Dent removal device and method

• US 7,181,951 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLAN, EDWARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/188,997
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 723/08, 723/09, 724/22, 724/54, 724/56, 724/57, 724/58, 724/651, 724/79, 727/05, 254/93.R, 254/93.A, 254/124, 254/131
• 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

In a system and method for removing a dent from an automotive vehicle body surface, first and second suction elements are each formed of a flexible disc, a support disc, and a pull stud attached to the support disc. A releasable lever engagement member is provided at an end of the pull stud. Each flexible disc has a vehicle body facing surface which is continuous without air exits. The first and second suction elements are placed on the vehicle surface, with at least one of the suction elements at the dent. A lever bar is inserted through the releasable lever engagement members at ends of the respective pull studs where it is loosely retained.

Claims

1. A method for removing a dent from an automobile vehicle body surface, comprising the steps of:

providing first and second suction elements each formed of a flexible suction cup disc, a support disc attached to the flexible disc, a pull stud attached to the support disc, a releasable lever engagement member at an end of the pull stud, and a vehicle body facing surface of the flexible suction cup disc being continuous without air exits;

providing a lever;

placing the first and second suction elements in suction contact on the automotive vehicle body surface, at least one of the suction elements being positioned at the dent;

placing the lever in slidable releasable engagement with the releasable lever engagement members of each of the first and second suction elements;

with the lever remaining loosely retained in the releasable lever engagement members, exerting a force on the lever to pull out the dent; and

removing the lever from the first and second lever engagement members.

2. A method of claim 1 including the steps of providing a releasable lever engagement member of each suction element as a loop and sliding the lever through both loops for engagement with both loops.

3. A method of claim 2 wherein the pull stud comprises a threaded stud having an end bent around to form said loop, and an opposite threaded end connected by said threading to said support disc.

4. A method of claim 1 including the step of pulling out the dent by pulling at least a portion of said lever away from the vehicle body.

5. A method of claim 1 wherein one of the suction cups is positioned adjacent the dent and the other is positioned at the dent.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein the lever comprises a straight portion.

7. A method of claim 1 including providing the support disc embedded within the flexible disc and providing screw threads on the pull stud engaged with screw threads connected to the support disc.

8. A method of claim 1 including providing for each suction element threads on the respective pull stud, a cup-shaped bearing element having a peripheral skirt abutting the flexible disc, and a suction adjustment knob engaged with the threads of the pull stud and positioned adjacent the bearing element, and after placing the suction elements on the vehicle body surface, rotating the suction adjustment knob of each suction element to achieve a desired suction.

9. A method of claim 8 including the step of unscrewing the respective knobs and then removing the respective first and second suction elements.

10. A method of claim 8 including the step of providing a washer between the knob and a bearing surface of the bearing element.

11. A method of claim 8 wherein the peripheral skirt of the bearing element abuts the flexible disc adjacent a peripheral edge thereof.

12. A method for removing a dent from an automotive vehicle body surface, comprising the steps of:

providing first and second suction elements each formed of a flexible suction cup disc, a support disc embedded inside the flexible disc, a threaded pull stud attached by threads to the support disc, said pull stud being bent at an end opposite said support disc to form an integral loop, and wherein a vehicle body facing surface of the flexible suction cup disc is continuous without air exits;

providing a lever comprising a straight section;

placing the first and second suction elements in suction contact on the automotive vehicle body surface, at least one of the suction elements being positioned at the dent;

sliding the lever straight section through the respective loops of the respective suction elements;

with the lever loosely retained in the loops of the first and second suction elements exerting a pulling force on the lever to pull out the dent; and

pulling the lever out from the respective loops of the first and second suction elements.

13. A dent removal system for removing a dent from an automotive vehicle body surface, comprising:

first and second suction elements each formed of a flexible suction cup disc, a support disc attached to the flexible disc, a pull stud attached to the support disc, a releasable lever engagement member at an end of the pull stud, and a vehicle body facing surface of the flexible suction cup disc being continuous without air exits; and

a lever releasably and loosely positioned in each of the respective releasable lever engagement members of the first and second suction elements when the first and second suction elements are mounted on the automotive vehicle body surface and with the lever being pulled to remove the dent, at least one of the suction elements being located at the dent.

14. A system of claim 13 including the releasable lever engagement member of each suction element comprising a loop and wherein said lever is slidably and loosely positioned inside the respective loop of each suction element when being pulled to remove the dent.

15. A system of claim 13 wherein the pull stud comprises a threaded stud having an unthreaded end thereof bent to form said loop and an opposite threaded end connected by said threading to said support disc.

16. A system of claim 13 wherein said support disc is embedded inside of the flexible disc.

17. A system of claim 13 wherein the lever comprises an elongate straight section.

18. A system of claim 13 including the support disc being embedded inside the flexible disc and said pull stud having an integral bent loop at one end and screw threads at the opposite end engaged with screw threads of a collar connected to the support disc.

19. A system of claim 13 wherein for each suction element the pull stud has threads, a cup-shaped bearing element having a peripheral skirt which abuts the flexible disc, and a suction adjustment knob is provided and engaged with the threads of the pull stud and positioned adjacent the bearing element.

20. A system of claim 19 wherein a washer is provided between the knob and a bearing surface of the bearing element.

21. A system of claim 19 wherein the peripheral skirt of the bearing element abuts the flexible disc adjacent a peripheral edge thereof.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said knob has an embedded nut engageable with the threads of the pull stud.

23. A system of claim 19 wherein the threads of the pull stud are left-handed threads so that clockwise rotation of the knob increases suction.

24. A system of claim 19 wherein the knob has projections at a peripheral surface.

25. A system of claim 13 wherein a mounting element attaches an end of the pull stud to the support disc.

26. A system of claim 15 wherein the mounting element is integral with the support disc.

27. A system of claim 25 wherein the mounting element has threads which receive a threaded end of the pull stud.

28. The system of claim 19 wherein the cup-shaped bearing element comprises plastic and the skirt comprises a peripheral skirt spaced less than a quarter inch from a peripheral edge of the suction element.

29. The system of claim 13 wherein the dent facing surface of the suction element is concave prior to placing the suction element on the dent surface.

30. A dent removal system for removing a dent from an automotive vehicle body surface by use of a lever, comprising:

first and second suction elements each comprising a flexible suction cup disc having a vehicle body facing surface which is continuous without air exits, and a support disc attached to the flexible disc; and

respective pull studs having one end attached to each of the respective support discs and an opposite end of each pull stud having a loop attached thereto, said loop being dimensioned to allow said lever to freely and loosely pass through and be loosely retained when the lever is being pulled to remove the dent, and so that the lever can be placed between the first and second suction elements when the first and second suction elements are mounted on the automotive vehicle body with at least one of the suction elements being located at said dent.