Abstract:
Three congruent prongs ( 16 A,  16 B, 16 C) mounted on a shaft tube ( 12 ), converges simultaneously when an operating sleeve ( 14 ) moves forward. This action, along with their notches and shape provides a firm grip for holding and starting nuts and bolts. These prongs, made out of 304 grade stailess steel bands, provide good spring-like flexibility and rigidity. The concave sides of the prongs mate with the outside surface of the shaft tube ( 12 ) every time the operating sleeve ( 14 ) is moved forward. These physical features provide consistent alignment of the prongs every time the tool is used. With rubber sealant ( 16 D) coated on the inside surface of the prongs, the nut and bolt starter gives a firm grip to hold and start a wide variety of shapes and sizes of screws, nuts and bolts. Additional uses of this tool are done with the prop rod ( 20 ) supplementing the prongs. More versatility of this instrument is derived from the prop rod ( 20 ) using nuts of the same thread pattern to position flat washers and lock washers into their threaded studs. Furthermore, the socket extension receiver ( 30 ) provides a convenient extra-reach supplement whenever needed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to hand tools, specially for holding and starting nuts and bolts.  
       BACKGROUND-DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Nuts that are screwed to threaded studs and bolts that are screwed to threaded holes are difficult to start with the fingers in hard to reach spaces. The current available tools for this problem are the magnetic inserts that go to their corresponding sockets with extensions or nut drivers. These inserts, when used with the sockets or nut drivers, will hold and start a nut or bolt in any direction. However, this combination does not work with non-magnetic nuts and bolts.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     My nut and bolt holder and starter works on a variety of sizes of hardware. It also works well with non-magnetic hardware.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0005]     Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of being able to hold and start non-magnetic nuts and bolts, several objects and advantages of my hand tool are: 
    a) to provide holding and starting to a wide range of sizes of nuts and bolts with just one tool:     b) to hold and start screws and bolts of the socket-head type:     c) to hold and start countersink slotted screws:     d) to hold and start countersink Phillips screws:     e) to hold and start roundhead slotted screws:     f) to hold and start roundhead Phillips screws:     g) to hold and start pan head slotted screws:     h) to hold and start pan head Phillips screws:     I) to hold and start oval head screws:     j) to hold and start carriage bolts and screws:     k) to hold and start cylindrical barrel nuts:     l) to hold and start hexagonal barrel nuts:     m) to hold, insert or remove automobile dashboard instrument bulbs:     n) to hold and place flat washers into studs:     o) to hold and place lock washers into studs:     p) to hold and start hexagonal nuts of the self-locking nylon insert type:     q) to hold and start square nuts:   
 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side view that shows most of the parts.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view that shows the internal parts.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view from the rear, rotated at 45 degrees.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view from the front, rotated at 45 degrees, tool in clamped position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a full side view of one of the prongs.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a prong tip seen from the convex side.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a prong tip seen from the concave side.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a view with the major parts exploded.  
                                                       12   main shaft tube           12A   main shaft tube slot           14   operating sleeve           14A   operating sleeve finger actuator           16A   notched prong 1           16B   notched prong 2           16C   notched prong 3           16D   silicone rubber sealant           18   fastening bushing           20   prop rod           20A   T-nut, optional           22   prop rod gib           24   prop rod adjuster, locking screw           26A   gland nut, stopper           26B   gland nut           26C   gland nut           28   handle           28A   handle slot           30   socket extension receiver           30C   locking holes           32   socket extension, optional           32A   locking ball           34   snaking flexible socket driver, optional                        
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]      FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  - Preferred Embodiment  
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows the general view of my nut and bolt starter. At the left end of  FIG. 1  are three prongs that are congruent. The three prongs  16 A,  16 B and  16 C make up the preferred embodiment of my hand tool. These prongs are made of 304 grade stainless steel banding material. The prongs are shaped to fit the outside of a main shaft tube, part  12 . The prongs spread away at the tips.  
