DENT STRAIGHTENING DEVICE

Description

FIELD

The preferred implementation relates generally to repair of automotive parts and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to dent and bend straightening tools for straightening lighter dents and bends in automotive parts.

BACKGROUND

Repair services are essential in many facilities engaged in activities such as auto body repair and auto restoration. In these facilities, auto body technicians have historically used a variety of different techniques and tools to straighten dents and bends to repair automotive parts. Additionally, since time is a significant concern of repair service due to high labor costs, faster and easier ways to straighten dents and bends are often preferred.

In the instance of dents in hard to access areas of damaged automotive parts, auto body technicians have made one or more holes in the area being repaired and, with the help of a hook, a slide hammer which has been screwed into the hole, or a welded stud, have attempted to straighten the dent out. In such instances, the difficulty of straightening the dents is significant and can also increase time and labor costs to achieve the same.

To be able to straighten dents/bends in damaged automotive parts, dent straightening devices such as leverage bars are utilized. There is a need for the dent straightening tool to be easy to use, efficient, and be able to be used regardless of the type of surface against which the dent straightening device is leveraged against for generating force to straightening the dents in hard to access areas of damaged automotive parts.

Presently available dent straightening devices are limited in their functionality in meeting the need to be easy, efficient, and leverage surface agnostic. There remains an unresolved and unfulfilled need in the art for a more efficient dent straightening device that can be leveraged against any surface and quickly/efficiently straighten dents/bends in damaged automotive parts.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are approaches for addressing various of the problems and shortcomings of the state of the art, as identified above. More particularly, disclosed herein are dent and bend straightening tools and methods for straightening lighter dents and bends in automotive parts.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a dent straightening device comprising a support shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, at least one support foot removably coupled to the distal end of the support shaft, the at least one support foot configured to interface with a surface, and at least one chain assembly removably coupled to the support shaft, the at least one chain assembly configured to interface with a repair area comprising the dent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary aspect of a dent straightening device.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a support shaft according to an aspect of the dent straightening device.

FIG. 3A shows an exploded view of a support feet according to an aspect of the dent straightening device.

FIG. 3B shows an exploded view of a support feet according to an aspect of the dent straightening device.

FIG. 3C shows an exploded view of a support feet according to an aspect of the dent straightening device.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of at least one chain assembly according to an aspect of the dent straightening device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary aspect of a dent straightening device 100. FIG. 1 also presents the primary structural components of the dent straightening device 100. These include a support shaft 200 configured to be handled by a user to leverage/pivot against a surface, at least one support foot 300 removably coupled to the support shaft 200, and at least one chain assembly 400 removably coupled to the support shaft 200, where the chain assembly 400 is also configured to interface with the damaged automotive part to straighten dents and bends. In some aspects, the dent straightening device 100 can be made of steel. In some aspects, the dent straightening device 100 can include a surface coating, such as powder coating, to prevent surface degradation.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of the support shaft 200 according to an aspect of the dent straightening device 100 is shown. The support shaft 200 is configured to be used by a user to generate leverage force to straighten dents and bends in damaged automotive parts. The support shaft 200 comprises an elongate body 202 comprising a proximal end 202a and a distal end 202b. In some implementations, the elongate body 202 can comprise a handle (shown in FIG. 1) disposed on the proximal end 202a and configured for the user to grip while using the dent straightening tool. In some implementations, the handle can further comprise a grip (shown in FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2, the distal end 202b of the elongate body 202 is configured to removably couple to the at least one support foot 300. In some implementations, such as the implementation of FIG. 2, the elongate body 202 further comprises at least one support feet securing slot 206 configured to receive the at least one support foot 300 for storage. In some implementations, the at least one support feet securing slot 206 further comprises at least one pin insertion point configured to secure the at least one support foot 300 to the at least one support feet securing slot 206. In some implementations, the at least one pin insertion point 208 can be configured to receive a clevis pin (not shown in FIG. 2). In some implementations, such as the implementation presented in FIG. 2, the distal end 202b can further also comprise the at least one pin insertion point 208 configured to secure the at least one support 300 to the distal end 202b.

