Rotary tool accessory for installation of hood cushions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843276-B2
Application number	US-201715707547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2017
Priority date	Sep 18, 2017
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A rotary tool accessory for installing a hood cushion in a vehicle component. The tool accessory includes a base portion structured to contact a hood cushion so as to enable rotation of the hood cushion by rotating the base portion. A hood cushion confinement portion is structured to enclose a portion of the hood cushion so as to limit or prevent radial expansion of the hood cushion during installation of the cushion into the vehicle component. The confinement portion is also structured and adjustably attachable to the base portion so as to control a movement of the base portion toward the surface of the component of the vehicle, such that a portion of the hood cushion extends past the surface of the vehicle component in a direction toward the base portion when the hood cushion has been completely installed in the vehicle component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary tool accessory structured for installing a hood cushion in a component of a vehicle, the rotary tool accessory comprising:
a base portion structured to contact a hood cushion so as to enable rotation of the hood cushion by rotating the base portion, and so as to enable application of an insertion force to the hood cushion through the base portion and in a direction toward the component of the vehicle; and
a hood cushion confinement portion having a first portion structured to be attached to the base portion so as to be non-moving with respect to the base portion during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion, and a second portion coupled to the first portion so as to be movable with respect to the first portion, the first portion defining a cavity structured to receive at least part of the second portion therein, the second portion being structured to enclose a portion of the hood cushion so as to limit or prevent radial expansion of the portion of the hood cushion during installation of the hood cushion into the component of the vehicle, the second portion including an end of the hood cushion confinement portion structured to contact the component of the vehicle during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle, so as to enclose a portion of the hood cushion extending into a mounting hole.

2. The rotary tool accessory of claim 1 further comprising at least one engagement portion supported by the base portion and structured to engage a complementary engagement portion of the hood cushion to enable rotation of the hood cushion by rotating the base portion.

3. The rotary tool accessory of claim 2 further comprising a trunk portion extending from the base portion, and wherein the at least one engagement portion is a projection extending from the trunk portion and structured to be received in a complementary cavity formed in the hood cushion.

4. The rotary tool accessory of claim 3 wherein the trunk portion is structured to extend into a central opening formed in the hood cushion during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle.

5. The rotary tool accessory of claim 3 comprising a first projection extending from the trunk portion, and a second projection extending the trunk portion opposite the first projection, each of the first projection and the second projection being structured to be received in an associated complementary cavity formed in the hood cushion.

6. The rotary tool accessory of claim 2 wherein the base portion, the at least one engagement portion, the hood cushion confinement portion and the hood cushion are structured, and the hood cushion confinement portion is attached to the base portion, such that all contact between the at least one engagement portion and the hood cushion occurs within the hood cushion confinement portion second portion cavity during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle.

7. The rotary tool accessory of claim 2 wherein the hood cushion confinement portion first portion is structured and attachable to the base portion so as to maintain a constant minimum spacing between the at least one engagement portion and an opening of the hood cushion confinement portion first portion structured to receive the hood cushion confinement portion second portion into the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle.

8. The rotary tool accessory of claim 7 wherein the base portion includes a bearing surface structured to contact the hood cushion so as to enable application of the insertion force through the bearing surface to the hood cushion during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the vehicle component, and wherein the bearing surface, the hood cushion confinement portion, and the hood cushion are structured such that the bearing surface resides within the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle.

9. The rotary tool accessory of claim 7 wherein the at least part of the hood cushion confinement portion second portion received in the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity has a first shoulder formed therealong, wherein the rotary tool accessory further comprises at least one retention member extending into the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity between the first shoulder and an opening leading into the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity, to couple the hood cushion confinement portion second portion to the hood cushion confinement portion first portion.

10. The rotary tool accessory of claim 9 wherein the hood cushion confinement portion second portion has a second shoulder formed therealong, and the hood cushion confinement portion first portion has an end positioned opposite the second shoulder and structured to abut the second shoulder when the hood cushion is completely installed in the component of the vehicle, to prevent further motion of the base portion attached to the hood cushion confinement portion first portion in a direction toward the component of the vehicle.

11. The rotary tool accessory of claim 7 wherein the hood cushion confinement portion first portion has a stop surface positioned within the hood cushion confinement portion first portion cavity, the stop surface being structured to abut the hood cushion confinement portion second portion when the hood cushion is completely installed in the component of the vehicle, to prevent further motion of the base portion attached to the hood cushion confinement portion first portion in a direction toward the component of the vehicle.

12. The rotary tool accessory of claim 7 wherein the hood cushion confinement portion first portion has an end structured to reside opposite the component of the vehicle during operation of the rotary tool accessory to install the hood cushion in the component of the vehicle, and wherein the hood cushion confinement portion first portion end is structured to abut the component of the vehicle when the hood cushion is completely installed in the component of the vehicle, to prevent further motion of the base portion attached to the hood cushion confinement portion first portion in a direction toward the component of the vehicle.

13. The rotary tool accessory of claim 2 wherein the second portion includes a shoulder, and wherein the first portion and the second portion shoulder are structured so that the first portion abuts the second portion shoulder when the hood cushion extends the predetermined distance past the surface of the component of the vehicle in a direction toward the base portion, so as to stop further movement of the base portion in the direction toward the component of the vehicle.

14. The rotary tool accessory of claim 13 wherein the second portion shoulder is structured so that contact between the first portion and the second portion shoulder prevents contact of the first portion with the component of the vehicle.

15. The rotary tool accessory of claim 1 wherein the hood cushion confinement portion second portion is structured to receive therein at least a portion of a hood cushion having a circular cylindrical undeformed shape with a central axis, and wherein the hood cushion confinement portion second portion has at least one wall defining a hood cushion confine

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Presley Paul E
• Hodel Bryan

Classifications

• B25B27/0035 Primary

  for motor-vehicles (wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003) · CPC title

• B25B23/101

  for hand-driven screw-drivers (B25B23/105 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25B13/5091

  for operating on wing nuts, hooks, eye hooks or the like · CPC title

• B23B45/003 Primary

  Attachments · CPC title