Abstract:
A device for protecting threaded shafts and nuts against corrosion. The device covers and protects a nut and the exposed portion of a threaded shaft from corrosion found in harsh environments by holding grease in place over the nut and shaft.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of fastenings made by nuts and threaded shafts. More specifically, the invention comprises a device which covers and protects a nut and exposed portion of a threaded shaft from corrosion found in harsh environments—such as saltwater immersion. The device substantially inhibits rusting of the nut itself and the exposed portion of the threaded shaft extending beyond the nut, allowing the nut to be easily removed even after it has been left in place for some time. 
     BACKGROUND—Description of Prior Art 
     Lug nut protective device are well known in the prior art. Many of these protective devices are theft deterrents. One such invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,146 to Wharton (1985). The Wharton patent discloses a wheel nut cover having threads which strip upon tightening to create a tamper-resistant assembly. A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,224 to Wharton (1988). The &#39;224 device includes a protective shroud which fractures upon tightening, creating a similar tamper-resistant assembly. 
     A device having similar objectives is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,305 to McCauley (1989). The McCauley device actually substitutes a different type of lug nut for the standard type found on most automobile and trailer wheels. The lug nut has an internal cavity in a special shape configured to receive a special type of removing tool. Without the tool, it is very difficult to remove the lug nut. 
     A simpler type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,967 to Rosenbaum (1990). The Rosenbaum device is not primarily concerned with theft deterrence. Instead, its focus is to protect the lug stud and lug nut from corrosion. It attempts to accomplish this via covering the lug bolt&#39;s exposed surfaces (although the Rosenbaum disclosure illustrates a lug bolt, it appears to be equally applicable to the more common arrangement of a lug stud and lug nut). While somewhat effective for warding off salt sprays and other corrosive environments, the &#39;967 device provides no positive seal to prevent water leaking into the cover upon immersion. As will be explained subsequently, water immersion is a significant concern. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,070 (1995) discloses a domed plastic lug nut cover. Its stated purpose is to allow the securing of a wheel cover (“hub cap”) to a wheel without removing the lug nuts. The device actually threads onto the exposed portion of a lug stud. Of course, since many lug studs do not have threads extending past the lug nut, the &#39;070 device will not work in many applications. In addition, like the Rosenbaum device, the &#39;070 device has no positive seal to prevent water leaking into the cover upon immersion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,532 to Huang (1998) discloses another domed plastic lug nut cover. This particular device uses pliable spring clips to secure itself to a lug nut. While potentially effective for one size of lug nut, different size clips would be required to accommodate the wide variety of lug nuts presently on the market. In addition, the Huang device also lacks any type of positive seal to prevent water penetration. 
     Another domed plastic cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,818 to Bias (1999). This device uses the pliable nature of the material itself to frictionally engage and hold itself to the hexagonal side walls of a lug nut. Obviously, the device must be sized to fit a particular lug nut, raising the same concerns as seen for the Huang device. It also lacks any type of water seal. 
     The lack of a water seal is a significant concern, especially where the device is to be used on boat trailer lug nuts. The lug nuts on boat trailers are always immersed completely in water when launching and retrieving a boat. If water is able to invade a protective lug nut covering, it will often remain trapped there for several hours. This phenomenon causes significant corrosion, especially when the lug nut has been immersed in salt water. 
     In addition, the protection of a nut locked on a threaded shaft obviously has applications far beyond the automotive industry. Many coastal installations have nuts and threaded shafts exposed to a salt air environment. These typically become rusted and inoperable in a matter of months. Accordingly, the protection of a nut locked on a threaded shaft is a desirable objective. 
     The known devices for accomplishing this goal are limited in that they: 
     1. Must be particularly adapted to fit a specific nut; 
     2. Must be able to thread onto an exposed portion of the threaded shaft; 
     3. Require the use of springs or specialized tools to lock them in place; and 
     4. Do not effectively protect against corrosion, especially following water immersion. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a protective nut cover which: 
     1. Will accommodate a wide variety of nuts and shafts; 
     2. Does not require an exposed portion of thread to be held in place; 
     3. Does not require the use of springs or specialized tools to be locked in place; and 
     4. Effectively protects against corrosion, especially following water immersion. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing a boat trailer. 
     FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the trailer wheel shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the proposed invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view with cutaways, showing internal details of the proposed invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view with cutaways, showing the proposed invention in place on a lug nut. 
