Abstract:
A welding accessory that allows a welder to easily maintain the proper electrical arc gap between the welding torch and the surface being welded, and that improves the consistency of the shield gas plume by reducing the variation of gap between the shield gas nozzle and the surface being welded while in motion is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the welding accessory is comprised of a body portion, a slidable and rotatable repositionable arm; and a wheel attached to one end of said repositionable arm. A kit that comprises the welding accessory of the present invention and other accessories for welding and/or oxy-fuel cutting is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/179,614 filed on May 14, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an accessory and a kit for use with a welding and/or cutting device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Metal inert gas welding, or MIG welding, is well known in the art and is a welding process in which an electric arc forms between a consumable wire electrode and the work piece metal(s), which heats the work piece metal(s), causing them to melt, and join. Along with the wire electrode, a shielding gas feeds through the welding gun, which shields the process from contaminants in the air. 
         [0004]    Heretofore, a welder performing a MIG welding operation had to maintain by hand the proper shield gas plume and electric arc gap while also attempting to move the welding device fluidly and continuously to achieve a proper and acceptable welding bead, which could take years of experience to achieve on a consistent basis. Stated differently, heretofore, it has been difficult for novice and even semi-experienced welders to achieve an acceptable bead and weld on a consistent basis, which can be both frustrating and time consuming for a welder or welding technician attempting to learn the craft and lead to inconsistent results. 
         [0005]    Oxy-fuel cutting is also a process that is well known in the art and involves using a torch, fuel gases and oxygen to cut metals. More specifically, in oxy-fuel cutting, a torch is used to heat metal to its kindling temperature. A stream of oxygen is then trained on the metal, burning it into a metal oxide that flows out of the kerf as slag. Similar to MIG welding, heretofore, it has been difficult for a novice welder or welding technician to make precision cuts using an oxy-fuel torch due to the need to continuously and fluidly move the cutting torch along the piece of metal being cut. 
         [0006]    Consequently, there is a long felt need in the art for a welding accessory that allows the welder to easily maintain the proper electrical arc gap between the torch and the metal surface, and that improves consistency of the shield gas plume by reducing the variation of gap between the shield gas nozzle and the metal surface while in motion. There is also a long felt need in the art for a welding accessory that improves the consistency of the bead and the weld by providing the welder with a means for more concisely and fluidly moving the torch along a desired weld path. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a welding kit that comprises a plurality of welding/cutting accessories that enable the welder to accomplish all of the forgoing objectives in a MIG welding or oxy-fuel cutting operation, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0008]    The subject matter disclosed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a welding accessory device for: (i) enabling a welder user to easily maintain the proper electrical arc gap between the welding torch and the metal surface, and that improves consistency of the shield gas plume by reducing the variation of gap between the shield gas nozzle and the metal surface while in motion; and (ii) that improves the consistency of the bead and the weld by providing the welder with a means for more concisely and fluidly moving the torch along a desired weld or cutting path. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the welding accessory device comprises a body portion, a repositionable arm having a first end and a second end, and a rotatable wheel positioned along said second end of said arm, as described more fully below. Also disclosed is a kit comprised of the above described welding accessory device and other welding/cutting accessories that enable the welder to accomplish all of the forgoing objectives, as well as others, in a MIG welding or oxy-fuel cutting operation, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use. 
         [0010]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the welding accessory device of the present invention securely attached to an end of a MIG welder. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the welding accessory device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the welding accessory device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an additional accessory device of the kit of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an additional accessory device of the kit of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0017]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the welding accessory device  100  of the present invention securely attached to a MIG welder  10 . More specifically, MIG welder  10  is comprised of a head portion  12  and handle portion  14 , and device  100  is removably and repositionably attached to head portion  12 . 
         [0018]    Device  100  is preferably comprised of a body portion  110 , a fastener  120 , a set screw  130 , an arm portion  140  and a wheel  150 . Unless otherwise stated herein, device  100  is preferably comprised of durable materials, such as steel, aluminum, heat resistant plastic or other material capable of being exposed to elevated temperatures due to the proximity of device  100  to MIG welder  10 . 
