Wheel lock key assembly and wheel lock key retention mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10899175-B2
Application number	US-201816183225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A wheel lock key assembly includes a wheel lock key portion configured to engage with keyslot features on a wheel lock. A driving tool coupling portion is connected to the wheel lock key portion and includes a surface structured to be rotationally coupled to a driving tool so as to enable rotation of the wheel lock key portion by the driving tool by a force acting on the surface. The surface extends along a plane extending parallel to the wheel lock key portion rotational axis. A retaining member is deformable to vary a radial distance the exterior surface extends from the rotational axis. A retaining member deformation mechanism is actuatable to deform the retaining member to vary the radial distance, such that the exterior surface extends at least a predetermined distance past the plane prior to rotational coupling of the wheel lock key assembly to the driving tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel lock key assembly comprising:
a wheel lock key portion including one or more keying features configured to engage with complementary keyslot features on a wheel lock to enable rotation of the wheel lock by the wheel lock key portion, the wheel lock key portion having a rotational axis;
a driving tool coupling portion connected to the wheel lock key portion, the driving tool coupling portion including at least one surface structured to be rotationally coupled to a driving tool so as to enable rotation of the wheel lock key portion by the driving tool by a force acting on the at least one surface, the at least one surface extending along a plane extending parallel to the wheel lock key portion rotational axis;
a retaining member coupled to the wheel lock key portion and having an exterior surface, the retaining member being deformable to vary a radial distance the exterior surface extends from the wheel lock key portion rotational axis; and
a retaining member deformation mechanism actuatable to deform the retaining member to vary the radial distance the exterior surface extends from the wheel lock key portion rotational axis, such that the exterior surface extends at least a predetermined distance past the plane prior to rotational coupling of the wheel lock key assembly to the driving tool.

2. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is structured to be resiliently deformable.

3. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member includes a hole extending therethrough along the wheel lock key portion rotational axis, wherein the retaining member deformation mechanism comprises:
a threaded hole formed in the driving tool coupling portion, and
a bolt threadedly engagable with threads in the threaded hole, such that rotation of the bolt causes a head of the bolt to press against a portion of the retaining member, thereby deforming the retaining member to vary the radial distance.

4. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 3 , wherein the head of the bolt exerts a compression force on a portion of the exterior surface of the retaining member adjacent an opening of the retaining member hole to deform the retaining member to vary the radial distance.

5. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retaining member deformation mechanism further comprises a washer positioned between the head of the bolt and the portion of the exterior surface of the retaining member adjacent the opening of the retaining member hole.

6. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 3 , wherein the retaining member hole has one or more walls tapering from an opening of the retaining member adjacent the head of the bolt in a direction toward the wheel lock key portion rotational axis,
wherein the opening of the retaining member hole adjacent the head of the bolt is structured to receive at least a portion of the head of the bolt therein without deforming the retaining member,
wherein the deformation mechanism is structured so that rotation of the bolt moves the head of the bolt toward the wheel lock key portion,
and wherein the retaining member deformation mechanism is structured so that the head of the bolt contacts the one or more tapering walls of the retaining member as the head of the bolt moves toward the wheel lock key portion, causing a portion of the retaining member in contact with the head of the bolt to deform in a direction away from the wheel lock key portion rotational axis.

7. A wheel lock key assembly comprising:
a wheel lock key including one or more keying features configured to engage with complementary features on a wheel lock to enable rotation of the wheel lock by the wheel lock key, the wheel lock key having a rotational axis;
a retaining member coupled to the wheel lock key and having an exterior surface, the retaining member being deformable to vary a radial distance the exterior surface extends from the wheel lock key rotational axis; and
a retaining member deformation mechanism actuatable to deform the retaining member to adjust the radial distance the retaining member exterior surface extends from the wheel lock key rotational axis prior to rotational coupling of the wheel lock key assembly to a rotational coupling interface configured to rotationally couple the wheel lock key assembly to a driving tool, so that the retaining member exterior surface forms an interference fit with a rotational coupling interface when the wheel lock key assembly is rotationally coupled to the driving tool.

8. The wheel lock key assembly of claim 7 , wherein the retaining member deformation mechanism comprises a bolt attaching the retaining member to the wheel lock key, and wherein the bolt is configured to deform the retaining member to adjust the radial distance when the bolt is actuated so as to move a head of the bolt in a direction toward the wheel lock key.

9. A method of retaining rotational coupling between a wheel lock key assembly and a driving tool, the wheel lock key assembly having a driving tool coupling portion structured to be received in a socket attachable to the driving tool, the driving tool coupling portion being structured to be engageble by the socket to rotate a wheel lock key of the wheel lock key assembly, the wheel lock key having a rotational axis, the method comprising steps of:
securing a deformable retaining member to a portion of the wheel lock key structured to be received in the socket; and
deforming the retaining member so as to displace a portion of the retaining member in a direction away from the wheel lock key rotational axis, such that an interference fit is formed between the retaining member and the socket when the retaining member and the driving tool coupling portion are received in the socket.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Williams Dale R
• Cormier Matt R
• Lavallee Philip A

Classifications

• B60B29/003 Primary

  Wrenches, e.g. of the ratchet type (B60B29/001 takes precedence; wrenches per se B25B13/00) · CPC title

• F16B2/04

  internal, i.e. with spreading action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B41/005

  Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins (F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005) · CPC title

• B23P2700/50

  Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines · CPC title

• B60B3/165

  with locking devices for the fixing means, e.g. screw or nut covers · CPC title