Abstract:
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.

Description:
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&#39; 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exploded, perspective view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a top plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a bottom plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an end plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an end plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention and a reverse view of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention, in use. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a top plan view of wire bender  100  of this invention, in use. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a top plan view of die  122  for wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a side view of die  122  for wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a bottom plan view of die  122  for wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 13  depicts a front plan view of die  122  for wire bender  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 14  depicts a side view of die  122  for wire bender  100  of this invention, and a reverse view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  depicts a block diagram for wire bender  100  of this invention. 
     
    
    
     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 to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , wire bender  100  has a housing  120  with a mounting base  140 , and a die support  160 . The mounting base  140  receives the die support  160 . The die  122  fits between the mounting base  140  and the die support  160 . Within the mounting base  140 , the die  122  is secured sufficiently to at least reduce, and preferably eliminate, any rotation of die  122  about its longitudinal axis. Mounting base  140  includes a pair of oppositely disposed mounting flanges  142 , so that mounting base  140 , and housing  120  may be secured to a desired surface  104  ( FIG. 15 ). Desired surface  104  may be a work bench, a vehicle, a portable work surface or any other secure and stable surface for mounting wire bender  100 . 
     Further considering  FIG. 2 , the mounting base  140  of the housing  120  for wire bender  100  has a raised platform  144  between mounting flanges  142 . In the center of the raised platform  144  is a die  122  for shaping a wire  102 . The die  122  has a mounting end  124  and an oppositely disposed shaping end  126 . Mounting end  124  has flat sides  128 . Mounting end  124  fits into mounting base  140  at die housing  146 . 
     A mounting flange  142  is at each end of the mounting base. The mounting flanges  142  permits the wire bender to be mounted on a desired surface. The mounting flanges  142  each include a mounting aperture  138 . The mounting aperture  138  receives a screw or other fastener to mount it to a desired surface. 
     More specifically, centrally located between mounting flanges  142  is the raised platform  144 . Centrally located within raised platform  144  is a die housing  146 . Die housing  146  includes a die support mount  148  adapted to have die support  160  rest thereon. Die support  160  includes die grip  164  with handle  162  extending therefrom. Centrally located in die support mount  148  is die receiver  150  in the form of an aperture. Die receiver  150  has a pair of die flats  152 , which receives the flat sides  128  of die  122  in a female to male relationship. 
     With the further consideration of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 , the structure of die support  160  becomes more clear. Die support  160  includes handle  162  extending from die grip  164 . Die grip  164  cooperates with die  122  and permits die  122  to bend wire  102  as handle  162  is rotated around die support mount  148 . Die grip  164  has centrally located therein a shaping end receiver  166 , to receive shaping end  126  of die  122 . Shaping end  126  is the male portion of male to female relationship. 
     Die grip  164  has a shaping end receiver  166 , with a cylindrical housing  168 . Cylindrical housing  168  has about the same diameter as die support mount  148  and rests thereon. Adjacent to shaping end receiver  166  on opposing sides thereof are shaping support rods  170 . Each shaping support rod  170  is mounted in a shaping support cylinder  172 . Each shaping support cylinder  172  is substantially tangential to opposing sides of cylindrical housing  168 . Between each support cylinder  172  is the shaping end receiver  166  with a preferably tangential relationship therewith. 
     A set of cylinder braces  174  connects shaping end receiver  166  with the cylindrical housing  168  and provides support therefor. Such cylinder braces  174  add strength to die support  160 . 
     Further considering  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the indicted movement arrow  158  of handle  162  affects the bending of wire  102 . Die  122  of  FIG. 8  forms a Z-bend. Die  122  of  FIG. 9  forms an angle bend. 
     With the still further consideration of  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14 , the structure of die  122  becomes clear. The die  122  has a mounting end  124  and an oppositely disposed shaping end  126 . Mounting end  124  has flat sides  128 . Mounting end  124  fits into mounting base  140  at die housing  146  in die receiver  150  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Finally adding  FIG. 15  to the consideration, the bending of wire  102  with die  122  in wire bender  100  becomes clear. Wire  102  or a rod is inserted into a proper die  122  to be formed into a desired shape with the use of wire bender  100 . Housing  120  is secured to surface  104  with fasteners  106  in mounting flanges  142 . Fasteners  106  may be nails, screws or other items through apertures  108  (which are similar to apertures  138  in  FIG. 2 ) in mounting flanges  142 . In this manner, mounting base  140  of housing  120  is secured to surface  104  for use of die support  160 . 
     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.