GB2378160A

GB2378160A - Wheel brace support

Info

Publication number: GB2378160A
Application number: GB0118964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Martin Lambie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-02
Filing date: 2001-08-02
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-02
Also published as: GB2378160B; GB0118964D0

Abstract

A support (11,16) for a wheel brace (22), when using the wheel brace for loosening or tightening the hub nuts of a vehicle wheel (W), comprises an inclined, stepped formation (16) arranged such that, when the support is rested on the ground, the stepped formation provides a series of surfaces at stepped intervals, on which the wheel brace may be selectively supported. The stepped formation (16) is formed from strip and is supported on an inclined straight member (15) extending between two different length side members (11,13) of a frame. The support can be used upright, as shown, or lengthwise (Fig.5 not shown).

Description

WHEEL BRACE SUPPORT The present invention relates to a support for supporting a wheel brace when using the wheel brace to loosen or tighten the wheel hub nuts of a vehicle wheel, particularly a lorry or other large vehicle.

Supports for this purpose have been proposed hitherto but are variously of complicated construction, difficult to use, of limited effectiveness or lack sufficient stability.

I have now devised a wheel brace support which is of simple construction, easy and effective to use and which remains stable throughout its use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a wheel brace support which comprises an inclined, stepped formation such that, when the support is rested on the ground, the stepped formation provides a series of surfaces at stepped levels, on which the wheel brace may be selectively supported.

In use, the support is positioned on the ground so that an appropriately selected one of its support surfaces lies under the axial limb of the wheel brace, when the socket of that limb is engaged over the nut to be loosened or tightened.

Then in turning the wheel brace, by means of its radial limb, in order to loosen or tighten the wheel nut, the wheel brace is firmly supported by the selected support surface.

Preferably the support comprises a body portion having the inclined, stepped formation at one end thereof.

Preferably the body portion of the support comprises a rectangular frame having the inclined, stepped formation on the outside of one side member of the frame.

Preferably an adjacent side member of the frame extends beyond the one side member and the stepped formation extends between the one side member and the extension of the adjacent side member.

Preferably the stepped formation comprises a strip bent alternately at intervals, to form a succession of steps.

Preferably a straight strip or other member extends, in inclined manner, between the one side member and the extension of the adjacent side member, and the stepped formation is mounted on this inclined member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a wheel brace support in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an end view of the wheel brace support of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the wheel brace support of Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a view of the wheel brace support being used to support a wheel brace when loosening a hub nut of a vehicle wheel; and FIGURE 5 is a similar view of the wheel brace support being used, in an alternative orientation, to support the wheel brace when loosening another hub nut of the vehicle wheel.

Referring to the drawings, the wheel brace support comprises a rectangular frame 10 fabricated from four lengths of box-section metal tube 11, 12,13, 14 welded together. One of the longer side members 13 extends beyond one of the shorter side members 14, and a metal strip 15 is welded at its opposite ends to the longer side member 13, adjacent its outer end, and the shorter side member 14, adjacent its corner with the other longer side member 11. The metal strip 15 thus extends at a 450 inclination to the side members 13,14. Another metal strip 16 is bent to form a succession of steps, by being bent through 90 in alternate directions at equal intervals along its length, and is welded onto the inclined strip 15 and is further welded, at its opposite ends, to the respective side members 13,14. Alternate sections of the stepped strip 16 accordingly lie parallel to the longer sides 11,13 of the frame 10, whilst the intervening sections of the stepped strip

lie parallel to the shorter sides 12,14 of the frame 10.

In use, and referring to Figures 4 and 5, the support is stood on the ground alongside, but spaced from, the wheel W of the lorry or other vehicle. Figure 4 shows the support with its shorter side 12 rested on the ground, and the stepped formation of the support uppermost. Figure 5 shows the support with its longer side 13 rested on the ground, and the stepped formation of the support to one side.

The wheel brace 20 is positioned with its socket 21, at the end of one of its limbs, engaged over a hub nut to be loosened. The wheel brace support is positioned so that one of its steps lies under, and thereby supports, the axial limb of the wheel brace. In Figure 4, the nut to be loosened is towards the top of the wheel hub and requires the support to be stood upright: in Figure 5, the nut to be loosened is towards the bottom of the wheel hub and requires the support to be stood horizontally. Figures 4 and 5 show a tube 22 slipped over the radial limb of the wheel brace, to provide additional leverage: it will be appreciated that the support gives firm support under the axial limb of the wheel brace, as the wheel brace is turned to loosen the wheel nut; the same support is afforded the wheel brace when tightening the nut.

Claims

Claims 1) A wheel brace support which comprises an inclined, stepped formation such that, when the support is rested on the ground, said stepped formation provides a series of surfaces at stepped levels, on which a wheel brace may be selectively supported.
2) A support as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a body portion having said stepped formation at one end thereof.
3) A support as claimed in Claim 2, in which said body portion comprises a rectangular frame having said stepped formation on the outside of one side member thereof.
4) A support as claimed in Claim 3, in which an adjacent side member of said frame extends beyond said one side member and said stepped formation extends between said one side member and said extension of said adjacent side member.
5) A support as claimed in Claim 4, in which a straight member extends in inclined manner between said one side member and said extension of said adjacent side member, and said stepped formation is mounted on said straight member.
6) A support as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said stepped formation comprises a strip bent at intervals to form a succession of steps.
7) A wheel brace support substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.