         [0019]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , body portion  110  is preferably comprised of an inboard surface  111 , an outboard surface  112 , a plurality of sides  113 , a first continuous opening  114 , a second continuous opening  115 , a slot  116 , a fastener opening  117  and an arm fastener opening  118 . Inboard surface  111  refers to the surface of body portion  110  facing towards the handle portion  14  of MIG welder  10  when device  100  is properly installed on head portion  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Outboard surface  112  refers to the surface of body portion  110  opposite of inboard surface  111  and facing in the opposite direction of handle portion  14  of MIG welder  10  when device  100  is properly installed on head portion  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    More specifically, first continuous opening  114  extends between inboard surface  111  and outboard surface  112  and is shaped and sized accordingly to receive head portion  12  of MIG welder  10 . Similarly, second continuous opening  115  also extends between inboard surface  111  and outboard surface  112  and is shaped and sized accordingly to receive arm portion  140 , as described more fully below. As referenced above, body portion  110  is also preferably comprised of slot  116  that extends between said inboard surface  111  and said outboard surface  112 , as well as between first continuous opening  114  and one of said plurality of sides  113 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 . As more fully explained below, the width of slot  116  is adjustable by tightening/loosening fastener  120 , and slot  116  is useful for installing/removing device  100  from head portion 12  of MIG welder  10 . 
         [0021]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , fastener opening  117  preferably extends through body portion  110  from one side  113 , across slot  116 , to a second opposing side  113  and is sized and shaped accordingly to receive fastener  120 , as more fully explained below. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, fastener opening  117  is not threaded, though it is contemplated that fastener opening  117  could also be threaded without affecting the overall scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , arm fastener opening  118  is located on a select side  113  of body portion  110  and extends to second continuous opening  115 , wherein arm portion  140  typically resides. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, arm fastener opening  118  is threaded and is sized and shaped accordingly to receive set screw  130 , as described more fully below. 
         [0023]    Fastener  120  may be any fastener commonly known in the art and is preferably comprised of a threaded screw  122 , a washer  123  and a nut  124 , such as a wing nut for easy handling. Notwithstanding, as mentioned above, if fastener opening  117  is threaded, washer  123  and nut  124  may be eliminated and fastener  120  may simply be screwed into fastener opening  117 . As explained more fully below, fastener  120  is useful for slightly increasing or decreasing the size of first continuous opening  114  and slot  116  to install/remove device  100  from head portion  12  of MIG welder  10 , and for removably securing device  100  to head portion  12 . 
         [0024]    Screw  130  may be any fastener commonly known in the art, but is preferably a set screw. Screw  130  is inserted into arm fastener opening  118  in side  113  of body portion  110  and extends to second continuous opening  115 , wherein arm portion  140  typically resides. As explained more fully below, screw  130  is useful for securing arm portion  140  in a desired position relative to body portion  110  and MIG welder  10 , both longitudinally and rotatably. 
         [0025]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , arm portion  140  is preferably comprised of an elongated member  141 , a block  146 , and caps  148 . More specifically, elongated member  141  extends through second continuous opening  115 , and is comprised of a first end  1410 , an opposing second end  1420  and a bend  1430  located along the length of elongated member  141  and between said first end  1410  and said second end  1420 . A first cap  148  is attached to said first end  1410  to prevent arm portion  140  from being prematurely removed from second continuous opening  115 . Block  146  and a second cap  148  are positioned along and removably attached to said second end  1420  of elongated member  110 , with wheel  150  also positioned along the second end  1420  of elongated member  110  between said block  146  and second cap  148 , as more fully described below. Block  146  and second cap  148  prevent wheel  150  from being prematurely removed from elongated member  141 , but do not prevent the rotation of wheel  150  about elongated member  141 . 
         [0026]    Wheel  150  may be any wheel commonly known in the art and is comprised of a continuous opening  152  therein for receipt of a portion of elongated member  141 . More specifically, wheel  150  is positioned along and rotates about said second end  1420  of elongated member  141  and between block  146  and second cap  148 . 
