Abstract:
A fuel line disconnection tool includes a handle member with a hand grip end and a slotted opposite head end adapted to receive generally mirror image flanged adapters having semi-cylindrical tubular projections which enable placement of the adapters in the slot at the head end of the handle. The adapters may then be fitted about a fuel line and the handle attached thereto and manipulated to disengage the connection mechanism between the fuel line and fuel filter.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a utility application derived from incorporating by reference, claiming priority to and based upon previously filed provisional application Ser. No. 60/684,113 filed May 24, 2005 entitled “Fuel Line Disconnect Tool”. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool useful for the purpose of, for example, disconnecting a flexible fuel line from a fuel filter such as used in many General Motors products. The tool is also useful for disconnecting lines other than fuel lines. 
   During automotive repair operations, it is often necessary to remove and replace the fuel filter from a fuel line. The mechanism for connecting a fuel line to a fuel filter is often a type wherein the connection mechanism is accessible through an annular space about the fuel line connected to the fuel filter. That is, retention elements are incorporated in the fuel line capable of fitting over and gripping a nozzle protruding from the fuel filter. Mechanisms of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,359. 
   Various devices have been proposed for disconnecting such a fuel line from such a fuel filter. For example, a tool identified as a GM Fuel Line Tool manufactured by OTC as their product No. OTC6603 discloses the use of a tool which includes bifurcated arms with a disconnection element positioned at the ends of the bifurcated arms to effect fuel line disconnection. Tools of this general nature are depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,995 and 6,195,862 B1. 
   While such tools have been found to be useful, they often pose especially difficult problems when used in restricted spaces where placing such a tool in contact with a fuel line connection mechanism is difficult. Thus, there has developed a need to provide an improved mechanism or means for disconnecting a fuel filter from a fuel line as well as a tool that is useful for disconnection of other types of lines in accessible as well as inaccessible locations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention relates to a fuel line or line disconnection tool which is comprised of a handle member having a hand grip end and an opposite, slotted head end. The slotted head end is made to receive separate first and second adapters each adapter including a generally semicircular flange with an axially projecting, semi-cylindrical release elements designed to engage the fuel line connection mechanism and effect release of the mechanism. Thus, the release elements may be placed on opposite sides of the fuel line (or other type of line) and then the projecting flanges of the adapters positioned the slot at the slotted end of the handle member, or handle. The handle may subsequently be manipulated to move the adapters in a manner which effects release of a fuel line from a fuel filter or other lines attached to some type of element. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved line disconnection tool, especially useful as a fuel line disconnection tool. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a multipart line disconnection tool which includes adapters to fit about the line and cooperate with a manipulating handle mechanism. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a fuel line disconnection tool which is easy to manipulate, which may be used in extremely restricted spaces and which is rugged and economical. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an embodiment of the handle construction of the fuel line or line disconnection tool; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view from the head or slotted end of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side cross sectional view of the slotted head end of the tool taken substantially along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view depicting the flanged adapter used in combination with the handle of  FIG. 1 . A pair of such adapters is used in face-to-face relationship during utilization of the tool; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the generally semi-cylindrical flanged adapter of  FIG. 4  taken along the line  5 - 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a back side election view of the adapter of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the tool incorporating the elements of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view that illustrates the step of placing flange adapters about the fuel line prior to engagement of the handle with the adapters; 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view illustrating positioning of the handle in combination with the fuel line adapters; 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view illustrating the manner of manipulation of the tool in order to effect disconnection of the fuel line from the fuel filter; and 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view illustrating the manner of manipulation of the tool to effect fuel line disconnection. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the figures, an embodiment of the tool of the invention is comprised of three separate components. The first component is a handle  10 . Second and third components comprise fuel line connection mechanism adapters, such as the adapter  12  shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, two adapters  12  ( 12 A and  12 B in  FIG. 7 ) are used in combination with a single handle  10  in order to complete the embodiment of the tool of the invention and in order to effect the manner of operation or method of the claimed invention. More specifically, the adapters  12 A and  12 B may be fitted about a line, such as a fuel line, and inserted into the annular space about the line to manipulate and disconnect or disengage the connection mechanism which holds the line connected to a fuel filler, for example, and more particularly to a connection nipple or nozzle projecting from the filter. 
