SE538800C2 - Improved tool for removing a fastening means - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVED TOOL FOR REMOVING A FASTENING MEANS TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to a method and a tool arrangement for improved removal of a bolt or nut, such as a wheel locking bolt or nut, and in particular to a method and a tool arrangement for improved removal of an anti-theft wheel locking bolt or nut.

BACKGROUND It is a common problem in many areas that wheel covers and wheel rims are stolen from cars when they are parked. To combat this problem many car owners opt to use special antitheft bolts (or nuts) which require a specially adapted wrench to be removed. One such antitheft screw (or bolt) is disclosed in the international patent application published as W09112438 which discloses a locking and unlocking arrangement for a screw or nut fixing device, particularly a theft prevention screw or nut for the wheel of a vehicle, the gripping surface and the fixing piece having a specifically coded shape so that they can only be screwed or unscrewed by means of the complementary surface of a tool which matches the fixing piece. In the case of a screw, a centred or offset toothed cavity is formed in the head of the screw, an intermediate piece made from a cylindrical piece is combined with said screw and has on one of its sides a centred or offset cylindrical cavity, while the other side carries a toothed cylindrical projecting portion which is also centred or offset. Indexing takes place by connecting the teeth. The related tool is made to correspond. However, a new problem arises when either the antitheft bolt or nut is damaged or the specially adapted wrench is not available, such as when a private user brings his car to a garage that is not brand-specific or does not happen to carry the specific specially adapted wrench in their tool set.

Traditionally, if a bolt is damaged and can not be removed using a (normal) wrench there are a number of options available. One option is to weld a new bolt head onto the damaged bolt and then use the new bolt head for removing the bolt. This option is however time consuming and requires both welding equipment and a person experienced in welding, which is not standard equipment for a tire changing garage. The option is definitely not sited for field work such as when making emergency changes of wheels.

A second option is to use a smaller screw that is threaded in the opposite direction and drill this screw into the bolt to be loosened. As the screw enters the bolt it will eventually start unscrewing the bolt. However, this option is also time consuming as it requires much force to drill the smaller screw into the bolt, as if the smaller screw is too small it will not be able to unscrew the bolt due to a too small leverage. Also, this option requires that a garage has a number of screws threaded in the opposite direction for use with bolts of different sizes. In addition to this the option requires precision as the smaller screw has to be drilled into the centre of the bolt or the whole arrangement will start to move sideways when unscrewing the bolt. There is also a risk of cracking the bolt if the smaller screw is chosen too big.

There is thus a need for a manner of removing a bolt (or nut) that does not require excessive force, too much time, expensive equipment and preferably that is portable for use in the field, such as when making emergency changes of wheels.

SUMMARY According to one aspect, it is an object of the teachings of this application to overcome the problems listed above by providing a method for removing a fastening means, especially an anti theft fastening means for wheel covers or rims, said method comprising providing at least two holes in said fastening means, inserting a pin in each of said at least two holes fitting an engaging surface of a tool with each pin, and removing said fastening means by applying a rotating force to said tool to turn said fastening means.

Aid fastening means may be a wheel locking device, such as a bolt or nut, and especially an antitheft nut or bolt. The method (and the tool below) may also be applied to other bolts or nuts, such as stripped or rounded bolts or nuts.

It is also an object of the teachings of this application to overcome the problems listed above by providing a fastening means removal tool arrangement, especially an antitheft fastening means removal tool arrangement comprising a tool having at least two engaging surfaces configured to be fitted with at least one pin being inserted in to at least one hole of a fastening means.

The inventors of the present invention have realized, after inventive and insightful reasoning, that by simply and efficiently drilling (at least) two small holes in a bolt (or nut), inserting two pins into the holes and fitting the pins to a tool having two engaging surfaces any bolt (or nut) can simply be removed without using special equipment or using time consuming methods.

Furthermore, the problem of removing antitheft bolts in a simple manner has existed for many years. The solutions provided herein are thus simple solutions to long standing problems.

The teachings herein find use in removing anti theft fastening means.

The inventors of the present invention have further realized, after inventive and insightful reasoning, that the tool arrangement and method disclosed herein may also be used for removing other bolts or nuts that have become damaged, such as a rounded or stripped bolt or nut.

