US3736816A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive wheel suspension ball joint tongs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-24
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The upper end of a wheel mount spanning bar has a pointed hook engageable with the upper control arm of a wheel suspension adjacent to the upper ball joint. A slide which can be latched in various positions along the spanning bar carries a pivoted angle having a threaded aperture in its swinging end to receive a screw having a pointed end engageable with the lower control arm of the wheel suspension adjacent to the lower ball joint. Pivoted cam lugs bearing on the slide can swing the angle relative to the slide for moving the screw toward the spanning bar hook to relieve the load from the ball joints and check their backlash. The degree of angle to slide movement is indicated by a scale.
Inventors
- 👤 L Mcafee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G7/00; B60G7/005; B25; B25B; B25B27/00; B25B27/0035; B60G2206/00; B60G2206/01; B60G2206/90; B60G2206/92; B60G2206/93; B60G2206/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
In tongs, spanning means for applying to the upper and lower control arms of a wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each other, including an upright bar, primary adjustable means adjustable along the upright bar to vary the effective length of the spanning means, holding means for securing the primary adjustable means in a selected adjusted position along the upright bar, and secondary adjustable means carried by the primary adjustable means and adjustable to vary further the effective length of the spanning means, the improvement comprising the primary adjustable means having an arm projecting transversely of the upright bar separate from and independent of both the secondary adjustable means and the holding means, and moving means separate from and independent of the holding means, reacting between said arm and the secondary adjustable means for effecting relative movement of the primary adjustable means and of the secondary adjustable means to relieve stress on the joints of the automobile wheel suspension while the holding means is securing the primary adjustable means in such a selected adjustable position relative to the upright bar and the secondary adjustable means maintains a preset adjustment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
In tongs, spanning means for applying to the upper and lower control arms of a wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each other, including an upright bar, primary adjustable means adjustable along the upright bar to vary the effective length of the spanning means, holding means for securing the primary adjustable means in a selected adjusted position along the upright bar, and secondary adjustable means carried by the primary adjustable means and adjustable to vary further the effective length of the spanning means, the improvement comprising the primary adjustable means having an arm projecting transversely of the upright bar separate from and independent of both the secondary adjustable means and the holding means, and moving means separate from and independent of the holding means, reacting between said arm and the secondary adjustable means for effecting relative movement of the primary adjustable means and of the secondary adjustable means to relieve stress on the joints of the automobile wheel suspension while the holding means is securing the primary adjustable means in such a selected adjustable position relative to the upright bar and the secondary adjustable means maintains a preset adjustment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the tongs defined in claim 1, in which the spanning means upright bar having a hook on its upper portion with only a single point said point of the hook being engageable with the upper control arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
Tongs for relieving stress on automobile wheel suspension joints comprising upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension and supported from the upper control arm of the wheel suspension, a knee including an upright portion and a generally horizontal portion projecting laterally from the lower part of said upright portion, pivot means connecting the upper part of said upright portion of said knee to said spanning means, screw means carried by the part of said generally horizontal portion of said knee remote from said upright portion and operable to engage the lower control arm of the wheel suspension generally on a level with said pivot means, means for effecting swinging of said knee about said pivot means relative to said upright spanning means for effecting approach movement of the upper and lower control arms, and means for indicating the degree of generally horizontal swinging of the lower part of said upright portion of said knee to reflect the amount of elevational displacement of the portion of the wheel suspension lower control arm engaged by said screw means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
Tongs for relieving stress on automobile wheel suspension joints comprising upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension and supported from the upper control arm of the wheel suspension, a knee including an upright portion and a generally horizontal portion projecting laterally from the lower part of said upright portion, pivot means connecting the upper part of said upright portion of said knee to said spanning means, screw means carried by the part of said generally horizontal portion of said knee remote from said upright portion and operable to engage the lower control arm of the wheel suspension generally on a level with said pivot means, means for effecting swinging of said knee about said pivot means relative to said upright spanning means for effecting approach movement of the upper and lower control arms, and means for indicating the degree of generally horizontal swinging of the lower part of said upright portion of said knee to reflect the amount of elevational displacement of the portion of the wheel suspension lower control arm engaged by said screw means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
In tongs defined in claim 1, the moving means including cam means engageable between the arm and the secondary adjustable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In tongs defined in claim 4, the cam means including a swingable lug having an arcuate cam surface carried by the secondary adjustable means and engageable with the arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
In tongs defined in claim 1, indicating means cooperating between the primary adjustable means and the secondary adjustable means for indicating relative movement of the upper control arm and the lower control arm generally in proportion to the amount of movement of the moving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
In tongs for relieving stress on automobile wheel suspension joints including upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension for applying to the upper and lower control arms of the wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each otHer, a first part mounting an adjustable screw and a second part carried by the upright spanning means, movable relative to the upright spanning means to vary the effective span thereof and carrying the first part, the improvement comprising the first part including a knee having a leg at one side of the knee angle pivotally connected to the second part and a leg at the other side of the knee angle carrying the screw, and moving means for effecting relative movement of the first part and the second part while the second part remains stationary relative to the spanning means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
In tongs for relieving stress on automobile wheel suspension joints including upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension for applying to the upper and lower control arms of the wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each otHer, a first part mounting an adjustable screw and a second part carried by the upright spanning means, movable relative to the upright spanning means to vary the effective span thereof and carrying the first part, the improvement comprising the first part including a knee having a leg at one side of the knee angle pivotally connected to the second part and a leg at the other side of the knee angle carrying the screw, and moving means for effecting relative movement of the first part and the second part while the second part remains stationary relative to the spanning means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
In tongs defined in claim 7, the second part including a slide to which the knee is pivotally connected, and the upright spanning means including a spanning bar on which said slide is mounted for movement therealong.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
136 words
In tongs, upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension for applying to the upper and lower control arms of the wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each other, primary means adjustable to vary the effective length of the spanning means, and secondary means carried by the primary means and adjustable to vary further the effective length of the spanning means, the improvement comprising the secondary means including a knee having a leg at one side of the knee angle pivotally connected to the primary means and a leg at the other side of the knee angle carrying the secondary means, and moving means for effecting relative movement of the primary means and of the secondary means while each of the primary means and the secondary means maintains a preset adjustment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
In tongs, upright spanning means to extend alongside a wheel suspension for applying to the upper and lower control arms of the wheel suspension a force for moving such control arms toward each other, primary means adjustable to vary the effective length of the spanning means, and secondary means carried by the primary means and adjustable to vary further the effective length of the spanning means, the improvement comprising the secondary means including a knee having a leg at one side of the knee angle pivotally connected to the primary means and a leg at the other side of the knee angle carrying the secondary means, and moving means for effecting relative movement of the primary means and of the secondary means while each of the primary means and the secondary means maintains a preset adjustment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the tongs defined in claim 9, the primary means including a slide to which the knee is pivotally connected, and the upright spanning means including a spanning bar on which said slide is mounted for movement therealong.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |