Wheel lug cleaning tool

A cleaning tool for the removal of debris and subsequent cleaning of lug nuts for a wheel includes an elongate handle removably mounted to a socket, wherein the socket includes a cylindrical or alternatively, a conical configuration to receive an associated lug nut therewithin. Rotation of the socket effects a cleaning of an associated lug nut.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The field of invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly 
pertains to a new and improved wheel lug cleaning tool wherein the same 
provides use in an automotive environment. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Tools in the prior art directed to cleaning and the like defining a socket 
for example include U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,693 to Johnson wherein a 
fingernail polish remover includes a generally cylindrical socket to 
receive an individual's finger therewithin, with a rotary handle to effect 
rotation of the socket relative to the fingernail to be cleaned. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,279 to Heber sets forth a screw threaded plug-like 
member receiving a cloth thereabout directed into an opening for a bowling 
ball to effect cleaning of a finger openings within said bowling ball. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,245 to Burrows sets forth a sponge-like insert within a 
socket member for receiving a spark plug therewithin to grip the spark 
plug in removal from an automotive engine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,566 to Ward sets forth a vehicular lug nut cleaning 
device defining a sponge body mounted fixedly to a rearwardly extending 
handle longitudinally aligned with the body defining a socket receiving 
for receiving a lug nut therewithin. 
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new 
and improved wheel lug cleaning tool as set forth by the instant invention 
which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness 
in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially 
fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
cleaning apparatus now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a wheel lug cleaning tool wherein the same is arranged to define 
a conically configured socket to receive a lug nut therewithin for 
effecting enhanced cleaning of an associated lug nut relative to an 
automotive wheel. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, 
which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a 
new and improved wheel lug cleaning tool which has all the advantages of 
the prior art cleaning apparatus and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention provides a cleaning tool for the 
removal of debris and subsequent cleaning of lug nuts for a wheel 
including an elongate handle removably mounted to a socket, wherein the 
socket includes a cylindrical or alternatively, a conical configuration to 
receive an associated lug nut therewithin. Rotation of the socket effects 
a cleaning of an associated lug nut. 
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in 
the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and 
it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of 
all of its structures for the functions specified. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which 
this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved wheel lug cleaning tool which has all the advantages of the prior 
art cleaning apparatus and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
wheel lug cleaning tool which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved wheel lug cleaning tool which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved wheel lug cleaning tool which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such wheel lug cleaning tools economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved wheel lug cleaning tool which provides in the apparatuses and 
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 8 
thereof, a new and improved wheel lug cleaning tool embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numerals 10, 10a, and 10b will be described. 
More specifically, the wheel lug cleaning tool 10 of the instant invention 
essentially comprises an elongate coaxially aligned handle 11 that 
includes a handle mounting shaft 12 coaxially directed through the handle 
extending forwardly thereof in a coaxially aligned relationship to permit 
selective securement within a square drive bore 15 coaxially directed 
through a floor of an associated lug receiving socket 13. The lug 
receiving socket 13 may define cylindrical or a truncated conical interior 
cavity to receive a wheel lug therewithin. The conical cavity is at times 
advantageous to accommodate various sizes of lug nuts and effect greater 
frictional interrelationship between the associated walls of the socket 
and a fibrous covering 16 that is mounted about interior and exterior 
surfaces of the side walls of the socket 13 to effect cleaning and 
polishing of the lug nut received within the cavity 14. The covering is 
positioned on exterior surfaces of the side walls of the socket 13 to 
provide for a cleaning surface that is readily manually manipulated about 
a lug nut to effect access to portions of a lug nut that may not be 
readily available when directed interiorly of the socket 13 within the 
cavity 14. The square drive bore 15 removably mounted relative to the 
shaft 12 permits selective securement of the socket 13 to various drive 
tools, such as socket wrenches and the like, should enhanced speed be 
desired in a cleaning procedure. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified cleaning tool 10a, wherein a modified 
handle 11a includes an internally threaded upper handle end 18 that is 
threadedly secured to an externally threaded socket shank 17 coaxially 
aligned with the socket 13 that may also be formed with conical walls, as 
desired and noted above, with the socket shank 17 extending rearwardly 
thereof. The modified handle 11a includes a piston rod 21 reciprocatably 
directed through a handle lower web 19a that is orthogonally oriented 
relative an axis defined by the handle, including a coaxial bore to 
receive the piston rod 21 slidably therethrough. A piston 22 is mounted 
fixedly and orthogonally to an upper terminal end of the piston rod 21 and 
includes a piston rod annular seal 23 formed thereabout to provide a 
sealing relationship between an interior wall surface of the cylindrical 
handle 11a, wherein a reservoir chamber 19 is defined between a forward 
terminal end of the piston 22 and the bore 15 to direct fluid from the 
reservoir 19 therethrough into the cavity 14, wherein the fluid may be of 
a cleaning fluid solution or polishing fluid to enhance cleaning in a lug 
cleaning procedure. The piston rod includes a piston rod handle 24 mounted 
fixedly and orthogonally to an outer terminal end of the rod 21 as it 
projects exteriorly of the lower web 19a to permit ease of manipulation of 
the piston rod 21. 
A further modified tool 10b, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, where 
additionally to the organization, a resilient flap valve 26 is positioned 
within the bore 15 to maintain the cleaning fluid 25 within the reservoir 
19 until the valve 26 is deflected upon pressurizing of the reservoir 19 
by projecting of the piston 22 interiorly of the reservoir 19 and thereby 
direct the cleaning fluid interiorly within the cavity 14. A spring 27 is 
coaxially mounted within the cavity 14, including a magnet 28 mounted at a 
forward terminal end thereof and is coaxially aligned within the cavity 14 
to thereby permit selective securement of the lug nut to the magnet 28, 
with the spring permitting compression thereof to enhance mounting of a 
lug nut onto an associated lug nut stud (not shown) of an associated 
automotive wheel, wherein the spring 27 is coaxially retracted within the 
socket 14 upon compression of the spring 27, with the walls 13 defining a 
conical interior cavity defined by the modified wall 13a, as illustrated 
in FIG. 7, to enhance grasping of the lug nut for its mounting upon an 
associated lug nut stud and thereby permit subsequent cleaning and 
mounting of the lug nut in a single procedure. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant 
invention shall be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.