According to one aspect, it is a further object of the teachings of this application to overcome the problems listed above by providing a tool arrangement for removal of bolts or nuts using the method and the tool arrangement described above.

Other features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein.

All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be described in further detail under reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A, IB, 1C, ID, IE and IF each shows a schematic view of a tool arrangement interacting with a fastening means for removal of said fastening means according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C each shows a schematic view of a tool arrangement according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; Figure 3 shows a flowchart for a method according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F each shows a schematic view of a tool according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; and Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an alternative tool according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; Figure 6 shows a schematic view of an alternative tool according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; and Figure 7 shows an example of a nut removal tool according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The disclosed embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

It should be noted that even though the description herein will focus on bolts, the teachings herein can also be applied to nuts and also on screws in a similar manner. The bolts, nuts and screws are all examples of fastening means for wheel covers and wheel rims.

Figure 1A, IB, 1C, ID, IE and IF each shows a schematic view of a tool arrangement interacting with a fastening means for removal of said fastening means according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application. Figure 1A shows fastening means, such as a bolt 100 that is to be removed.

According to a first aspect of this application, the bolt is an antitheft bolt for wheel covers or rims. As has been stated above the bolt may also be a nut.

According to a second aspect of this application, the bolt is a rounded or stripped bolt. As has been stated above the bolt may also be a nut or a screw.

The bolt 100 has a head 110 which in this example embodiment is shown to be round, which is common for antitheft bolts. It is also representative of a bolt being rounded or stripped.

Assuming that the bolt 100 has indexed or coded holes and tracks 120 in the head, illustrated with a staroid in figure 1 A, for engaging with a specially adapted wrench (or other tool) and these have become damaged or the specially adapted tool is not available, the bolt 100 can not be removed using normal wrenches or keys.

A tool arrangement and a method according to the teachings herein for removing the bolt 100 will now be described with simultaneous reference to figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure 1 is a series of figures showing the bolt 100 being subjected to a method according to the teachings herein. Figure 2 shows a tool arrangement according to the teachings herein and figure 3 shows a flowchart of a general method according to the teachings herein.

A user drills 310 (or otherwise provides) at least two holes 130, 135 into the head of 110 of the bolt. In the example of figure 1 a first hole 130 and a second hole 135 has been drilled into the head 110 of the bolt 100. The holes are applied from a direction facing away from whatever object that the bolt is fastened to or used to fasten to another object. For the specific example of wheel bolts, the holes are provided from a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotating plane of the wheel. The holes are thus applied from an outside of the bolt. This enables the manner taught herein to be applied to any fastening means and does not require special bolts having prearranged holes, slits or grooves to be used. The manner taught herein is thus highly usable and flexible in that it can be used on any fastening means.

As can be seen the first hole 130 and the second hole 135 may not be placed at an equal distance from a rotational centre (indicated by the dashed line) of the bolt 100. It is one of the major benefits with the teachings herein that the holes 130, 135 may be placed at any location on the head 110 thereby having a very relaxed requirement for accuracy. It also enables the method and tool arrangement according to herein to be used for a great variety of bolts (and nuts) that may have different indexing and also being damaged in different manners.

In one embodiment, only two holes 130 and 135 are drilled into the head 110.

Thereafter a pin 140, 145 is inserted 320 into each (or at least two) drill hole 130, 135. Figure 1C shows when a first pin 140 has been inserted into the first hole 130 and a second pin 145 is being inserted into the second hole 135. The pins are preferably made of metal and have a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the drill holes 130, 135. As a skilled person would realize, the diameter of the pins 140, 145 is slightly less than the diameter of the drill holes 130, 135 or the pin may not be inserted into the hole, or in other words, the diameter of the pins 140, 145 corresponds to the diameter of the drill holes 130, 135.

Even if the diameter of the pins 140, 145 is substantially less than the diameter of the drill holes 130, 135 the method according to herein will still be applicable. The method and tool arrangement according to herein is thus highly flexible.

The drill hole 130, 135 should be made deep enough to enable the pin 140, 145 being inserted to sit stably in the hole while extending enough to adequately engage a tool, as will be described. Example values of diameters for the drill holes 130, 135 and the pins 140, 145 are 4 to 5 mm. Other possibilities are 3, 6 or even 5 to 10 mm (for very large bolts 100). Smaller diameters are also possible for smaller bolts. Figure ID shows the bolt 100 as the pins 140, 145 have been inserted.

