Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Rigid jaws
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-10-02
Meislin, D. S. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Rigid jaws
C081S125100, C007S151000, C007S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295897
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a hand tool that is useful in the adjusting, repairing and/or replacing of parts on skateboards. More specifically, the present invention relates to a skateboard tool having at least three variously-sized sockets and, optionally, a bottle opener.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Skateboards are well known and currently used by individuals for purposes of exercise, recreation and competition. Various skateboard designs are known in the art. Traditional skateboards typically comprise a longitudinally elongated, roughly planar platform having on the bottom surface two straight axles positioned transversely across each end of the platform. The axles are mounted to the bottom surface of the platform by a truck. Wheels pivotally mounted on the ends of the axles provide a motive base.
There are a variety of commercially available wheels, boards and trucks. In addition to there being a number of truck manufacturers, there are a number of different types and designs of trucks that are used for different skateboarding conditions. For example, there may be a truck type that is particularly adapted to a certain riding mode (e.g., stairs, railings, bowls, spines or pipes) that is unsuitable for other courses or riding modes. This is due in part to the tightness or softness of the truck pivoting assembly, the size of the truck, and the type of wheels. Trucks also generally have a tightness adjustment so that the same truck can be tightened up to require more turning force. Thus, the same trucks can be used to cover a range of skateboarding conditions.
However, despite the fact that trucks are generally adjustable, a competition rider may have several truck sets that he/she will switch on and off of the board during the course of the various events in a typical skateboarding competition. Additionally, the rider typically needs to periodically adjust the tension on the truck, and tighten any nuts or bolts that may loosen during use. Also, in order to keep their boards in good working order, skateboarders must periodically replace worn out parts, such as wheels and wheel bearings, so that their skateboards may continue to function properly.
Nuts and bolts of various sizes are used for adjusting the truck, securing the truck to the board and for securing the wheels onto the ends of the axles. These nuts and bolts often have limited accessibility (i.e., are in tight spaces) and, thus, can be very difficult and cumbersome to loosen or remove using traditional pliers or wrenches. Even dedicated skateboard tools that are currently available are not ideal in this respect. In particular, the nut or bolt used to secure the truck to the board (typically, ⅜″ hexagonal socket size) is usually difficult to directly access because of a proximal lip or overhang found on many popular truck designs.
For definitional purposes, a nut or bolt used to secure a truck to a board is referred to herein as a “truck fastener” and a socket used for adjusting a truck fastener is referred to herein as a “truck fastener socket.”
Currently available skateboard tools are usually generally T-shaped and consist of three arms. Socket heads having sockets of various sizes are located at the ends the arms. However, each of the sockets is generally aligned with an arm (i.e., the center axis of the socket is co-linear or at least parallel with the longitudinal axis of the arm to which it is attached). As a result, these tools are cumbersome to use in tight spaces or where direct in-line access to the nut or bolt is restricted (i.e., where access is best made from the side, preferably diagonally, instead of in-line, as in a conventional screwdriver). Examples of such tool designs are illustrated in Design U.S. Pat. No. 308,327 and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,736, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a skateboard tool having sockets that facilitate use with the various nuts and bolts found on skateboards, especially where there may be limited access. In particular, there is a need for a skateboard tool having a truck fastener socket (usually, ⅜″ socket size) which is oriented to permit access to a truck fastener despite the proximal lip or overhang found on many contemporary truck designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the foregoing needs by providing a skateboard tool comprising a rod on which are mounted at least three variously-sized sockets. Importantly, the truck fastener socket of the instant tool is not aligned with the rod. Rather, the truck fastener socket is oriented at an appropriate angle, such that the rod extends outward diagonally when the socket is fitted over a truck fastener and is free from significant interference from the above-described lip or overhang. In addition, the skateboard tool optionally includes means for removing a bottle cap (e.g., a cut-away portion useful as a bottle opener).
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to a multi-socket hand tool for use with a skateboard. The tool includes a rod having a first end and a second end. A first socket head is mounted to the first end, wherein the first socket head defines a first socket. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first socket and the longitudinal axis of the rod is preferably between about 95° and about 135°. This range of angles permits the first socket head to access the truck fastener without significant interference from the proximal lip or overhang found on many contemporary skateboard truck designs. Second and third socket heads are mounted to the second end of the rod, wherein the second and third socket heads define second and third sockets, respectively.
The skateboard tool preferably has a rod between about 0.5″ and about 6″ in length for compactness and convenience. The rod is preferably generally linear and, most preferably, is generally cylindrical. Preferably, the longitudinal axes of the rod and the three sockets are approximately co-planar, so that the tool is generally flat.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second and third sockets are generally oppositely-directed. For example, the second and third socket heads may be integral (one-piece) so as to resemble a double-headed socket head where, for example, the longitudinal axes of the second socket and the third socket are approximately co-linear.
The first socket is preferably hexagonal and approximately ⅜″, so as to be useful as a truck fastener socket. In a preferred embodiment, the first, second and third sockets have different sizes. In one embodiment, the three sockets are hexagonal and the size of the first socket is approximately ⅜″ and the sizes of the second and third sockets are, in either order, approximately ½″ and approximately {fraction (9/16)}″.
The tool preferably comprises a metal or a metal alloy, such as a steel or steel alloy. The tool may be one-piece (i.e., integral), such as where the tool is cast metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the tool may be made up of two or more parts that are welded or braized, or otherwise bonded, fitted or attached together. For example, in certain embodiments, one or more of the first, second or third socket heads can be mounted to the rod by welding.
In certain embodiments, the skateboard tool may, optionally, further comprise means for removing a bottle cap (i.e., a bottle opener). In one embodiment, the bottle cap removing means defines a diagonal notch in the double-headed socket head, which can be made, for example, by standard machining techniques.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 224677 (1972-08-01), Lehnhard
patent: D. 241114 (1976-08-01), Hess
patent: D. 243506 (1977-03-01), Hess
patent: D. 278510 (1985-04-01), Schoeberlein
patent: D. 308327 (1990-06-01), Klippel
patent: 3872527 (1975-03-01), Tregoing
patent: 4089077 (1978-05-01), Morton
patent: 4560344 (1985-12-01), Kietaibl
patent: 4569653 (1986-02-01), Becker et al.
patent: 4774736 (
Barker Matthew J.
Beagle Joshua Z.
Swank Tod
Meislin D. S.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Tum Yeto, Inc.
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