Abstract:
A torque wrench stand having an arcuate or curved surface for supporting the stand is described. The stand includes a generally semi-circular main body having a hub opening through which a torque wrench socket extension passes allowing the stand to be carried by the wrench from one wheel to the next. The hub is positioned off-set from the center of the stand along the straight upper edge of the stand. The stand supports the wrench via the extension held within the hub as the wheel lug nuts are removed. The stand pivots about the hub, thus allowing the arcuate surface of the stand to continuously adjust position as necessary so that the height of the hub from the ground matches the height of the selected lug nut from the ground and the stand easily adapts to the height of any lug nut.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the prior filed, provisional application Ser. No. 61/648,813, filed May 18, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to wheels for vehicles such as heavy duty trucks and trailers and, more particularly to a device for positioning and supporting a wrench and socket extension when engaged with a wheel lug nut. 
     Wrenches, such as torque wrenches, are known in the prior art. Torque wrenches allow a wheel lug nut, or wheel nut, to be tightened to a specified torque, which is required for safe operation and use of the wheel. Wheel nuts used to attached wheels to heavy duty vehicles typically require tightening to a much higher torque than conventional consumer vehicles, such as automobiles. To rotate wheel nuts to a high torque reading using manual equipment, such as a hand-operated torque wrench, it is often necessary to use a wrench with an extended or elongated handle, or to add a pipe or extension to the wrench, to achieve sufficient leverage. Because the wheel nuts are often set back considerably from the outer wall of the tire mounted on the wheel, a socket extension is often attached between the nut socket and the head of the wrench. 
     A wrench fitted with a socket extension and elongated handle or handle extension can be difficult to use without a stand to support the head of the wrench or the socket extension. It is usually necessary for the operator to be proximate the wheel to engage the socket with a wheel nut, yet the operator must then move distal from the wheel to grasp the distal end of the handle, which may be several feet away from the wheel. If the operator releases the head of the wrench and attached socket extension in order to move to the distal end of the handle, the wrench socket will often slip from the nut as the, typically, loose connection between the socket and nut is insufficient to support the weight of the socket, socket extension and wrench. 
     In the prior art, stands have been developed that can support the wrench, socket extension and socket, however, these stands either require moving the wheel to position each nut at a particular elevation relative to the stand before use, or inserting the socket extension in slot within the stand that most closely aligns with a given socket. 
     What is need is a device for supporting a wrench, socket extension and socket that is continuously adjustable in height relative to the ground so that the wrench may be readily positioned at an elevation that exactly matches that of a wheel nut and that also may be attached to the wrench so that the stand and wrench may be readily moved from nut to another as a unit. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of this invention is to provide a support stand for tools such as large torque wrenches, particularly wheel lug nut wrenches. The stand includes a generally semi-circular main body having a hub opening positioned off-set from the center of the straight edge of the stand. The torque wrench includes an extension that passes through the hub opening so the stand may be carried by the wrench as a single tool to move together from one wheel to the next. The stand supports the wrench via the extension held within the hub as the wheel lug nuts are removed. Because the stand pivots about the hub, the arcuate surface of the stand allows for continuous adjustment of the wrench height to match the lug height from the surface of the ground. 
     An embodiment of the invention may comprise a tool stand including an upper side comprising a front segment and a back segment, a hub attached between the front segment and the back segment, the hub including a bore therethrough sized to receive a tool, and a lower, curved side curving upward at a front end to join the front segment and curving upward at a back end to join the back segment. The front segment and the back segment are of unequal lengths so that the hub is offset from the center of the stand and the curve of the curved side is asymmetrical. A substantially planar main wall is substantially enclosed by the front segment, back segment and curved side, which at least substantially define the perimeter of the stand. One or more reinforcement structures or stiffeners radiate or project out from the hub to contact the curved side, thereby joining the hub to the curved side to enhance the structural integrity and strength of the stand. In some embodiments, the reinforcement structures comprise portions of the main wall that are bent from the main plane of the main wall to create angles or bent portions of the main wall that enhance main wall rigidity. In some embodiments, the main wall includes one or more apertures that may be used as hand-holds, for providing means for viewing through the stand, or to reduce the overall weight of the stand by reducing stand material. 
     Another embodiment of the invention may comprise a torque wrench stand for at least partially supporting an extension member on a torque wrench when the torque wrench is engaged with a wheel lug nut. The stand may comprise a hub having a bore for receiving the extension member, the bore having a centrally disposed longitudinal axis. A curved side attaches, typically via other structures, to the hub. The curved side supports the stand upon a ground surface, the stand adjusting to a desired height by rotating the curved side around the longitudinal axis. As the stand is so-rotated, the curved side moves along the ground surface, and as the curved side so-moves the ground surface touches the curved side at different points of contact on the curved side and the hub is raised or lowered relative to the ground surface depending, principally, on the distance from the hub to a particular point of contact. 
     An embodiment of the invention comprises a wrench stand for supporting a wrench, such as a torque wrench. The stand comprises a hub having a bore for receiving a wrench socket or an extension member thereof. The hub is attached to an upper side that is relatively straight. The upper side is attached to a lower, curved side for supporting the stand upon a ground surface so that the ground surface touches the curved side at a point of contact on the curved side. The point of contact on the curved side changes and is different for different wheel lug nut elevations above the ground surface. The stand may include a reinforcing structure connecting the hub to the curved side such that the hub and curved side are in fixed relation to one another. In certain embodiments, the stand is formed of cooperating, interconnected male and female panels to form a single integral unit. In other embodiments, the stand is formed as one integral unit, such as via injection molding. 
     Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front, top, left perspective view of an embodiment of a wheel nut wrench stand in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the stand shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the stand shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is front, bottom perspective view of the stand shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear, top perspective view of the stand shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the female panel showing the inside surfaces of the female panel. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the male panel showing the inside surfaces of the male panel. 
