Abstract:
An auxiliary tool for timing gear for use with a wrench to mount or dismount a timing gear is disclosed to include a support member having a stop rod at its one end, a movable device slidably mounted in the support member and providing a stem at its one end for working with the stop rod to engage into peripheral notches of the timing gear at two opposite sides during application, and a handle pivotally coupled to the support member and defining therein a longitudinally extending limit slot for accommodating one end of the movable device to limit pivoting movement between the support member and the handle within a predetermined range.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to hand tool technology and more particularly, to an auxiliary tool for use with a wrench to mount or dismount a timing gear. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,821 discloses a hand tool entitled “Movable jaw type holding device”, which includes a handle  11  having a fixed jaw member  12  holding a first rod member  121 , a movable jaw member  20  pivoted to the handle  11  by a pivot and holding a second rod member  221  corresponding to the first rod member  121 , a spring member  30  stopped between the handle  11  and the movable jaw member  20  to keep the movable jaw member  20  apart from the fixed jaw member  12 . Thus, when operating the movable jaw type holding device to dismount a screw bolt from the wheel  40 ; 50 , the first and second rod members of the movable jaw type holding device stop the wheel from rotation with the screw bolt. Further, this design of movable jaw type holding device is suitable for applicable to different sizes of wheels  40 ; 50 . 
         [0005]    Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 7  in the specification of the aforesaid prior art design, the fixed jaw member  12  and the movable jaw member  20  each also have a prod member  14 ; 23  at the opposite side so that the movable jaw type holding device is operable in reversed directions. 
         [0006]    However, when mounting the wheel  40 ; 50 , the movable jaw type holding device must be operated on the reversed side due to that the elastic member  30  keeps the movable jaw member  20  and the fixed jaw member  12  in an open condition during forward rotation of the wrench  42 ; 52  to fasten tight the wheel bolt, and the second rod member  221  cannot be positively stopped against the wheel spokes  44 . Thus, the user may need to reverse the movable jaw type holding device when performing a mounting or dismounting operation. 
         [0007]    Further, a commercially available holding tool is known, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprising a tool body  1  defining a longitudinal sliding slot  3 , a stop rod  2  transversely located at one end of the tool body  1 , and a stop member  4  slidably mounted in the longitudinal sliding slot  3 . The stop member  4  can be locked at any selected location within the longitudinal sliding slot  3  by a locknut thereof so that the stop rod  2  and the stop member  4  can be engaged into the peripheral notches  6  of the wheel  5  to prevent the wheel  5  from rotating when the user uses a wrench  7  to rotate the wheel bolt  8 . 
         [0008]    This commercial holding tool is operable in one single side to work with the wrench  7  in mounting or dismounting the wheel (timing gear)  5 . However, when mounting or dismounting a different size of wheel (timing gear)  5 , the user must loosen the locknut of the stop member  4  and then adjust the distance between the stop member  4  and the stop rod  2 . After adjustment, the user must fasten tight the locknut of the stop member  4  to lock the stop member  4  in the adjusted position, bringing inconvenience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary tool for timing gear, which is practical for mounting and dismounting timing gears of different sizes without changing the operating direction of the tool. 
         [0010]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention is adapted for use with a wrench to mount or dismount a timing gear, comprising a support member, a movable device and a handle. The support member comprises a transversely extending stop rod at its one, and a longitudinally extending sliding slot at its opposite end. The movable device is mounted in and movable along the sliding slot, s comprising a stem located at its one end and disposed in a parallel manner relative to the stop rod for working with the stop rod to engage into peripheral notches of a timing gear at two opposite sides during application. The handle is pivotally coupled to the support member, comprising a longitudinally extending limit slot for accommodating an opposite end of the movable device to limit pivoting movement between the support member and the handle within a predetermined range. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the auxiliary tool for timing gear further comprises an elastic member, for example, tensile spring, connected between the support member and the movable device. Subject to the arrangement of the tensile spring, the distance between the stop rod and the stem is rapidly adjustable to fit timing gears of different sizes. 
         [0012]    Further, the limit slot defines therein opposing first stop wall and second stop wall for selectively stopping against the stem. Thus, the auxiliary tool can effectively stop the timing gear from rotation when the user operates a wrench to rotate the screw bolt that locks the timing gear. Therefore, the auxiliary tool can be used to mount or dismount a timing gear without reversing its operating side. 
         [0013]    Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a holding tool according to the prior art. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic applied view of the holding tool according to the prior art. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an oblique elevational view of an auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  corresponds to  FIG. 3  when viewed from another angle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing illustrating an operation status of the auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the operation of the auxiliary tool to remove a timing gear. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the operation of the auxiliary tool to fasten tight a small timing gear. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the operation of the auxiliary tool to fasten tight a large timing gear. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , an auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention is shown. The auxiliary tool comprises a support member  10 , a movable device  20 , a handle  30 , and an elastic member  40 . 
         [0024]    The support member  10  has a substantially C-shaped configuration, carrying a transversely extending stop rod  11  at its one end and defining a longitudinally extending sliding slot  12  at its other end. 
