Dent repair tool and method

• US 20030005745A1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darryl D. Domino
• Original Assignee: Darryl D. Domino
• Inventors: Domino, Darryl D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,612,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 72/705
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/06 Removing local distortions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 72/705 Vehicle body or frame straightener

Abstract

A dent repair tool has a motor tool having a body and a motor shaft capable of spinning, an elongated inner shaft connected at its proximal end to the motor tool positioned within an elongated outer shaft, and separated from the outer shaft by bushings; and a working head releasably connected to the distal end of the inner shaft. The working head may take any of several forms, including a circular disk having curved protrusions disposed regularly around the perimeter of the disk, an elliptical plate, a triangular plate having rounded vertices and concave sides, and a square plate having rounded corners and concave sides. A system for repairing a dent in sheet metal includes urging the spinning working head of the dent repair tool against a raised portion of dented sheet metal to reduce or eliminate a dent. A method for repairing sheet metal having a dent includes the steps of reducing or eliminating the dent by applying force by means of a rotating perimeter side of a spinning working head to a surface of the sheet metal at the location of raised sheet metal formed by the dent. The method may further include generating a reflection from a front surface of the sheet metal at the location of the dent while the act of reducing or eliminating the dent is being performed, the reflection becoming more ordered as the dent is reduced or eliminated.

Claims

1. A repair tool for repairing a dent in sheet metal, the tool comprising:

a motor tool having a body and further having a motor shaft capable of spinning;

an inner shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the motor shaft;

an outer shaft connected to the body of the motor tool, the inner shaft disposed within the outer shaft;

a working head connected to the distal end of the inner shaft; and

spacing means for maintaining alignment of the inner shaft within the outer shaft during spinning of the inner shaft.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the working head comprises a circular disk having curved protrusions disposed regularly around the perimeter of the disk.

3. The tool according to claim 2, wherein the circular disk has at least three curved protrusions.

4. The tool according to claim 3, wherein the circular disk has at least four curved protrusions.

5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the working head comprises an elliptical plate.

6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the working head comprises a triangular plate having rounded vertices and concave sides.

7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the working head comprises a square-shaped plate having rounded corners and concave sides.

10. A system for repairing a dent in sheet metal, the system comprising:

a repair tool according to claim 1; and

spinning the working head and urging the perimeter side of the working head against a raised portion of sheet metal.

8. A method for repairing sheet metal having a dent, the method comprising the act of:

reducing or eliminating the dent by applying force, by means of a rotating edge of a spinning working head, to a raised surface of the sheet metal at the location of the dent.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the act of:

generating a reflection from a front surface of the sheet metal at the location of the dent while the reducing or eliminating act is being performed, the reflection becoming more ordered as the dent is reduced or eliminated.