         FIG. 8  is front elevation diagram of an embodiment of the a stand showing the stand positioned against a wheel with the arcuate bottom edge of the stand in contact with the ground and with the hub of the stand in alignment with a wheel nut. 
         FIG. 9  is a front, top, right perspective view of an embodiment of a stand showing the stand positioned against a wheel with the arcuate bottom edge of the stand in contact with the ground and with a socket extension of a wrench held within the hub of the stand which is in alignment with a wheel nut. 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation diagram of an embodiment of a stand showing the stand positioned against a wheel with the arcuate bottom edge of the stand in contact with the ground and with the hub of the stand in alignment with a first wheel nut. 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation diagram of an embodiment of a stand showing the stand positioned against a wheel with the arcuate bottom edge of the stand in contact with the ground and with the hub of the stand in alignment with a second wheel nut. 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation diagram of an embodiment of a stand showing the stand positioned against a wheel with the arcuate bottom edge of the stand in contact with the ground and with the hub of the stand in alignment with a third wheel nut. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, a detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     With reference to the figures,  FIGS. 1-12  illustrate embodiments of an arcuate or curvilinear wheel nut wrench stand  100  for supporting torque wrenches used to tighten wheel lug nuts.  FIG. 1  is a front, top, left perspective view of an embodiment of a wrench stand  100  in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the stand  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The stand  100  includes a first, generally straight side  105  having a front end  110  and a back end  115 . The first (upper) side  105  may comprise two segments, a front segment  120  and a back segment  125 , that are divided by a hub or collar  130  that is located therebetween. The hub  130  typically joins the front segment  120  to the back segment  125 . A curved segment  135  of the first side  105  joins the front segment  120  to the back segment  125  and may also form a portion of the housing that holds the collar  130 . A second (lower), arcuate or curved side  140  extends from the front end  110  to the back end  115  and stands off from the collar  130 . A generally planar, enclosed main wall  145  typically fills most of the space between, and is at least substantially enclosed by the first side  105  and second side  140 . 
     The wall  145  may be traversed and divided by one or more reinforcement structures or stiffeners  150  and  155  that radiate outward from the hub  130  to contact the second side  140 . The first stiffener  150  and second stiffener  155  may each comprise folds in the wall  145  that project outward from the plane of the wall  145 . Each stiffener comprises two elongated subpanels (subpanels  150   a  and  150   b  forming stiffener  150 , and subpanels  155   a  and  155   b  forming stiffener  155 ) that extend from the generally planar surface of the wall  145  to meet at an apex  151  and at an approximately 45 degree angle to one another. The stiffeners  150  and  155  serve to stiffen and increase the rigidity of the wall  145  and, consequently, the overall structure of the stand  100 . Apertures  190  may be cut, drilled or otherwise formed in the wall  145  in order to reduce the amount of material comprising a stand  100  and thereby reduce the weight of the stand  100  with minimal compromise to the strength and rigidity of the stand  100  structure. 
     The stand  100  may be formed as an integral unit, such as by injection molding, but may also be formed from cooperating, interconnected panels.  FIG. 6  illustrates a female panel  160  showing the inside surfaces thereof including a channel  165  formed inward of the first side  105  and second side  140  proximate the outer margins of the female panel  160 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a male panel  170  showing the inside surfaces thereof including a lip  175  that projects perpendicularly from the male panel wall  180  around the outer margins of the male panel  170 . The lip  175  is sized to be received within the channel  165  when the male panel  170  is attached to the female panel  160  to form the stand  100 . During assembly, the hub  130  is positioned within the female panel  160  and enclosed therein when the male panel  170  is aligned with the female panel  160  and the lip  175  is inserted into the channel  165  and fixed within using adhesive or other means. 
       FIG. 8  is front elevation diagram of an embodiment of the a stand  100  showing the stand  100  positioned against a wheel  200  with the arcuate bottom edge (second side  140 ) of the stand  100  in contact with the surface of the ground  205  (hereinafter “ground” or “ground surface”) and with the aperture or bore  185  of the hub  130  in alignment with a wheel nut  210 .  FIG. 9  is a front, top, right perspective view of an embodiment of a stand  100  showing the stand  100  positioned against a wheel  200  with a socket extension  215  of a wrench  220  held within the bore  185  which is in alignment with a wheel nut  210  (not shown in this figure). 
       FIG. 10  is a front elevation diagram of an embodiment of a stand  100  showing the stand  100  positioned against a wheel  200  with the second side  140  in contact with the ground  205  and with the bore  185  in alignment with a first wheel nut  210   a . Arrow A 1  indicates the direction and distance from the center of the bore  185  (aligned with first wheel nut  210   a ) to first position A 2  on the second side  140  where the stand  100  contacts the ground  205 .  FIG. 11  is a front elevation diagram of the stand  100  showing the bore  185  of the stand  100  in alignment with a second wheel nut  210   b . Arrow B 1  indicates the direction and distance from the center of the bore  185  (aligned with second wheel nut  210   b ) to second position B 2  on the second side  140  where the stand  100  contacts the ground  205 .  FIG. 12  is a front elevation diagram of the stand  100  showing the bore  185  of the stand  100  in alignment with a third wheel nut  210   c . Arrow C 1  indicates the direction and distance from the center of the bore  185  (aligned with a wheel nut  210   c ) to third position C 2  on the second side  140  where the stand  100  contacts the ground  205 . As may be appreciated from the disclosure herein, as the stand  100  is moved from one wheel nut  210  to another, the curvature of the second side  140  allows the stand to continuously adjust to span the increasing or decreasing distance between a wheel nut  210  and the ground  205  by pivoting about the axis of the hub  130  or bore  185 . 
     The curvature of the second (curved) side  140  may vary among embodiments of the stand  100 , but in the disclosed embodiments the curvature generally widens or flattens as it progresses from the front end  110  to the back end  115 . By way of example, in an embodiment of the stand  100  having an overall length from the front end  100  to the back end  115  of 42.75 inches, and a maximum depth (i.e. maximum width transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first side  105 ) from the first side  105  to the bottom or distal point of the second side  140  of 16.5 inches, the distances from the axis or center point of the bore  185  to points on the second side  140  may be as follows in accordance with an operational curvature of the second side  140 . 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Degrees 
                 Distance (inches) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 0 
                 12.7 
               
