may allow an operator to operate a trap door of a hopper trailer or other bottom-unloading vehicle, for example, without having to bend low to the ground. That is, an operator may be able to stand upright or nearly upright while using the crank tool to open a hopper trailer trap door, so as to alleviate strain on the operator's back and/or knees.
As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof.
To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.
Additionally, as used herein, the phrase “at least one of [X] and [Y],” where X and Y are different components that may be included in an embodiment of the present disclosure, means that the embodiment could include component X without component Y, the embodiment could include the component Y without component X, or the embodiment could include both components X and Y. Similarly, when used with respect to three or more components, such as “at least one of [X], [Y], and [Z],” the phrase means that the embodiment could include any one of the three or more components, any combination or sub-combination of any of the components, or all of the components.
In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
The present disclosure claims priority to Provisional Application No. 62/588,977, entitled “Hand-Operated Crank Handle for Semi-Trailer Trap Doors,” and filed Nov. 21, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62588977 | Nov 2017 | US |