     FIG. 5B is an isometric view with cutaways, showing the grease in the internal cavity of the proposed invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view showing a carriage bolt attaching a joist to a piling. 
     FIG. 6B is an isometric view showing the same components as FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 6C is an isometric view showing the proposed invention in place on the carriage bolt shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view, showing a unified version of the protector cap. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view, showing the unified version on a lug nut. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       10  trailer 
       12  wheel 
       14  tire 
       16  lug stud 
       18  lug nut 
       20  protector cap 
       24  opening 
       26  inner portion 
       28  outer portion 
       30  grease 
       32  piling 
       34  joist 
       36  carriage bolt 
       38  washer 
       40  nut 
       42  unified protector cap 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a typical boat trailer  10 . Boat trailer  10  has at least one pair of wheels  12  and tires  14 . FIG. 2 illustrates the method of attaching wheel  12  in more detail. Tire  14  is customarily mounted on wheel  12 . Wheel  12  has a plurality of holes positioned to fit over lug studs  16  (which are attached to the rotating portion of the trailer&#39;s axle). Once wheel  12  is positioned with its mounting holes over lug studs  16 , a plurality of lug nuts  18  are threaded onto lug studs  16  in order to secure wheel  12  in place. Those skilled in the art will know that lug studs  16  have external threads and lug nuts  18  have corresponding internal threads. For purposes of visual clarity, these threads have not been illustrated. 
     When a lug nut  18  is tightened, a small threaded length of lug stud  16  will typically protrude beyond lug nut  18 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the fact that lug nuts and lug studs on boat trailers endure a particularly hostile environment. Returning briefly to the trailer shown in FIG. 1, the reader will appreciate that in order to launch or recover a boat both wheels  12  must be immersed in water for extended periods of time. This immersion causes corrosion of lug nut  18  and the exposed portion of lug stud  16 . The problem is particularly acute for saltwater operations, where significant corrosion can occur in a matter of hours. 
     Water immersion often causes the internal threads of lug nut  18  to rust and thereby bond with the external threads of lug stud  16 . If this process is allowed to continue, removal of lug nut  18  can become impossible. Many users seek to remedy this problem by heavily greasing both lug stud  16  and lug nut  18 . Unfortunately, once the boat is recovered and the trailer proceeds down the highway, centrifugal forces generated in the rapidly spinning wheel tend to throw any applied grease off the surfaces needed protection. Thus, in order to be effective, the grease must be constantly reapplied. The present invention seeks primarily to eliminate this problem. 
     Returning now to FIG. 2, the reader will observe protector cap  20  in position to be pushed over lug nut  18 . In normal operation, lug nut  18  would be secured in place. Protector cap  20  is then slipped over lug nut  18 . It is not necessary to loosen lug nut  18 . Protector cap  20  can be applied with lug nut  18  already tightened. A protector cap  20  is needed for each lug nut  18 . In the particular example shown, five protector caps  20  are needed. 
     FIG. 3 shows protector cap  20  in greater detail. For the particular example shown, it is comprised of inner portion  26  and outer portion  28 . The near end of inner portion  26  opens into opening  24 . Opening  24  is made significantly smaller than the nut protector cap  20  is intended to cover. The use of pliable material for protector cap  20  allows opening  24  to expand over a particular nut and frictionally hold protector cap  20  in place. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of both inner portion  26  and out portion  28 . The reader will observe that both portions are thin-walled hollow structures. They are sized to be slipped together as indicated by the arrows. Both portions are made from pliable, high-friction materials so they can frictionally engage and hold each other together. Molding rubber is one example of an appropriate material for the two portions. Of course, protector cap  20  can also be made as a single piece. However, the use of two pieces allows the user to easily adjust the overall length of the device in order to accommodate varying lengths of shafts and nuts. 
     FIG. 5 is another cutaway view showing lug nut  18  tightened in place on lug shaft  16  (rotated upright for visual clarity). Portions of wheel  12 , inner portion  26  and outer portion  28  have been cut away to aid visualization. The reader will observe how inner portion  26  slips over and frictionally engages lug nut  18  (opening  24  is difficult to see in the view, but it is found at the lowest extreme of inner portion  26 ). The reader will also observe how protector cap  20  can be placed over lug nut  18  without having to loosen lug nut  18 . 
