Patent Publication Number: US-2023149998-A1

Title: handle and a kit of tools for paintless dent removal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE DATA 
     The present patent application claims a priority date benefit from the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/266,085 filed on 28 Dec. 2021 by the same inventor and entitled “Push-Button-D-Ratchet—D-Connect System”. This application also claims a priority benefit of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/291,471 filed on 20 Dec. 2021 by the same inventor and entitled “D-Ratchet and D-Connect tool system”. Finally, this application is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/526,261 filed on 15 Nov. 2021 and entitled “RATCHETING TOOL FOR PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL TOOLS AND METHOD OF USE”. All of the above-mentioned patent documents are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with tools and kits for paintless dent removal. More particularly, the invention describes a universal handle configured for attachment to a variety of tools with an option of rapid exchange of the tools when necessary. A kit containing the universal handle and a series of attachments suitable for paintless dent removal is also described. 
     Paintless dent removal tools are well known in the art and are effective means for removing dents from the body of a vehicle. Common paintless dent removal tools include rods of various shapes and lengths, wire tools, hook tools, hand tools, hammers, and whale tails. Although effective in most applications, conventional paintless dent removal tools have limitations. For example, a conventional tool is typically made with a manual handle which limits its use in certain working positions. One solution to increase a tool&#39;s versatility has been to remove the manual handle from a conventional paintless dent removal tool and place a ratcheting handle in its place. This, however, forces a user to constantly adjust and reposition the tool, thereby increasing user fatigue and discomfort. 
     The need exists therefore for a universal dent removal tool and a set of dent removal tips that can be easily attached and removed from the handle of the tool so as to expedite the speed of the dent removal process and reduce the physical efforts needed to perform such repair. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art by providing a novel universal dent removal tool and corresponding attachment tips to facilitate rapid tool exchange during paintless dent removal. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a kit containing a universal dent removal tool with a handle and a variety of dent removal tips that can be removably attached to the handle in rapid succession. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel dent removal tool allowing simple repositioning of the handle during the process of manipulating the dent removal tip in order to remove a dent without disturbing the existing paint layer. 
     The novel dent removal tool features a tool head assembly with a handle extending therefrom in both directions. The tool head assembly includes a housing containing a toothed wheel and allowing the wheel to rotate inside the housing. The toothed wheel has an outer rim and a plurality of teeth extending outwards therefrom. The inner rim of the toothed wheel is configured to receive, replace, and removably retain any one of a plurality of sockets provided with the tool as a kit. 
     Each of the plurality of sockets may be attached to one of a corresponding plurality of dent removal tips, which come in various shapes necessary to achieve a complete repair of the dent. 
     A spring-loaded teethed lever is provided in the housing and is configured to be movable between a first released position and a second depressed position by pushing onto or releasing a first button attached thereto. When the teethed lever is in the first “released” position, the teethed lever is normally engaged with the plurality of teeth of the toothed wheel, thereby preventing the wheel from rotation in any direction. 
     Depressing the first button moves the teethed lever into a second “depressed” position, which disengages thereof from the plurality of teeth of the toothed wheel and allows the wheel to rotate in either direction. This makes it possible to freely rotate and adjust the position of the handle in relation to the dent removal tip. 
     Releasing the first button returns the teethed lever to be engaged with the toothed wheel once again—restoring the secure and fixed relationship between the handle and the tip of the dent removal tool such that the repair process may be resumed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the novel tool assembly, 
         FIG.  2    is a closeup perspective side view of the tip attached to the handle, 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective exploded view of the same, 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded side view of the same, 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective front view of the tool head assembly with a handle extending therefrom, 
         FIG.  6    is a side view of the same, 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of an alternative way to assemble the handle and the tool head, 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective back view of the tool head assembly, 
         FIG.  9    is the same as in  FIG.  8    but with the toothed wheel  50  removed, 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective exploded view of the tool head assembly, 
         FIG.  11   a    is a perspective front view of the tool head assembly, 
         FIG.  11   b    is the same as in  FIG.  11   a    but with connector  40  removed, 
         FIG.  11   c    is the same as in  FIG.  11   b    but now with the toothed wheel  50  removed, 
         FIG.  11   d    is the same as in  FIG.  11   c    but now with the cover plate  34  removed, 
         FIG.  12    is another perspective exploded view of the tool head assembly, 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of the toothed wheel engaged with the teethed lever  62 , 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of the components inside the toothed wheel  50 , with the toothed wheel  50  removed, 
         FIG.  15    is an alternative perspective view of the connector  40  engaged with the pair of spring-loaded clips  74 , also showing the release pin  72 , 
         FIG.  16    is the same as in  FIG.  15    but with the cover plate  34  removed, 
         FIG.  17    is the same as in  FIG.  16    but with the release pin  72  removed, 
         FIG.  18    is the same as in  FIG.  17    but with one clip  74  and one spring  76  removed, 
         FIG.  19    is an alternative perspective view of the toothed wheel  50  and the teethed lever  62  subassembly, 
         FIG.  20    is the same but with the toothed wheel  50  removed, 
         FIG.  21    is a perspective side view of the tool head housing, 
         FIG.  22    is an alternative side view of the same, 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective side view of the clank, 
         FIG.  24    is a perspective side view of one handle portion, 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective side view of the toothed wheel, and 
         FIG.  26    is an alternative perspective view of the same. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description sets forth various examples along with specific details to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that claimed subject matter may be practiced without one or more of the specific details disclosed herein. Further, in some circumstances, well-known methods, procedures, systems, components and/or circuits have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring claimed subject matter. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure. 
