U.S. patent application number 11/287261 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for wheel stud cleaning device.
Invention is credited to Bill Monteith, Kerri Smart.
Application Number | 20060112506 11/287261 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36636733 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060112506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smart; Kerri ; et
al. |
June 1, 2006 |
Wheel stud cleaning device
Abstract
A stud cleaning device has tubular body for receiving a stud to
be cleaned through an open end of the body. An opposing mounting
end of the body is arranged to mount on the rotary output of a
rotary tool for rotating the body in use. Radial bristles,
supported on bristle members, extend radially inward from an
interior wall of the tubular body. The bristle members are slidably
removable from respective longitudinal mounting channels in the
body. Discharge openings in the wall between the mounting channels
allow removal of debris from the interior of the body. End bristles
are supported about the open end of the body to extend
longitudinally outward. A common retainer selectively retains the
radial bristles and the end bristles on the body for readily
replacing the bristles when they become worn.
Inventors: |
Smart; Kerri; (Kakabeka
Falls, CA) ; Monteith; Bill; (Thunder Bay,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ade & Company
1700-360 Main Street
Winnipeg
MB
R3C 3Z3
CA
|
Family ID: |
36636733 |
Appl. No.: |
11/287261 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60631861 |
Dec 1, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/88 ;
15/104.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 13/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/088 ;
015/104.04 |
International
Class: |
A46B 13/02 20060101
A46B013/02 |
Claims
1. A stud cleaning device for use with a power driven tool having a
rotary output, the device comprising; a generally tubular body
having an interior wall defining a hollow interior extending along
a longitudinal axis of the body from an open end to a mounting end
of the body; the mounting end of the body being arranged to support
the body on the rotary output of the power driven tool for rotation
about the longitudinal axis of the body; and a plurality of radial
bristles supported on the interior wall to extend generally
radially inwardly from the interior wall.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided at
least one discharge opening communicating through the interior wall
of the body from the hollow interior to an exterior of the
body.
3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said at least one
discharge opening comprises a plurality of discharge openings
communicating through the interior wall of the body at
circumferentially spaced locations.
4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the radial bristles are
supported between each adjacent pair of the discharge openings.
5. The device according to claim 2 wherein an area of said at least
one discharge opening is near in magnitude to an area supporting
the plurality of radial bristles thereon.
6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the radial bristles are
supported on respective bristle members and wherein the interior
wall includes channels formed therein which extend in a
longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis, the bristles
members and the channels having a mating cross section such that
the bristle members are supported for sliding movement relative to
the body in the longitudinal direction.
7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the bristle members and
the channels receiving the bristle members therein each have a
portion of reduced dimension in a circumferential direction for
restricting radial displacement of the bristle members relative to
the body while permitting relative sliding movement in the
longitudinal direction.
8. The device according to claim 6 wherein the bristle members are
slidably removable from the respective channels through the open
end of the body and wherein there is provided a retainer
selectively supported at the open end of the body which selectively
restricts removal of the bristle members from the respective
channels.
9. The device according to claim 6 wherein the bristle members
supported at circumferentially spaced locations about the interior
wall.
10. The device according to claim 6 wherein each bristle member
comprises a rigid member supporting flexible bristles thereon.
11. The device according to claim 6 wherein the bristle members are
supported in the respective channels for selectively separation
from the body and wherein there is provided a retainer which
selectively retains all of the bristle members commonly on the
body.
12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the retainer is
secured by an annular cap member which is threadably secured about
the open end of the body.
13. The device according to claim 6 wherein each bristle member
comprises an elongate a rigid trough member clamping a plurality of
bristles between opposing sides of the trough member.
14. The device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a
plurality of end bristles supported about the open end of the body
to extend generally in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal
axis of the body, the end bristles being commonly supported on the
body by a common retainer for selective separation from the
body.
15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the end bristles are
supported in an annular configuration about the open end of the
hollow body on an annular member.
16. The device according to claim 14 wherein both the radial
bristles and the end bristles are commonly supported on the body by
a common retainer for selectively separation from the body.
