Necessity leads to Worland man inventing new wrench

WORLAND - The saying "necessity is the mother of invention" rang true for Worland plumber and construction worker Bart Hillman.

Frustrated with having to use several tools instead of one to tighten or loosen a beam clamp, Hillman invented a wrench that replaces two to three tools and allows him to use one. Hillman received his patent on the BCW - beam clamp wrench, or as he likes to call it Bart's Clever Wrench, in May, more than a year after the application was first submitted.

Hillman first enlisted the help of "George Foreman's InventHelp." According to an InventHelp press release, Hillman's wrench enables users to install and remove beam clamps and other multi-sized nuts and bolts easily with one triple-function tool. As such, it eliminated the need for multiple wrenches while working with beam clamps.

Hillman said that instead of having to haul multiple tools around, especially if they are working up on ladders, carrying a single tool is much handier. "The BCW replaced two to three wrenches," he said.

Without the new wrench, Hillman would still have to use crescent wrenches, which he says he does not like, or channel lock wrenches.

Hillman took a 7/16ths 12-point box end wrench with a 9/16ths open-end wrench. On the open-end wrench, he cut a three-eighths square-head notch. He enlisted the aid of friend and welder/artist Cal Fulfer to weld the two wrenches together and reinforce the neck.

The original design was submitted to the National Sales Office of InventHelp. Hillman said they were able to provide him a list of patent attorneys. The patent attorney he hired conducted research during the application process, finding several similar wrenches, but none exactly like his.

The application was submitted March 8, 2016, and the

patent issued May 16, 2017. The patent is good for 15 years.

"I've been thinking about this for years and three years ago I decided to start throwing money at it, noting he has already invested about $11,000 into the invention. He said each prototype, for which he has five, costs $20 each up front just for the two wrenches to combine.

Four of his prototypes are ½ and ¾ inch for the open-end and square-head notch, the most popular sizes needed for beam clamps. He has one that is a larger size.

"I decided it just had to be done. There wasn't anything on the market that would work," Hillman said. After he built his first prototype, he would have fellow employees ask to borrow his tool.

He has since taken a "sabbatical" from work as he works on marketing and manufacturing the BCW.

"I've been in touch with a lot of manufacturers and I've gotten a few rejections," Hillman said, adding that one manufacturer quoted a price of about $9 per wrench but Hillman would like to offer the wrench at between $5 to $6.

He said he also wants to make sure the wrench is manufactured in the United States.

Ultimately, he said he would like to sell the license to a tool company such as Craftsman or Rigid.