Patent Publication Number: US-2017348834-A1

Title: Vehicle cover screw tool and method of use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/345,192 Filed Jun. 3, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a screw tool and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a screw tool for use with a vehicle roof component, namely a Jeep® hardtop screw. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many Jeep® Wrangler vehicles include hardtop vehicle covers which connect to the vehicle frame using a screw element. These optimally are “Kwick” screws which allow the user to unscrew and remove the hardtop for use of the vehicle in good weather conditions. However, these “Kwick” screws can be tedious to remove, and existing tools merely replace the manual hand removal of the screws with the manual hand removal of those same screws using a cylindrical tool which does not increase the efficiency of removing those screws by any significant margin. What is needed is a screw tool for use with power drills, cordless drills, or existing screwdriver handles which increases the efficiency of removing the cover screws. 
     Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a vehicle cover screw tool with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides a top cover screw tool for use with typically Jeep® Wrangler vehicles, manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, headquartered at 25 St. James&#39;s St., London, UK, having hardtops. These hardtops are typically affixed to the vehicle using “Kwick” screws with a base screw terminating at a manually-turned top having a “T” shape, which may also include a circular rim and an indention at the center of the “T.” The present invention interfaces with the receiver end of the screw and uses a standard cordless power screwdriver to drive the screw either into or out of the frame and vehicle top. A standard screwdriver handle could be used in place of the cordless power screwdriver. The cordless power screwdriver is preferred over a corded power screwdriver due to ease of use and lower power, which reduces the threat of stripping the screw. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is a side-elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in a typical environment including a power drill and vehicle screw. 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a vehicle tool element thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a first side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a second side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view thereof taken about the line of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed bottom plan view thereof as taken about the circle of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a prior art vehicle screw element thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are 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 how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
     II. Preferred Embodiment Vehicle Cover Screw Tool System  2   
     As shown in the figures, some vehicles (e.g. Jeep® Wranglers) include a hardtop cover  10  which is mounted to the roof of the vehicle&#39;s frame using cover-mounting screws  7 . These screws  7  typically include a receiver  8  having a concave area with a T-shaped interface for manually gripping and loosening or tightening the screw to remove or affix the cover as required, and a screw tip  12  for passing through the cover  10  into the body of the vehicle (not shown), thereby securing the cover to the vehicle. 
     The present invention as shown in detail in  FIGS. 2-8  includes a screw tool  4  which includes a head  14  designed to interface with the receiver  8  of the screw  7 . The shape of the tool head corresponds to the shape of the receiver so that it fits securely within the receiver when operating. The rear face of the tool head includes a typical connector  20  (e.g. ¼″ interchangeable bit connector) for interfacing with the head of a cordless power drill/screwdriver  6 , a universal screwdriver handle, or other suitable devices. A cordless power screwdriver is preferred over a power drill because of the potential damage the drill could do to the screw or the vehicle. Rather than tediously unscrewing the screw by hand, the screwdriver  6  cuts the time needed to remove or replace the screw  7  into a screw receiver within the vehicle frame and the top cover to a fraction of the original time. 
     The tool head  14  includes a raised central axis  18  and a pair of recessed receivers  16  for receiving the extended portions  22  of the screw  7 . The raised central axis  18  and remainder of the tool head  14  are received within the interior space  24  of the screw receiver  8 . With this arrangement, it is impossible for the screw  7  to slip within the tool head  14 , ensuring complete installation or removal of the screw  7  through the cover  10  and into the vehicle frame. 
     It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.