Abstract:
A tool kit for operating any one of a plurality of different underchassis spare tire storage systems for motor vehicles which operate by lowering to make a stored spare tire manually accessible. The tool kit comprises a cranked manual handle, at least one extension for modularly varying effective length of the tool, and a plurality of sockets for engaging the terminus of the drive system of many different motor vehicles having underchassis spare tire storage systems.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to tools, and more particularly, to a kit of tools which may be used to drive the under-chassis spare tire storage system of any one of many vehicles having an under-chassis spare tire storage system which may be lowered from the chassis to make a spare tire accessible for tire replacement. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many motor vehicles have spare tires which are held on carriages below the body or chassis. This is typical for example in vehicles popularly known as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). The carriage is ordinarily held close to the body or chassis, where it and the spare tire are held up away from the ground so as not to present a hazard of contacting the ground, road, or objects located on the ground or road. 
         [0003]    When the need arises to gain access to the spare tire, the spare tire may be made accessible by lowering the carriage. This is typically done by operating a screw type drive which causes the carriage to lower from the chassis or body. The spare tire, which is typically a tire mounted on a wheel or rim, to be retrieved for installation on an axle in place of a presumably damaged or defective road wheel, which is also a tire mounted on a wheel or rim. 
         [0004]    Operating the drive is usually performed by inserting a drive tool, such as a tool having a socket, a shaft, and a cranked handle, into engagement with a terminus of the drive, and manually rotating the tool and drive. 
         [0005]    Motor vehicles having such drives are usually provided with a suitable tool to operate the drive. While this is satisfactory for the owner or operator of the vehicle, it can present problems for automotive service personnel who may have to service any one or more of many types of vehicles. For one thing, the original tool provided with the vehicle being serviced may be lost, placed within the vehicle in a location different from that intended by the manufacturer of the vehicle, may be rendered inaccessible by cargo and other materials loaded into the vehicle by the operator, or may be inaccessible for still other reasons. 
         [0006]    The automotive service establishment remains in need of a modular tool which may be counted on to operate the drive of a system for storing a spare tire, and which is adaptable to serve most if not all of the many different systems of the many different motor vehicles provided with such a system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the above stated need by providing a versatile tool which can operate the drive system of an underchassis spare tire storage system. The tool has modular replaceable components which enable a plurality of sockets or working heads to be removably attached, and to vary effective length of the tool. At a minimum, the tool comprises a cranked handle and an attachable socket for engaging a square drive or similar component of the drive system of the vehicle. Preferably provided as a kit, the tool comprises a plurality of components including different attachable sockets for accommodating square and other drives, and at least one extension for adapting the effective length of the assembled tool. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide a tool which operates the drive system of an underchassis spare tire storage system. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to accommodate connection requirements of drive systems of different underchassis spare tire storage systems. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a modular tool kit according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side view of a handle member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an end detail view of the left end of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of a socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the left end of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an end view of an alternative left end of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a broken away cross sectional side view of another socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the left end of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the right end of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side view of another socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 , and is shown partially in cross section. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a side view of still another socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 , and is shown partially in cross section. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of  FIG. 11 , with the subject matter rotated ninety degrees about the longitudinal axis from the view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is an end view of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side view of yet another socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 , and is shown partially in cross section. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a side detail view of  FIG. 14 , taken in mirror image, and is shown partially in cross section. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is an end view of the left of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a side view of yet another socket member of the tool kit of  FIG. 1 , and is shown partially in cross section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a modular tool kit  100  for selective operating an underchassis spare tire storage system (not shown) for a motor vehicle, wherein the underchassis spare tire storage system operates by a mechanical linkage including a rotatably driven element which moves a carriage which holds the spare tire between a stowed position and an accessible position. The mechanical linkage is rotatably drivable by rotating a non-circular male or female member which must be engaged by a suitable hand tool. The modular tool kit  100  provides a suitable hand tool having a driver which is compatible with the non-circular male or female member, and provides a variety of sizes and configurations of such drivers to assure that the modular tool kit  100  will be usable with most if not all underchassis spare tire storage systems presently commercially offered by motor vehicle manufacturers. 
         [0031]    As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the modular tool kit  100  comprises a handle member  102  which is grasped by the user and rotated manually. This handle member  102  may directly drive an underchassis spare tire storage system or alternatively, may include a variety of wrenches and at least one extension to increase the reach of the handle member  102 . As clearly seen in  FIG. 2 , the handle member  102  may comprise a hollow tubular straight drive shaft  104  having a distal end terminating in one non-circular connector  106  and a proximal end joined to a crank  108 , and a handle  110  joined to the crank  108 . The drive shaft  104  and the handle  110  are parallel to one another, being fixed in this relationship by the crank  108 . The handle  110  may comprise a distal end forming another non-circular connector  112 . The non-circular connector  112  may be utilized in a manner similar to that of the non-circular connector  106 . This enables the drive shaft  104  and the handle  110  each to serve to drive a wrench or socket or an extension or both, and hence are interchangeable in function as handle and drive shaft. 
         [0032]    The handle member  102  enables ready grasp and rotation of a modular wrench which may be coupled to the handle member  102 . Wrenches will be referred to as socket members, although in some implementations, the wrenches will be different from typical sockets.  FIG. 3  shows how the proximal end  114  may be formed to serve as either a female socket or as a driver. As clearly seen in  FIG. 3 , the cross sectional configuration of the tubing forming the handle  110 , which may be circular along most of the length of the handle  110 , is of square internal cross sectional configuration along its length, albeit as shown with rounded corners. This configuration enables the proximal end  114  to be used as a drive element such as a male square drive or as a female square socket, or as a connector for connecting an extension (to be described hereinafter). 
