Abstract:
A painters tool comprising at least one aperture matching a spindle of a window cranking mechanism which permits the tool to be used as a wrench to rotate the spindle of a window cranking mechansims.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Provisional Application for Pat. No. 60/141,425 of Jun. 29, 1999, with the same title, “Painters Tool Improvement” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i). 
    
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an improvement to a painters tool, known in the trade as a “5 in 1” tool, said improvement comprising at least one aperture allowing said tool to be used as a wrench to crank window mechanisms used to crank windows open or closed. 
     2. Background Information 
     Commercial buildings often have windows that are each opened and closed by a cranking lever that operates a spindle that operates a cranking mechanism. In new construction, window installation contractors typically do not add cranking levers to the spindles of the cranking mechanisms until after the painters are finished painting the windows. However, it is necessary for the painters to open and close the windows while painting the windows. Invariably, the painters use time consuming makeshift arrangements for cranking the window mechanisms in order to open and close the windows. Often, pliers are used, which tend to damage teeth on spindles upon which the cranking levers mount. 
     Painters often carry a tool in the trade known as a tool. It typically comprises a pipe scraper, a roll nap scraper or cleaner, a caulking tool, an all purpose scraper, and a paint can opener. It does not function as a cranking lever for cranking window cranking mechanisms. 
     As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention is a convenience for a painter that overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improvement to a painters tool known in the art as a “5 in 1” tool which comprises the addition of at least one aperature that permits said painters tool to be used as a cranking lever for cranking a window mechanism. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a prior art painters tool known in the trade as a “5 in 1” tool modified with the addition of a cranking aperture. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3-9 illustrate alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a painters tool improvement  1  comprising a cranking aperture  10 . Said improvement  1  is a modification of a painters tool known in the trade as a “5 in 1” Painters tool. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the painters tool improvement  1  applied to a prior art cranking spindle  111  of a prior art cranking mechanism  110  of a prior art window assembly  100 . The painters tool improvement  1  enables an operator to rotate said spindle  111  which will actuate said cranking mechanism  110  to open or close said window assembly  100 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an alternate painters tool improvement  1 A comprising an alternate cranking aperture  20 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the present invention, a second alternate painters tool improvement  1 B comprising a second alternate cranking aperture  30 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a third alternate embodiment of the present inventions, a third alternate painters tool improvement  1 C comprising the alternate cranking aperture  20  and the second alternate cranking aperture  30 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention, a fourth alternate painters tool improvement  1 D comprising a third alternative butt end cranking aperture  40 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth alternate embodiment of the present invention, a fifth alternate painters tool improvement  1 E comprising the cranking aperture  10  and the third alternative butt end cranking aperture  40 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth alternate embodiment of the present invention, a sixth alternate painters tool improvement  1 F comprising a cranking aperture  10  and a butt end cranking aperture  50 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the sixth alternate painters tool improvement  1 F applied to rotate the cranking spindle  111  (Ref. FIG. 2) of the cranking mechanism  110  of the window assembly  100  to open or close the window assembly  100 . The benefit of having both the cranking aperture  10  and the butt end cranking aperture  50  in the sixth alternate painters tool improvement  1 F is that the cranking aperture  10  is located for maximum leverage in cranking the cranking spindle  111  for breaking loose the cranking mechanism (as shown in FIG. 2) while the butt end cranking mechanism  50  would be axially aligned with said cranking spindle  111  for rapid turning of said cranking spindle  111 . This would be applicable in cases where relatively low torque is required. This is an especially desirable alternative in combination with any of the previously described cranking apertures, such as, but not restricted to, said apertures  10  or  20  because apertures  10  or  20  could be used to break free said cranking spindle  111  as shown in FIG.  2  and then the butt end cranking aperture  50  used to more rapidly rotate said cranking spindle  111 . 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. 
     For example, window assembly cranking spindles, in general, tend to match either said apertures  10 ,  20 , and  50  or said apertures  30  and  40 , so those configurations were chosen to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Said apertures  10 ,  20 , and  50  are star shaped, as opposed to said apertures  30  and  40  which are cross shaped. However, as obvious to anyone skilled in the art, other shapes of window assembly cranking spindles may be out there where a different shaped aperture might be required. 
     Also, the illustrations show various apertures at various ends of a modified painters tool. The various apertures could also be centered in said tool or even at the butt end of said tool. 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.