         [0033]     However, the prongs are best illustrated individually on  FIG. 5  ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . The tips of the prongs are arrow-shaped. Each side of the tips of the prongs are three notches. The forward most part of the arrowheads are pairs of the smaller notches opposite each other. The middle part of the arrowhead are pairs of the bigger notches. The same larger notches are on the rear of the arrowhead. The necks of the prongs are made with deep crimps. The concave side of the prong tips are coated with silicone rubber,  16 D,  FIG. 7 .  
         [0034]     The prongs are secured near the back end of  12  by a stainless steel bushing, part  18 . These prongs have a hairline-gap between them. Part  18  is shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 . The main shaft tube, part  12 , was made from a stainless steel tube. At the back end of  12 , a slot was cut, part  12 A.  
         [0035]     As part of the preferred embodiment, is an operating sleeve, part  14  that contains the three prongs. The length of  14  is less than one-half the length of the prongs. Part  14  was made of thin wall tube. At the base of  14 , is a finger actuator. An operating sleeve finger actuator, part  14 A, was made from hard plastic. Part  14 A was made to tightly fit on  14 . Part  14 A is best illustrated in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 .  
         [0036]      FIGS. 1, 2  and  4  - Additional Embodiments  
         [0037]     Contained in the flute of shaft  12  is a support rod. The prop rod, part  20  is a threaded rod shorter than the main shaft tube. The prop rod is in the center of the flute of shaft  12 . This is accomplished with a support base and three support nuts.  
         [0038]     The prop rod gib, part  22  sits at the back end of the cavity of shaft  12 . Gib  22  is made of nylon. It is cylindrical in shape. The diameter of gib  22  is slightly less than the inside diameter of shaft  12 . The gib was drilled and tapped in the forward face and close to the rear of the cylinder, diametrically. The forward tapped hole of gib  22  accepts the prop rod. The rear diametrical tapped hole houses a screw. These parts are best illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0039]     The prop rod is supported and centered inside the cavity by gland nuts  26 A,  26 B and  26 C. These gland nuts are made of nylon. The gland nuts are circular in shape, with the outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of shaft  12 . Nuts  26 A,  26 B and  26 C are screwed into rod  20 . Nut  26 A is placed near the front end of rod  20 . When the prop rod is in full retracted position, half of  26 A is inside the forward cavity of the main shaft tube. Forward of  26 A, are several threads of rod  20 . Gland nut  26 B is placed close to  26 A. When the prop rod is extended fully forward, nut  26 B is in the front end of shaft  12  flute and still in the shaft. Nut  26 C is screwed to rod  20  halfway between  26 B and gib  22 .  
         [0040]     A locking screw, part  24  is placed in the rear threaded hole of gib  22 . The prop rod adjuster, locking screw is a knob screw made of stainless steel. The circumferential side of the head of  24  has grooves and the top is knurled. The length of the screw shaft is long enough for the tip to reach the bottom of shaft  12  cavity and the head does not touch the outside surface of a handle, part  28 . At the forward end of the prop, is an optional T-nut, part  20 A screwed into  20 .  
         [0041]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  8  - Alternative Embodiment  
         [0042]     Connected to the rear of shaft  12 , is a handle. The handle, part  28  is made of hard plastic. About two-fifths of the handle is the forward portion. The forward portion of  28  is diametrically lesser than the rear portion and has a slot cut lengthwise,  28 A. The forward of the handle is machined to hold the back portion of shaft  12  together with bushing  18 . This is shown clearly in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 8 .  
         [0043]     The rear portion of  28  has grooves equally spaced in the rear portion. A half-circle was cut in the rear portion near the back part of  28 A. At the breech of  28 , a receptacle was made to accept a socket extension, part  30 . The socket extension receiver was tightly fitted flush with the rear of the handle. Receiver  30  was made from smaller steel socket. Slots were cut along its length. Four locking holes, one on each side, were made in a staggered fashion,  FIG. 2 . A socket extension, part  32 , is inserted into  30 . A locking ball, part  32 A, is pressed into one of the holes, part  30 C, of  30 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . A snaking flexible socket driver, part  34 , is inserted into part  30 ,  FIG. 3 .  
