Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Rigid jaws
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-11-27
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Rigid jaws
C411S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321623
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed towards a fastening device and, more specifically, for a lug nut for holding a wheel on a vehicle axle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lug nuts are commonly used for mounting and holding a tire on a vehicle. The nuts are installed or removed either with a manual tire wrench or a power-driven socket wrench. Typical lug nuts are hexagonal in shape and employ a correspondingly shaped mated socket for attaching and removing the lug nuts.
Within the field of automobile racing, periodic pit stops are required during the race to allow for refueling and changing of the vehicle's tires. The duration of a pit stop may be of critical importance. As such, time is of the essence as a typical pit crew tries to refuel a vehicle and change all four vehicle tires within a 15-20 second time window. To accomplish this as rapidly as possible, power socket wrenches are used to remove and secure the lug nuts. The typical lug nut used on the automotive racing circuit is sized to fit the dimensions of a mated socket wrench. If the lug nut is improperly positioned within the socket, the lug nut may be ejected from the socket as the socket wrench is rotated. Further, the alignment of the lug nut to the mated socket can be time consuming since tight tolerances exist between a typical lug nut and socket. Such delays are costly in terms of the duration of the pit stop.
One technique commonly used by a pit crew is to fasten the lug nuts over the openings in a spare tire prior to a pit stop so that the pit crew is not required to manually place the lug nuts on the studs of the wheel hub. To accomplish this, an adhesive material, such as a caulking product or adhesive tab, is used to position the lug nuts in position opposite the mounting bores defined by the wheel. Once positioned, the wheel, having the pre-aligned lug nuts positioned over the mounting bores, is ready for immediate mounting onto the wheel hub.
In the context of a race car pit stop, the socket wrench is typically rotating prior to contacting the lug nut. At times, the lug nut will become jammed within the socket, particularly if the lug nut is engaged at a slight angle. In other instances, while the lug nut may not jam within the socket, the rotating socket will contact the lug nut in such a manner that the lug nut will fly off in various directions. In either instance, the delay results in an extended pit stop, thereby increasing the difficulty of running a competitive race.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved nut/socket wrench combination which will alleviate the jamming of a lug nut within the socket and decrease the loss of a lug nut during installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a lug nut for holding a tire rim on a bolt extending from an axle mount. The lug nut comprises a tapered main body with a plurality of rounded, raised wrench engaging surfaces. The main body of the nut includes a proximal end which abuts against the wheel mounting surface and a distal end. A threaded hole extends from the proximal end toward the distal end along a longitudinal axis defined by the hole. The main body is further tapered and includes a star-shaped exterior section which decreases in size along the axis toward the distal end.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a lug nut wrench and lug nut combination adapted for engaging the nut described above. A wrench is provided having interior surfaces defining a socket for receiving the lug nut. The interior surface of the wrench contacts a star-shaped exterior of the lug nut along a portion of a curved shoulder defined alongside a series of spaced terminal ridges. The curved shoulder adjacent each raised ridge provides a contact surface for the engaging surfaces of the wrench. The overall taper of the lug nut allows an initially misaligned wrench sufficient play such that the operator may rock the wrench socket relative to the lug nut so as to prevent jamming and to complete the insertion or removal of the lug nut from the bolt.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lug nut which deters theft. The present invention requires a specialized mated tool to remove a tightened lug nut. Accordingly, the present invention is useful for vehicle tires, and particularly for externally mounted spare tires which are susceptible to theft. In particular, car dealers have a need for a tamper-resistant lug nut which may be used to secure exterior spare tires, as such tires are prone to theft off the dealer's lot.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims.
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Dykes James R.
Hicklin Scott
Dority & Manning PA
Hail III Joseph J.
The Jendyk Company, Inc.
Thomas David B.
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