Swiveling tool for roof carrier cross bar installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017036331-A1
Application number	US-201615158724-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 19, 2016
Priority date	Aug 6, 2015
Publication date	Feb 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A product may include a first section that may be disposed around an axis. A second section may be connected to the first section to pivot relative to the first section between a first operative position and a second operative position. In the first operative position, the first section may be aligned with the second section along the axis. In the second operative position, the first section may form a crank to rotate the second section. A graduated piece may be fixed to the first section and an indicator piece may be fixed to the product to indicate torque relative to the graduated piece.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A product comprising a first section that is disposed around an axis, a second section connected to the first section to pivot relative to the first section between a first operative position and a second operative position, in the first operative position the first section aligned with the second section along the axis and in the second operative position the first section forming a crank to rotate the second section, with a graduated piece fixed to the first section and an indicator piece fixed to the product to indicate torque relative to the graduated piece.

2 . The product according to claim 1 wherein the second section is perpendicular to the first section in the second operative position.

3 . The product according to claim 1 further comprising a pin connecting the first and second sections, and the pin is also connected to the indicator piece.

4 . The product according to claim 1 wherein when in the second operative position, the second section extends from a side of the first section and wherein the graduated piece includes at least one gradation mark facing away from the side.

5 . The product according to claim 1 wherein one of the first or second sections defines a slot and the other of the first or second sections has a segment with a reduced cross section that is positioned in the slot.

6 . The product according to claim 5 further comprising a pin extending through the reduced cross section fixing the first and second sections together.

7 . The product according to claim 6 wherein the pin extends through the indicator piece.

8 . The product according to claim 7 wherein the indicator piece has a clip that secures the indicator piece to the second section.

9 . The product according to claim 1 wherein the first section has a cross section that is hexagonal and the second section has a tool tip that is hexalobular shaped.

10 . A swiveling torque wrench comprising a first section, a second section that has a tool tip, a joint connecting the second section with the first section to pivot between a first operative position where the first section is substantially aligned with the second section, and a second operative position where the first section forms a crank to rotate the second section, with a graduated piece fixed to the first section and an indicator piece fixed to the second section, the indicator piece has a head extending over the joint and a pointer extending over the graduated piece.

11 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein the head defines an opening where the first section extends through the opening when in the second operative position and engages the head as a driver stop.

12 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 11 wherein the second section extends through the opening when in the second operative position and engages the head as a torque wrench stop opposite the driver stop.

13 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 further comprising a pin extending through the first and second sections and the head.

14 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein the joint comprises a slot defined by one of the first or second sections and a mating blade on the other of the first or second sections.

15 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein when in the second operative position, the second section extends from a side of the first section and wherein the graduated piece includes at least one gradation mark facing away from the side.

16 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein the head has a pair of legs substantially perpendicular to the indicator piece, the legs have a pair of terminal ends, and further comprising a driver stop connecting the pair of terminal ends and the second section positioned against the driver stop when the second section is in the first operative position.

17 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 16 wherein the pair of legs each has a base and further comprising a torque wrench stop extending across the bases and the second section positioned against the torque wrench stop when the second section is in the second operative position.

18 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein the graduated piece has a clip secured on the first section.

19 . The swiveling torque wrench according to claim 10 wherein the first and second sections have a hexagonal cross section and the tool tip is hexaiobular shaped.

20 . A method of applying a fastener to attach a cross bar to a side rail comprising:
a. providing a swiveling torque wrench comprising a first section, a second section that has a tool tip, with a first operative position where the first section is substantially aligned with the second section, and a second operative position where the first section forms a crank to rotate the second section, with a graduated piece fixed to the first section and having a full torque gradation, and an indicator piece fixed to the second section; b. positioning the swiveling torque wrench in the first operative position; c. engaging the tool tip with the fastener when the swiveling torque wrench s in the first operative position; d. rotating the swiveling torque wrench when in the first operative position driving the fastener to connect the cross bar to the side rail; e. repositioning the swiveling torque wrench to the second operative position, f. torqueing the fastener with the swiveling torque wrench while in the second operative position by cranking the second section with the first section; g. reading the indicator piece relative to the graduated piece; and h. disengaging the swiveling torque wrench from the fastener when the indicator piece aligns with the full torque gradation on the graduated piece.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Martinez Carlos A
• George Christopher

Classifications

• B25B23/0042

  Connection means between screwdriver handle and screwdriver shaft · CPC title

• B25G1/007

  of crank type · CPC title

• B25B27/0035 Primary

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

• B25B23/1427 Primary

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B25B15/008

  Allen-type keys · CPC title