Patent ID: 6571668
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B25G

Abstract:
A tool for applying torque to turnable fasteners for fastening or removing a wheel on a motor vehicle, said tool comprising:a first arm portion having a fastener coupling structure constructed and arranged to be removably coupled to a fastener for turning said fastener about a turning axis through a center of said fastener, said first arm portion extending on a longitudinal axis in a transverse direction with respect to said turning axis such that torque can be applied to said turnable fastener to affect turning thereof in either direction about said turning axis via said fastener coupling structure by applying a force generally circumferential to said turning axis to said first arm portion in longitudinally spaced relation to said turning axis when said fastener coupling structure is removably coupled to said fastener; a second arm portion capable of applying an increased torque to said turnable fastener via said first arm portion by manually applying a force generally circumferential to said turning axis to said second arm portion in longitudinally spaced relation to said turning axis when said second arm portion is in a longitudinally extended position with respect to said first arm portion; and cooperating structure on said first arm portion and said second arm portion constructed and disposed to (1) allow said second arm portion to be rotated about said longitudinal axis with respect to said first arm portion between an interlocked longitudinally extended position and a released longitudinally extended position, (2) allow said second arm portion to be extended or retracted generally longitudinally with respect to said first arm portion between said released longitudinally extended position and a longitudinally retracted position, said tool being of a length suitable for storage when said second arm portion is in said longitudinally retracted position, and (3) prevent said second arm portion from retracting generally longitudinally when said second arm portion is in said interlocked longitudinally extended position; wherein said first arm portion is received within said second arm portion, and said cooperating structure comprises a protruding portion on an outer surface of said first arm portion in cooperation with a wide diameter portion connected to a groove on an inner surface of said second arm portion such that said protruding portion may be rotated about said longitudinal axis within said wide diameter portion and may be moved generally longitudinally within said groove; and wherein said second arm portion includes a pair of arcuate walls integrally formed with said groove, said arcuate walls having free ends spaced apart from one another to define a gap therebetween, said gap being parallel to and opposite of said groove, and wherein said protruding portion on said first arm portion has a greater width and lesser thickness than the remainder of said first arm portion.