As the drill holes 130, 135 are comparatively small they are easy to make in the bolt head 110 and does not consume much time nor require specialized equipment. A normal power drill (possibly battery operated) and a metal drill will suffice for making the drill holes 130, 135. In special circumstances other drills, such as concrete or wood drills may suffice. The teachings herein are thus highly flexible and do not require expensive specialized equipment.

As the pins 140, 145 have been inserted a tool 200 is fitted over 330 the pins 140, 145. The tool 200 comprises at least two engaging surfaces 210, 215 for engaging the two pins 140, 145. In one embodiment the two engaging surfaces 210, 215 are provided by two grooves 220, 225. The two grooves 220, 225 may beneficially be arranged equidistantly to a rotational axis (indicated by a dashed line) of the tool 200. Figure IE shows details of the tool 200 and figure IF shows the tool 200 having been fitted to the pins 140, 145 through the corresponding grooves 220, 225. As can be seen the use of grooves allows for a variance in the placement of the drill holes 140, 145 and also allows for an alignment of the rotational axises of the bolt 100 and the toll 200. By aligning the rotational axises no unnecessary forces are needed for overcoming various leverage effects caused by a misalignment. Less force is needed and also the tool is less prone to being damaged or break if the forces it is subjected to are reduced.

The bolt 100 may then be removed 340 by turning the tool 200 as is indicated by the arrows in figure IF. As the tool 200 is turned, the engaging surfaces 210, 215 will engage the corresponding pins 140, 145 which in turn will engage the bolt head 110 through the drill holes 130, 135 and subsequently turn the bolt 100.

It should be noted that the arrow in figure IF indicates a right-threaded (or right-handed) fastening means by indicating an anti-clockwise turning direction, but the teachings herein may also be used for left-threaded fastening means wherein the tool would be turned clockwise.

The grooves 220, 225 should have a depth that allows for receiving the pins 140, 145. To provide stability to the pins 140, 145 - which reduces the forces that the pins 140, 145 are subjected to - the pins 140, 145 should have a length enabling them to extend 5 to 10 mm, possibly 10 to 15 mm or 15 to 20 mm (for large bolts) into the corresponding groove 220, 225. Suitable example lengths for the pins 140, 145 are thus 10 to 15 mm, 15 to 20 mm or 20 to 30 mm. Correspondingly the grooves 220, 225 should have a depth of approximately 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm or up to 50 mm. Figure 2A shows one embodiment in which the tool 200 is arranged with a hexagonal shape or a hexagonal key head 250 for being attached to a lever handle, such as a key wrench 260, preferably of dimensions fitting a 17 mm or 19 mm key wrench. In one embodiment, the tool 200 has a diameter of 30 mm and the key head has a height of 10 mm and the overall height of the tool 200 is 35 mm. The tool 200 and the key wrench 260 thus being comprised in a tool arrangement. This has the benefit that the tool 200 can be used together with a normal key wrench, possibly adapted for removing or locking wheel bolts or nuts. Figure 2B shows one alternative embodiment in which the tool 200 is arranged with a lever handle 270. Figure 2C shows one embodiment in which the tool 200 is arranged with a head 255 comprising a hole 257 (possibly extending through the head 255 as indicated by the dashed round) for being attached to a lever handle 280. The tool 200 and the lever handle 280 thus being comprised in a tool arrangement. This arrangement has the benefit that the tool 200 can be used with a great variety of handles. Any metal rod may in fact be used as a handle 280.

