Patent ID: 7661287

Claim:
An auto body decrimping tool assembly adapted for decrimping a panel from a frame, the decrimping tool assembly comprising: (a) a hollow housing body member with a first aperture centered on a body member's first axis at one end thereof, the body member containing a second aperture centered on a body member's second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and (b) a decrimping head member pivotally mounted near an end thereof on a drive shaft member rotatably secured in the body member's second aperture, the decrimping head member including a base member having first and second sides, the base member's first side opposite the housing body member and having a protruding contact section and an opposed, protruding blade section having a concave, helical surface facing the contact section, the blade section including a tapered edge at a side of the concave, helical surface opposite the base portion, the decrimping head member mounted to the drive shaft member at the contact section, the contact section of the decrimping head member including a U-shaped groove formed by a cylindrical base member of the contact section having a shoulder area aligned with the tapered edge of the blade section, and an insert member fastened atop the cylindrical base member, the insert member including a cylindrical body portion, smaller than the cylindrical base member, with an enlarged head portion opposite the cylindrical base member, thereby forming the U-shaped groove of the contact section; whereby positioning the decrimping head member at an edge of the panel crimped to the frame with the contact section on an edge of the crimped panel and the tapered edge of the blade section between the crimped panel and the frame; and whereby a power source positioned at the body member's first aperture, and operably connected to the drive shaft member, imparts reciprocal rotary motion to the drive shaft member, causing the blade section and the tapered edge of the decrimping head member to reciprocally pivot relative to the contact section, thereby incrementally decrimping the crimped panel from the frame as the crimped panel and frame move between the blade section and the contact section of the decrimping head member.