Abstract:
A leveraging tool for disconnecting a control arm from the remainder of an automotive front wheel drive suspension system. The leveraging tool includes angularly disposed first and second portions, a pivot point located therebetween, and, optionally an anchoring member attachable to the automobile. A chain, cable, or hook member attaches the second portion to the control arm. The control arm is detached when an input force is applied to the first portion.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/464,407, filed 18 Jun. 2003, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/850,312, filed 7 May 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,775, which is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/568,191, filed 9 May 2000, now abandoned, each of the foregoing hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to automotive repair tools and, in particular, this invention relates to a tool separating components of automotive suspension systems. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     When technicians are repairing automobiles, they frequently encounter difficulty when disconnecting suspension parts. While many of these suspension parts are connected using nuts, bolts, bearings and the like, they are exposed to dust, moisture, and other corrosive compounds during use. Consequently, disconnecting these suspension components can be difficult, hazardous, and often causes collateral damage to other automotive components as well. For example, when the lower control arm is being detached from a steering knuckle, a pry bar is frequently inserted between the control arm and the frame or transaxle floor pan. When force is then exerted on the pry bar, the transaxle floor pan may be dented or otherwise damaged. Moreover, other components may be similarly damaged if used as fulcrum points as well. Furthermore, the technicians frequently must apply the pry bar at mechanically disadvantageous angles and lengths due to the outlay of the suspension and surrounding components. 
     There is then a need for an implement to enable a technician to safely and efficiently detach automotive lower control arms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention substantially meets the aforementioned need by providing a leveraging tool, the leveraging tool including a leveraging member, a fulcrum point, and a securing element. The leveraging member may be configured to be grasped by a user. The fulcrum point is disposed on or proximate the leveraging member. The securing element is attachable to the leveraging member and is configured to apply an output force to an automotive part such as a lower control arm. The output force is applied in response to an input force exerted on the leveraging member when the fulcrum is positioned against a pivoting structure on the automobile. In one embodiment the output force is maintained by an anchoring member, the anchoring member reversibly attached to a portion of the automobile frame. 
     One feature of the present leveraging tool is that automotive suspension parts can be detached more easily and with greater relative safety. 
     Another feature of the present leveraging tool is that automotive suspension parts can be detached without damaging other adjacent structures. 
     Yet another feature of the present leveraging tool is that an automotive part can be safely maintained in a biased position by reversibly attaching an anchoring member to a portion of the automobile. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary front view of a typical front wheel drive automobile suspension; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary bottom view of the front wheel drive automotive suspension of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present leveraging tool; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present leveraging tool; 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the leveraging tool of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the leveraging tool of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a third embodiment of the present leveraging tool; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the leveraging tool of  FIG. 3  being used to detach the lower control arm depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present leveraging tool; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  being used to install an automotive lower control arm. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a typical front suspension and drive train is depicted for a front wheel drive vehicle generally at  50 . Rotary power is transmitted from a transaxle  52  to a wheel bearing and hub assembly  54  via a CV-axle  56 . The wheel bearing and hub assembly  54  is rotatably mounted in a steering knuckle  58 . A strut  60  is attached to the steering knuckle  58 . A coil spring  62  is disposed about a portion of the strut  60  to support and stabilize a portion of the vehicle. A lower control arm  64  is pivotally attached to a frame member  66  at a pair of control arm first ends  68 . A control arm second end  70  is attached to the steering knuckle  58  by ball joint  72  and held in place with a fastener  74 . A sway bar  76  is attached to the lower control arm  64  proximate its second end  70  by a bushing  78 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a first embodiment of the present detaching/leveraging tool is depicted generally at  100 . This embodiment of the present invention is formed from steel tubing and includes respective first and second portions  102  and  104 , which are generally separated by a bend  106 . A brace  108  may extend between the first and second portions  102  and  104  to provide rigidity. A pivot pad  110  may be present on an upper side of the second portion  104  proximate the bend  106 . Another bend is formed in a member  112 . One end of the member  112  is welded to the leveraging tool proximate a first end  114 . A second end of the member  112  is welded to the brace  108 . A recurring element, such as chain (or cable)  116 , is disposed between the member  112  and the underside of the leveraging tool  100 . The chain  116  may include a hook or another device or combination (e.g., nut and bolt) to fasten the chain around both the leveraging tool second portion  104  and an automotive component such as a control arm. In this embodiment, the leveraging tool  100  is made from 1.25″ diameter steel tubing with a thickness of 0.125″. The pivot pad  110  is made from 0.125″ thick steel plate and is about 4″×4″ in dimension. In some embodiments, a high tack or rubberized substance may overlay the pivot pad  110  to reduce slippage during use. The pivot pad  110  is disposed over a position on the leveraging tool  100  which is a pivot or fulcrum point during use. In this embodiment of the present leveraging tool, the first portion  102  is about 4′ in length and the second portion  104  is about 2′ in length. Also in this embodiment of the present leveraging tool, the second portion  104  is angled about 80 degrees from the first portion  102 . However, the second portion  104  may be angled about 68 degrees, between about 75 degrees and 85 degrees, between about 70 degrees and 90 degrees, between about 90 degrees and 95 degrees, or between about 85 degrees and 100 degrees from the first portion  102  in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the first portion  102  may include telescoping sections  118  and  120  and tightener coupling  122 . Telescoping section  118  telescopes inside section  120  in this example, although obviously section  120  could telescope inside section  118  as well. The coupling  122  threads onto section  120 , fixes the sections at a desired length when tightened, and allows the sections to be adjusted to a desired length when loosened. Rather than coupling  120 , other length adjusting mechanisms known to the art may be used, e.g., a pin or bolt fitting into a series of aligned holes in the sections  118  and  120 . One of the sections  118  and  120  may be solid if a strengthened embodiment is desired. 