In one embodiment the tool 200 is arranged with at least two parallel sides or surfaces for engaging a key wrench. Such arrangements are well-known and may be implemented as a round tool 200 having at least two parallel sides, a tool having a square (or rectangular) shape or a tool having a hexagonal shape. Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E each shows a schematic view of a tool according to one embodiment of the teachings of this application; Figure 4A shows a view of a tool 200 showing a variant of how the grooves 220 may be arranged to provide the engaging surfaces 210. In figure 4A there are two grooves 220 formed as recesses that open up out of the tool's circumference. In one embodiment, the tool 200 has a diameter of 30 mm, the groove 220 has a width of 5 mm, a length of 10 mm and a depth of 15 mm. Such a tool is easy and cheap to manufacture and also presents great flexibility when fitting to the pins. The tool is also rigid when being applied. Figure 4B shows a view of a tool 200 showing a variant of how the grooves 220 may be arranged to provide the engaging surfaces 210. In figure 4B there is one groove 220 formed as a recess that open up out of the tool's circumference and groove 225 formed as a hole. Such a tool is easy and cheap to manufacture and also presents flexibility when fitting to the pins. Furthermore, the hole is cheaper to manufacture than a recess. In one embodiment, the tool 200 has a diameter of 30 mm, the hole 225 has a diameter of 5 mm and the groove 220 has a width of 5 mm, a length of 22.5 mm and a depth of 15 mm. Figures 4C and 4D each shows a view of a tool 200 showing a variant of how the grooves 220 may be arranged to provide the engaging surfaces 210 where only one groove is formed. In figure 4C there is a recess forming the groove 220 and providing both engaging surfaces 210, 215. The groove 220 is formed as a recess that is enclosed by the tool's circumference. In one embodiment, the tool 200 has a diameter of 30 mm and the groove 220 has a width of 5 mm, a length of 22 mm and a depth of 15 mm. Such a tool is easy and cheap to manufacture and also presents flexibility when fitting to the pins.

In figure 4D there is a recess forming the groove 220 and providing both engaging surfaces 210, 215. The groove 220 is formed as a recess that opens up out of the tool's circumference. In one embodiment, the tool 200 has a diameter of 30 mm and the groove 220 has a width of 5 mm, a length of 30 mm and a depth of 15 mm. Such a tool is easy and cheap to manufacture and also presents flexibility when fitting to the pins.

Figure 4E and 4F each shows an alternative embodiment of a tool 200, which has two engaging surfaces 210, 215 but no groove. It should be apparent that other variants also exist and that it is also possible to combine the variants above in to other variants.

The engaging surfaces are preferably made of a thick material as this increases the load that the engaging surface can absorb without the tool breaking or being damaged. This is one benefit of a tool 200 having a round circumference, the material supporting the engaging surfaces 210, 215 becomes relatively thick. Such round tools are also easier and cheaper to manufacture.

It should be noted that the same tool 200 may be used with different diameters for the pins 140, 145 and in one embodiment the holes 130, 135 may be made with different diameters and pins 140, 145 of different diameters will then be inserted into the corresponding holes 130, 135. Similarly the grooves 220, 225 may be of different diameters or widths, or alternatively, the one groove 220 of the tool 200 of figure 4C or figure 4D may have a varying width so that one half of the groove 220 has a width of for example 3 mm and the other half has a width of for example 6 mm. This allows for flexibility in the placement of the holes 130, 135 in the bolt head. This is highly beneficial when removing damaged bolts which may not have intact bolt heads. Also, it is beneficial for removing anti-theft fastening means which have complicated indexing which may make it difficult to drill holes of a particular size and the hole sizes can thereby be selected accordingly.

To further decrease the manufacturing cost and also strengthening the tool 200, the grooves 220, 225 should be provided with rounded corners.

The tool is preferably made of steel, such as hardened steel. Other materials and metals are also possible.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the tool 200 is configured for removing a fastening means such as an anti theft nut 100A. The nut is fastened on a wheel bolt 100A. the method as disclosed above with reference to figure 3 is repeated in the same manner, however while paying a little bit more attention to the placement of the holes 130, 135 in which the pins 140, 145 are inserted into. The tool 200 is further arranged with a recess or hole 290 for receiving the bolt 110A when fitting the tool 200 to the pins 140, 145.

In one embodiment the recess 290 is threaded in the same manner as the bolt 110A. This enables the tool 200 to be arranged to abut the nut 100A which will increase the power transfer between the tool 200 and the nut 100A and will also decrease the breaking forces that the pins 140, 145 are subjected to. Figure 6 shows such a tool 200 having a same threading as the bolt 110A on which the nut 110A is currently fastened to.

The tool 200 of the example shown in figure 6 is arranged with grooves 220, 225 that extend through the tool 200. This enables the pins to be inserted into the nut 100A through tool 200. This allows the tool 200 to be fitted against the nut 200 by being threaded over the bolt 11 OA to abut the nut 100A.

As has been disclosed in the above, the grooves 220, 225 may of course also be in the shape of round (or oval, square etc) holes.

