Metal deforming – Tool and/or tool holder – Having unitary tool-face
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2003-04-08
Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
Tool and/or tool holder
Having unitary tool-face
C072S479000, C072S481800, C072S482100, C072S705000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06543270
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES
There are no applications related to this application filed in this or any foreign country.
BACKGROUND
The number of auto body dents increases every year with the increase in traffic, and the cost of the repair of each increases annually due to the cost of labor, materials and other factors.
The difficulty in repairing auto body dents is also increasing, due to the complexity found in late model cars. For example, while the inside surfaces of door panels were previously relatively easy to access, the inclusion of power locks, power windows, side air bags, impact-absorbing structures and other equipment has made access to the inside surface more difficult. As a result, known tools are frequently inadequate for the job, and as a result it is often the case that entire panels cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Additionally, it is frequently the case that a wide variety of prior art tools must be purchased, so that, when needed, a tool of the correct size and shape will be available.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an auto body dent repair tool that can be used to repair a wide variety of dents, in a wide variety of locations, in a wide variety of vehicles with differing option packages, configuration and equipment. The auto body dent repair tool must be easily re-configurable and adjustable to extend into a variety of difficult-to-reach areas. Additionally, the auto body dent repair tool must be adapted for use with a wide variety of interchangeable tips. And further, the auto body dent repair tool must include an articulating shaft, which allows adjustment to conform to the particular needs of any given application.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above needs. A novel kit of parts comprising an auto body dent repair tool
10
is disclosed that can be used to repair a wide variety of dents, in a wide variety of locations, in a wide variety of vehicles with differing option packages, configuration and equipment. The auto body dent repair tool is easily re-configurable and adjustable to extend into a variety of difficult-to-reach areas; is adapted for use with a wide variety of interchangeable tips; and further, includes an articulating shaft, which allows adjustment to conform to the particular needs of any given application.
A kit of parts for auto body dent repair, comprises an auto body dent repair tool
10
of the present invention, provides some or all of the following structures.
(A) A plurality of tool bodies, wherein each tool body includes some or all of the following structures.
(a) A rearward shaft
20
may include a compound
21
or simple shaft
25
. The compound shaft includes forward and rearward portions
22
,
23
separated by a fixed joint
24
, while the simple shaft includes no fixed joint. A rear end
26
of the rearward shaft is attached to a handle
60
. A forward end
28
carries an adjustable fastener
29
, which is attachable to a forward shaft
40
or an integral dent repair tip
50
.
(b) A forward shaft
40
may be pivoted to a desired angle with respect to the rearward shaft, and then secured in place. An adjustable fastener
41
, carried by a rearward portion of the forward shaft, mates with the similar fastener
29
carried by the rearward shaft. The angle is selected based on the configuration of the auto body panel having a dent to be removed. A tip fastener peg
45
is carried by a forward portion of the forward shaft, and allows attachment of any of a variety of tips
80
.
(c) A handle
60
is carried by a rearward portion
23
of the rearward shaft
20
. The handle allows the user to firmly grasp the auto body dent repair tool
10
during operation.
(B) A plurality of integral dent repair tips
50
, wherein each integral dent repair tip may be installed on the adjustable fastener
29
of the rearward shaft
20
as an alternative to the forward shaft
40
and a tip
80
. The integral dent repair tip provides functionality that is similar to that of the forward shaft
40
and tip
80
.
(C) A plurality of tips
80
, wherein any of a plurality of tips may be attached to the tip fastener peg
45
of the forward shaft
40
. The tip attached at any given time is selected after reflection on the size, shape and nature of the dent and the nature of the access to the dent. In a preferred embodiment of the kit of parts the tips include: a cylinder with half-sphere end, a small, mid-sized and large cylinders with rounded end, a cylinder with conical end, and small, mid-sized and large spheres.
It is therefore a primary advantage of the present invention to provide a kit of parts comprising a novel auto body dent repair tool, wherein the kit of parts can be adapted and adjusted for use in repairing a wide variety of dents, in a wide variety of locations, in a wide variety of vehicles with differing option packages, configuration and equipment.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a kit of parts comprising a novel auto body dent repair tool that may be configured in many ways, and is therefore more efficient and cost effective than conventional dent repair tools.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a kit of parts comprising a novel auto body dent repair tool, which provides a rearward compound shaft in combination with an adjustable forward shaft, and thereby results in greater flexibility and more convenient use.
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patent: 2795983 (1957-06-01), Killius
patent: 2957376 (1960-10-01), Parisi
patent: 3091983 (1963-06-01), Kliss
patent: 3541835 (1970-11-01), Hunnicutt
patent: 4235090 (1980-11-01), Wightman et al.
patent: 4461192 (1984-07-01), Suligoy et al.
patent: 4502317 (1985-03-01), Hultquist
patent: 4503701 (1985-03-01), Hardy
patent: 5329802 (1994-07-01), Nunez
patent: 5461900 (1995-10-01), Gutierrez
patent: 5769395 (1998-06-01), Patti
patent: 6234049 (2001-05-01), Ju et al.
patent: 6347564 (2002-02-01), Ciocca
patent: 6405620 (2002-06-01), Liao
Thompson David S.
Tolan Ed
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