         [0027]    It is also contemplated that welding accessory device  100  can be combined with other welding and/or oxy-fuel cutting accessories to form a kit that is useful to both professional and novice welders. More specifically, device  100  may be combined with a cutting wheel device  200  and a torch clamp  300 . 
         [0028]    Cutting wheel device  200  is preferably comprised of a clamp  210 , wheels  220 , fasteners  230  and protective covers  240 . More specifically, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , clamp  210  may be any type of clamp commonly known in the art and is comprised of a first arm  212 , a second arm  214 , an axle  216  connecting said first arm  212  to said second arm  214 , and a spring  218  that is positioned along said axle  216  between said first and second arms  212 ,  214 . Spring  218  is in tension and causes a common end of each of said first arm  212  and said second arm  214  to be in contact with one another (the clamping portion) when said clamp  210  is not in use. A wheel  220  with an opening  222  therein is attached to the opposite end of each of said first arm  212  and said second arm  214  via fasteners  230 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Fasteners  230  may be any type of fastener commonly known in the art, but is preferably comprised of a screw  232  that passes through an opening in a respective one of said first arm  212  or second arm  214  as well as opening  222 , and one or more nuts  234  to secure wheel  220  to clamp  210 . Notwithstanding, each of said wheels  220  rotate about one of said screws  232  and extends beyond the end of said respective first and second arms  212 ,  214 . In this manner, cutting wheel device  200  may be clamped to, for example, an oxy-fuel cutting device (not shown) and rolled along a surface to be cut (also not shown) to provide a precise and consistent cut to said surface. In order to protect said cutting device and the clamping ends of said first arm  212  and said second arm  214 , it is also contemplated that a protective cover  240  may be placed on the clamping end of first arm  212  and second arm  214  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0029]    As best shown in  FIG. 5 , torch clamp  300  may be any type of clamp commonly known in the art and is preferably comprised of a first arm  302 , a second arm  304 , an axle  306  connecting said first arm  302  to said second arm  304 , and a spring  308  that is positioned along said axle  306  between said first and second arms  302 ,  304 . Spring  308  is in tension and causes a common end of each of said first arm  302  and said second arm  304  to be in contact with one another (the clamping portion) when said clamp torch clamp is not in use. Torch clamp  300  may be used to support, for example, an oxy-fuel cutting device or other welding tool above a surface when not in use by clamping said torch clamp  300  to said welding or cutting device and inverting said torch clamp  300  such that the portion of first arm  302  and second arm  304  furthest away from said clamped cutting or welding device (i.e., the non-clamping side of torch clamp  300 ) may be placed on the resting surface (not shown) with said welding or cutting device positioned above and away from said resting surface. In this manner, a welder or other technician may temporarily store/support said welding or cutting torch without having to shut off the same, thereby temporarily freeing both hands of the welder or technician to perform other tasks. 
         [0030]    Having now described the general structure of a preferred embodiment of device  100 , as well as the other accessories that comprise the kit, its function will now be described in general terms. A welder or technician (not shown) desiring to improve the consistency of a bead and weld may attach device  100  to a welding device, such as MIG welder  10 , by placing the head portion  12  into opening  114 , rotating said device  100  about said head portion  12  into a desired position, and tightening fastener  120  to secure device  100  to welding device  10 . The welder may then loosen set screw  130  thereby enabling the welder (not shown) to reposition the arm portion  140  (and, therefore, wheel  150 ) longitudinally and/or rotatably into a desired position relative to head portion  12  of MIG welder  10 . Once arm portion  140  and wheel  150  are in a desired position and orientation relative to head portion  12 , the welder or other technician may tighten the set screw  130  against said arm portion  140  to lock the same in place. In this manner, a welder or other technician can position said wheel  150  to roll about a surface to be cut or welded in a consistent manner, while also maintaining a relatively constant distance between MIG welder  10  and said surface. 
         [0031]    Other variations are also within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0032]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0033]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.