IP Library Granted Patent US 7,658,132
Granted Patent B2
US 7,658,132 · App. 10/800,843 · Granted Feb 9, 2010

Geared serpentine belt tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,658,132
App. No.
10/800,843
Granted
Feb 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tool for removing and installing serpentine belts in vehicles has a drive bar, a double box end wrench and a socket. The drive bar has a handle at a first end and a fitting at an opposite second end that is used to connect to the double box end wrench. The double box end wrench has a first end defining a polygonally shaped opening and an opposite second end that defines a ratcheting wrench having a first plurality of teeth on an inner circumference thereof. The socket defines a second plurality of teeth on an outer circumference thereof that are adapted to be received by the ratcheting wrench first plurality of teeth. The socket also defines one of a polygonally shaped opening and a polygonally shaped tang that is received by a work piece of an vehicle idler pulley.

Claims (48)

1. A serpentine belt tool for removal and installation of a serpentine belt in a vehicle comprising:

a. a drive bar having a handle at a first end and a fitting at an opposite second end, wherein said fitting is disposed at a fixed angle relative to said drive bar;

b. a double box end wrench having

a first end defining a polygonally shaped opening that is sized and shaped to receive said drive bar fitting, and

an opposite second end defining a ratcheting wrench having a first plurality of teeth on an inner circumference thereof; and

c. a socket having

a first end defining a second plurality of teeth on an outer circumference thereof, said socket second plurality of teeth being adapted to be received by said ratcheting wrench first plurality of teeth, and

an opposite second end defining one of a polygonally shaped opening and a polygonally shaped tang adapted to be received by a work piece of a vehicle idler pulley,

wherein said drive bar handle is moveable between

a first direction that applies torque to the idler pulley work piece, and

a second direction that causes said drive bar handle to move relative to said socket.

2. The serpentine belt tool of claim 1 , further comprising a crow foot wrench having a first end defining one of a polygonally shaped opening and a polygonally shaped tang therein that receives said one of said socket second end polygonally shaped tang and said polygonally shaped opening, and a second end having an open end wrench formed thereon to receive the idler pulley work piece.

3. The serpentine belt tool of claim 1 , further comprising a blow molded case defining a plurality of recessed areas for receiving said drive bar, said double box end wrench and said socket of said serpentine belt tool.

4. A serpentine belt tool for removal and installation of a serpentine belt in a vehicle comprising:

a. a drive bar having a fitting disposed thereon at a fixed angle relative to said drive bar;

b. a socket adapted to be removably coupled to an idler pulley work piece; and

c. a double box end wrench having at least one ratcheting end, said double box end wrench being adapted to be removably attached to said drive bar and said socket,

wherein said drive bar handle is moveable between

a first direction that operates on the idler pulley work piece, and

a second direction that causes said drive bar handle to move relative to said socket.

5. The serpentine belt tool of claim 4 , said socket further comprising one of a polygonally shaped opening and a polygonally shaped drive tang.

6. The serpentine belt tool of claim 5 , further comprising a crow foot wrench defining one of a polygonally shaped opening and a polygonally shaped tang therein that receives said one of said socket second end polygonally shaped tang and said polygonally shaped opening, and an open end wrench to receive the idler pulley work piece.

7. The serpentine belt tool of claim 4 , said double box end wrench defining a polygonally shaped box at a first end opposite said ratcheting wrench.

8. The serpentine belt tool of claim 7 , wherein said polygonally shaped box end couples to said drive bar and said ratcheting wrench releasably receives said socket.

9. A serpentine belt tool for removal and installation of a serpentine belt in a vehicle comprising:

a. a drive bar having a handle at a first end and a fitting at an opposite second end, wherein said fitting is disposed at a fixed angle relative to said drive bar;

b. a wrench having

a first end defining a hex shaped opening that is sized to releasably receive said drive bar fitting, and

an opposite second end defining a ratcheting wrench having a first plurality of teeth on an inner circumference thereof; and

c. a socket having

a first end defining a second plurality of teeth on an outer circumference thereof, said socket second plurality of teeth being adapted to be releasably received by said ratcheting wrench first plurality of teeth, and

an opposite second end defining one of a hexagonally shaped opening and a square shaped tang adapted to be received by a work piece of a vehicle idler pulley,

wherein said drive bar handle is moveable between

a first direction that applies torque to the idler pulley work piece, and

a second direction that causes said drive bar handle to move relative to said socket.

10. The serpentine belt tool of claim 9 , further comprising a crow foot wrench having a first end defining one of a square shaped opening and a hexagonally shaped tang and a second end having an open end wrench formed thereon to receive the idler pulley work piece.

11. The serpentine belt tool of claim 9 , further comprising a blow molded case defining a plurality of recessed areas for receiving said drive bar, said double box end wrench and said socket of said serpentine belt tool.

12. A serpentine belt tool for removal and installation of a serpentine belt in a vehicle comprising:

a. a drive bar having a fitting disposed thereon at a fixed angle relative to said drive bar;

b. a socket adapted to be removably coupled to an idler pulley work piece; and

c. a wrench having at least one ratcheting end, said wrench being adapted to be removably attached to said drive bar and said socket,

wherein said drive bar handle is moveable between

a first direction that operates on the idler pulley work piece, and

a second direction that causes said drive bar handle to move relative to said socket.

13. The serpentine belt tool of claim 12 , said socket further comprising one of a hexagonally shaped opening and a square shaped drive tang.

14. The serpentine belt tool of claim 13 , further comprising a crow foot wrench defining one of a square shaped opening and a hexagonally shaped tang and an open end wrench to receive the idler pulley work piece.

15. The serpentine belt tool of claim 12 , said wrench defining a hexagonally shaped box at a first end opposite said ratcheting wrench.

16. The serpentine belt tool of claim 15 , wherein said hexagonally shaped box end couples to said drive bar and said ratcheting wrench releasably receives said socket.

Assignments (18)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075612/0935 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0150 →
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 11203070 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 58991 FRAME 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0327 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073077/0584 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068769/0309 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068753/0687 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0556 →
SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: EASCO HAND TOOLS, INC.
To: COOPER BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032740/0204 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 23, 2014
From: COOPER BRANDS, INC.
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032744/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2005
From: HAND TOOL DESIGN CORPORATION
To: EASCO HAND TOOLS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016476/0446 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2004
From: STEINWEG, PAUL S.; TAGGART, SR. KENNETH J.
To: HAND TOOL DESIGN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015107/0112 →