Patent Publication Number: US-2009230369-A1

Title: Tool for removal of center cover of a wheel rim

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool which is designed to facilitate the removal of a center cover of a wheel rim of a motor vehicle, or alternatively, the hub cap cover at the center of a wheel rim. 
     Many modern motor vehicles include a wheel rim wherein the spokes of the wheels are visible, but the center of the wheel rim, which is attached by lug nuts to a wheel axle, are not exposed, but are, in fact, covered by a center cover. This center cover or hub cover or cap is typically retained on the wheel rim by a detent mechanism which enables snapping of the hub cover onto the wheel rim. Multiple designs of such hub covers, or center covers, are or have been adopted for motor vehicles. 
     When servicing a vehicle, it is often necessary to remove the wheel, for example, to replace the tire or to have access to the outer end of the axle. As a first step in such servicing, it is typically necessary to remove the hub cover or hub cap. Such removal may be effected by means of the blade of a screwdriver. The blade is used to pry the hub cover from the wheel rim. The utilization of a screwdriver or similar tool may result in scratching of the wheel cover. 
     There are other specialty tools available in the marketplace which may be used for such a purpose. Typically, for example, center cap removers or wheel cover pullers are available from Ken-Tool, Model Nos. T67, T68, T65, T66 and as a set of such tools. These tools typically utilize a screwdriver type handle which is attached to a rod with a blade fashioned at the end of the rod for engaging and pulling the wheel cover or center cap from a wheel rim. These prior art tools require multiple variations and sizes of such tools in order to achieve the desired capability of providing a cover removal tool which is useful with respect to multiple types of wheel covers or caps. Thus, there has developed the need for an improved center cover or hub cap puller. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a tool for removal of the center cover of a wheel rim. The tool is comprised of a unitary, elongate, generally cylindrical rod having a first hook end and an opposite hook end with a straight connecting cylindrical rod section joining the hook ends. The hook ends are each fashioned with a similar configuration, but have a different size and different orientation. Thus, each hook end is comprised of a series of first and second oppositely radiused bends which terminate with a flat-sided blade extension with an end prong. An important feature of the tool is the universality of the tool inasmuch as the opposite hook ends are appropriately sized and dimensioned and configured to enable utilization of the tool with almost any wheel cover or hub center cover. Additionally, the hook ends and the center connecting section all lie in the same plane though the blades and the end of the hook ends extend in opposite directions. This facilitates manipulation of the tool. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool for removal of center caps from wheel rims. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a tool which has universal utility in that it is useful with the design of multiple types of center caps and wheel or rim constructions. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a center cap which is designed to minimize the possibility of scratching or marring either the rim or the center cap associated with a rim of a motor vehicle wheel. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for removal of the center cap or hub cap from a wheel of a motor vehicle which is easy to use, inexpensive, rugged, and highly utilitarian. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of the tool of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a further side elevation of the tool of  FIG. 1  as viewed 90° from the view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the manner in which the tool of  FIG. 1  is utilized; 
         FIG. 5  is a further isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1  as used with a distinct center cover or hub cap cover; and 
         FIG. 6  is another example of an isometric view of the use of a tool of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures, the tool of the invention is comprised of a unitary, elongate, generally cylindrical rod. The cylindrical rod includes a first hook end  10 , an opposite or second hook end  12 , and a connecting section  14  joining the first end  10  and the second end  12 . The first end  10  and the second end  12  all lie in a plane or are coplanar with the connecting rod section  14  so that the tool may lay flat on a flat, planar surface when viewed as depicted, for example, in  FIG. 2 . The connecting section  14  is a cylindrical rod having a diameter in the range of 0.25 to 0.5 inches. The length of the connecting section  14  is in the range of 6-8 inches. Connecting section  14  includes a straight, center line axis  16 . The opposite first and second ends  10 ,  12  each follow generally arcuate pathways and are integrally joined to the center connecting section  14 . 
     Thus, the connecting section  14  defines a straight, longitudinal axis  16 . The first hook end  10  and second hook end  12  are each formed to include curved sections or curved extensions therefrom. A first curve section  18  of the first hook end  10  has a radius  20  with the center  21  of the first arcuate or curve section  18  beneath or on a first side of the longitudinal axis  16  in  FIG. 1 . The first curve section  18  joins to a second arcuate or curve section  22  which has a radius  24  centered on center  26  wherein the center  26  of the radius  24  is on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis  16  from center  21 . Thus, the first radius curve section  18  is centered on a side of the axis  16  opposite from the center  26  of radius  24  of the second curved section  22 . 
     The second curved section  22  extends or merges into a tangential run and generally straight section  28  which has parallel, flat, planar sides generally parallel to a flat plane that would support the tool as positioned in  FIG. 2 . Run or section  28  forms an angle  30  of about 55° (in the range of 25°-60°) with axis  16 . The flat, planar section  28  extending at the angle  30  from the axis  16  terminates with a flat-sided prong or tip  32  forming an angle  31  in the range of 80°-100° with respect to an axis  17  parallel to axis  16 . The blade  32  thus forms an angle with the flat, planar section or run  28  and extends therefrom a distance of 0.28 to 0.36 inches. The tip, prong or blade  32  has a thickness in the range of 0.03 to 0.06 inches. The entire length of the first hook end  10  is in the range of 3 to 5 inches as measured along the curved longitudinal extent of the first hook end  10 . 
     The structure and dimensions of tips or blades  32  and  35  are an important feature. The thickness  37  is in the range of 0.030 to 0.080 and desirably about 0.050 inches. The outside length  34  is about 0.28 to 0.36 inches, desirably 0.32 inches. The outer radius  33  of the surface between blade  28  and tip  32  is very important in order to enable application of proper leverage by means of the tool and is set forth in the table. 
     The second hook end  12  is a smaller sized version of the first hook end  10  and has a configuration substantially the same as the first hook end  10 , but having a length of about 0.45 to 0.80 times, the actual length of the first hook end  10 . Thus the arcuate characteristics of the second hook end are reduced generally proportionally relative to the first hook end  10 . However, the width, thickness and length of a tip  35  are generally the same as tip or blade  32 . Further, the second hook end  12  is oriented in the opposite sense from the first hook end  10 . 
     In review, each hook end  10  and  12  includes a first, curved section, such as section  18 , joined to a second oppositely curved section, such as section  22 , joined to a flat, planar section  28  and then to an end tip or blade prong  32 ,  35 . The inclusion of the four component parts in the first hook end  10  is considered to be an important feature of the invention in order to enable successful manipulation of the tool for removing various sizes of hub cap covers or center covers of wheel rims. Note that the hook ends  10 ,  12  are coated with a polyvinylchloride (PVC) layer to avoid scratching of the rim or the cover that is to be removed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the dimensional characteristics of an embodiment of the invention are set forth in Table 1. Table 1 further sets forth the preferred limits of the various dimensional characteristics. It is to be noted that the first hook end  10  and the second hook end  12  each have a similar configuration and they are joined by straight, connecting center rod section  14  and that tips  32 ,  35  are substantially the same. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 NOMINAL 
                   