         [0033]    Should the driven member of the underchassis spare tire storage system not be compatible with the drive element of the proximal end  114 , a socket member providing the required size and configuration may be employed. 
         [0034]    The handle  110  or an extension or socket member to be coupled to the handle  110  may include a manually releasable locking feature disposed to releasably lock the handle member to a socket member or extension. Preferably, the manually releasable locking feature comprises a hole formed in one of the handle member and the socket member, and a depressible pin which is associated with and movably fixed to the other of the handle member and the socket member. The depressible pin may occupy the hollow center of its associated handle member or socket member. In  FIG. 2 , a depressible pin  116  mounted to a U-shaped spring  118  occupies the hollow center of the handle  110 . In this case, the handle  110  would be used with a socket member such as the socket member  120  seen in  FIG. 4 , which bears a hole  122  which is adapted to receive the depressible pin  116 . The depressible pin projects from the handle  110  so as to engage and withdraw from the hole  122 . The spring fixes the depressible pin  116  to the handle  110  and biases the pin into a position engaging the hole  122  to oppose casual unintended disconnection of the socket member  120  from the handle  110 . The socket member  120  comprises a socket  124 , which is enlarged compared to the tubular shaft  126  of the socket member  120 . Preferably, the socket  124  makes a gradual transition at the junction with the tubular shaft  126 . The socket  124  may be pentagonal, as seen in  FIG. 5 , hexagonal, as seen in  FIG. 6 , or square, as seen in  FIG. 3 , although  FIG. 3  depicts the end of the handle  110 . 
         [0035]    The modular tool kit  100  preferably includes a plurality of socket members  120 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 , which preferably each comprise a hollow tubular shaft such as the tubular shaft  126 , a distal end comprising a drive element which is compatible with a corresponding rotatably driven element of one variety of commercial underchassis spare tire storage systems, and a proximal end comprising another non-circular connector which is matingly compatible with the non-circular connector of the handle member  102 . Preferably, the socket members  120 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  include drive elements which are dimensioned and configured to be different from each other, and collectively are usable with the vast majority of commercial underchassis spare tire storage systems. 
         [0036]    The modular tool kit  100  preferably comprises at least one straight extension such as the straight extensions  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 . Each straight extension preferably comprises a hollow shaft including a proximal end which is dimensioned and configured to be matingly compatible with the non-circular connector of the handle member  102  and a distal end which is dimensioned and configured to duplicate the non-circular connector of the handle member  102  so that the straight extension  144 ,  146 ,  148  or  150  may be inserted serially between the handle member  102  and a selected socket member  120 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 , or  142 . This concept is widely practiced with conventional tools such as ratchet wrenches. 
         [0037]    Another arrangement for a socket member  152  is seen in  FIGS. 7-9 . The socket member  152  may have a square drive  154  formed at one end for connection to the handle member  102  or to an extension such as any of extensions  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 . A rectangular drive  156  may be provided at the other end for driving purposes. The rectangular drive  156  may be a male driver which is inserted into a cooperating female socket (not shown) formed in the underchassis spare tire storage system for example. 
         [0038]    Another variation on a rectangular driver is shown in  FIG. 10 . In the example of  FIG. 10 , the male drive connector  158  of a socket member  160  is rectangular in cross sectional configuration along its length, and is formed as a solid, filled component devoid of hollows or other internal voids. The male drive connector  160  may be received within the tube  162  of the socket member  160  and securely crimped thereby. 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIGS. 11-13 , a male drive connector  170  of a socket member  164  may include a pin  166  extending laterally from the longitudinal dimension of the drive shaft  168  of the socket member  164 . The pin  166  may be fixed for example by welding to the male drive connector  170 , which may be a solid, filled component devoid of hollows and other internal voids. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 14-16  show a male drive connector  172  comprising a hollow, tubular drive shaft  174  and a male drive connector in the form of a hexagonal drive  176 . The hexagonal drive  176  may be a solid, filled component devoid of hollows and other internal voids, as seen in  FIG. 15 . The hexagonal drive  176  may be fixed to the tubular drive shaft  174  by crimping the latter over the stub shaft  178  of the hexagonal drive  176 .  FIG. 16  clearly shows the hexagonal outer wrench surface of the hexagonal drive  176 . 
         [0041]    The hexagonal male drive connector  172  of  FIGS. 14-16  may be contrasted with the socket  124  of  FIG. 4  in that the socket  124  may be a female socket which receives a corresponding male driver. 
         [0042]    Although the male drive connector  172  may be hexagonal as shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , it may also be pentagonal. A pentagonal shape is exemplified in  FIG. 5  as a female socket. A solid male drive connector such as the male drive connector  172  may be modified to include a pentagonal outer wrench surface in place of the hexagonal shape shown in  FIGS. 14-16 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 17  shows a socket member  180  comprising a drive shaft  182 . A female socket  184  may comprise a slot  186  which is recessed into the female socket  184 . The slot  186  may engage fingers or a pin (none shown) which may be formed in the drive mechanism of an underchassis spare tire storage system to rotate the linkage of the latter. That end of the socket member  180  opposite the slot  186  is seen to include a depressible pin  188  mounted on a spring  190  to facilitate connection to the handle member  102  or to an extension such as the extensions  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 . 
         [0044]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the modular tool kit  100  may comprise a flexible pouch  192  which is dimensioned and configured to receive and store the handle member  102 , socket members such as the socket members  120 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and extensions such as the extensions  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 . The pouch may be of plastic, leather, rubber, fabric, or other flexible material, and may include a drawstring or other fastening arrangement (none shown) to keep the pouch closed. 
         [0045]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.