Tool and method for reorienting a flange

• US 6,609,406 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Staquet, Edward T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/201,231
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 724/79, 721/76, 724/58, 29/34.R, 292/75, 292/435.7, 292/435.8
• US Class Current: 72/479
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/025 Hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53713 Belt-hook attacher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5393 Means comprising impact receiving tool

Abstract

A tool for reorienting a flange is disclosed. The tool reorients the flange from a first angle of orientation to a second angle of orientation and comprises a support member that further comprises a guide member; and a shoe maintained in a desired orientation by the support member. The shoe defines a reorienting surface, and the reorienting surface further comprising: a leading reorienting surface for progressively reorienting the flange to an intermediate angle of orientation between the first and second angles of orientation, and a trailing reorienting surface, the trailing reorienting surface being located proximate the guide member to define a reorienting gap therebetween, said reorienting gap adapted to permit passage of the flange therethrough, said flange being reoriented to the second angle as it exits the reorienting gap.

Claims

1. A vehicle door skin replacement repair tool for reorienting a vehicle door hem flange member of a vehicle door skin from an open-first angle of orientation with a vehicle door frame having a bead of adhesive, said vehicle door frame between said vehicle door skin and said vehicle door hem flange member,—

to a closed second angle of orientation with the adhesive sandwiched between the vehicle door hem flange and the vehicle door frame, the vehicle door skin replacement repair tool comprising a single unitary forged metal tool body including;

a L-shaped guide support with an upwardly extending support member and a guide member, said guide member substantially perpendicular to said support member, said support member and said guide member defining a vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior and

a shoe member supported by said upwardly extending support member, said shoe member extending outwardly from said support member into said vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior, said shoe member spaced away from said guide member, said shoe member having a unitary reorienting surface that has a substantially semi-frustoconical leading reorienting surface and a trailing portion which includes a substantially planar trailing reorienting surface, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface substantially parallel to said guide member, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface and said parallel guide member defining a trailing reorienting gap therebetween, said shoe member leading reorienting surface progressively tapered down to said trailing reorienting surface wherein said reorienting surface progressively reorients said vehicle door hem flange member from said open first angle of orientation into contact with said bead of adhesive and squeezes said adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame with said vehicle door frame interleaved between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door skin into said closed second angle of orientation with the adhesive sandwiched between the vehicle door hem flange and the vehicle door frame, said trailing reorienting gap sized and adapted to permit progressively exiting passage of said interleaved closed second angle of orientation vehicle door skin, vehicle door frame, vehicle door hem flange member and squeezed adhesive from said unitary metal tool body.

2. A method of replacement repairing a vehicle door skin, said method comprising:

providing a vehicle door hem flange member of a vehicle door skin with an open first angle of orientation with a vehicle door frame having a bead of adhesive, said vehicle door frame between said vehicle door skin and said vehicle door hem flange member,

providing a vehicle door skin replacement repair tool having a single unitary forged metal tool body including a L-shaped guide support with an upwardly extending support member and a guide member, said guide member substantially perpendicular to said support member, said support member and said guide member defining a vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior; and

a shoe member supported by said upwardly extending support member, said shoe member extending outwardly from said support member into said vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior, said shoe member spaced away from said guide member, said shoe member having a unitary reorienting surface that has a substantially semi-frustoconical leading reorienting surface and a trailing portion which includes a substantially planar trailing reorienting surface, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface substantially parallel to said guide member, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface and said parallel guide member defining a trailing reorienting gap therebetween, said shoe member leading reorienting surface progressively tapered down to said trailing reorienting surface,

progressively displacing said provided vehicle door skin replacement repair tool along said open first angle of orientation vehicle door hem flange member wherein said reorienting surface progressively reorients said vehicle door hem flange member from said open first angle of orientation into contact with said bead of adhesive and squeezes said adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame with said vehicle door frame interleaved between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door skin into a closed second angle of orientation with the adhesive sandwiched between the vehicle door hem flange and the vehicle door frame, said interleaved closed second angle of orientation vehicle door skin, vehicle door frame, vehicle door hem flange member and squeezed adhesive bead progressively exiting from said unitary metal tool body through said trailing reorienting gap with said trailing reorienting gap sized and adapted to permit said progressively exiting of said interleaved closed second angle of orientation vehicle door skin, vehicle door frame, vehicle door hem flange member and squeezed adhesive from said unitary metal tool body.

3. A method of replacement repairing a vehicle door skin, said method comprising:

providing a vehicle door hem flange member of a vehicle door skin with an open first angle of orientation with a vehicle door frame, said vehicle door frame between said vehicle door skin and said vehicle door hem flange member,

providing a bead of adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame,

providing a vehicle door skin replacement repair tool having a single unitary metal tool body including a L-shaped guide support with an upwardly extending support member and a guide member, said guide member substantially perpendicular to said support member, said support member and said guide member defining a vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior; and

a shoe member supported by said upwardly extending support member, said shoe member extending outwardly from said support member into said vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior, said shoe member spaced away from said guide member, said shoe member having a unitary reorienting surface that has a substantially semi-frustoconical leading reorienting surface and a trailing portion which includes a substantially planar trailing reorienting surface, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface substantially parallel to said guide member, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface and said parallel guide member defining a trailing reorienting gap therebetween, said shoe member leading reorienting surface progressively tapered down to said trailing reorienting surface, progressively displacing said provided vehicle door skin replacement repair tool along said open first angle of orientation vehicle door hem flange member wherein said reorienting surface progressively reorients said vehicle door hem flange member from said open first angle of orientation into contact with said bead of adhesive and squeezes said adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame with said vehicle door frame interleaved between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door skin into a closed second angle of orientation with the adhesive sandwiched between the vehicle door hem flange and the vehicle door frame, said interleaved closed second angle of orientation vehicle door skin, vehicle door frame, vehicle door hem flange member and squeezed adhesive bead progressively exiting from said unitary metal tool body through said trailing reorienting gap.

4. A method of replacement repairing a vehicle door skin, said method comprising:

providing a vehicle door hem flange member of a vehicle door skin with an open first angle of orientation with a vehicle door frame, said vehicle door frame between said vehicle door skin and said vehicle door hem flange member,

providing a bead of adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame,

providing a vehicle door skin replacement repair tool having a unitary metal tool body including a guide support with an upwardly extending support member and a guide member, said support member and said guide member defining a vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior; and

a shoe member supported by said upwardly extending support member, said shoe member extending outwardly from said support member into said vehicle door hem flange reorienting tool interior, said shoe member spaced away from said guide member, said shoe member having a unitary reorienting surface that has a leading reorienting surface for initial contact with said hem flange member and a trailing portion which includes a substantially planar trailing reorienting surface, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface substantially parallel to said guide member, said substantially planar trailing reorienting surface and said parallel guide member defining a trailing reorienting gap therebetween, said shoe member leading reorienting surface progressively tapered down to said trailing reorienting surface,

progressively displacing said provided vehicle door skin replacement repair tool along said open first angle of orientation vehicle door hem flange member wherein said leading reorienting surface progressively reorients said vehicle door hem flange member from said open first angle of orientation into contact with said bead of adhesive at an intermediate orientation angle and squeezes said adhesive between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door frame with said vehicle door frame interleaved between said vehicle door hem flange member and said vehicle door skin into a closed second angle of orientation with the adhesive sandwiched between the vehicle door hem flange and the vehicle door frame, said interleaved closed second angle of orientation vehicle door skin, vehicle door frame, vehicle door hem flange member and squeezed adhesive progressively exiting from said unitary metal tool body through said trailing reorienting gap with a closed final angle of orientation.