Wire or rod bender

A wire bender or a rod bender and more particularly a wire bender or a rod bender, adaptable to bend a variety of sizes of rod or wire to at least one desirable angle, provides a bent wire or a bent rod may be formed to use with a model, especially a model of vehicle.

This invention relates to a wire bender or a rod bender and more particularly to a wire bender or a rod bender, adaptable to bend a variety of sizes of rod or wire to at least one desirable angle, so that bent wire or a bent rod may be formed to use with a model, especially a model of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a building process for a model, especially a model of a vehicle, it is desirable to bend wires or rods at proper angles for use in constructing the model. Typical vehicles, for which models are made include, but are not limited to, automobiles, airplanes, boats, and the like. A plurality of properly bent wires or rods are very useful in these model building procedures.

Additionally, certain precise angles are almost mandatory to achieve the proper results for the model. While some proper results are desirable for appearance purposes, other proper results are required for proper operation. Such a proper operation is especially critical in those powered models such as airplanes, or automobiles. If the proper angles on those rods or wires are not achieved, the power functioning of those models is adversely affected.

Because there is no consistent size of the rods or wires used in the models, the diameter thereof is constantly changing. Such a change in diameter complicates achieving the proper bends. These wires or rods are required to be at least semi rigid, if not rigid, but bendable for use as a part in a model vehicle. Such rigidity complicates the proper bending thereof. The change in diameter of the rods or wires adds a further complication. Unless otherwise specified, the terms, rod and wire, may be used interchangeably.

It is difficult to accomplish the proper bending with a hand tool. Such bending is more an art than a science and requires substantial skill to achieve the proper angles. This is especially true because a part formed from the wire or the rod is required, in most cases, to have symmetrical shaping. Such symmetrical shaping requires a plurality of bends. With the plurality of bends, symmetry becomes an even greater problem.

It is also difficult to accomplish the proper bending with a power tool. As power is added, the tool operation becomes complex. Simplified bending on the wire or the rod can provide great advantages to a person desiring to make a model. Such simplification furthermore makes the model building hobby available to a person who might lack the appropriate dexterity to bend the wire or the rod properly.

Thus, a proper solution to these problems appears to being a mechanical device capable of accepting the desired rod or wire, and bending the same as desired. The differing sizes caused problems enough for such a device. The problem of controlling the rod or wire while it is being shaped as desired adds further complications to the complication.

No appropriate mechanical device for achieving applicants' desired goals is available. Nevertheless, such a device can offer great advantages to the model maker, and greatly increase the enjoyment of the model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of a wire or rod bender for use by a model builder.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a manual wire or rod bender for use by a model builder.

Moreover an objective of the present invention is the provision of a wire or rod bender, with a changeable die.

A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of a wire or rod bender, capable of holding the item sought to be bent.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is the provision of a wire or rod bender, capable of repeating an angle of the item sought to be bent.

Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a wire or rod bender, capable of varying an angle of the item sought to be bent.

These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a wire bender, with an interchangeable die to provide a desired shape for a wire or rod to be used in a model, especially a model vehicle.

Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct or intermediate connections, but may also include connections through mediate elements or devices.

Components of the wire bender include a housing with a die support movably and releasably mounted thereon with a mounting base. A die in the die support produces the desired shape of wire or rod in the wire bender. The thus shaped device can be used in a toy model or a utilitarian device.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, wire bender100has a housing120with a mounting base140, and a die support160. The mounting base140receives the die support160. The die122fits between the mounting base140and the die support160. Within the mounting base140, the die122is secured sufficiently to at least reduce, and preferably eliminate, any rotation of die122about its longitudinal axis. Mounting base140includes a pair of oppositely disposed mounting flanges142, so that mounting base140, and housing120may be secured to a desired surface104(FIG. 15). Desired surface104may be a work bench, a vehicle, a portable work surface or any other secure and stable surface for mounting wire bender100.

Further consideringFIG. 2, the mounting base140of the housing120for wire bender100has a raised platform144between mounting flanges142. In the center of the raised platform144is a die122for shaping a wire102. The die122has a mounting end124and an oppositely disposed shaping end126. Mounting end124has flat sides128. Mounting end124fits into mounting base140at die housing146.

A mounting flange142is at each end of the mounting base. The mounting flanges142permits the wire bender to be mounted on a desired surface. The mounting flanges142each include a mounting aperture138. The mounting aperture138receives a screw or other fastener to mount it to a desired surface.

More specifically, centrally located between mounting flanges142is the raised platform144. Centrally located within raised platform144is a die housing146. Die housing146includes a die support mount148adapted to have die support160rest thereon. Die support160includes die grip164with handle162extending therefrom. Centrally located in die support mount148is die receiver150in the form of an aperture. Die receiver150has a pair of die flats152, which receives the flat sides128of die122in a female to male relationship.

With the further consideration ofFIG. 3,FIG. 4,FIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7, the structure of die support160becomes more clear. Die support160includes handle162extending from die grip164. Die grip164cooperates with die122and permits die122to bend wire102as handle162is rotated around die support mount148. Die grip164has centrally located therein a shaping end receiver166, to receive shaping end126of die122. Shaping end126is the male portion of male to female relationship.

Die grip164has a shaping end receiver166, with a cylindrical housing168. Cylindrical housing168has about the same diameter as die support mount148and rests thereon. Adjacent to shaping end receiver166on opposing sides thereof are shaping support rods170. Each shaping support rod170is mounted in a shaping support cylinder172. Each shaping support cylinder172is substantially tangential to opposing sides of cylindrical housing168. Between each support cylinder172is the shaping end receiver166with a preferably tangential relationship therewith.

A set of cylinder braces174connects shaping end receiver166with the cylindrical housing168and provides support therefor. Such cylinder braces174add strength to die support160.

Finally addingFIG. 15to the consideration, the bending of wire102with die122in wire bender100becomes clear. Wire102or a rod is inserted into a proper die122to be formed into a desired shape with the use of wire bender100. Housing120is secured to surface104with fasteners106in mounting flanges142. Fasteners106may be nails, screws or other items through apertures108(which are similar to apertures138inFIG. 2) in mounting flanges142. In this manner, mounting base140of housing120is secured to surface104for use of die support160.

This application—taken as a whole with the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.

Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.