Patent Publication Number: US-6901823-B2

Title: Reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to construction spud wrenches, and more particularly to a reversible, magnetic spud wrench having a ratcheting head to eliminate the need for using separate spud and ratchet wrenches while securing interconnecting steel beams 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Spud wrenches are typically used in construction for aligning the flange holes in interconnecting steel construction beams. The flanges holes are adapted to receive a bolt or other fastener. The spud wrench aligns the holes so that a bolt may pass through the holes on each beam to secure the beams together. Once the holes are aligned and the bolt is passed through the holes a separate ratchet wrench is then used to secure the bolt in place. This typical procedure is inefficient because it requires the construction worker to use separate wrenches to secure a single bolt in the holes of the steel beams. The procedure also creates a potentially hazardous situation because typically the spud wrench is placed on a steel beam adjacent the construction worker while he is using the ratchet wrench. When this is done, the spud wrench is easily dropped from the construction worker&#39;s work place, which is often high above other co-workers. 
   The following patent documents disclose examples of existing spud wrenches and ratchet wrenches. 
   U.S. Patent Application No. 2001/0032529 published on Oct. 25, 2001 for Barnett et al. discloses a positive locking system for socket ratchet wrenches. The sockets have at least one circumferential axially aligned annular groove extending about the exterior surface with one or more openings in the side of the grooves for receiving sections on the ratchet wrench that cooperate with the socket grooves to positively lock the socket to the wrench. 
   U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0043574 published on Mar. 6, 2003 for Hsien discloses a ratchet wrench and lighting circuit. The ratchet wrench has a hollow driving member mounted in a box at one end, a holder shell fitted into the ratchet driving member and detachably secured to it by a screw joint and a lighting circuit assembly installed in the holder shell. The lighting circuit is controlled to emit light through a lens on the bottom of the ratchet driving member. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,155,960 issued on Oct. 5, 1915 to Ruth discloses a ratchet compound spud wrench. The wrench provides a plurality of spuds or nipple engaging sections that vary in size. The spuds are provided on their oppositely disposed lugs. The central portion of the wrench has an integral disc having a plurality of ratchet teeth. The spud engaging sections extend through a hole in the center of the integral disc. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,141 issued on Nov. 10, 1964 to Pluntz discloses a combination inside-outside spud wrench. The invention provides a spud wrench for assembling and dissembling spud assemblies in water inlets for commodes in which the spud assembly includes an externally threaded nipple to receive a locking nut, and has a flange at its end engaging the walls of the commode inlet. The nipples include a series of inwardly extending spaced lugs in its bore. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,048 issued on May 9, 1972 to Judd discloses a fastening means for structural members. The fastening means includes an unthreaded bolt having a partially tapered shank, a noncircular head and at least one hole through the shank and a generally rod shaped locking pin that is capable of fitting in the hole of a shank of a bolt. The locking pin has an eye portion at one end adapted to receive a tool to facilitate removal of the locking pin from the bolt and an expanded portion in the locking pin limiting the portion of the locking pin passing through the hole in the bolt. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,754 issued on Dec. 9, 1980 to Battrick discloses a universal spud wrench. The universal spud wrench is designed for rapid installation and removal of all types of spuds from drains. The wrench includes a tubular shaft having four perpendicularly oriented slope surfaces forming slots and aligned extensions next to the slots that are defined by varying diameters about a central axis. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,025 issued to Harrington on Mar. 3, 1992 discloses a closet spud tool. The device is a four way closet spud insertion tool for inserting a spud into an inlet/outlet hole of a plumbing fixture. The closet spud includes a couple having at least one lug protruding inwardly therefrom and a gasket surrounding the couple, the gasket having a flared portion that is to be inserted into the inlet/outlet hole of the fixture with a portion of the couple, the diameter of the flared portion being greater than the diameter of the whole. The tool comprises a cross-shaped body having four arms extending from a center point thereof, each of the arms terminating in a different head, each of the heads is configured to be insertable into a respectively sized couple. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,166 issued on Dec. 26, 2000 to Whiteford discloses a low-profile ratchet wrench having magnetically retained thin-walled sockets. The socket wrench system includes a set of thin-walled sockets, each having a round peripheral surface around which a multiplicity of gear like teeth are distributed and a ratchet wrench having a cylindrical opening in its head in which a socket is releasably maintained. Permanent magnets supported in the wrench head maintain the socket in easily releasable engagement with the wrench. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench combines a ratchet wrench with a construction spud wrench. The wrench has an elongate main body with a bolt securing end and a flange hole alignment end. The flange hole alignment end provides an oval shaped tip that conforms to the oval shaped flange holes disposed on typical steel beams. The oval shaped tip is adapted for fitting into and aligning the bolt receiving flange holes on interconnecting steel structural beams. The bolt securing end of the wrench provides a ratchet head for securing the interconnecting steel structural beams. Once the beams are aligned a bolt is passed through the aligned holes of the two steel beams. The ratchet head on the wrench secures the bolt in place by tightening a nut onto the bolt. The wrench further provides a milled slot in a portion of the main body of the wrench. A magnetic strip for preventing the wrench from falling from an elevated workplace is disposed inside of the slot. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a spud wrench having a ratcheting head for allowing a construction worker to use a single wrench to align the bolt receiving holes of interconnecting steel beams and to secure a bolt inside of the aligned holes. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a ratcheting spud wrench having a magnetic strip embedded in the main body of the wrench to prevent the wrench from falling from an elevated work station. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a ratcheting spud wrench having a wrench stop collar for preventing the gripping portion of the ratchet head from slipping past the fastener being tightened by the wrench. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a ratchet head that is magnetized to improve the grip of the ratchet wrench around the fastener being tightened. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench according to an alternate preferred embodiment. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are bottom views of additional embodiments of the reversible magnetic ratcheting spud wrench. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a combination spud wrench and ratchet wrench.  FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a ratcheting spud wrench  10  according to the present invention. The ratcheting spud wrench  10  allows a steel construction worker to use a single wrench to align the bolt receiving flange holes disposed on interconnecting steel structural beams and tighten a bolt that is positioned inside of the aligned flange holes. Typically, a spud wrench is used to align the flange holes of the interconnecting steel beams. Once aligned, a bolt is extended through the flange holes. The bolt is then secured in place by tightening a bolt fastener, or nut onto the bolt with a separate ratchet wrench. The present invention allows a construction worker to use a single wrench for the entire process. 
     FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the ratcheting spud wrench  10  of the present invention. The ratcheting spud wrench  10  comprises a shaft  12  having an elongate body with a hole aligning end  16  and a fastener gripping end  14 . The shaft  12  has a width that is greater at the fastener gripping end  14  than at the hole aligning end  16 . The width of the shaft  12  continuously increases along the length of the shaft  12  from the hole aligning end  16  to the fastener gripping end  14 . 
   A flange hole aligning portion is disposed on the shaft  12  at the hole aligning end  16  of the wrench  10 . The hole aligning portion comprises a flat, generally oval shaped alignment tip  20 . The alignment tip  20  is oval shaped to conform to the oval shaped flange holes of typical steel beams. The alignment tip  20  is adapted to be inserted into the flange holes of interconnecting steel beams. Because the alignment tip  20  is generally oval shaped, as are the flange holes on a typical steel beam, the ratcheting spud wrench  10  accurately aligns the flange holes of the interconnecting beams. 
   A ratchet head  30  is disposed on the shaft  12  at the fastener gripping end  14  of the spud wrench  10 . The ratchet head  30  comprises a center through hole  32  for receiving a nut or other bolt fastener. A gripping portion  34  is disposed along the periphery of the center through hole  32 . In the present embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the gripping portion comprises a plurality of gripping teeth. Once the flange holes of interconnecting steel beams are aligned by the alignment tip  20 , a bolt is extended through the aligned holes. The ratchet head  30  of the ratcheting spud wrench  10  is then used to tighten a nut onto the bolt to secure the interconnected steel beams to one another. The nut is tightened onto the bolt by turning the shaft  12  of the wrench  10 , which applies a torque to the nut and tightens it against the bolt. 
   According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the ratcheting spud wrench  10  further comprises an elongate milled slot  40  extending along a bottom surface of the shaft  12 .  FIG. 3  shows the depth of the slot  40  into the surface of the shaft  12 . A magnetic strip  42  is embedded in the milled slot  40 . The magnetic strip  42  is embedded in the slot  40  so that the top surface of the magnetic strip  42  is flush with the surface of the shaft  12 . Structural steel construction workers often work in elevated workspaces. In some situations the worker will place his wrench on one of the steel beams while he is not using the wrench. This creates a hazardous situation because the wrench could fall from the elevated workspace and injure a coworker. The magnetic strip  42  disposed along the shaft  12  of the spud wrench  10  secures the spud wrench  10  to the steel beam that it is placed on, preventing it from falling from an elevated workspace. 
   According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the spud wrench  10  further comprises a reaming member  50  disposed along the shaft  12  of the spud wrench  10 . The reaming member comprises a plurality of spiral or straight fluted cutting edges for finishing a hole to size and shape. The reaming member  50  has a bottom edge  52  and a top edge  54 . When the spud wrench  10  is inserted into a hole the bottom edge  52  of the reaming member  50  enters into the hole. Once the reaming member  50  is fully inserted into a hole the spud wrench  10  may be rotated to cause the reaming member  50  to size and shape the hole. A hole sizing collar  60  is slidably disposed along the shaft  12  of the wrench  10 . The hole sizing collar  60  is positioned along the shaft  12  to prevent the reaming member  50  from entering into the hole beyond a predetermined point. The hole sizing collar  60  limits the portion of the hole that is being reamed. 
   According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the gripping portion  34  of the ratcheting head  30  is magnetized to improve the grip of the wrench  10  on the nut being tightened. 
   According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the ratcheting spud wrench  10  further comprises a wrench stop collar  70  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) disposed on a top surface of the spud wrench  10 . The wrench stop collar  70  is positioned above the center through hole  32  of the ratchet head  30 . The wrench stop collar  70  comprises a generally flat, circular plate  72  having a center hole  74 . The size of the center hole  74  is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bolt being secured by the spud wrench  10 . The center hole  74  of the wrench stop collar  70  allows the bolt to pass through but is small enough to prevent the nut that is being tightened to pass through. This prevents the spud wrench  10  from sliding down past the nut and losing its grip on the nut as it is being tightened. The wrench stop collar  70  may be fixedly secured to the spud wrench  10 , by welding or by a chemical adhesive, or it may be releasably attached to the spud wrench  10  so that it may be removed in certain situations. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B  are bottom views of the ratchet heads of two additional embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 5A  depicts a ratchet head  130  according to a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ratchet head  130  provides a center through hole  132  having a gripping portion  134  disposed around its periphery. The gripping portion  134  according to the present embodiment comprises an eight sided, generally octagonal gripping surface. 
     FIG. 5B  depicts a ratchet head  230  according to a certain preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ratchet head  230  provides a center through hole  232  having a gripping portion  234  disposed around its periphery. The gripping portion  234  according to the present embodiment comprises a four sided, generally square shaped gripping surface. 
   The center through hole  32  and the gripping portion  34  of the ratchet head  30  may be designed in any typical size and are not limited to the common sized ratchet heads used in the steel industry. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.