     Various types of dent repair tools have been used in automobile body repair for removing dents from body panels. Some of these devices require that holes be drilled in the body panel in order to attach the dent puller to the damaged area of the panel. Other devices are designed to remove small dents without causing further damage to the body panel. Use of these latter devices generally does not require repainting of the panel, and is thus referred to as “paintless” dent repair. 
       FIG.  1    shows a general view of the new device  100  for paintless dent repair. It has a handle and tool head assembly  100  attached to a dent removal tip  10  in a form of a letter “T”. A kit containing a variety of tips  10  may be provided along with the handle and tool head assembly  100  so as to provide different tip options for the user. As known by those skilled in the art, a user may use various tips during a single project of removing a dent from a side panel of an automobile or another object. Such tools may include straight tips, bent tips, suction heads, rounded tips, and other tips. In addition to a variety of interchangeable tips, a kit may include suction tools, glue sticks, pulling tabs, hammers, chains, and other instruments and supplies as the invention is not limited in this regard. During a typical dent repair, a user may switch between several dent repair tips and manipulate the handle to cause the tip of the tool to apply desired stress to the repair area to cause the dent to slowly be removed as a result of these manipulations. 
     Some of the maneuvers with the handle require the handle to be fixed in relationship to the tip  10  so that turning and tilting the handle causes the tip  10  to impart a desired effect on the repair area. Access to the repair area may be limited in some circumstances and tool repositioning is frequently needed. To reposition the tool or just to turn and reposition the handle without shifting the position of the tip itself, the user needs a convenient way to allow rotation of the handle around the longitudinal axis of the tip  10 . Rapid engagement and disengagement of the handle assembly  100  and the tip  10  as well as rapid exchange of one tip to another is advantageous in expediting the work of the user in removing the dent. 
     A typical kit may include several tips  10 , all of which may feature a central shaft with a tip extending therefrom. One end of the shaft may have a standard coupler to the handle, such as a KIPP attachment, featured on all tool tips of the kit and allowing the user to utilize the same handle assembly with a variety of tips. Other than KIPP conventions for coupling of the tip to the handle may also be used as the invention is not limited in this regard. 
       FIGS.  2 - 4    show details of the attachment between the tool tip  10  equipped with a KIPP attachment  11  on one end and the tool head assembly  30 . A socket assembly  48  comprises a bushing  13  and a connector  40  retained therein. Bushing  13  may be configured to cover the attachment  11  and engage with the gear at the end thereof. The bushing  13  may be secured over the attachment  11  with one or more set screws. The bushing  13  may also be configured to slide over at least a portion of the connector  40  such as a first end  41 . Another set screw may be used to secure the bushing  13  to the connector  40  such that the connector  40  may be fixedly attached to the tip  10 . All tool tips  10  of the kit may be equipped with their dedicated socket  48  and connector  40  so that the tool kit may be configured to easily replace one tool tip  10  with another as required during the dent removal repair. 
     The connector  40  may be pushed into the tool head assembly until it engages with thereof. Release of the connector  40  and the corresponding tool tip  10  may be accomplished by pushing on the second button  70  as described in greater detail below. 
     A broad illustration of the tool head and handle assembly  100  is seen in  FIGS.  5 ,  6   , and  7 . It includes a tool head assembly  30  and two handle portions  20  extending therefrom with at least one clank  25  provided for convenience and better grip on one of the handle portions  20 . A threaded connection between handle portions  20 , clank  25 , and both ends of the tool head assembly may be provided to allow for a variety of configurations in which the tool of the present invention may be assembled. One alternative arrangement is seen in  FIG.  7    showing how two handle portions  20  are assembled together and form a long handle attached to the tool head assembly  30  on one end and to the clank  25  on the other end. Each elongated handle portion  20  may be made with a cylindrical cross-section as seen in  FIG.  24    or in any other suitable shape as the invention is not limited in this regard. Details of the clank  25  are seen in  FIG.  23   . One or more clanks of various shapes and sizes may be provided as part of the kit of tools for the present invention as may be appreciated by those skilled in the art. One or more set screws may be provided to facilitate removable attachment between the handle portions  20 , the clank  25 , and the tool head assembly  30 . 
