Lug wrench

• US 4,070,931 A
• Filed: 09/07/1976
• Issued: 01/31/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Jr. Florko
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Jr. Florko
• Inventors: Florko, Nicholas Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Jr., James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US05/720,815
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 7/1 E, 81/52.3, 81/177 A, 81/177 B
• US Class Current: 81/121.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/06 of socket type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 19/00 Impact wrenches or screwdrivers portable power-driven B25B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque

Abstract

A lug wrench for removing automobile wheel lug nuts from wheel lugs includes a socket or means for holding a socket which fits such nuts, turning means, fastened to or integral with said socket or socket holding means and connectable lever means, the turning means including a cylindrical rod portion extending in a direction opposite to that of the wheel lug and offset from it and acting as a fulcrum, and a bearing portion, against which the lever can bear to turn the socket, and the lever having a collar at an end thereof and a handle portion at an opposite end, the collar being adapted to fit about the fulcrum rod of the turning means and the lever being adapted to bear against the bearing portion of the turning means to turn the socket with balanced forces thereon when a force is applied to the handle of the lever.

Claims

1. A lug wrench which comprises a socket for gripping a lug nut or lug head, turning means held to said socket for turning it, said turning means having two parts, first and second parts, extending at least partially opposite to the direction of the lug when the lug wrench is in operative position, and offset with respect to it, the first part extending parallel with and opposed to the direction of the lug, and lever means connectable to the first part of the turning means in pivotal relationship, rotatable with respect to said first part of the turning means and bearable against the second part thereof, against which it applies a force so as to make a lever with a fulcrum where it is pivotally connected with the first part of the turning means and a point of application of force where it bears against the second part thereof, so that on applying a turning force to an end of such lever away from the fulcrum, the socket, when gripping a lug nut or lug head, applies a balanced turning force to said lug nut or lug head, thus facilitating ready release of a lug nut or a lug without the socket slipping off said lug nut or lug because of application of unbalanced forces thereto.

2. A lug wrench according to claim 1 wherein the first and second parts of the turning means are so located that the distance from the fulcrum to the axis of the socket is about the same as the distance from such axis to the point at which the connectable lever means bears against the second part of the turning means, so that balanced rotational forces are applied to the socket when a turning force is applied to the connectable lever means.

3. A lug wrench according to claim 2 wherein the lever means pivotally connectable with the first part of the turning means includes a collar at an end thereof away from the end at which a force is applied to the lever, which collar and the lever are rotatable about said first part of the turning means, includes a handle or foot contact part away from the collar and extending substantially parallel to the lug direction and away from it and includes a portion extending substantially transversely to the lug direction when said lever means is positioned for use, which portion connects the collar and handle or foot contact part.

4. A lug wrench according to claim 3 wherein the first part of the turning means is of cylindrical shape and the collar part of the connectable lever fits about it closely and rotatably.

5. A lug wrench according to claim 4 wherein the second part of the turning means terminates in a pointed portion for assisting in removing an automobile wheel disc or cover from its position on said wheel.

6. A lug wrench which comprises means for holding a socket for gripping a lug nut or lug head, turning means held to said socket holding means for turning said means, said turning means having two parts, first and second parts, extending at least partially opposite to the direction of the lug when the lug wrench is in operative position and offset with respect to it, the first part extending parallel with and opposed to the direction of the lug, and lever means connectable to the first part of the turning means in pivotal relationship, rotatable with respect to said first part of the turning means and bearable against the second part thereof, against which it applies a force so as to make a lever with a fulcrum where it is pivotally connected with the first part of the turning means and a point of application of force where it bears against the second part thereof, so that on applying a turning force to an end of such lever away from the fulcrum, the socket, when gripping a lug nut or lug head, applies a balanced turning force to said lug nut or lug head, thus facilitating ready release of a lug nut or a lug without the socket slipping off and said lug nut or lug because of application of unbalanced forces thereto.

7. A lug wrench according to claim 6 wherein the first and second parts of the turning means are so located that the distance from the fulcrum to the axis of the socket is about the same as the distance from such axis to the point at which the connectable lever means bears against the second part of the turning means, so that balanced rotational forces are applied to the socket when the turning force is applied to the connectable lever means.

8. A lug wrench according to claim 7 wherein the lever means pivotally connectable with the first part of the turning means includes a collar at an end thereof away from the end at which a force is applied to the lever, which collar and the lever are rotatable about said first part of the turning means, includes a handle or foot contact part away from the collar and extending substantially parallel to the lug direction and away from it and includes a portion extending substantially transversely to the lug direction when said lever means is positioned for use, which portion connects the collar and handle or foot contact part.

9. A lug wrench according to claim 8 wherein the first part of the turning means is of cylindrical shape and the collar part of the connectable lever fits about it closely and rotatably.

10. A lug wrench according to claim 9 wherein the second part of the turning means terminates in a pointed portion for assisting in removing an automobile wheel disc or cover from its position on said wheel.