       OPERATION OF INVENTION  
       [0044]     The three notched prongs of my nut and bolt starter make the preferred embodiment of this hand tool. The user of this tool simply inserts a nut or bolt head in the middle of the prongs. Then pushing  14 A forward until the user gets the desired position and clamping tension on the nut or bolt, the user is ready to start.  
         [0045]     In the case of larger nuts and bolts, my tool works best by holding the comers of the hardware with the clamping prongs. It is also best to use the third row of notches, where the face and sides of the hardware will be clamped firmly.  
         [0046]     When holding smaller sizes of nuts and bolts, it is best to use the front notches to grip the sides of the nuts and screw heads. The middle set of notches is best to use on intermediate sizes of nuts and bolts. It is up to the user of this hand tool which notches the user is comfortable with when starting intermediate sizes hardware.  
         [0047]     The prongs close in together simultaneously with equal forces and stability, as sleeve  14  is moving forward. This is accomplished because the three prongs are congruent and the prongs always get centered to the shaft. The shaft also functions as a rail to the concave inner sides of the of the prongs, as sleeve  14  moves forward and presses the prongs into the shaft.  
         [0048]     Another major function of shaft  12  is housing the prop rod, the gib and the three support nuts. Furthermore, shaft  12  also connects the preferred embodiment to the handle. Rod  20  is used when the prongs cannot provide a firm and steady hold on some shapes of hardware that are circular or very small. If after the small or circular-shaped hardware is clamped by the prongs and a steadier hold is desired, the user simply slides the prop rod until it is against the hardware by moving screw  24  forward and rotate the head half a turn clockwise. This locks the prop rod in place.  
         [0049]     Besides giving support for firm and steady hold to the prongs, rod  20  has other functions. In tight spaces , placing flat washers and lock washers in the studs is difficult. The user simply screws a nut into rod  20 , illustrated in  FIG. 3  with part  20 A, clamp the flat washer or lock washer between the prongs, position the hardware where it goes, then push the hardware into the stud with the prop rod . In the case of larger flat washers and lock washers, the user simply slides sleeve  14  out, screw a T-nut into rod  20 ,  FIG. 3  with part  20 B, then the user can place the larger hardware in place. Removing sleeve  14  allows the prongs wider openings for larger hardware. This process is simpler by placing the flat washer and lock washer one at a time. To put back  14 , the user simply clamp the prongs together with one hand and slip  14  with the other hand.  
         [0050]     Part  24 , prop rod adjuster, locking screw is defined by its name. The prominent size of its head, plus the grooves and knurls make adjusting and locking rod  20  with an easy movement of the thumb. Screw  24  does not shake loose but easy to turn is the result of using nylon in making gib  22 .  
         [0051]     Also made of nylon, the three gland nuts that are screwed to rod  20 . The gland nuts do not shake loose from their intended position. The nylon threads make these nuts and gib  22  similar to self-locking nuts. Gib  22  keeps rod  20  in place without using jamb nuts or thread seals.  
         [0052]     The handle is part  28 . The shape is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  8 . The shape of  28  was formed for ease of operation of  14 A. . Also, the handle enables the ease of operating screw  24 . Nevertheless, the screw remains unobtrusive, whether being used or not. The handle slot,  28 A is aligned with slot  12 A after the handle and shaft  12  are assembled together. This contributes to the ease of operating screw  24 . The grooves on the rear portion of the handle provide good grip when using the hand tool. Furthermore, the rear portion of the handle provides a part of the alternative embodiment.  
         [0053]     The breech of the handle has a socket extension receiver, part  30 . The socket extension receiver gives the user a convenient way to extend the reach of the tool when needed,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . Extra reach can be provided by one or more socket extensions, part  32 . A snaking flexible socket driver, part  34  can be used into receiver  30  to supplement the hand tool whenever the user opts for easier control when the condition requires.  