A further benefit is that the tool 200 may be applied before making the holes 130, 135 whereby the grooves 220, 225 of the tool 200 will act as guides for a drill or other hole making equipment. In such an embodiment the tool is fitted to the pins and the holes by aligning the holes with the grooves of the tool when making the holes.

The method for removing the nut 100A (with reference to figure 3) may thus start with fitting the engaging surfaces 330 and then drill the holes 310 and later insert the pins 320 for removing 340 the nut.

An embodiment such as in figure 6 may have more than two grooves 220, 225 (for example 3 or 4) to enable the use of smaller pins 140, 145 while providing a turning force large enough to remove the nut 100A. This enables the tool to be used with nuts having a small or thin wall.

Figure 7 shows an example of a nut removal tool 200, having three grooves 220, 225, 223 and thereby three engagement surfaces 210, 215,213. The recess 290 extends through the tool 200 to allow for use with bolts of varying lengths.

An embodiment as disclosed above with reference to figure 2 of a tool 200 being arranged for (direct) engagement with a key wrench is particularly beneficial for an embodiment according to figure 6 or figure 7 as the method of removing the nut will use the same tools (key wrench) as is normally used to remove such a nut, especially if the tool 200 is arranged with a diameter that is equal to the diameter of the nut to be removed. Such an arrangement will also be beneficial in that there will be more room for the grooves 220, 225 that extend through the tool and also allow the recess 290 to extend through the tool 200.

It should be noted that the tool 200 of figure 5 may also be used for removing bolts and may also be implemented in any of the variants as shown with reference to figures 2 and 4 being modified to allow for receiving the wheel bolt 110A.

One benefit of the teachings herein is that any anti theft fastening means can be removed using one and the same tool 200. Another benefit is that the holes can be placed at any position thereby making the tool and its application highly flexible.

It should also be noted that even though the teachings herein has focused on the use of two pins and two engaging surfaces, the teachings may also be applied with three pins, four pins or any number of pins. Having several pins allows for thinner pins and also holes making it easier to provide the holes in fragile or partly demolished fastening means.

When applying the teachings herein to nuts, the freedom of where to place the drill holes and pins becomes somewhat more limited and care must also be taken to select a pin of a suiting diameter. However, carrying pins of different diameters is at least cheaper (and easier) than to carry reverse screws of various diameters.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims (15)

1. A method for removing a fastening means (100), especially an anti theft fastening means for wheel covers or rims, said method comprising: providing (310) at least two holes (130, 135) in said fastening means (100) from an outside of said fastening means (100); inserting (320) a pin (140, 145) in each of said at least two holes (130, 135); fitting (330) an engaging surface (210, 215) of a tool (200) with each pin (140, 145); and removing (340) said fastening means (100) by applying a rotating force to said tool (200) to turn said fastening means (100).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said the holes are provided after or when the fastening means have been fastened to the object to be fastened.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said the holes are provided by being drilled.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said tool (200) is fitted so that a centre axis of said tool (200) substantially coincides with a centre axis of said fastening means (100).

5. A fastening means removal tool arrangement (200), especially an antitheft fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) comprising a tool (200) having at least two engaging surfaces (210, 215) configured to be fitted with at least one pin (140, 145) being inserted in to at least one hole (130, 135) of a fastening means (100).

6. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 5, wherein said tool (200) further comprises at least one groove (220, 225) for providing at least one of said engaging surfaces (210, 215).

7. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 6, wherein each groove (220, 225) provides one of said engaging surfaces (210, 215).

8. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said at least one groove (220, 225) provides two of said engaging surfaces (210,215).

9. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said at least one groove (220, 225) is centred with regards to a centre axis of said tool (200).

10. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said tool (200) is further arranged with a handle (270).

11. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said tool (200) is further configured to be engaged by a handle (260, 280).

12. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 10, wherein said tool 200 is arranged with at least two surfaces for engaging a key wrench.

13. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to any of claims 6 to 12, wherein said fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) further comprises at least two pins (140, 145).

14. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to any of claims 6 to 13, wherein said fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) further comprises a hole (290) for receiving a bolt (110A) when being applied for removing a nut (100A).

15. The fastening means removal tool arrangement (200) according to claim 14, wherein said at least one groove (220, 225) extends through the tool 200.