Double-nut tool and method of setting the toe angle of a vehicle wheel

Claim 1

A method of operating on a single side of a rotatable fastener assembly to produce and secure a change of displacement of a structure associated therewith, said method comprising: providing a fastener assembly having a fastener body with a double-nut arrangement near one end and a head attached to the other end, wherein both an inner nut of said double-nut arrangement and said head possess an eccentric flange, said inner nut adapted so that rotation thereof causes a corresponding rotation of said fastener body; inserting said fastener assembly into a first structure that is displaceably connected to a second structure, such that said double-nut arrangement resides on one side of said first structure and said head resides on an opposite side of said first structure; providing at least one protrusion on said second structure for contacting at least one of said eccentric flanges when said fastener assembly is rotated; providing a device for operating on said double-nut arrangement, said device having a first component with an adjusting socket at a first end for releasably engaging said inner nut, and a handle at a second end for manipulating said first component, said handle further having an aperture for receiving at least a portion of a second component into said first component; assembling a second component to said first component so that at least a portion of a securing socket located at a first end of said second component resides within said first component, a second end of said second component protruding through said aperture in said handle; attaching said second end of said second component to a torque exerting device; engaging said adjusting socket of said first component with said inner nut; using said first component to rotate said inner nut and said fastener body, and to maintain the rotated position thereof while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; engaging said securing socket with an outer nut of said double-nut arrangement; and using said torque exerting device and said second component to secure said rotated position of said inner nut and said fastener body by tightening said outer nut while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; whereby at least one of said eccentric flanges acts on said at least one protrusion during rotation of said inner nut, thereby causing a change of displacement of said first structure with respect to said second structure that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fastener body.

Claim 2

A method of operating on a single side of a rotatable fastener assembly to produce and secure a change of displacement of a structure associated therewith, said method comprising: providing a fastener assembly having a fastener body with a double-nut arrangement near one end and a head attached to the other end, wherein both an inner nut of said double-nut arrangement and said head possess an eccentric flange, said inner nut adapted so that rotation thereof causes a corresponding rotation of said fastener body; inserting said fastener assembly into a first structure that is displaceably connected to a second structure, such that said double-nut arrangement resides on one side of said first structure and said head resides on an opposite side of said first structure; providing at least one protrusion on said second structure for contacting at least one of said eccentric flanges when said fastener assembly is rotated; providing a device for operating on said double-nut arrangement, said device having a first component with an adjusting socket at a first end for releasably engaging said inner nut, and a handle at a second end for manipulating said first component, said handle further having an aperture for receiving at least a portion of a second component into said first component; assembling a second component to said first component so that at least a portion of a securing socket located at a first end of said second component resides within said first component, a second end of said second component protruding through said aperture in said handle; attaching said second end of said second component to a torque exerting device; engaging said adjusting socket of said first component with said inner nut; using said first component to rotate said inner nut and said fastener body, and to maintain the rotated position thereof while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; engaging said securing socket with an outer nut of said double-nut arrangement; and using said torque exerting device and said second component to secure said rotated position of said inner nut and said fastener body by tightening said outer nut while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; whereby at least one of said eccentric flanges acts on said at least one protrusion during rotation of said inner nut, thereby causing a change of displacement of said first structure with respect to said second structure that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fastener body.

Claim 8

A method of adjusting the toe angle of a vehicle wheel from a single side, said method comprising: providing a fastener assembly having a fastener body and a double-nut arrangement, wherein an inner nut of said arrangement and a head attached to said fastener body possess an eccentric flange; providing a device for operating on each nut of said double-nut arrangement, said device having a first component adapted to receive at least a portion of a second component, said first component having an adjusting socket at a first end for releasably engaging said inner nut and a handle at an opposite end, said second component having a securing socket at a first end for releasably engaging said outer nut and a coupling device at a second end for coupling said second component to a torque exerting device; inserting said fastener assembly into a structure connecting said vehicle wheel to the vehicle's suspension; providing a guide on said structure for contacting at least one of said eccentric flanges when said fastener assembly is rotated; assembling said second component to said first component so that at least a portion of said securing socket resides within said first component while said second end of said second component protrudes through an aperture in said handle of said first component; coupling said second end of said second component to a torque exerting device; engaging said adjusting socket with said inner nut; using said first component to rotate said inner nut and said fastener body, and to maintain the rotated position thereof while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; engaging said securing socket with said outer nut; and using said torque exerting device and said second component to secure said rotated position of said inner nut and said fastener body by tightening said outer nut while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; whereby at least one of said flanges acts on said guide during rotation of said inner nut, thereby causing a displacement of said structure and an adjustment of said wheel toe angle.

Claim 9

A method of adjusting the toe angle of a vehicle wheel from a single side, said method comprising: providing a fastener assembly having a fastener body and a double-nut arrangement, wherein an inner nut of said arrangement and a head attached to said fastener body possess an eccentric flange; providing a device for operating on each nut of said double-nut arrangement, said device having a first component adapted to receive at least a portion of a second component, said first component having an adjusting socket at a first end for releasably engaging said inner nut and a handle at an opposite end, said second component having a securing socket at a first end for releasably engaging said outer nut and a coupling device at a second end for coupling said second component to a torque exerting device; inserting said fastener assembly into a structure connecting said vehicle wheel to the vehicle's suspension; providing a guide on said structure for contacting at least one of said eccentric flanges when said fastener assembly is rotated; assembling said second component to said first component so that at least a portion of said securing socket resides within said first component while said second end of said second component protrudes through an aperture in said handle of said first component; coupling said second end of said second component to a torque exerting device; engaging said adjusting socket with said inner nut; using said first component to rotate said inner nut and said fastener body, and to maintain the rotated position thereof while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; engaging said securing socket with said outer nut; and using said torque exerting device and said second component to secure said rotated position of said inner nut and said fastener body by tightening said outer nut while at least a portion of said second component resides within said first component; whereby at least one of said flanges acts on said guide during rotation of said inner nut, thereby causing a displacement of said structure and an adjustment of said wheel toe angle.