Patent Application
20140260824
Multi-sided components such as, for example, hexagonal nuts or bolt heads, are used to fasten parts together in many industries. The wide spread use of such components has resulted in their evolvement into different sizes and configurations. For example, an assembly such as a wheelchair, bicycle, bed, lawn mower, chair, table, etc., may utilize hexagonal nuts and/or bolts of several sizes. As a result, the assembler needs to have a tool or tools that can accommodate the differing sizes in order to assemble the article.
In one embodiment, a tool having a body that includes at least one aperture is provided. The aperture has a closed perimeter of side walls and a plurality of spaces. The plurality of spaces includes a central space and a plurality of auxiliary spaces disposed radially outward from the central space. Each space is configured to receive a multi-sided component therein. The multi-sided component can be a hexagonal nut or bolt head or other polygonal component.
In the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to example the principles of this invention. Further, the embodiments illustrated in the Figures are shown to relative scale, which scale can be modified from that illustrated.
As described herein, when one or more components are described or shown as being connected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwise interconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between the components or may be in direct such as through the use of one or more intermediary components. Also as described herein, reference to a member, component, or portion shall not be limited to a single structural member, component, element, or portion but can include an assembly of components, members, elements, or portions.
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Body 102 includes portions or ends 102 and 104. In the embodiment show, body 102 or body means is substantially planar, but may in other embodiments include different shapes. For example, portions 102 and 104 may be offset from each other so they do not lie in the same plane, but in different planes. In this embodiment, body 102 includes a stepped or offset configuration. Body 102 also includes upper surface 120 and lower surface 200 (see
The central portion of body 102 can be used as a handle for gripping by a user, as may also portions 102 and 104. Tool 102 is intended to be rotated by the user in order to tighten or loosen the multi-sided component (e.g., hexagonal nut or bolt head) it is acting upon. Gripping the tool in this manner provides the orientation necessary for rotating the tool.
In the embodiment shown, portion 104 is configured to receive a multi-sided component such as a hexagonal nut or bolt head or other polygonal shape. Portion 104 includes an aperture having closed perimeter of side walls. The aperture includes a central space 112 or first space means and a plurality of auxiliary spaces 108, 110, and 114 or second space means. While any number of auxiliary or second space means can be provided, the illustrated embodiment shows three.
Auxiliary spaces 108, 110 and 114 are located radially outwardly from central space 112, as indicated by the dashed radial lines emanating from central space 112. In the embodiment shown, auxiliary spaces 108, 110, and 114 are distributed around central space 112 at approximately every 120 degrees. Other angular increments can also be used. Auxiliary spaces 108, 110 and 114 overlap with central space 112. The overlapping nature of this arrangement allows portion 104 to be made compact and still allow for portion 104 to be able to receive a plurality of different sized multi-sided components. This compactness allows tool 100 to be used in very tight areas or areas where there is limited clearance.
In the embodiment shown, each space (e.g., 108, 110, 112, and 114) is configured to receive a multi-sided component of different physical size. For example, central space 112 is configured to receive a component larger than auxiliary spaces 108, 110, and 114. Similarly, auxiliary space 108 is configured to receive a larger component than auxiliary space 110. Similarly, auxiliary space 110 is configured to receive a larger component than auxiliary space 114. This configuration is meant to be illustrative and the relationship between each space, relative to size of the component (e.g., hex nut), can be different from the illustrated embodiment.
Portion 104 also includes a perimeter having a geometry or shape that compliments the compact nature of spaces 108, 110, and 112. In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown, portion 106 is also configured to receive a multi-sided component such as a hexagonal nut or bolt head or other polygonal shape. Portion 106 also includes an aperture having closed perimeter of side walls. The aperture includes spaces 116 and 118, which may also be referred to as first and second space means. While any number of spaces can be provided in portion 106, the illustrated embodiment shows two.
Spaces 116 and 118 are disposed in overlapping configuration. This overlapping configuration provides for compactness at portion 106 thereby allowing tool 100 to be used in areas having limited space or clearance. This compact arrangement includes body 102 having walls 316-322. Walls 318 and 320 extend inwardly toward body 102 and form an end portion geometry that complements space 116. As with portion 104, this arrangement allows portion 106 to have a smaller distance from its edges to the spaces 116-118 than would otherwise be possible absent the overlapping space arrangement and still allow for a plurality of component sizes to be received by portion 106. In other embodiments, walls 318 and 320 do not need to form such a complementary arrangement. Spaces 116 and 118 are configured to receive multi-sided components (e.g., hex nut or bolt head) of different size. For example, space 116 is configured to receive a larger component than space 118. In this manner, portions 104 and 106 can accommodate an entire range of sizes of multi-sided components.
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While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, more or less spaces may be provided with the portion apertures to accommodate more or less sizes of components. The number of side walls in each space can be more or less than shown and still allow the tool to impart or provide resistance to rotation movement of the component. Portions of the tool other than the end portions (e.g., 104 and 106) can include apertures for receiving multi-sided components. The apertures and spaces can be configured to receive multi-sided components of polygonal shapes other than hexagonal. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures can be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
