TOOL FOR REMOVING DENTS

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to removal of dents. More particularly, the invention relates to a tool for assisting in dent removal.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

There exist numerous devices for removing dents. Such devices include hammers, pry bars, suction and pull devices. More recently, the instant inventor obtained a patent on a novel dent removal tool which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,239,104 issued Mar. 26, 2019. While this is an improvement over the art, there remained a need to improve upon this device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a tool for accomplishing the result of removing dents from metal, such as dents in vehicle bodies and fenders and in a manner which in certain applications provides for easier angles of approach and dent removal. In addition, another aspect of the device is that it provides a more dynamic range of head angle and selectability. The present invention is a significant saving of time and expense.

An object of the invention is to provide a device be carried out in a simple manner and in a relatively short space of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool which readily provides both a scraping and tapping dent removal by a dual handled device for pulling outwardly or hitting an inner side of damaged body panel, restoring the dented or bent panel to its ordinary or normal position or approximately thereto.

More specifically, the invention comprises a tool for removing dents, which includes a rigid member having a first upper handle extending transversely and connected to a first downwardly extending rigid bar portion and a second lower handle extending transversely and connected to a second upwardly extending rigid bar portion. The first downwardly extending rigid bar portion and the second upwardly extending rigid bar portion interconnect adjacent a first end of a first lateral rigid bar portion lying in a first X-Y plane between the first upper handle and said second lower handle and wherein the first lateral rigid bar portion extends laterally outwardly to a second end thereof.

A second Y-Z plane is defined through the first lateral rigid bar portion normal to the first X-Y plane and the handles are both on a first side of the second Y-Z plane. The first upper handle and the second lower handle extend generally in an opposing Z direction from one another.

A second rigid upper bar portion connects to the second end of the first lateral bar portion and extends generally in a Z direction opposing the downwardly extending rigid bar portion thus forming a U shape between the downwardly extending rigid bar portion, the first lateral rigid bar portion and the second rigid upper bar portion. The second rigid upper bar portion is on a second side of said second Y-Z plane. A rigid nose head extends from an end of the second rigid bar portion, which can be positionally fixed in a permanent connected or removably connected manner.

For example, the rigid nose head can be oriented inward generally in a direction toward the first upper handle or outward generally away from the first upper handle. The rigid nose head can preferably include a rounded end and of a length suitable to accomplish the purposes intended herein. The handles can be integrally or separately connected as part of rigid handle bar portions. The handles can be configured with finger conforming portions if so desired.

By so providing, the tool enables significant advantages over prior devices with decreased repair time as a result of enhanced functionality. The tool can be utilized in various manners. By way of example, the following is one method of use.

The rigid nose head can be inserted behind a sheet or panel of an automobile, such as a rear quarter panel adjacent an inward dent. Those skilled in the art will understand how to gain access to a rear surface of the panel. The first rigid bar portion extends outside the panel with the second upper rigid bar portion and rigid handle bar portions displaced generally parallel to the panel to be worked and is provided with sufficient clearance to enable the tapping movement of the tool nose head. Then, by grasping the handles, movement of the nose head can be accomplished in several ways by applying a pulling force to draw the nose head into contact with the dent. The transverse handles enable unique pressure to be applied by pushing in on the lower handle while pulling out on the upper handle to cause movement of the rigid nose head inward and then pressure reversed to displace the rigid nose head and by performing this at a rate to perform a tapping/hammering of movement of the nose head. Optionally, both handles may be pulled to apply a scraping/pulling force. By pulling outwardly upon the panel which is damaged or by the tapping of the dent as described above, the dent can be more readily and easily removed from the panel.

Another aspect of the invention provides for the selective orientation of the rigid nose head. In this regard, there can be situations where the rigid nose head needs to be offset or outwardly directed to perform the similar task as described above. Further, interchangeability of the rigid nose head permits different size and shaped heads to be attached for a specific area of interest without having to build an entirely new tool.

This results in a significant saving of cost. Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating a tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating a tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary nose of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary tapping movement of the tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary scrapping movement of the tool of the instant invention.

FIG. 5A depicts a removable head with a threaded connection.

FIG. 5B depicts a removable head with a polygon connection.

FIG. 6A depicts another removable head with a threaded connection.

FIG. 6B depicts another removable head with a polygon connection.

FIG. 7A depicts yet another removable head with a threaded connection.

FIG. 7B depicts yet another removable head with a polygon connection.

FIG. 8A depicts still another removable head with a threaded connection.

FIG. 8B depicts still another removable head with a polygon connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the tool being a rigid member of the instant invention is generally designated by the numeral 10, 10′ and 10″. The tool 10, 10′ and 10″ can be used for removing a dent D from a panel P. Like numerals refer to like parts.

The tool 10, 10′ and 10″ has a first upper handle 12 extending transversely and connected to a downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 and a second lower handle 14 extending transversely and connected to an upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18. The first downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 is defined about a first axis A and a second upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18 is defined about a second axis B. The handles 12 and 14 extend in a generally Y direction relative to an X-Y plane and Y-Z plane seen in the drawings herewith, and are generally in opposing relation on opposite sides of the X-Y plane in respective +/−Z direction.

The handles 12 and 14 can be integrally or separately connected as part of the downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 and the upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18, respectively. The first downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 and the upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18 can be separate pieces and bonded or welded together or it is contemplated that they may be part of an overall cast made tool. The handles 12 and 14 can be configured with an enhanced gripping surface which lends to their performance such as having a tapered surface or finger conforming portions if so desired. It has been discovered that the transverse handle orientation aids in the use of the tool 10, 10′ and 10″.

The downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 and the upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18 interconnect to a first end 17 of a first lateral rigid bar portion 20 lying in the plane X-Y between the handles 12 and 14 and wherein the handles 12 and 14 are on opposite sides of plane X-Y and the first lateral rigid bar portion 20 extends laterally outwardly to a second end 19.

The second plane Y-Z is defined between the first end 17 and the second end 19 wherein the handles 12 and 14 are on a common side of plane Y-Z with the first axis A and the second axis B shown acute to the plane Y-Z such that the handle 12 is disposed generally upward in a Z direction and handle 14 is disposed downward generally in a Z direction.

A second rigid upper bar portion 22 connects to the second end 19 of the first lateral rigid bar portion 20 and extends generally in a upward Z direction like the downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 thus forming a U shape between the downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16, the first lateral rigid bar portion 20 and the second upper rigid bar portion 22 with plane Y-Z generally lying between both the second rigid upper bar portion 22 and the first upper handle 12 and the second lower handle 14. An exemplary length of the lateral rigid bar portion can be about 9 inches, and exemplary lengths of the second upper rigid bar portion 22 can be from about 24 inches. Exemplary lengths of the downwardly extending rigid bar portion 16 and the upwardly extending rigid bar portion 18 can be about 12 inches. Exemplary diameter for the handle 12 and 14 can be about 1″ with length of about 5″. Exemplary length of the first lateral rigid bar portion 20 can be about 9″ and exemplary length of the second upper rigid bar portion 22 can be about 2′. The gap between an edge of handle 12 and a rounded end 26 can be about 9″.

A rigid nose head 24, 24′ and 24″ extends from an end 23 of the second upper rigid bar portion 22. Rigid nose head 24 is seen extending inward generally in a direction toward the first upper handle 12 in FIG. 1A. In FIGS. 1B and 1C, the rigid nose head 24′, 24″ is seen extending generally outward. The rigid nose head 24, 24′ and 24″ can preferably include rounded end 26, 26′, 26″ and can be of a length suitable to accomplish the purposes intended herein, for example, about 2′ in length, ½″ length in width and thickness of about ⅛″.

In FIG. 1C, the rigid nose head 24″ can be positionally oriented in a removable manner. For example, the end 23 can be formed with an axial open surface 28″ which can be threaded or polygonal contoured. The end 23″ can include a collar 30″ from which extends a shank 32″ can receive a complementary configured to be threaded or polygonal shaped, e.g. hex shank, 32″ and received in the axial open surface 28″. In this way, the head 24″ can be positioned or changed as needed. The collar 30″ can be of a detent mechanism type which is spring loaded with detent ball 34″ to positionably retain the shank 32″ by seating in a groove 36″ thereof.

By so providing, the tool 10, 10′ and 10″ enables significant advantages over prior devices with decreased repair time as a result of enhanced functionality. The tool 10, 10′ and 10″ can be utilized in various manners. The following methods of use are exemplary.

By way of example, the rigid nose head 24 can be inserted behind a sheet or panel P of an automobile, such as a rear quarter panel P adjacent an inward dent D. Those skilled in the art will understand how to gain access to a rear surface of the panel P. The first lateral rigid bar portion 20 extends outside the panel P with the second rigid upper bar portion 22 and handle bar portions 16 and 18 displaced generally laterally to the panel P to be worked and is provided with sufficient clearance to enable the tapping movement of the rigid nose head 24 as seen in FIG. 3 or scrapping/pulling as seen in FIG. 4.

By grasping the handles 12 and 14, movement of the rigid nose head 24 can be accomplished in several ways by applying a push/pulling force to draw the rigid nose head 24 into contact with the dent D. The handles 12 and 14 enable unique push/pull pressure to be applied, for example, by pushing in on the lower handle 14 while pulling out on the upper handle 12 to cause movement of the rigid nose head 24 inward and then pressure reversed to displace the rigid nose head 24 and by performing this at a rate to perform a tapping/hammering movement of the rigid nose head 24.

Optionally, both handles 12 an 14 may be pulled to apply a scraping/pulling force. By pulling outwardly upon the dent D which is damaged or by the tapping/hammering of the dent D as described above, the dent D can be more easily and quickly removed from the panel P. This results in a significant saving of cost. The use of rigid nose head 24′, 24″ enables similar operations to be performed where there is need to apply force with the rigid nose head 24′, 24″ in a different or opposite directional manner to that seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In addition, FIGS. 5A-8B depict variations of removable rigid nose heads. FIGS. 5A and 5B depict a hammer rigid nose head 24a and 24a′ which can have a threaded shank 32a and polygon shank 32a′, respectively. FIGS. 6A and 6B depict a round rigid nose head 24b and 24b′ which can have a threaded shank 32b and polygon shank 32b′, respectively. FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a sharp rigid nose head 24c and 24c′ which can have a threaded shank 32c and polygon shank 32c′, respectively. FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a bullet rigid nose head 24d and 24d′ which can have a threaded shank 32d and polygon shank 32d′, respectively.

The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the configuration, length, width and thickness of the nose head, handle configuration, angles of connected bar portions and materials used to construct the tool can be varied to accomplish the objectives set forth herein and will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.