Abstract:
A wrench tool having a wrench head which is removable from a hollow handle. A lubricant dispensing device is secured within the handle and a tube delivers lubricant to the wrench head.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention provides a bolt removal tool having a removable wrench head at one end of tool, the tool handle having a lubricant containing reservoir for supplying lubricant to the wrench head on demand. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The prior art discloses a number of tools that have means for supplying a lubricant, such as oil, to a tool area. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,549 to Severs discloses lubricating tongs that allow a single workman the capability of handling a workpiece such as a forging while simultaneously lubricating the dies of a press. A pair of tongs  10  with a set of fingers  12 ,  13  have integral handles  14 ,  15  that are pivotally connected together at  17 . One of the handles,  15 , is a hollow member having a plurality of nozzle holes  18  near the end adjacent the fingers  12 ,  13 . The other end of the handle  15  is provided with a hand-operated valve device  20  comprising two valves  28 ,  29  that are operated by a single hand lever  26  for directing a gas and a liquid through the hollow handle  15 . The structure of the valves is such that as hand lever  26  is moved toward the valve housing the first valve  28  is opened and a further movement of the lever opens the second valve  29 . The two valves are connected in fluid communication respectively with pressurized sources of a liquid lubricant and a gaseous medium such as air by means of hoses  32 ,  33 . When the workman uses the tongs to insert and remove workpieces he can operate the hand lever  26  as desired to lubricate the dies. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,886 to Wendt discloses an oil filter wrench  10  which comprises two wrench halves  11  and  12  which have a slip joint pivotal construction. One of the wrench halves includes and internal oil channel passageway  15  which extends through an interior portion of the wrench handle and through the wrench jaw section into a piercing jaw  20  that is a hardened and sharpened tubular piercing member which extends from the end portion of the serrated jaw. The base of the piercing jaw has an o-ring which seals on an outside surface of an oil filter when the piercing jaw penetrates the oil filter when the wrench is secured around the outside surface of the oil filter. The oil passageway extends to an end portion of the wrench where a nipple  24  is provided for attaching to a tubing  30  which delivers the oil to an oil drip pan for collection. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,264 to Albert et al discloses a method and apparatus for cutting sheet material while simultaneously marking the material with a decorative border using a pumping apparatus with a pressure pump  27 , first air conduit  29 , air reservoir  31 , second air conduit  29   a  and a coloring means  33 . The coloring means  33  has an aperture  36  for dispensing colorant to a cutting surface. In use a person initially operates the pumping apparatus to fill the reservoir completely with air. Once the reservoir is filled an object can be cut and as the cutting proceeds the air pump supplies air to the reservoir and the reservoir supplies air to the coloring means  33 . 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,907 to Ravaux discloses a device for simultaneously cutting and treating a plant stem. The cutting and treating device has two main parts  1  and  2  which are pivotally mounted with respect to each other on a shaft  3 . The main part  1  has a cutting blade  9  and a grasping handle  13 . Handle  13  has a hollow housing  15  with an opening  17  enabling a capsule  19  to be inserted therein. Part  2  has a blade  84  and a handle  83 . The mid portion of parts  1  and  2  are pivotally connected together by a shaft  3  passing therethrough being secure by a nut  6 . The capsule  19  contains a viscous treating solution  20  that is supplied to the cutting blades by means of a pumping system that includes nozzle  33 , drilling channels  39 , pistons  55 ,  56  and other parts forming a control means that would draw from the store  19  and pump a given amount to the nozzle. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,056,046 to Myers discloses pruning tools having a means to spray over the newly cut surface at each operation a quantity of disinfecting liquid. Clippers have cutting blades A, B that are pivoted together and connected to handles. The handle or jaw A is made in two parts with part E containing a reservoir for the disinfectant. A tube F 1  connects the reservoir to a small union I. A rubber atomizer bulb G is located between the handles and acts as an air pump. A tube F 3  is connected from the junction to one jaw and a tube F 2  is connected from the junction to jaw B. The tubes F 1 , F 2 , F 3  are located in grooves or channels in the face of the members A. When the clippers are operated the disinfectant will be automatically sprayed onto the jaws and sterilize the clipped area. 