         [0054]     The four sides of receiver  30  have their locking holes located at different distances from the face of the receiver. The staggered locking holes of the extension receiver allow the user to eliminate loose lockup of the receiver  30  with any socket extension. Simply, engage the side that locks best with the locking ball,  30 B. Thus, the user can get firm lockup from various makes of socket extensions.  
       DESCRIPTION AND OPERATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0055]     The three elongated notched prongs are mounted on a tubular shaft. These prongs have hairline gaps among them. Also the tips of the prongs are arrow-shaped and have three notches on both sides of the tips. Furthermore, the concave side of the tips are coated with silicone rubber sealant. The operating sleeve contains the three prongs.  
         [0056]     The movement of the operating sleeve forward clamps the prongs simultaneously together. With the notches and the silicone rubber, the prong tips clamping action make a firm hold on a nut or bolt head.  
       ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT  
       [0057]     The prop rod is housed inside the main shaft tube. With three gland nuts and the prop rod gib, the prop rod is centered inside the cavity of the shaft tube. An optional T-nut is screwed at the forward tip of the prop rod. The prop rod adjuster, locking screw is screwed to the prop rod gib in the middle.  
         [0058]     The prop rod gives support to the prongs when bigger sizes of nuts and bolts are started. Furthermore, the T-nut is screwed to the tip of the prop rod for starting larger sizes of nuts. This is accomplished by pushing the prop rod until the T-nut had braced the nut being clamped and tightening the prop rod locking screw.  
       ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT  
       [0059]     The forward portion of the handle is smaller in diameter than rear portion. The forward portion contains the head of the prop rod adjuster, locking screw. Also, the breech of the handle holds the socket extension receiver.  
         [0060]     The forward portion of the handle makes the prop rod adjuster, locking screw unobtrusive when using this hand tool. The socket extension receiver gives extra reach to this hand tool simply by inserting a socket extension into the receiver. Furthermore, more versatility is available by inserting a snaking flexible socket driver into the receiver.  
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE  
       [0061]     The preferred embodiment of my nut and bolt starter is it can hold and start a wide range of sizes of the common hexagonal nuts and hexagonal head bolts. This embodiment is for both magnetic and non-magnetic nuts and bolts. It is done by the simultaneous movements of the three notched prongs and the operating sleeve. The fastening bushing can be eliminated by tack-welding the notched prongs to the main shaft tube and grind the welds smooth. This will also simplify joining the prongs and shaft tube to the handle.  
         [0000]     Other different hardware my hand tool can hold and start are:  
         [0062]     the clamping action of the notched prongs, together with the firm gripping these prongs provide and further supplemented with rubber sealant in the prongs easily hold socket head bolts.  
         [0063]     the same operation of the parts mentioned above will hold and start countersink slotted screws  
         [0064]     furthermore, the same parts and operation as stated above will hold and start countersink Phillips screws  
         [0065]     the same combination, as above will hold and start roundhead Phillips screws  
         [0066]     the same also applies for starting roundhead slotted screws  
         [0067]     the make and operation of the prongs will start pan head Phillips screws  
         [0068]     the same parts and operation will start pan head slotted screws  
         [0069]     the prongs&#39; movement and make will hold and start carriage bolts and carriage screws  
         [0070]     the action of these prongs will hold and start cylindrical barrel nuts  
         [0071]     same as above will start hexagonal barrel nuts  
         [0072]     the make and operation of these prongs will remove and install automobile dashboard instrument light bulbs  
         [0073]     the three prongs and the prop rod will place lock washers into studs  
         [0074]     the same prongs and prop rod will put flat washers into studs  
         [0075]     the make and operation of the prongs will hold and start hexagonal nuts with nylon self-locking inserts  
         [0076]     the make and operation of these prongs will hold and start square nuts  
         [0077]     the make of the socket receiver in the breech adds versatility and options to my nut and bolt starter  
         [0078]     Although the descriptions above contain many specificities, these could not be construed as the limit of uses of my tool. There are her possible uses.  
         [0079]     Furthermore, the parts could be made with different materials and diferrent shapes.  
         [0080]     Accordingly, the scope of my nut and bolt starter should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.