17. The device according to claim 14 wherein the end bristles are
commonly retained on the body by an annular cap member which is
threadably secured about the open end of the body.
18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the radial bristles
are supported on respective bristle members which are commonly
retained on the body by the annular cap member.
19. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mounting end of the
body includes a tool mounting socket integrally formed therein.
Description
[0001] This application hereby claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
Section 119(e) of U.S. provisional application 60/631,861 filed
Dec. 1, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for
cleaning studs, for example threaded wheel studs, using a rotary
power driven tool.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Vehicle wheels are commonly mounted on the vehicle by
threaded wheel studs received through cooperating apertures in the
wheel rim. Nuts are then threaded onto the wheel studs for securing
the rim in place. Under normal use of the vehicle, these wheel
studs can become clogged with dirt and corrosion thus making it
difficult to remove the nuts used to hold the wheel in place.
[0004] Various tools are known for cleaning a threaded member as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,188,674 to Hobbs, U.S. Pat. No.
4,467,489 to Begneaud and U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,244 to Muraguchi. The
devices described by Maraguchi and Begneaud however are very
complex involving numerous bristle sections which are individually
mounted so that the resulting devices are both costly to
manufacture and maintain while being time consuming and awkward
when replacing the bristles thereof. Begneaud does disclose both
radial bristles and axial bristles for cleaning both the
circumference of a threaded member and the end face thereof. The
axial bristles similarly require individual mounting with
individual set screws resulting in difficult and time consuming
replacement. While Hobbs does disclose a simplified structure the
enclosed nature of the body is susceptible to clogging with dirt as
there is no means for the dirt and debris to escape from the
interior of the body. Hobbs further discloses a flexible backing
supporting the bristles thereon, making it difficult for the
bristles to be adequately secured in use as the flexible backing
may bunch up when the device is rotated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
stud cleaning device for use with a power driven tool having a
rotary output, the device comprising;
[0006] a generally tubular body having an interior wall defining a
hollow interior extending along a longitudinal axis of the body
from an open end to a mounting end of the body;
[0007] the mounting end of the body being arranged to support the
body on the rotary output of the power driven tool for rotation
about the longitudinal axis of the body; and
[0008] a plurality of radial bristles supported on the interior
wall to extend generally radially inwardly from the interior
wall.
[0009] Preferably there is provided a plurality of discharge
openings communicating through the interior wall of the body at
circumferentially spaced locations in which the radial bristles are
supported between each adjacent pair of the discharge openings. A
collective area of the discharge openings may be near in magnitude
to a collective area supporting the radial bristles thereon.
[0010] The radial bristles are preferably supported on respective
bristle members at circumferentially spaced locations about the
interior wall. In this instance, the interior wall preferably
includes mounting channels formed therein which extend in a
longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis in which the
bristles members and the channels have a mating cross section such
that the bristle members are supported for sliding movement
relative to the body in the longitudinal direction.
[0011] The bristle members and the channels receiving the bristle
members therein may each have a portion of reduced dimension in a
circumferential direction for restricting radial displacement of
the bristle members relative to the body while permitting relative
sliding movement in the longitudinal direction.
[0012] When the bristle members are slidably removable from the
respective channels through the open end of the body, there may be
provided a retainer selectively supported at the open end of the
body which selectively restricts removal of the bristle members
from the respective channels.
[0013] When the bristle members are supported in the respective
channels for selectively separation from the body, there may be
provided a retainer which selectively retains all of the bristle
members commonly on the body. The retainer may be secured by an
annular cap member which is threadably secured about the open end
of the body.
[0014] Each bristle member may comprise an elongate a rigid trough
member clamping a plurality of flexible bristles between opposing
sides of the trough member.
[0015] There may be provided a plurality of end bristles supported
about the open end of the body to extend generally in a
longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis of the body in
which the end bristles are commonly supported on the body by a
common retainer for selective separation from the body.
[0016] Preferably the end bristles are supported in an annular
configuration about the open end of the hollow body on an annular
member.
