Patent Publication Number: US-6988288-B2

Title: Chain link remover for cycles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a chain link remover, and more particularly to a chain link remover for cycles having a chain support structure to support the chain and to allow the chain link to be easily removed from the chain. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Typical chain link removers for cycles have been developed for removing chain links from chains, and comprise an anvil to anchor or position the chain, and a threaded shaft to engage with the chain link pins, and to remove the chain link pins from the chains. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,435 to Seals, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,439 to Seals disclose two of the typical chain link removers for cycles, and also comprise an anvil to anchor or position the chain, and a threaded shaft to engage with the chain link pins, and to remove the chain link pins from the chains. For removing the chain link pins from the chains, the chains are required to be disposed or engaged into the typical chain link removers, and disposed between the anvil and the threaded shaft, and is required to align the chain link pins with the threaded shaft. 
   However, the typical chain link removers do not include any support device to stably support and position the chain between the anvil and the threaded shaft, such that the users have to use one of their hands to hold and position the chain between the anvil and the threaded shaft, and then to use the other hand to thread or to rotate the threaded shaft relative to the chain link removers, and such that the users may not easily operate the typical chain link removers. 
   The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional chain link removers for cycles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a chain link remover for cycles including a chain support structure to support the chain and to allow the chain link to be easily removed from the chain. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a chain link remover comprising a base including an opening formed therein and defined by an anvil, the anvil including a vertical slot formed therein to receive a chain link pin of a chain, the base including a screw hole formed therein and aligned with the vertical slot of the anvil, a threaded shaft threaded with the screw hole of the base, and including a link ejector rod for engaging with and for removing the chain link pin from the chain, and a support device provided in the opening of the base to support the chain in the opening of the base, and to retain the chain between the anvil and the threaded shaft, and thus to allow the chain link pin to be easily disengaged or removed from the chain without holding by the users. 
   The support device includes two pawls to engage with and to support the chain between the anvil and the threaded shaft. For example, the support device includes a carrier to support the pawls thereon. 
   The pawls may be pivotally attached to the carrier with pivot pins respectively. For example, the carrier includes two hubs, and each of the pawls includes a hub pivotally attached to the hubs of the carrier with the pivot pins respectively. 
   The base includes a passage formed therein to slidably receive the carrier. The base includes a depression formed therein, and the carrier includes a flap laterally extended therefrom and slidably engaged in the depression of the base, and to guide the carrier to slide relative to the base, and to limit the sliding movement of the carrier relative to the base. A spring may be engaged with the carrier, to bias the carrier against the anvil. 
   The carrier includes a bore formed therein to slidably receive a tube, and to slidably attach the carrier onto the tube, the spring may be engaged on the tube. A casing may be provided to receive the tube, and includes two protuberances each having a hole formed therein to receive the tube therein. The casing may include a cover attached to bottom thereof. 
   The casing includes two caps attached to the holes, to retain the tube in the casing. The casing includes a handle extended therefrom. The casing includes at least one tool member attached to the handle. A tool device may be detachably attached to the handle, and includes at least one magnet for magnetically attaching the tool device to the handle. 
   One or more spare chain link pins may further be provided and received in the tube. The carrier includes a seat provided thereon and disposed between the pawls. 
   Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chain link remover for cycles in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIG. 3  is another partial exploded view of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5  are perspective views illustrating the operation of the chain link remover for removing chain link pins from chains; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  6 — 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the operation of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIGS. 8 ,  9  are partial plan views illustrating the supporting structure of the chain link remover to support the chain; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating the folding operation of the chain link remover; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial exploded view illustrating the other embodiment of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIG. 12  is another partial exploded view illustrating the further embodiment of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIGS. 13 ,  14  are partial plan views illustrating the chain supporting structure of the chain link remover as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a further partial exploded view illustrating the other embodiment of the chain link remover for cycles; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating the chain link remover as shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  17 — 17  of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 17 , illustrating the operation of the chain link remover for cycles; and 
       FIG. 19  is a still further partial exploded view illustrating the further embodiment of the chain link remover for cycles. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure a chain link remover for cycles in accordance with the present invention comprises a base  10  including an opening  11  formed in the middle portion thereof and defined by an anvil  12  which includes a vertical slot  13  formed therein to receive chain link pins  91  removed from chain links  93  of chains  90  ( FIGS. 4–5 ,  8  and  13 ). 
   The base  10  includes a screw hole  14  formed therein and aligned with the vertical slot  13  of the anvil  12 , for threading with a threaded shaft  20  which includes a link ejector rod  21  provided on one end thereof for engaging with and for removing the chain link pins  91  from the chain links  93  of the chains  90 . 
   The chain  90  may be engaged into the opening  11  of the base  10 , and arranged to have the chain link pins  91  removed from the chain links  93  of the chains  90  with the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . The above described structure of the chain link remover is typical and will not be described in further details. 
