Axle straightening press

Abstract

Wheels of model cars rotate upon axles. The axle straightening press has a female jaw and a male jaw each with a rectangular shape, a mating surface, and a transverse half channel. The dowels of the male jaw fit into holes in the female jaw upon a diagonal line on the mating surface. Alternatively, the press has two identical jaws, inverted, and closed upon each other. An alternate jaw has a generally rectangular shape with a mating surface, a dowel, a transverse half channel, and a hole. In both embodiments, a Cub Scout places an axle in the channel between the jaws and strikes the press with a hammer. Removing the axle from the press, the Cub Scout places a wheel on the axle, and installs the axle upon a model car.

1 . A press to straighten the entire length of solid axles of model cars by blows from a hand tool, comprising: 
 two jaws,    each jaw having a generally rectangular shape, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a mating surface, a centered half channel upon the lateral axis of said mating surface, the diameter of said half channel being less than one tenth of the thickness of said jaw, one dowel extending above and perpendicular to said mating surface on one side of said half channel, one hole extending perpendicular through said jaw and into said mating surface on the other side of said half channel from said dowel,    whereby, said dowel of one said jaw aligns with said hole of the other said jaw, said two jaws close together, and said half channels cooperate to confine an axle.    
   
   
       2 . The press of  claim 1  wherein said dowel has a generally cylindrical shape with a rounded end opposite said mating surface and said hole has a generally cylindrical shape to receive said dowel, said hole extending through said jaw, and said dowel and said hole of one said jaw have a symmetric arrangement along the longitudinal axis of said mating surface with said dowel and said hole equally spaced away from said half channel.  
   
   
       3 . A free standing tool to straighten the entire length of axles of model cars by blows from a hand tool, comprising: 
 two mutually cooperating jaws, 
 each of said jaws having a generally rectangular shape, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a mating surface, a centered half channel upon the lateral axis of said mating surface, the diameter of said half channel being less than the thickness of said jaw,  
 one dowel extending perpendicular from said mating surface centered on one side of said half channel and having a generally cylindrical shape with a rounded end opposite said mating surface, and,  
 one hole extending perpendicularly through said jaw and into said mating surface, and having a round shape and symmetric arrangement upon said mating surface with said dowel, and said hole being spaced away from said half channel opposite said dowel;  
   whereby, said dowel of one of said jaws aligns with said hole of the other said jaw, said two jaws close together, and said half channels cooperate to confine an axle.    
   
   
       4 . A method of straightening the entire length of a solid axle for a model car by a child and a sponsor through blows from a hand tool such as a hammer, the steps comprising: 
 1) assembling one jaw into the second jaw of a press;    2) inserting a dowel from one jaw into the corresponding hole of the other jaw and closing the jaws together;    3) placing said axle into the channel formed between said jaws of said press;    4) locating said press upon a solid surface and striking a jaw of said press repeatedly with a hammer;    5) partially rotating said axle at least twice and repeating placement and hammering of the press; and,    6) striking the head of said axle to square said head to said axle.