[0017] The end bristles may be commonly retained on the body by an
annular cap member which is threadably secured about the open end
of the body. When the radial bristles are supported on respective
bristle members, both the end bristles and the radial bristles may
be commonly retained on the body by the annular cap member.
[0018] The mounting end of the body may include a tool mounting
socket integrally formed therein. Alternatively, the mounting end
may comprise a stem which is suitable for insertion into a
household drill for example.
[0019] The use of through openings in the body of the stud cleaning
device readily permits dirt and debris to escape from the interior
of the housing to prevent clogging of the bristles. By mounting the
bristles on individual bristle members slidably mounted in
respective channels, replaceable bristle sections are provided
without the need for complex mounting configurations and individual
set screws as described in the prior art. When end bristles are
provided which extend generally axially from the open end of the
body, both the end bristles and radial bristles within the interior
of the body may be held by a common retainer to further simplify
the process of replacing the bristles as only a single threaded cap
requires removal to replace all bristles sections.
[0020] One embodiment of the invention will now be described in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stud cleaning device,
showing the open end of the body;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stud cleaning device,
showing the mounting end of the body;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an end view of the open end of the body;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an end view of the mounting end of the body;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of the device
taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the device with
the radial bristles shown removed;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the
exploded device according to FIG. 9;
[0031] FIG. 11 is an end view of the cap member;
[0032] FIG. 12 is an end view of the annular member supporting the
end bristles thereon;
[0033] FIG. 13 is an end view of the body shown with the cap member
and end bristles removed;
[0034] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one of the bristle
members;
[0035] FIG. 15 is an end view of one of the bristle members;
and
[0036] FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of one of the bristle
members.
[0037] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Referring to the accompanying drawings there is illustrated
a stud cleaning device generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
The device 10 is particularly suited for cleaning threaded wheel
studs 12 of the type commonly used for mounting wheels onto a
vehicle. The device 10 is intended to be mounted over top of a
wheel stud and then rotated in place for clearing dirt and
corrosion from the threaded portion of the wheel stud.
[0039] The device 10 includes a cylindrical body 14 having a hollow
interior defined by a cylindrical interior wall 16. The hollow
interior of the body extends in a longitudinal direction along a
respective longitudinal axis from a closed mounting end 18 of the
body to an opposing open end 28.
[0040] The mounting end 18 of the body has a tool mounting socket
20 integrally formed therein for mounting on the conventional
connector 22 or chuck of a rotary output 24 of a rotary power
driven tool 26, for example an electrical or pneumatic powered
drill. The socket 20 is oriented for rotation the body on the tool
about the longitudinal axis of the body.
[0041] The open end 28 opposite the mounting end 18, receives the
wheel stud therethrough for receiving the stud within the interior
of the body 14. An annular end face 30 of the body 14 surrounds the
opening at the open end 28.
[0042] A plurality of mounting channels 32 are formed in the
interior wall 16 of the body at circumferentially spaced locations
about the interior. Each channel 32 extends in the axial or
longitudinal direction of the body from the mounting end to the
open end.
[0043] A plurality of bristle members 38 are provided for being
supported in the channels 32 respectively for relative sliding
movement in the longitudinal direction. The bristle members each
comprise an elongate rigid trough member 40 which clamps a
plurality of flexible and resilient radial bristles 42 between
opposing sides of the trough member. When the bristle members 38
are supported within the channels 32 respectively, the radial
bristles project radial inwardly to terminate at an inner free end
in which the inner free ends of all the radial bristles form a
generally cylindrical shape.
[0044] The bristle members 38 and the mounting channels 32 have a
mating cross section such that the bristle members are supported
for sliding movement relative to the body only in the longitudinal
direction. Relative displacement in the radial or circumferential
directions is restricted by providing each of the bristle members
38 and the mounting channels 32 with a portion of reduced dimension
44 in the circumferential direction adjacent the inner surface of
the interior wall.
