Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Including means to relatively position plural work parts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-01-09
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Including means to relatively position plural work parts
C029S283000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170142
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a manually operated hand tool for assembling and disassembling the links of a sprocket roller chain. More specifically it relates to such a tool for holding and retaining a link roller chain in place so that the chain can be assembled or disassembled to remove or replace link plates, rollers, link pins, or a link assembly of a roller chain.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art tools exist for performing repairs on roller chains and on other roller chains. Such tools include roller chain tighteners, pin and link removing tools, positioning tools, chain clamps and the like. Prior art roller chain link retainers have either had movable jaws, or flanges, or stationary prongs, or pegs or blocks to fit between rollers. They are usually either extremely unwieldy, or have difficulty in restraining the roller chain, or are a combined restraining and repair device which is not convenient to use for either purpose or function. Many prior art devices are unsuitable for in situ repairs on a bicycle, or they do not perform their function satisfactorily, or are difficult to hold while attaching to a roller chain.
It is therefore seen that the prior art fails to teach or suggest a tool which is designed to be lightweight, hand held, easy to grip, and compact, thereby facilitating easy use and storage. Furthermore, the prior art fails to teach or suggest such a tool which provides a needed function at a relatively inexpensive cost for the repair of a roller chain. Neither does the prior art teach nor suggest a tool that makes the repair task less difficult and reduces the time that it takes to perform repairs, nor does it describe such a tool that grips the chain and restrains it, thus freeing a persons hands to concentrate on the repair action versus having to hold the chain together and perform the repairs at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tool which is designed to be lightweight, hand held, easy to grip, and compact, for use in quickly, easily and releasably securing a roller chain during a repair operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a tool which has little bulk, and which is lightweight and easily stored.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide such a tool which has specific utility for use in a roller chain repair operation.
It is yet a further another object of the present invention to provide such a preformed tool which makes the repair task less difficult and reduces the time it takes to perform repairs.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a tool which grips the chain and restrains it, thus freeing a persons hands to concentrate on the repair action versus having to hold the chain together and perform the repairs at the same time.
As noted above, the present invention relates generally to a manually operated preformed, unitary hand tool for assembling and disassembling the links of a roller chain. More specifically it relates to such a tool which has a single function, to hold and retain a link roller chain in place so that the chain can be assembled or disassembled under tension in situ. It thereby enables the removal or replacement of link plates, rollers, link pins or a link assembly of a roller chain.
The unitary, hand held tool of the present invention is comprised of a substantially linear body portion having first and second ends. The body has a length dimension which is sufficient to span the distance between the centers of at least three outer link plates of a multi-link roller chain. The first and second fixed prongs emanate from, are integral with the linear body portion, and are preferably angled towards one another. The fixed prong adjacent to the first end of the body portion, and the second fixed prong adjacent to the second end of the body portion extend from the linear body portion in substantially the same plane. The prongs are dimensioned to fit into the openings between spaced apart rollers of a multi-link roller chain, and long enough to secure such spaced apart rollers when fit into such openings. In preferred embodiments there is a curved surface between the first fixed prong and the body portion and also a curved surface between the second fixed prong and the body portion, each curved surface having an inner diameter at least equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the rollers of the multi-link roller chain with which it is to be used. As a result, when the fixed prongs of the hand held unitary tool are placed in the openings of spaced apart rollers, the rollers are seated within the curved surfaces.
The unitary hand held tool of the present invention is useful for holding in place and retaining a multi-link roller chain having openings between the rollers so that the chain can be assembled or disassembled in situ to enable the removal or replacement of link plates, rollers, link pins, or a link assembly. The unitary tool is manufactured from a strong lightweight material.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, showing the contemplated novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.
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The Third Hand Bicycle Tools Catalog, Winter 1996-97, p. 24.
Margolis Donald W.
Scherbel David A.
Shanley Daniel
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