         [0009]    Although the above noted references disclose various tools that have mechanisms for delivering lubricant to a selected tool area, what is desired is to have a wrench tool that enables simple replacement of different sized wrench heads while leaving the lubricant delivery mechanism in place. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a lubricating tool having an open ended wrench design at one end that can be used in any application that requires removal of machine bolts. The tool of the present invention has two modes of operation; in the first, the tool can be used as a conventional open ended wrench when removing threaded bolts or nuts that are attached to the bolt; in the second mode the tool is used to lubricate rusted or new bolts and nuts while removing or fastening the bolt or nut. The removable wrench design enables a wide variety of wrench sizes to be utilized. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the tool of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates tool  10  of the present invention in a front view and  FIG. 2  is a side view of tool  10 . Tool  10  comprises handle  12  and removable wrench head  14  and reservoir  16  and has a vertical axis  17 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a spray of lubricant  18  being emitted from nozzle  20 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . A hollow steel tube  22  is positioned within handle  12  as illustrated and as held in position by retainer  24 . Handle  12  contains reservoir  26  and feed tube  27  such as a rubber bulb, that is attached to steel tube  22 . Hollow chamber  28  is filled with a lubricant, such as oil, chamber  28  being sealed by removable cap  30 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and shows lubricant tube  22  extending vertically in the center of handle  12 , portion  51  bent at an angle to the vertical axis  17  and a portion  52  also bent at an angle to the vertical axis positioned in slot, or cutout portion,  54  formed in the side of handle  12 . Angled portions  51  and  52  enable wrench heads of different thickness and sizes/shapes to be utilized with a single lubricant containing handle. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  and illustrates how ball bearing  60  holds wrench head  14  in place. In particular, when a wrench head  14  is inserted into handle  12 , the bearing  60  is forced into an indentation formed into wall  62  of handle  12 , spring  64  forcing bearing  60  into the protrusion thus locking wrench head  14  in place. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3  illustrating retainer  24  holding lubricant tube  50  in place. 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3  showing the top seal  70  of lubricant reservoir  28 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3  illustrating handle  12  has cutouts  72  and  74  enabling pressure bulb  26  to be operable. 
         [0027]    In summary, the wrench  10  provides a tool that aids in the removal of rusted and difficult to remove bolts. Conventional lubricants have difficulty in addressing bolts in awkward positions or places with limited access. The tool allows a user to easily apply a lubricant to the rusted bolt. Once the nut starts to loosen, the lubricant will begin to penetrate the bolt and nut, allowing for easier removal. The user can continuously apply the lubricant while rotating the bolt or nut. 
         [0028]    Tool  10  has a common open ended wrench head  14  on one end and a handle  12  on the opposite end. Wrench head  14  is removable and is locked in place by the tension provided by spring  64  forcing ball bearing  60  into the adjacent recess. Handle  12  has a reservoir  28  that contains the lubricant. A threaded cap  30  with a rubber seal at the end of handle  12  can be removed to fill reservoir  28  with lubricant. Rubber bulb  26  is built into the handle  12  and is attached to internal hollow steel feeding tube  30 . When bulb  26  is repeatedly squeezed, the lubricant, by pressure, travels through the tube  30  up to the nozzle discharge area. The nozzle discharge is preferably slightly angled outwards to direct the lubricant to the screw area and not the outside of the nut. Wrench head  14  is removed from handle  12  by the user pulling wrench head  14  outwardly and overcoming the tension force of spring  64 . 
         [0029]    Since wrench head  14  is removable, it can be replaced by different sized wrench heads as required by the user. 
         [0030]    While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.