Wheel mounted tool support mechanism

Claim 1

A wheel mounted tool supporting mechanism for supporting a tool on the rim of a wheel in a plane parallel to the plane of the rim comprising, means defining a radial tool supporting arm having a longitudinal axis, means connecting a tool to said arm, a crossbar rigidly secured to one end of said tool supporting arm, a first pair of fingers rigidly secured to the crossbar at points spaced equal distances from said longitudinal axis, a clAmping device slidably mounted on said arm near its other end for accommodating wheels of different diameters, a pivotal crossbar pivotally connected to said clamping device for movement about a pivot axis, a second pair of fingers secured to the pivotal crossbar at points spaced on opposite sides of said axis, said first and second fingers all being normal to a reference plane containing the axis of said radial tool supporting arm and having a rim engaging surface disposed the same distance from said reference plane, a rim engaging tool on the free end of each finger, and means for locking said clamping device on said arm with said pivot axis in a position which causes said teeth to firmly engage the rim of a wheel thereby clamping the rim mounted tool supporting mechanism to the wheel with said reference plane being parallel to the plane of the wheel rim.

Claim 5

A method of firmly attaching to the rim of a wheel, a wheel mounted tool supported mechanism which includes four elongated parallel fingers each having a gauging surface and a rim gripping tooth on one end, two of said fingers being transversely spaced from the longitudinal axis of and being rigid with one end of a radial tool supporting arm, and the two other fingers being transversely spaced and pivotally connected to a clamping device for pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to said fingers, said clamping device being movably mounted on said arm and adapted to be locked in adjusted position; the method including the steps of placing the supporting mechanism on the rim with three of the teeth engaging the inner surface of the rim so that the gauging surface of the associated fingers contact the edge of the rim and with the fourth tooth and finger disposed radially outward of the rim, locking the pivot axis of said fourth finger in a fixed position relative to said radial arm, and applying an inward force against said fourth finger for forcing said fourth finger to pivot about said pivot axis moving said fourth tooth into engagement with the inner surface of said rim with the gauging surface on the fourth finger engaging the edge of the rim thereby stressing and firmly attaching the tool supporting mechanism to the rim of the wheel.

Claim 6

A method of firmly attaching to the rim of a wheel, a wheel mounted tool supported mechanism which includes four elongated parallel fingers each having a gauging surface and a rim gripping tooth on one end, two of said fingers being transversely spaced from the longitudinal axis of and being rigid with one end of a radial tool supporting arm, and the two other fingers being transversely spaced and pivotally connected to a clamping device for pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to said fingers, said clamping device being movably mounted on said arm and adapted to be locked in adjusted position; the method including the steps of placing the supporting mechanism on the rim with three of the teeth engaging the inner surface of the rim so that the gauging surface of the associated fingers contact the edge of the rim and with the fourth tooth and finger disposed radially outward of the rim, locking the pivot axis of said fourth finger in a fixed position relative to said radial arm, and applying an inward force against said fourth finger for forcing said fourth finger to pivot about said pivot axis moving said fourth tooth into engagement with the inner surface of said rim with the gauging surface on the fourth finger engaging the edge of the rim thereby stressing and firmly attaching the tool supporting mechanism to the rim of the wheel.