     Details of the tool head assembly  30  are now described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS.  8 - 20    showing various views of the assembly as well as  FIG.  21 - 26    showing key individual components thereof. The assembly resides in the cavity of the housing  32 , shown in greater detail in  FIGS.  21  and  22   . All components of the assembly are retained in place with the help of the cover plate  34  configured to rest on a corresponding ledge made in the cavity of the housing  32 . 
     A general side view of the back of the tool head assembly  30  is seen in  FIG.  8    and shows a first button  60  and a second button  70 . The first button  60  serves to disengage the tool tip  10  from the handle assembly  100  and allow the tool tip  10  to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis. When released, the button  60  causes the tool tip  10  to engage with the handle assembly  100  and remain fixedly attached and connected thereto. The second button  70  serves to release the tool connector  40  from the assembly  100  when depressed, as discussed in greater detail below. 
     One key component of the tool head assembly is a teethed wheel  50 , best seen in  FIGS.  10  and  12   . When positioned inside the cavity of the housing  32  and supported by the cover plate  34  and a side stopper  75  (see  FIG.  11   d   ), the toothed wheel  50  can rotate freely around its central axis, unless restricted by the engagement of the teethed lever  62 . A pair of spring-loaded clips  74  is located inside a void made in the toothed wheel  50  to retain the tapered portion  42  of the connector  40  as described below. A portion of the toothed wheel  50  is seen as protruding from the back of the housing in  FIG.  8   . 
     The toothed wheel assembly is seen as an individual component in  FIGS.  25  and  26   . It includes an outer cylindrical surface with a series of teeth  52 . A void inside the wheel  50  is made to retain a pair of clips  74  supported by the corresponding springs  76 . The pair of opposite spring-loaded clips  74  facing each other are designed to retain a tapered portion of the connect  40  in between thereof. The void inside the toothed wheel is also configured to allow slidable engagement of the release pin  72 . The toothed wheel  50  may be made as a subassembly of three components  52 ,  54 , and  55  fixedly attached to each other with set screws or other retaining members placed in the wells  53 . 
     The same view of the back of the tool head assembly  30  is seen in  FIG.  9    but now with the toothed wheel  50  removed. Also removed are the first and the second buttons  60  and  70 . Removal of these components allows seeing the back end of the release pin  72 , the protruding top of the teethed lever  62 , and the inner workings of the tool head assembly  30 . 
       FIG.  10    shows one exploded view of the internal components of the tool head assembly  30 , including a connector  40  facing one end of the toothed wheel  50 . The other end of the toothed wheel  50  is seen as accepting a release pin  72  to slide therein. Clips  74  and springs  76  are also seen—these components are located inside the void in the toothed wheel  50 . Finally, a teethed lever  62  is seen in  FIG.  10   . When assembled in the housing  32 , this component is protruding through the back wall of the housing via the opening  36  as seen in  FIG.  9   . 
       FIGS.  11   a  through  11   d    show various stages of disassembly of the tool head  30  as seen from the front.  FIG.  11   a    shows an initial view in which the entire tool head is seen with the connector  40  inserted therein. The connector  40  is omitted in the same view in  FIG.  11   b    revealing the inside view of the components located in the void of the toothed wheel  50 .  FIG.  11   c    shows the same but with the toothed wheel  50  removed. Clips  74  and springs  76  are clearly seen in that figure. Removal of the cover plate  34  in  FIG.  11   d    reveals the view of the teethed lever  62  and the side stopper  75  needed to retain the toothed wheel  50  in place. Finally, all individual components are once again seen in the exploded view in  FIG.  12   . 
       FIG.  13    shows the details of the interaction between the toothed portion  52  of the toothed wheel  50  and the teethed lever  62  associated with the first button  60 . In a normal position of all these components, the teeth of the teethed lever  62  are engaged with the teeth of the toothed wheel  50  so that the wheel  50  is fixed in place inside the housing  32  and prevented from rotation about its central axis. Pressing on the button  60  causes the teethed lever  62  to slide longitudinally along the wheel  50  and disengage from the teeth  52 , thus releasing the wheel  50  to freely rotate in either direction inside the housing  32 . Releasing the button  60  causes a spring on the other side of the lever  62  (not shown) to move the teethed lever  62  back into a position of engagement with the toothed wheel  50 , therefore precluding it from free rotation and fixing it in place inside the housing  32 . 