     This and other embodiments of this invention may be made from solid or hollow (e.g., tubular) metal alloys known to the art such as steel, cast iron, and aluminum. 
       FIGS. 4–6  depict a second embodiment of the present leveraging tool generally at  130 . The leveraging tool  130  includes a first portion  132  and a second portion  134  defined by a bend  136 . The second portion  134  may angle from the first portion  132  as explained above with respect to leveraging tool  100 . The first and second portions  132  and  134  may be formed from solid steel in this embodiment. The solid steel from which the leveraging tool  130  is formed may be 1″ or 1¼″ in diameter. Also in this embodiment, a securing element, such as square cornered C-hook  138  member, is attached to the second portion  104  proximate the second portion end  139 . The C-hook  138  includes arms  140  and  142 . The arm  142  extends generally diametrically through holes formed in the second portion  134 . A plate  144 , with holes  146  and  148 , may be provided to provide rigidity to the C-hook  138 . In this embodiment, the arm  140  may be disposed in the hole  146  and the arm  142  may be disposed in the hole  148  during use. The C-hook may be made from ½″ diameter steel. The arms  140  and  142  may be about 6″ in length and may be spaced apart by about 6″. The first and second portions  132  and  134  may generally be about the same lengths as the first and second portions  102  and  104  of the leveraging tool  100 . A pad  150  is welded, or otherwise fixed, to an upper surface of the second portion  134  at a pivot or fulcrum point thereof. 
       FIG. 7  shows a third embodiment of the present leveraging tool  160 . The leveraging tool  160  includes respective first and second ends  162  and  164 . A pad  166  is fixed proximate the first end. A hook  168  extends from the leveraging tool  160  at a distance of between about 2′ and 3′ from the second end  164  in one embodiment. The hook  168  may be fixed or may be configured to slid along the leveraging tool to a desired position. Of course, a chain or cable, as described above, may be used in place of the hook  168 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts how the embodiments described in  FIGS. 3–6  may be used in automotive repair, e.g., separating the control arm  64  and ball joint  72  from the steering knuckle  58 . The chain  116  is fastened about a desired place on the control arm and positioned such that the pivot pad  110  can contact the frame member  66 , or another suitable pivot site such as a portion of the control arm itself. The first portion  102  is grasped by the user, the pivot pad  110  (or fulcrum point) is positioned against the frame member  66 . The user then grasps the first portion  102  and exerts an input force generally in the direction of arrow  190 . The input force is leveraged by the present tool to produce an output force generally in the direction of arrow  192 . The sway bar  76  is still attached to the control arm  64  in this example. Therefore, the control arm must be biased away from the steering knuckle by the sway bar as depicted. Obviously, differing amounts of input force must be exerted depending upon the particular model of control bar, as well as other factors such as the extent of corrosion and rust present proximate the ball joint. Nonetheless, the control arm and ball joint are separated from the steering knuckle to enable subsequent repairs. 
       FIG. 7  depicts the embodiment shown therein detaching the control arm and ball joint from the knuckle. When using this embodiment, the pad  166  is positioned against the frame member  66  or other desired structure and the hook  168  is hooked around a desired position on the control bar. In some embodiments, the distance between the hook and second end  164  may be adjusted. The input force is exerted generally in the direction of arrow  190  to result in an output force generally in the direction of arrow  192 . The input force is exerted until the control arm and ball joint are freed from the steering knuckle. The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7  may be especially useful when the automobile being repaired is not be positioned on a hoist. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , yet another embodiment of the present invention is indicated at  200 . In addition to features described above, the leveraging tool includes an anchoring member  204  attached in opposition to the direction of the second portion  134 . Attachment may be so as to enable a pivot  205  at the point of attachment to the first portion  132 . The anchoring member may include respective first and second members  208  and  210 , an adjustment member  212 , and an anchoring element  214 . In the embodiment depicted, the first and second members  208  and  210  thread oppositely into the adjustment member  212 , so as to increase or decrease the length of the anchoring member  204 . The anchoring element  214  is an end of the first member  208  configured as a hook in the embodiment depicted. However, the instant invention contemplates other structures, e.g., straps, nut-bolt combinations, and the like, as being present in other embodiments. In use, the leveraging tool is used for repair activities, such as separating the steering knuckle from the control arm as explained and depicted above. Once the control arm is biased away from the steering knuckle and in a desired position, the position of the control arm is maintained by hooking a portion of the auto frame with the anchoring element  214 , then increasing or decreasing the length of the anchoring member  204 . The anchoring element  204  is increased or decreased by rotating the adjustment member  212  clockwise or counterclockwise. The desired repairs and replacements can then be effected and the control arm can be returned to an unbiased position. This is accomplished by a exerting a force on the first portion  132  so as to unhook the anchoring element  214  from the automotive frame, then allowing the control arm to return to the unbiased position. The leveraging tool  200  allows a single person to effect repairs by maintaining the control arm in a biased position without the requirement of continuously exerting the necessary force. 
     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.