Lug wrench

• US 6,662,688 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hornet Tool Company
• Original Assignee: Hornet Tool Company
• Inventors: Avery, Bryan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shakeri, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US10/265,749
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 811/245, 811/244, 811/246, 811/247, 811/771, 811/776, 811/778, 811/772, 811/775, 811/777, 811/778.5, 710/0, D 8/21
• US Class Current: 81/124.5
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/005 Cross wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/005 hand-driven operating with multiplicated forces B60B29/004 takes precedence; hand-driven gear-operated wrenches per se B25B17/00, with torque amplification B25B17/02

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved lug wrench. In one embodiment, the lug wrench includes a first arm connected to a mounting member, two foldable arms connected to the first arm, and a fourth detachable arm capable of attaching to the mounting member in a first and second positions. The lug wrench can form a cross-shape by extending the foldable arms such that they are substantially perpendicular to the first arm and attaching the fourth detachable arm to the mounting member in the first position such that it is substantially perpendicular to the foldable arms. The size of the lug wrench can be minimized by folding the foldable arms and attaching the fourth detachable arm to the mounting member in the second position such that they are substantially parallel to the first arm. Other embodiments include ratcheting without folding and optional tire cover removal and hammer head attachments.

Claims

1. An improved lug wrench comprising:

a first arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said fist end contains a first attachment stub and said second end contains a mounting member wherein said mounting member contains a second attachment stub and a third attachment stub;

a second foldable arm comprising a first end having a fourth attachment stub and a second end foldably attached to said first arm, wherein said second foldable arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm when extended;

a third foldable arm comprising a first end having a fifth attachment stub and a second end foldably attached to slid first arm, wherein said third foldable arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm when extended; and

a detachable arm comprising a first end adapted to connect to said second or third attachment stub and a second end having a sixth attachment stub, wherein said detachable arm is substantially in line with said first arm when attached to said second attachment stub and substantially parallel to said first arm when attached to said third attachment stub.

2. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, wherein said second foldable arm and said third foldable arm are substantially parallel to said first arm when folded.

3. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, wherein said mounting member further contains a seventh attachment stub.

4. The improved lug wrench of claim 3, further comprising a detachable tire cover removal tool adapted to connect to said seventh attachment stub such that said detachable tire cover removal tool is substantially parallel to said first arm when connected to said seventh attachment stub.

5. The improved lug wrench of claim 4, wherein said mounting member further contains an eighth attachment stub.

6. The improved lug wrench of claim 5, further comprising a detachable handle comprising a first end adapted to connect to said eighth attachment stub and a second end having a ninth attachment stub, wherein said detachable handle is substantially parallel to said first arm when attached to said eighth attachment stub.

7. The improved lug wrench of claim 6, further comprising a detachable hammer head having a first socket adapted to connect to said ninth attachment stub such that said detachable hammer head is perpendicular to said detachable handle.

8. The improved lug wrench of claim 7, wherein said detachable hammer head has and a second socket adapted to connect to said ninth attachment stub such that said detachable hammer head is in line with said detachable handle.

9. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, further comprises at least one socket adapted to connect to any of said first, fourth, fifth, or sixth attachment stubs.

10. The improved lug wrench of claim 9, wherein each of said at least one socket are all different sized sockets.

11. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, farther comprising a coupling member attached to said first arm and adapted to foldably attach said second end of said second foldable arm to said first arm and foldably attach said second end of said third foldable arm to said first arm.

12. The improved lug wrench of claim 11, wherein said second foldable arm further comprises a first slidable sleeve adapted to lock said second foldable arm in its extended position and said third foldable arm further comprises a second slidable sleeve adapted to lock said third foldable arm in its extended position.

13. The improved lug wrench of claim 12, wherein said second foldable arm is further adapted to limit the movement of said first slidable sleeve such that said first slidable sleeve cannot be removed from said second foldable arm, and wherein said third foldable arm is further adapted to limit the movement of said second slidable sleeve such that said second slidable sleeve cannot be removed from said third foldable arm.

14. The improved log wrench of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth attachment stubs are selected from the group comprising:

a spring-loaded ball attachment stub and a spring-loaded pill attachment stub.

15. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, wherein said first arm comprises a ratcheting member.

16. The improved lug wrench of claim 15, wherein said second attachment stub is it part of said ratcheting member.

17. The improved lug wrench of claim 15, wherein said second foldable arm and said third foldable arm are substantially parallel to said first arm when folded.

18. The improved lug wrench of claim 15, wherein said mounting member further contains a seventh attachment stub.

19. The improved lug wrench of claim 18, further comprising a detachable tire cover removal tool adapted to connect to said seventh attachment stub such that said detachable tire cover removal tool is substantially parallel to said first arm when connected to said seventh attachment stub.

20. The improved lug wrench of claim 19, wherein said mounting member furthers contains an eighth attachment stub.

21. The improved lug wrench of claim 20, further comprising a detachable handle comprising a first end adapted to connect to said eighth attachment stub and a second end having a ninth attachment stub, wherein said detachable handle is substantially parallel to said first arm when attached to said eighth attachment stub.

22. The imp roved lug wrench of claim 21, further comprising a detachable hammer head having a first socket adapted to connect to said ninth attachment stub such that said detachable hammer head is perpendicular to said detachable handle.

23. The improved lug wrench of claim 22, wherein said detachable hammer head has and a second socket adapted to connect to said ninth attachment stub such that said detachable hammer head is in line with said detachable handle.

24. The improved lug wrench of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of sockets adapted to connect to any of said first, fourth, fifth, or sixth attachment stubs.

25. The improved lug wrench of claim 15, further comprising a coupling member attached to said first arm and adapted to foldably attach said second end of said second foldable arm to said first arm and foldably attach said second end of said third foldable arm to said first arm.

26. The improved lug wrench of claim 25, wherein said second foldable arm further comprises a first slidable sleeve adapted to lock said second foldable arm in its extended position and said third foldable arm further comprises a second slidable sleeve adapted to lock said third foldable arm in its extended position.

27. The improved lug wrench of claim 26 wherein said second foldable arm is further adapted to limit the movement of said first slidable sleeve such that said first slidable sleeve cannot be removed from said second foldable arm, further wherein said third foldable arm is further adapted to limit the movement of said second slidable sleeve such that said second slidable sleeve cannot be removed from said third foldable arm.

28. The improved lug wrench of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth attachment stubs are selected from the group comprising:

a spring-loaded ball attachment stub and a spring-loaded pin attachment stub.

29. The improved lug wrench of claim 28, further comprising a pin releasing tool having a first end adapted to release said spring-loaded pin attachment stub and a second end having a seventh attachment stub and wherein said mounting member has a socket adapted to receive said seventh attachment stub.

30. A lug wrench, comprising:

a first arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end contains a first attachment stub and said second end contains a mounting member wherein said mounting member contains a second attachment stub;

a second arm comprising a first end having a third attachment stub and a second end attached to said first arm wherein said second arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm;

a third arm comprising a first end having a fourth attachment stub and a second end attached to said first arm, wherein said third arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm;

a fourth arm comprising a first end having a fifth attachment stub and a second end attached to said second end of said first arm, wherein said fourth arm is substantially perpendicular to said second arm and said third arm; and

a detachable tire cover removal tool adapted to connect to said second attachment stub such that said detachable tire cover removal tool is substantially parallel to first arm when connected to said second attachment stub.

31. The lug wrench of claim 30, wherein said detachable tire cover removal tool comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is adapted to connect to said second attachment stub and said second end has a pointed edge.

32. A lug wrench, comprising:

a first arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first end contains a first attachment stub and said second end contains a mounting member wherein said mounting member contains a second attachment stub;

a second arm comprising a first end having a fourth attachment stub and a second end attached to said first arm, wherein said second arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm;

a third arm comprising a first end having a fifth attachment stub and a second end attached to said first arms wherein said third arm is substantially perpendicular to said first arm; and

a fourth arm comprising a first end having a sixth attachment stub and a second end attach to said first are, wherein said fourth arm is substantially in line with said first arm;

a detachable handle comprising a first end adapted to connect to said second attachment stub and a second end having a third attachment stub, wherein said detachable handle is substantially parallel to said first arm when attached to said second attachment stub; and

a detachable hammer head adapted to connect to said third attachment stub.

33. The lug wrench of claim 32, wherein said detachable hammer head has a first socket adapted to connect to said third attachment stub such that said hammer head is perpendicular to said detachable handle.

34. The lug wrench of claim 33, wherein said detachable hammer head has a second socket adapted to connect to said third attachment stub such that said hammer head is in line with said detachable handle.