Jam proof lug nut

• US 5,682,801 A
• Filed: 03/26/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas R. Waechter
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Waechter
• Inventors: Waechter, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US08/622,367
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 81/121.1, 81/124.6, 81/186, 411/427, 411/402, 411/410, 411/432, D 8/397
• US Class Current: 81/121.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/065 characterised by the cross-section of the socket
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/00 Nuts or like thread-engaging members specially shaped for rotations by a tool F16B23/00

Abstract

A jam proof lug nut and socket wrench combination. A lug nut has a polygonal shaped tapered main body. The tapered outer surfaces of the main body are arranged at an angle relative to the nut longitudinal axis greater than the interior polygonal surfaces of the socket wrench relative to its axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A lug nut and lug nut wrench jam proof combination for mounting a wheel to a vehicle axle bolt comprising:

a tapered lug nut with a proximal end portion and a distal end and a threaded hole which receives said bolt with said hole extending between said proximal end portion and said distal end with a longitudinal axis extending through said hole, said lug nut having a plurality of outer wrench engaging surfaces defining a lug nut polygonal perimeter which decreases in size along said axis toward said distal end; and

,

a wrench having interior surfaces defining a socket receiving said lug nut with said wrench having an axis of rotation extending centrally through said socket, said interior surfaces contacting said wrench engaging surfaces when said axis of rotation is coincident with said longitudinal axis only along a line of contact extending across each of wrench engaging surfaces with said line contained in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation; and

wherein;

each of said wrench engaging surfaces are contained in separate planes which converge toward said longitudinal axis at a first angle;

each of said interior surfaces are contained in separate planes which converge toward said axis of rotation at a second angle less than said first angle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said socket has a mouth defined by said interior surfaces, said mouth receiving said lug nut and having an interior polygonal cross section greater in cross sectional area than said lug nut polygonal cross section at said distal end but less than said lug nut polygonal cross section at said proximal end portion.