         [0025]    The movable device  20  is mounted in and movable along the sliding slot  12  of the support member  10 , comprising a first screw member  21 , a second screw member  22 , a washer  23 , and a sliding member  24 . The first connecting screw member  21  in this embodiment is a male screw member comprising a head  211  and a threaded shank  212  extended from one side of the head  211 . The second connecting screw member  22  in this embodiment is a female screw member comprising a screw hole  221  at its one end and a stem  222  at its other end. The stem  222  of the second connecting screw member  22  extends in a parallel manner relative to the stop rod  11  of the support member  10 . The first connecting screw member  21  is inserted through the washer  23  and the sliding member  24  and then fastened up the first connecting screw member  21  with the second connecting screw member  22  so that the first connecting screw member  21  and the second connecting screw member  22  are retained at two opposite lateral sides of the sliding slot  12 . At this time, the washer  23  is stopped outside the sliding slot  12 , and the sliding member  24  that has a smoothly circular outer perimeter is rotatably accommodated in the sliding slot  12 . 
         [0026]    The handle  30  is pivotally coupled to the support member  10  between the stop rod  11  and the sliding slot  12  so that the handle  30  can be biased relative to the support member  10 . In this embodiment, the handle  30  is pivotally coupled to the support member  10  by a screw bolt  50  and a nut  51 . Other equivalent devices can be selectively used to pivotally couple the handle  30  and the support member  10  together. Further, the handle  30  comprises a limit slot  31  adjacent to its pivoted point (the location of the screw bolt  50  and the nut  51 ) for accommodating the head  211  of the first connecting screw member  21 . Further, the limit slot  31  defines opposing first stop wall  32  and second stop wall  33 , and opposing first connection wall  34  and second connection wall  35  that are respectively connected between the first stop wall  32  and the second stop wall  33  at two opposite sides. Further, the first stop wall  32  and the second stop wall  33  are kept in a non-parallel manner. The first connection wall  34  is disposed adjacent to the coupling area between the support member  10  and the handle  30 . Further, the wall length of the first connection wall  34  is longer than the second connection wall  35 . The first stop wall  32  and the second stop wall  33  are adapted to selectively support the head  211  of the first connecting screw member  21 , limiting the pivoting range between the support member  10  and the handle  30 . 
         [0027]    The elastic member  40  is stopped between the support member  10  and the movable device  20 . In this embodiment, the elastic member  40  is a tensile spring, having its one end connected to the nut  51  (or the screw bolt  50 ) between the support member  10  and the handle  30  and its other end hooked in a hook hole  223  at the periphery of the second connecting screw member  22  of the movable device  20 . Thus, the elastic member  40  normally holds the movable device  20  at one end of the sliding slot  12  adjacent to the coupling area between the support member  10  and the handle  30 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates an operation status of the auxiliary tool for timing gear in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, when the elastic member  40  is in its normal position, the movable device  20  is kept at one end of the sliding slot  12  adjacent to the coupling area between the support member  10  and the handle  30 . When an external force is applied to push the movable device  20  away from one end of the sliding slot  12  adjacent to the coupling area between the support member  10  and the handle  30  toward the other end of the sliding slot  12 , the elastic member  40  is stretched. At this time, the stem  222  of the movable device  20  is moved far from the stop rod  11 . On the contrary, when the external force is disappeared, the elastic potential energy of the elastic member  40  returns the movable device  20 , moving the stem  222  in direction toward the stop rod  11 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates an application example of the auxiliary tool to remove a timing gear. During this operation, the stop rod  11  of the support member  10  and the stem  222  of the movable device  20  are engaged into respective peripheral notches  71  of the timing gear  70 . When operating a wrench  60  to loosen the screw bolt  61  from the timing gear  70 , the stop rod  11  and the stem  222  stop the timing gear  70  from rotation, allowing the screw bolt  61  to be loosened to dismount the timing gear  70 . Further, when rotating the screw bolt  61  counter-clockwise, the handle  30  is rotated clockwise relative to the support member  10  to stop the head  211  of the first connecting screw member  21  of the movable device  20  against the second stop wall  33  in the limit slot  31 , prohibiting the timing gear  70  from rotation with the screw bolt  61  in the counter-clockwise direction. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates an application example of the auxiliary tool to fasten tight a small timing gear. As illustrated, to facilitate operating the wrench  60  in rotating the screw bolt  61  clockwise and fastening tight the screw bolt  61 , the stop rod  11  of the support member  10  and the stem  222  of the movable device  20  are engaged into respective peripheral notches  71  of the timing gear  70 , and then the handle  30  is biased in the counter-clockwise direction relative to the support member  10  to stop the head  211  of the first connecting screw member  21  of the movable device  20  against the first stop wall  32  in the limit slot  31 , prohibiting the timing gear  70  from rotation with the screw bolt  61  in the clockwise direction. At this time, the user can operate the wrench  60  to rotate the screw bolt  61  in the clockwise direction positively and to further fasten tight the screw bolt  61 . 
         [0031]    Thus, either mounting or dismounting the timing gear  70 , the user needs not to reverse the auxiliary tool. Thus, the design of the auxiliary tool having only one single stop rod  11  at the support member  10  and one single stem  222  at the movable device  20  is sufficient to achieve the desired effects. When compared to conventional tools, the invention has the advantage of convenience in use. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates another application example of the auxiliary tool to fasten tight a large timing gear. During this application, the movable device  20  is slidably accommodated in the sliding slot  12  for allowing adjustment of the distance between the stop rod  11  and the step  222 . Thus, the stop rod  11  of the support member  10  and the stem  222  of the movable device  20  can be conveniently engaged into respective peripheral notches  81  of a large timing gear  80 , allowing operation of the wrench  60  to rotate the screw bolt  61  positively. By means of moving the movable device  20  to stretch the elastic member  40 , the distance between the stop rod  11  and the step  222  is adjusted, allowing the movable device  20  be stopped at the periphery of the large timing gear  80 . Thus, the auxiliary tool of the invention fits different timing gears  70 ; 80  of different diameters. 
         [0033]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.