       FIG.  13    further shows the connector  40  engaged with the internal components of the toothed wheel  50 , namely with a pair of clips  74  urged to be close to each other by their respective springs  76 .  FIG.  14    shows these components without the wheel  50 . Tapered ends of the two parallel bars  73  abut the tapered ends of the clips  74  urged together by their respective springs  76 . Pushing on the release pin  72  causes the tapered ends of the bars  73  to slide the clips apart and away from each other allowing the release of the connector  40  as described below. Releasing of the second button  70  allows the clips  74  to move closer together and towards each other, as urged by the springs  76 , as well as moving the release pin  72  back into the initial position. 
     Another view of that subassembly is seen in  FIGS.  15 - 18   , showing different stages of its disassembly. Initial position in  FIG.  15    shows the release pin adjacent to the pair of clips  74 , which in turn reside over the neck  43  behind the tapered portion  42 . Engagement of the clips  74  and the connector  40  assures retention of the tool tip  10  inside the tool head assembly  30 .  FIG.  16    shows the same but without the cover plate  34 . The tapered portion  42  is located partially inside the opening between two bars  73  of the release pin  72 . Tapered surfaces on both the bars  73  and the clips  74  may be configured to assure separation of the clips  74  by moving them apart from each other upon insertion of the bars  73  in between the ends of the clips  74 . The depth of movement of the bars  73  may be selected to assure sufficient separation of the clips  74  to allow removal of the tapered portion  42  of the connector  40  from the toothed wheel  50  leading to an ability to replace one tool tip with another.  FIGS.  17  and  18    show the details of the engagement of the clips  74  over the neck  43  of the connector  40 . 
       FIG.  19    and  FIG.  20    show alternative views of the toothed wheel  50  engaged with the teethed lever  62  and the button  60 . Also seen in  FIG.  19    the button  70  and a portion of the release pin  72  attached thereto.  FIG.  19    demonstrates the sliding arrangement of the release pin  72  inside the corresponding grooves in the toothed wheel  50 .  FIG.  20    shows an alternative view of the release pin  72  position next to the pair of clips  74 . 
     The use of the device is now described in greater detail. Initially, the connector  40  is not present and the clips  74  are located in close proximity to each other inside the void formed in the toothed wheel  50 . The teethed lever  62  is engaged with the teeth  52  of the wheel  50  thereby fixing its position inside the housing  32 . 
     The user takes the desired tool tip  10  and inserts the tapered end  42  into the opening in the toothed wheel  50 . The taper of the tapered end  42  causes the clips  74  to spread apart. Once the tapered end passed under the clips  74 , springs  76  push the clips  74  closer together as they protrude inside the neck  43  of the connector  40 . This motion causes engagement of the connector  40  with the tool head assembly  30  in a fixed position so that the user may use the handle to manipulate the end of the tool as required for the dent removal repair. 
     If an exchange of one tool tip for another is needed, the user presses the second button  70 . That in turn causes the release pin  72  to move deeper inside the internal opening of the toothed wheel  50 . Bars  73  engage with the clips  74  and cause their lateral movement apart from each other. This releases the tapered end  42  and the user may remove the tool tip  10  from the handle assembly  100 , followed by insertion of another tool tip  10  using reverse series of steps. 
     If a repositioning or rotation of the handle is needed without a need to change the tool tip  10 , the user presses on the first spring-loaded button  60 , which causes disengagement of the teethed lever  62  from the plurality of teeth  52  of the toothed wheel  50 . Once the lever  62  is disengaged, the toothed wheel  50  is free to rotate in any direction so that the user may reposition the handle of the tool in any way that is convenient. Release of the button  60  causes the teethed lever  62  to move back into a position of engagement with the teeth  52  of the wheel  50 , thereby securely and fixedly retaining the dent removal tip to facilitate direct transmission of force and torque from the handle assembly  100  to the dent removal tip  10  during dent removal operations. 
     All components of the novel device may be made from metal or from other suitable materials. Handle portions  20 , for example, may be made from a suitable polymer to reduce the overall weight of the tool. 
     It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method of the invention, and vice versa. It will be also understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Incorporation by reference is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein, no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein, and any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein. 
     The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects. 
     As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, “comprising” may be replaced with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term “consisting” is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), propertie(s), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only. 
     The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, Aft AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, Aft BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context. 
     As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “about”, “substantial” or “substantially” refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skilled in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “about” may vary from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 25%. 
     All of the devices and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the devices and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the devices and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.