[0045] The bristle members 38 are supported at circumferentially
spaced locations about the body to define a body section 46
spanning between each adjacent pair of the bristle members. The
body section 46 includes a portion of the cylindrical interior wall
16. A discharge opening 48 is supported within each body section
46, at circumferentially spaced locations, to extend through the
interior wall of the body from the hollow interior to an exterior
side of the body. A bristle member 38 is thus positioned between
each adjacent pair of the discharge openings 48 to permit dirt and
debris removed from the studs to easily fall through the openings
from the interior to the exterior, thus preventing clogging of the
bristles. A collective area of the discharge openings is near in
magnitude to a collective area supporting the plurality of radial
bristles thereon.
[0046] An annular cap member 50 is provided for mounting on the
open end 28 of the cylindrical body. The cap member 50 includes a
cylindrical mounting portion 52 which is internally threaded for
mating with exterior threads surrounding the open end of the body
14.
[0047] An annular retainer 54 is received within the cylindrical
mounting portion 52 of the cap member for abutment against the end
face 30 of the cylindrical body, between the body and the cap
member 50. The annular retainer 54 projects radially inwardly
sufficiently to overlap the bristle members 38 in the radial
direction, while defining a circular opening therein which is
sufficiently large to accept the wheel studs therethrough.
[0048] The annular retainer 54 is greater in diameter than a
circular opening of the cap member for being held against the body
to provide a common means of retaining all of the bristle members
38 within their respective channels by preventing longitudinal
sliding movement of the bristle members from the interior of the
body. Relative longitudinal sliding movement between the bristle
members and the body is prevented by commonly overlapping the open
ends of the mounting channels 32 with the annular retainer 54 when
the retainer is abutted with the body. When the cap member is
threadably removed and the annular retainer 54 is no longer held in
abutment against the body, the bristle members are slidably
removable from the mounting channels 32 at the open end of the
body.
[0049] A plurality of end bristles 56 are mounted on the annular
retainer 54 to project generally in the longitudinal direction away
from the body 14 at a radially inward incline of approximately 45
degrees from the longitudinal axis. The end bristles 56 are
arranged circumferentially on the annular retainer 54 in an annular
configuration about the open end of the cylindrical body and are
commonly held in place in a mounted position by the cap member 50
along with the radial bristles 42 retained by the bristle
members.
[0050] In further embodiments, the annular retainer 54 and cap
member 50 may be replaced by any suitable retainer for preventing
the bristle members 38 from being slidably removable from the
mounting channels 32 at the open end 28 of the body 14. For
example, the retainer may comprise a split ring selectively
received within an annular groove in the interior wall 16 of the
body adjacent the open end 28. In this instance, no end bristles
would be provided on the retainer.
[0051] As described herein, the device 10 generally comprises a
rotary cleaning device for wheels studs. The device involves the
use of a generally cylindrical body having six removable wire
bristle sections supported within a hollow interior of the body.
The body is closed at one end with means for mounting onto a rotary
power driven tool. In the illustrated example a socket is provided,
however a stem may also be provided for being received within the
chuck of a conventional drill. The opposing end remains open for
receiving the wheel stud therethrough and for allowing insertion
and removal of the wire bristle sections. Each bristle member
supporting the wire brushes or bristles thereon fits within mating
mounting channels within the interior wall of the cylindrical body.
Portions of reduced dimension on both the bristle members and
mounting channels hold the bristle members in place to anchor the
members against spinning within the interior cylindrical wall while
attached to the rotary tool for cleaning a wheel stud. The rigid
nature of the backing of the bristle members prevents any bunching
or binding of the bristles in use. The discharge openings in the
cylindrical walls of the body allow dust and dirt to fall through
the openings to the exterior to prevent clogging of the bristles
while the bristles are spinning about the wheel stud being cleaned.
The threaded cap member on the end of the body holds the bristles
in place while permitting ready removal and replacement thereof by
simply removing a single threaded cap whenever the bristles become
worn.
[0052] The wheel stud cleaning device mainly serves to aid in
removal of a nut from a threaded bolt or stud by cleaning the dirt
and corrosion from the threaded stud prior removal of the nut. The
cleaning device also serves to clean a wheel stud after removal of
the nuts so that when a new wheel is places on the vehicle, new
nuts can be tightened and torqued properly.
[0053] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *