Patent Publication Number: US-2015068369-A1

Title: Lug wrench assistant device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system to assist an individual in operating a lug wrench while changing of a tire. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many individuals encounter flat tires associated with the operation of a motor vehicle. Most flat tires must normally be changed in order for the vehicle to operate properly. Individuals usually have a choice to change the tire themselves or to request emergency roadside assistance that provides tire changing services. The changing of the tire can be strenuous on some individuals and many times some individuals are unable to actually change the tire due to the tightness of the lugs that mount the tires onto the wheel axle. During the tire changing process an individual uses a lug wrench that fits over a lug that needs to be loosened and removed to remove the flat tire from the axle. Further the individual needs to replace the flat tire with a spare tire to proceed. The typical lug wrench is a cross-shaped wrench that has sockets at each end of the cross. The sockets engage the lugs and then the individual may turn the lug wrench to loosen and remove the lug. As stated many times the lugs are tough to remove and require substantial strength to loosen and remove the lugs. Consequently it would be advantageous to have a device that could assist an individual in the removal of lugs from a tire that is mounted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lug wrench assistance system comprising: a lug wrench aid, where the lug wrench aid includes a stop at a first end and stop at a second end where the lug wrench aid is capable of engaging onto a four socket lug wrench; and a pedestal, where the pedestal includes a plurality of legs, a stem extending vertically from the legs and a cradle at the top of the stem, where the cradle receives a socket of the lug wrench during use. 
     The lug wrench aid may include channels for engaging the socket lug wrench and the stem may include a plurality of adjustment holes to vertically adjust the height of the cradle. In the preferred embodiment, the legs are telescoping to provide vertical adjustment and each leg includes a foot as a base. Each foot may also include gripping teeth extending out of the bottom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an engagement of a lug wrench aid onto a lug wrench in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a reverse view of the lug wrench aid attached to the lug wrench. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a pedestal that is used in conjunction with the lug wrench aid in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an alternative lug wrench aid that is used in conjunction with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts use of the lug wrench aid engaged with a pedestal and a tire. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to lug wrench assistance system that utilizes a lug wrench aid that fits over a portion of the lug wrench and a pedestal that is used to mount the lug wrench during the removal of lugs from a tire. The lug wrench aid allows individuals to gain more leverage over the lug wrench and further to mount the lug wrench on the pedestal to provide for an even and consistent distribution of force on the lug for the removal of a tire. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , a lug wrench aid  20  is depicted attached to a lug wrench  10 . The lug wrench aid  20  fits over a portion of the lug wrench  10  to provide a support means that allows an individual to use better leverage and actually allows the individual to lean into the lug wrench to provide sufficient force for the removal of a lug. The lug wrench aid  20  includes stops  22   a ,  22   b  at each end of the lug wrench aid  20 . The stops  22   a,    22   b  are shown at each end of the lug wrench aid in  FIG. 1 . These stops  22   a,    22   b  allow for the insertion of fittings of the lug wrench aid onto the lug wrench  10 . The lug wrench  10  is a typical lug wrench that has four sockets at each end of a cross-configured wrench. 
     A reverse view of the lug wrench aid  20  is shown at  FIG. 2 . The lug wrench aid  20  includes a first channel  23  that runs along the length of the lug wrench aid  20 . Channel  25  is perpendicular to the channel  23  and vertically is across the lug wrench aid  20 . The channel  23  and channel  25  creates a cross opening and engages onto the lug wrench  10 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 3  a pedestal  35  is depicted. The pedestal  35  includes a cradle  30 . The cradle  30  engages a socket of the lug wrench  10  during use. Below the cradle  30  is a stem  32  that engages a grouping of telescoping legs  38  as shown. Legs  38  and stem  32  create the pedestal  35  for placement of the lug wrench during use. Each leg  38  is adjustable vertically and may be adjusted to fit over a surface to provide a stable mounting piece for the lug wrench. Each leg  38  includes a foot  37  as shown. Also shown in  FIG. 3  is the engagement of the wrench  10  onto the cradle  30  depicting the movement of the telescoping legs  38 . 
     An alternative embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The embodiment of  FIG. 4  includes the cradle  30  and stem  32  engaged onto a grouping of telescoping legs  44 . Each leg  44  has a series of holes  48  along the length of the legs  44  that allow for the adjustment of each leg  44  individually. Each foot  45  shown in  FIG. 4  includes gripping teeth that extend out of the bottom surface of each foot. These gripping teeth provide for firm grip onto the surface where the pedestal is placed. The pedestal further includes the cradle  30  at the top of the stem  32  with a series of holes  34  along the stem. 
     During use the lug wrench aid  20  is engaged onto a lug wrench  10  as shown in  FIG. 5 . One socket of the lug wrench  10  is engaged into a lug of a tire  100 . The lug wrench  10  is then placed on the cradle  30  where the opposite socket is engaged onto the cradle  30 . Once mounted on this cradle  30  a person may easily apply the necessary force to the lug wrench in order to loosen or tighten the lug onto the wheel. Further shown in  FIG. 5  is a rock  50 . The rock  50  merely demonstrates the ability to adjust the telescoping legs  38  at the desired length to accommodate an uneven surface. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.