   The handle  10  includes a hand grip end  14  and an adapter engagement or slotted head end  16 . The adapter engagement end  16  includes a generally semicircular recess or slot  18  which is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis  20 . The slot  18  is thus defined by spaced ribs  22  and  24 . 
   The two adapters  12 A and  12 B each include a generally semicircular flange  24  with a throughpassage section  26  and an upstanding generally semi-cylindrical section, element or portion  28  extending axially from the inner edge of the flange  24 . Cylindrical section or portion  28  extends axially outward from the plane of the flange  24  and defines the passage or passage section  26 . Semi-cylindrical section or portion  28  includes a first axially parallel side edge  30  and a second axially parallel side edge  32 . The side edges  30  and  32  are aligned with the outer radial edges  34  and  36 , respectively of flange  24 . Axis  40  of the adapters  12 A,  12 B is perpendicular relative to the plane of each flange  24  and serves as the axis of revolution of the cylindrical section  28 . The adapters  12 A,  12 B include a cutaway portion defining an incline portion or surface  41  which facilitates manipulation and enables some movement of the adapters  12 A,  12 B when they are inserted in pairs in the slot  18  of the handle  10 . 
   The adaptors  12 A and  12 B are positioned so that the flange  24  associated with each of the adaptors  12 A and  12 B will each slide into the slot  18  of the head end  14  of the handle  10 . That is, it is appropriate and that at least a portion of the flange  24  of each of the adapters  12 A and  12 B be fitted into the slot  18 . Utilizing semi-cylindrical or generally semi-cylindrical flange  24  facilitates maintaining the adapters  12 A,  12 B with a portion of the flange  24  within the slot  18 . Further, since each flange  24  is generally semi-cylindrical, the adapters  12 A and  12 B cannot easily rotate or slide out of the slot  18  when they are being manipulated. Thus, the utilization of semi-cylindrical flanges  24 , which align generally in the same plane within the slot  18 , facilitates the utility of the invention. 
   The incline cut away portions  41  of the adapters  12 A and  12 B form a generally 45° angle with a plane of the flanges  24 . These cut out portions  41  further facilitate placement of each adapter  12 A and  12 B over expanded diameter portions of a fuel line  59  that connects to a fuel filter  51  at the juncture defined by the connector of the fuel line  59  and fuel filter  61 . 
   Small or restricted size axial slots  33  and  35  are positioned on the outside surface of the cylindrical section  28  of the adapters  12 A and  12 B and define a cut section through each flange  24 . 
   The remaining  FIGS. 7-11  illustrate the methodology in the operation of the tool of the invention. More specifically, the handle  10  is designed to cooperate with and retain first and second adapters  12 A and  12 B in slot  18 . The flanges  24  of the adapters  12 A and  12 B are thus designed to generally snuggly fit within the slot  18  defined in the head end  16  of handle  10 . In practice, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the adapters  12 A,  12 B are fitted in opposed relationship about the fuel line  5 A and the connection between a fuel filter  61  and a flexible fuel line  59 . Subsequently, as depicted in  FIG. 9 , the handle  10  is engaged with the semicircular flanges  24  of the two opposed adapters  12 A,  12 B. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the handle  10  is then manipulated to engage the adapters  12 A,  12 B and, more particularly, the cylindrical portion  28  of the adapters  12 A,  12 B with the disconnection mechanism in the annular space  65  defined between the fuel line  59  and the fuel filter device  61 . Manipulation may be effected by rocking, pushing and the like on the handle  10 . 
   It is possible to vary the construction of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, the configuration of the handle  10 , the size of the slot  18 , the size and the angular relationship of the flanges  24  to the cylindrical sections  28  of the adapters  12 A and  12 B may all be varied to facilitate placement of the tool in a restricted space within an engine compartment, for example. Other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. That is, for example, the radial extent of the flanges  24  may be varied; the flanges  24  need not be mirror images, but may together comprise a generally encircling combination when used in combination with the slot  18  of the handle  10 . The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.