               
                   
                 −25 
                 13.3 
               
               
                   
                 −50 
                 14.1 
               
               
                   
                 −75 
                 14.9 
               
               
                   
                 −100 
                 16.2 
               
               
                   
                 −125 
                 19.0 
               
               
                   
                 −150 
                 23.5 
               
               
                   
                 −175 
                 29.0 
               
               
                   
                 −180 
                 30.1 
               
               
                   
                 −185 
                 30.8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Degrees are measured with the first side  105  in horizontal disposition and from the center axis of the hub  130  or bore  185  to the second side  140 . Measurements are taken at the specified degrees from horizontal along the curvature of the second side  140 , starting at the front end  100  and progressing downward to the nadir of the curve and upward to the back end  115 . It should be appreciated that embodiments of a stand  100  may be constructed having various overall dimensions and various curvatures of the second (curved) side  140 . 
     In use, a stand  100  is placed against a wheel  200  so that the hub  130  and bore  185  are aligned with a selected wheel nut  210  and a torque wrench socket extension  215  is passed through the bore  185  until a socket (not shown but known in the prior art) attached to (or formed in) the distal end of the extension  215  engages the nut  210 . If not already attached, the torque wrench  220  is attached to the proximate end of the extension  215 . Because the stand  100  rotates around the extension  215  until the second side  140  contacts the ground  205 , the stand  100  supports and holds the extension  215  (and thereby the attached socket and wrench  220 ) in place even after the user releases the stand  100  and wrench  220  to move to the distal end of the wrench handle  225 . The lower, outer surface of the extension  215  typically rests against and upon and is supported by the lower, inner wall of the hub  130  (i.e. the lower or bottom portion of the wall that defines the bore  185 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the user may then apply upward pressure to the handle  225  to twist or rotate the wrench  220  in a counterclockwise direction to loosen the engaged nut (not shown in  FIG. 9  as the nut engaged with the wrench  220  is obscured by the structures of the wrench  220  and stand  100 ). The engaged nut may also be tightened by applying downward pressure to the handle  225  to rotate the handle clockwise. In this manner, and using the described apparatuses and methods, including the stand  100 , a single operator may readily tighten and loosen wheel nuts  210  using a torque wrench  220  with an extended handle without assistance from a second operator.