In some implementations, such as the implementation of FIG. 2, the support shaft 200 further comprises at least one hook 204 disposed on the elongate body 202. The at least one hook is configured to connect removably couple to the at least one chain assembly 400 (explained in the paragraphs below). In some implementations, such as the implementation of FIG. 2, the at least one hook 204 can be a plurality of hooks 204, where each hook 204 is disposed on a different height with respect to the other hooks 204 along a length of the elongate bar 202. In this implementation, having the plurality of hooks 204, each a different height, can be used depending on the area/location of the repair in the damaged automotive part. In some implementations, the at least one hook 204 is made of heavy-duty steel.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, exploded views of exemplary implementations of the at least one support foot 300 according to an aspect of the dent straightening device 100, are shown. The at one support foot 300 is disposed on the distal end 202b of the elongate body 202 of the support shaft 200. The at least one support foot 300 is configured to interface with a support surface and act as a pivot when the dent straightening device 100 is used.

Referring to FIG. 3A, an implementation of the at least support foot 300a configured to interface with flat surfaces is shown. In this implementation, the at least support foot 300a comprises a foot pin 302 with a proximal end 302a and a distal end 302b, a flat foot interface 304a mechanically coupled to the distal end 302b of the foot pin 302, and a flat footrest 306a coupled to the flat foot interface 304a. The flat foot interface 304a and the flat footrest 306a are configured to interface with flat surfaces. In some implementations, the flat footrest 306a can be made of rubber. In some implementations, the flat footrest 306a can include grooves to further increase surface area in contact with the flat surface.

Referring to FIG. 3B, an implementation of the at least support foot 300b configured to interface with concave surfaces is shown. In this implementation, the at least support foot 300b comprises a foot pin 302 with a proximal end 302a and a distal end 302b, a concave foot interface 304b mechanically coupled to the distal end 302b of the foot pin 302, and a concave footrest 306b coupled to the concave foot interface 304b. The concave foot interface 304b and the concave footrest 306b are configured to interface with concave surfaces. In some implementation, the concave footrest 306b can be made of rubber. In some implementations, the concave footrest 306b can include grooves to further increase surface area in contact with the concave surface.

Referring to FIG. 3C, an implementation of the at least support foot 300c configured to interface with convex surfaces is shown. In this implementation, the at least support foot 300c comprises a foot pin 302 with a proximal end 302a and a distal end 302b, a convex foot interface 304c mechanically coupled to the distal end 302b of the foot pin 302, and a convex footrest 306c coupled to the convex foot interface 306c. The convex foot interface 304c and the convex footrest 306c are configured to interface with convex surfaces. In some implementations, the convex footrest 306c can be made of rubber. In some implementations, the convex footrest 306c can include grooves to further increase surface area in contact with the convex surface.

Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of the at least one chain assembly 400 according to an aspect of the dent straightening device 100 is shown. In this implementation. the chain assembly 400 includes a chain 402 comprising a proximal end 402a and a distal end 402b, a hook 204 disposed on the distal end 402b of the chain 402, and a connection apparatus 404 coupled to the proximal end 402a of the chain 402. In this implementation, the chain 402 can be secured to the support shaft 200 via the at least one hook 204 disposed on the elongate body 202 of the support shaft 200 and the connection apparatus 404 or the 204 can be removably coupled to the repair area of the damaged automotive part to straighten the dent or bend. In some implementations, the connection apparatus 404 can be a claw-shaped steel hook configured to couple to the repair area to straighten light bends. In some implementations, the connection apparatus 404 is a J-shaped hook configured to straighten light bends. In some implementations, the chain 402 is made of steel.

While the advantages and preferred implementations of the present invention have been described hereinbefore, those skilled in the art should be understood that the above are merely several illustrative implementations of the present invention without limiting the scope thereof, wherein various modifications, alterations or substitutions may be made to the specific components of the implementations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its claims.