   The chain link remover in accordance with the present invention further comprises a support device  30  disposed in the opening  11  of the base  10 , to support and to retain the chain  90  within the opening  11  of the base  10 , and to position or to align the chain link pin  91  of the chain links  93  with the screw hole  14  of the base  10  and the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . The base  10  further includes a depression  15  and a passage  16  formed therein and communicating with the opening  11  thereof, and includes one or more extensions  17  extended downwardly therefrom. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–9 , the support device  30  includes a carrier  31  slidably engaged in the passage  16  of the base  10 , and a flap  32  laterally extended from the carrier  31  and slidably engaged in the depression  15  of the base  10 , to guide and to limit the carrier  31  to slide and to move relative to the base  10 . The carrier  31  includes a bore  33  formed therein, and includes a seat  34  formed or provided thereon to support the chain links  93  ( FIGS. 8 ,  13 ), and one or more, such as two hubs  35  disposed beside the seat  34 . 
   The support device  30  further includes one or more, such as two curved fingers or pawls  36  each having a hub  37  rotatably or pivotally secured to such as the hubs  35  of the carrier  31  with pivot pins  38 , and each having a recess  39  formed therein to receive and support the chain links  93  ( FIGS. 8 ,  13 ) therein. As best shown in  FIGS. 8–9  and  13 – 14 , the pawls  36  preferably include a suitable resilience to clamp such as two chain links  93  between the pawls  36 , and thus to stably attach the chain  90  to the base  10 , and thus to allow the chain link pin  91  to be easily removed or disengaged from the chain links  93  by the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , the pawls  36  are foldable or rotatable into the opening  11  of the base  10  in a folding or storing position, or foldable or rotatable out of the opening  11  of the base  10  in a working position ( FIGS. 1–2  and  4 – 5 ). Alternatively, as shown in FIGS.  11  and  13 – 18 , the pawls  36  may also be formed integral with the carrier  31 , and may also be used to resiliently clamp and to retain the chain links  93  between the pawls  36 . Further alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 19 , the pawls  36  and the seat  34  may also be formed integral with the base  30 , and may also be used to resiliently clamp and to retain the chain links  93  between the pawls  36 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1–7 , the chain link remover further includes a casing  40  having a chamber  41  formed therein to receive the extensions  17  of the base  10 , and two protuberances  42  are extended in the chamber  41  of the casing  40  and each including a hole  43  formed therein to receive a tube  44  therein. The tube  44  is engaged through the bore  33  of the carrier  31 , to slidably couple the carrier  31  to the tube  44 , and thus to couple or secure the base  10  to the casing  40 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6–7 , the carrier  31  is slidable relative to the base  10  to allow the chain links  93  of different sizes or thicknesses to be engaged onto the seat  34  and the pawls  36  of the support device  30 . A spring  45  may be engaged onto the tube  44  and engaged with the carrier  31 , to bias the carrier  31  toward or against the anvil  12 , and to further stably retain the chain links  93  against the anvil  12 , or between the anvil  12  and the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . 
   One or more further or spare chain link pins  91  may be provided and stored within the tube  44 , for replacing or engaging into the chain links  93 . Two caps  46  may be attached to the holes  43  of the casing  40 , to retain the tube  44  within the casing  40 , and to retain the spare chain link pins  91  within the tube  44 . The casing  40  may further include a handle  47  extended therefrom ( FIGS. 1–5  and  10 – 12 ), and one or more tool members  48  may further be provided and rotatably attached to the handle  47  with a pivot axle  49  ( FIGS. 1–3  and  10 ). 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–5  and  10 , a tool device  50  may further be provided and may be attached to the handle  47  of the casing  40  with fasteners (not shown), or may include one or more magnets  51  for attaching to the handle  47  of the casing  40 , and may include one or more tool members  52  rotatably attached thereto with one or more pivot pins  53 . 
   Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 15–18 , without the handle  47 , the casing  40  may include a cover  80  attached to bottom thereof, to enclose the chamber  41  of the casing  40 , and to form a portable structure for the chain link remover. Further alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 19 , without the handle  47  and the casing  40 , the base  10  may also be formed into a portable structure, and may have the support device  30  provided thereon for removing the chain link pins  91  from chain links  93  of chains  90 . 
   In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 8–9  and  13 – 14 , the pawls  36  of the support device  30  may be used to clamp and to retain the chain  90  to the support device  30 , and to allow the chain link pins  91  to be easily disengaged or removed from the chain links  93  of the chains  90  with the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . The users are not required to use their hands to hold and position the chain  90  to the base  10  or to the support device  30 . In addition, the chain link pins  91  may be easily aligned with the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20  without further aligning processes. Furthermore, the spring member  45  may bias the carrier  31  of the support device  30  toward or against the anvil  12 , and to further stably retain the chain links  93  against the anvil  12 , or between the anvil  12  and the link ejector rod  21  of the threaded shaft  20 . 
   Accordingly, the chain link remover for cycles in accordance with the present invention includes a chain support structure to support the chain and to allow the chain link to be easily removed from the chain. 
   Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.