Check For Use On Bladed Machines

Abstract

A tool to be used when tightening or loosening a bolt that secures a blade, a lawnmower blade for example, to a machine. The tool checks the movement of the blade that occurs when the bolt is being loosened or tightened.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating a lawnmower blade, the apparatus comprising: a check; the check having a bar; a plurality of stops; the plurality of stops being oblong; the plurality of stops being oriented with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bar; first ends of the plurality of stops being attached to the bar; the plurality of stops extending away from the bar in substantially the same direction; the plurality of stops having an end that is distal to the bar; a plurality of rests; the plurality of rests having a resting surface; the plurality of rests being attached to the stops at the end that is distal to the bar; a plane of the resting surface being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar.

2. The check of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rests are covered in a protective material.

3. The check of claim 1 further comprising: a cavity formed between the bar and the plurality of rests; the cavity having a width that is several times the thickness of a lawnmower blade.

4. The check of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising: a grip; the grip being fixedly attached to the bar.

5. The check of claim 1 wherein the twisted lawnmower blades are easily insertable into the cavity.

6. The check of claim 1 wherein the check is capable of providing increased leverage as it is moved away from the center of a workpiece the check is acting upon.

7. The check of claim 1 wherein the check can be used without causing damage to a lawnmower blade on which the check is working.

8. The check of claim 1 wherein the check can be attached to a common hand tool.

9. The check of claim 1 wherein the check can safely hang from a lawnmower blade by placing the resting surfaces against the lawnmower blade which frees an operator's hands during use of the check.

10. The check of claim 1 wherein the check can be used for both tightening or loosening a lawnmower blade.

11. The check of claim 1 wherein the check is made from metal.

12. The check of claim 1 wherein the check is manufactured by a roll molding process.

13. The check of claim 1 wherein the check is capable of withstanding extreme torques.

14. The check of claim 1 wherein the check is intended to be used on a lawnmower blade to grasp the blade and hold the blade in place while rotating the center nut that fastens the blade to a lawnmower engine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing where:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the check according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the check according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the check according to the present invention being used on a lawnmower blade.

DESCRIPTION

Overview.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the check 1 according to the present invention comprises a pair of rests 2, a grasp 3, a bar 4, a pair of stops 7 covered with a protective material, in this case plastic sleeves 5. The rests 2 being each connected to a separate stop 7. The stops 7 being covered by the protective material 5. The grasp 3 being integrally connected to the bar 4. At each end of the bar 4 is connected a stop 7. There being a cavity 6 between the bar 4 and the rests 2 sufficient to allow fitting a workpiece, such as a lawnmower blade. The check 1 being made from a durable material, found to be best is metal.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, another embodiment of the check according to the present invention comprises a grasp 20 that accommodates a ratchet shaft (not shown). A pair of protected stops 24 are attached to each end of a bar 21. Each of the stops has a resting surface 23 that is part of a rest 25. The rests 25 being attached to the stop 24 at the end opposite where the stop 24 connects to the bar 21. The cavity 22 between stops 24 and the bar 21 allows for placement of a lawnmower blade of any size commonly used.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, another embodiment of the check according to the present invention being used on a lawnmower blade comprises a person 30. The person 30 having a first ratchet wrench 32 in one hand. That first ratchet wrench 32 is removably attached to the check at the grasp 35. The check 33 is hanging on a lawnmower blade 34 which is attached to a lawnmower 31 via a bolt 37. The blade 34 moves when the person 30 twists the bolt 37 to remove the blade 34 from the mower 31. The blade 34 is checked in its movement when it contacts the check 33 at the stops 36 and the person 30, by using the wrench 38, causes the check 33 at its stops 36 to exert force against the blade and prevent further movement of the blade 34 thus allowing the person 30 to remove the bolt 37.

[0023] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with the reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, there could exist stops that are attached at points other than the ends of the bar, the stops could be symmetrically shaped instead of oblong, or the check could be made of a durable plastic material. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

[0024] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function, or step for performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112, 6.