Apparatus for paintless dent removal

• US 6,957,561 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salomon John Contreras
• Original Assignee: Salomon John Contreras
• Inventors: Contreras, Salomon John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolan, Ed
• Application Number:
  US10/611,536
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 723/907, 724/57, 724/58, 724/59, 724/80, 724/813, 724/818, 727/05
• US Class Current: 72/458
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/06 Removing local distortions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 72/705 Vehicle body or frame straightener

Abstract

A apparatus for the paint-less dent repair of vehicles, for applying a leverage force between a rigid internal structure and an inside surface of a panel to be straightened, is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated lever, a first tool head attached to the elongated lever proximate to the distal end, and a second tool head attached to the lever between the proximal end and the first tool head. The tool heads are attached to opposite sides of the lever facing opposing directions.

Claims

1. A device for the paint-less dent repair of vehicles, for applying a leverage force between a rigid internal structure and an inside surface of a panel to be straightened, comprising:

a first removable tool head, including

a first base, having a first top surface and a first bottom surface,

a first work-piece contacting portion fixed to said first top surface, and

a first rod-like mounting portion having a first mounting end and a first tip support end,

a first central axis extending from the first mounting end to the first tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the first mounting and the first tip support ends, wherein said first tip support end is fixed to said first bottom surface;

a second removable tool head, including

a second base, having a second top surface and a second bottom surface,

a second work-piece contacting portion fixed to said second top surface, and

a second rod-like mounting portion having a second mounting end and a second tip support end,

a second central axis extending from the second mounting end to the second tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the second mounting and the second tip support ends, wherein said second tip support end is fixed to said second bottom surface;

an elongated lever having an upper surface, a lower surface opposing said upper surface,

a first aperture extending through said upper surface, and

a second aperture extending through said lower surface;

a means for attaching the first rod-like mounting portion within said first aperture, such that an angle between said first central axis and said upper surface is between 45 and 91 degrees, wherein said first work-piece contacting portion is above said upper surface; and

a means for attaching the second rod-like mounting portion within said second aperture, such that an angle between said second central axis and said lower surface is between 45 and 91 degrees, wherein said second work-piece contacting portion is below said lower surface.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated lever is comprised of a malleable material, wherein a force required to plastically deform said lever is greater than a force required to straighten a panel.

3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are threaded holes.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are slots.

5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second work-piece contacting portions are made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, carbon fiber composite, fiberglass composite, and solder.

6. A device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second work-piece contacting portions comprise:

an inner core, and

an outer layer;

wherein the inner core is of a harder material than the outer layer.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein

a first dimension between said first bottom surface and said upper surface, and

a second dimension between said second bottom surface and said lower surface, are adjustable.

8. A device for the paint-less dent repair of vehicles, for applying a leverage force between a rigid internal structure and an inside surface of a panel to be straightened, comprising:

a first removable tool head, including

a first work-piece contacting portion, having a first bottom surface,

a first rod-like mounting portion having a first mounting end and a first tip support end,

a first central axis extending from the first mounting end to the first tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the first mounting and the first tip support ends, wherein said first tip support end is fixed to said first bottom surface;

a second removable tool head, including

a second work-piece contacting portion, having a second bottom surface,

a second rod-like mounting portion having a second mounting end and a second tip support end,

a second central axis extending from the second mounting end to the second tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the second mounting and the second tip support ends, wherein said second tip support end is fixed to said second bottom surface;

an elongated lever having an upper surface, a lower surface opposing said upper surface, a first aperture extending through said upper surface, and a second aperture extending through said lower surface;

a means for attaching the first rod-like mounting portion within said first aperture, such that an angle between said first central axis and said upper surface is between 45 and 91 degrees, wherein said first work-piece contacting portion is above said upper surface; and

a means for attaching the second rod-like mounting portion within said second aperture, such that an angle between said second central axis and said lower surface is between 45 and 91 degrees, wherein said second work-piece contacting portion is below said lower surface.

9. A device as recited in claim 8 wherein said elongated lever is comprised of a malleable material, wherein a force required to plastically deform said lever is greater than a force required to straighten a panel.

10. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are threaded holes.

11. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are slots.

12. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and said second work-piece contacting portions are made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, carbon fiber composite, fiberglass composite, and solder.

13. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein said first and second work-piece contacting portions comprise:

an inner core, and

an outer layer;

wherein the inner core is of a harder material than the outer layer.

14. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein

a first dimension between said first bottom surface and said upper surface, and

a second dimension between said second bottom surface and said lower surface, are adjustable.

15. A device for the paint-less dent repair of vehicles, for applying a leverage force between a rigid internal structure and an inside surface of a panel to be straightened, comprising:

a first removable tool head, including

a first base, having a first top surface and a first bottom surface,

a first work-piece contacting portion fixed to said first top surface, and

a first rod-like mounting portion having a first mounting end and a first tip support end,

a first central axis extending from the first mounting end to the first tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the first mounting and the first tip support ends, wherein said first tip support end is fixed to said first bottom surface;

a second removable tool head, including

a second base, having a second top surface and a second bottom surface,

a second work-piece contacting portion fixed to said second top surface, and

a second rod-like mounting portion having a second mounting end and a second tip support end,

a second central axis extending from the second mounting end to the second tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the second mounting and the second tip support ends, wherein said second tip support end is fixed to said second bottom surface;

an elongated lever device having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising two rod-like members, of approximately equal length and oriented substantially parallel with each other;

a means for attaching the first rod-like mounting portion to said two rod-like members at a first position between said proximal end and said distal end; and

a means for attaching the second rod-like mounting portion to said two rod-like members at a second position between said proximal end and said distal end.

16. A device as recited in claim 15 wherein said elongated lever is comprised of a malleable material, wherein a force required to plastically deform said lever is greater than a force required to straighten a panel.

17. A device as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and said second work-piece contacting portions are made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, carbon fiber composite, fiberglass composite, and solder.

18. A device as recited in claim 17, wherein said first and second work-piece contacting portions comprise:

an inner core, and

an outer layer;

wherein the inner core is of a harder material than the outer layer.

19. A device for the paint-less dent repair of vehicles, for applying a leverage force between a rigid internal structure and an inside surface of a panel to be straightened, comprising:

a first removable tool head, including

a first work-piece contacting portion, having a first bottom surface,

a first rod-like mounting portion having a first mounting end and a first tip support end,

a first central axis extending from the first mounting end to the first tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the first mounting and the first tip support ends, wherein said first tip support end is fixed to said first bottom surface;

a second removable tool head, including

a second work-piece contacting portion, having a second bottom surface,

a second rod-like mounting portion having a second mounting end and a second tip support end,

a second central axis extending from the second mounting end to the second tip support end, and

a screw thread extending over at least a portion of an outer surface between the second mounting and the second tip support ends, wherein said second tip support end is fixed to said second bottom surface;

an elongated lever device having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising two rod-like members, of approximately equal length and oriented substantially parallel with each other;

a means for attaching the first rod-like mounting portion to said two rod-like members at a first position between said proximal end and said distal end; and

a means for attaching the second rod-like mounting portion to said two rod-like members at a second position between said proximal end and said distal end.

20. A device as recited in claim 19 wherein said elongated lever is comprised of a malleable material, wherein a force required to plastically deform said lever is greater than a force required to straighten a panel.

21. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said first and said second work-piece contacting portions are made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, carbon fiber composite, fiberglass composite, and solder.

22. A device as recited in claim 21, wherein said first and second work-piece contacting portions comprise:

an inner core, and

an outer layer;

wherein the inner core is of a harder material than the outer layer.