     In the particular example illustrated, lug shaft  16  does not protrude beyond lug nut  18 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many types of lug shafts do extend significantly beyond the lug nuts. The excess volume within protector cap  20  allows for this variation. 
     While protector cap  20  is held securely in place as shown, it is not capable of excluding water and other contaminants without an added component. FIG. 5B illustrates this added component. The excess volume within protector cap  20  is filled with viscous grease  30  (shown in a cutaway view, like the other components in FIG.  5 B). Grease  30  is actually inserted into protector cap  20  before it is placed over lug nut  18 . When protector cap  20  is pushed into place, grease  30  is forced down and around lug nut  18  and lug shaft  16 . The user can press outer portion  28  into inner portion  26  in order to displace more grease if needed. This is generally done until a small amount of grease actually flows out of opening  24 , thereby ensuing that the interior of protector cap  20  si completely bathed in grease. 
     Many different types of grease can be used. Marine greases, which are typically formulated to resist water absorption, are particularly effective. Clear silicone greases also work quite well. Any type of highly viscous liquid which does not permit air and water to contact the metal surfaces of lug nut  18  and lug shaft  16  will suffice. Even substances which cure and become pliable solids may be used—such as blue “RTV” silicone. 
     Once grease  30  is placed within protector cap  20  and protector cap  20  is installed, it can remain in place indefinitely. It is not necessary to replace grease  30  very often. Normal road use of the trailer will not loosen protector cap  20  and will not tend to displace the grease. 
     Although the use of protector cap  20  on an automotive lug nut is a good application, it by no means constitutes the extent of the device&#39;s usefulness. Protector cap  20  can be used to protect any nut placed on a threaded shaft. The invention&#39;s application to a completely separate industry is illustrated in FIG.  6 . FIG. 6 shows a wooden piling  32  with a transverse notch cut into its top. Joist  34  is placed into this transverse notch. Both piling  32  and joist  34  have a hole bored through them to accept carriage bolt  36 . Carriage bolt  36  is placed within the hole and secured by washer  38  and nut  40 , as shown in FIG.  6 B. 
     This type of installation is typical in coastal home construction. Pilings are generally required for building on sand. The floor joists are then secured to the pilings in the manner depicted in FIG.  6 . The same type of fastening is used for docks, ramps, and all sorts of other wooden structures. Unfortunately, once nut  40  is locked in place, the exposed portion of carriage bolt  36  and nut  40  rapidly begin to corrode. This corrosion often makes nut  40  impossible to subsequently remove. Worse still, the corrosion can advance to the point of rusting the bolt in two. 
     FIG. 6C shows an elongated version of protector cap  20  in place on the exposed portion of carriage bolt  36  and nut  40 . As in the automotive application, the hollow interior of protector cap  20  is filled with highly viscous grease. 
     Protector cap  20  is capable of protecting virtually any nut threaded onto an exposed shaft (allowing for different sizes, of course). The use of protector cap  20  significantly inhibits corrosion, allowing the nut to be easily removed from the shaft many years after it is installed. Additional applications for protector cap  20  would include automotive suspension fastenings, axle shackle bolts, boat hardware, bridge fastenings, etc. 
     A two-piece protector cap  20  has been illustrated, and this version is particularly suited to situations where the length of the exposed shaft is unknown. FIG. 6C is one such situation. As protector cap  20  is made of a pliable material which can be cut with a knife, the user simply cuts outer portion  28  to the desired length. However, the reader can easily appreciate that a one-piece protector cap would be simpler and more convenient for those occasions where the required length is known. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates unified protector cap  42 . FIG. 7 shows unified protector cap  42  cut in half so that the reader may observe its thin-walled structure. FIG. 8 shows unified protector cap  42  installed on a lug nut. The grease is placed in the interior of unified cap protector  42  in the same fashion as that described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 5B. 
     Because unified cap protector  42  is simpler and cheaper to produce, it represents the preferred embodiment. However, the reader should understand that for those applications where the exposed shaft length is unknown (and the required length of the protector is therefore unknown), the two-piece version is preferable. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will appreciate that the proposed invention significantly inhibits corrosion in a nut threaded onto a shaft. The invention has further advantages in that it: 
     1. Will accommodate a wide variety of nuts and shafts; 
     2. Does not require an exposed portion of thread for securing itself in place; 
     3. Does not require the use of the use of springs or specialized tools to be locked in place; and 
     4. Effectively protects against corrosion, especially following water immersion. 
     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.