               
               
                   
                 ITEM 
                 DIMENSION 
                 RANGE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 10 - First End 
                 4″   
                 3″-5″ 
               
               
                   
                 12 - Second End 
                 2.5″  
                 2.0″-3.0″ 
               
               
                   
                 14 - Center Section 
                 5.87″ 
                 5″-7″ 
               
               
                   
                 20 - Radius 
                 1.00″ 
                  .8″-1.2″ 
               
               
                   
                 24 - Radius 
                  .600″ 
                 .56″-.66″ 
               
               
                   
                 30 - Angle 
                 55°    
                 35°-60° 
               
               
                   
                 31 - Angle 
                 90°    
                  80°-100° 
               
               
                   
                 33 - Radius 
                  .19″ 
                 .16″-.21″ 
               
               
                   
                 34 - Tip Length 
                  .32″ 
                 .28″-.36″ 
               
               
                   
                 37 - Tip Thickness 
                  .050″ 
                 .030″-.080″ 
               
               
                   
                 36 - [?] 
                  .43″ 
                 .40″-.50″ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  illustrate the use of the tool with various types of center rim covers. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a rim  60  includes a center cover  62 . Tool  64  and, in particular, the prong  32  at hook end  10 , is fitted under the edge of the cover  62 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative center cover construction wherein a rim  69  is designed with a recessed wheel cover  70 . The prong  32  is fitted in a slot between the cover  70  and the rim  69  to effect removal. 
       FIG. 6  shows the use of the tool for the removal of a recessed center cover  76  associated with the rim  78 . The small, reduced sized second hook end  12 , prong  40  is fitted into a slot  80  between the rim  78  and the wheel cover  76  to effect removal of the wheel cover  76 . 
     While there has been set forth an embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.