BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Musical instruments that are constructed from a relatively soft metal such as brass are particularly susceptible to denting when not handled carefully. Brass instruments such as tubas, sousaphones, and timpani tend to be very expensive, complex devices and denting frequently results in damage that diminishes the sound quality, appearance, and value of an instrument.

Currently known dent removal systems which are used for musical instruments such as tubas and sousaphones typically require (i) disassembling the instrument by means of torch-heating soldered joints; (ii) removing the damaged part of the instrument; and (iii) and pounding out the dent by utilizing an appropriate backing surface, usually a shaped piece of steel at the end of a rod, and various types of hammers. Processes of this nature are problematic because they are laborious and time-consuming. Heating the metal of a musical instrument to the temperature at which solder melts is also likely to damage the lacquered protective finish of the instrument. Furthermore, some musical instruments are plated with silver, and if melted solder runs out of a joint between sections of the instrument, the silver finish will be destroyed if the hot solder comes into contact with the finish.

Another problem associated with commonly used dent removal methods is the damage the hammering process can cause to the metal of the instrument. Repeated hammering of the metal actually thins the metal because as the hammer strikes the surface of the metal, the metal is compressed against the backing surface. The result is significantly weakened metal that is even more susceptible to dents, crack, or punctures.

The tubular portions of some musical instruments are formed from a single sheet of brass that is rolled and notched along the sides of the sheet that contact one another. These notches are then finger-lapped together and brazed to form a tube. Conventional dent repair hammering processes readily damage this type of running joint, making even more extensive repairs a distinct possibility.

Finally, the time required and expense involved with conventional dent repair methods creates additional problems for instrument owners. A tuba with dents covering the bottom branch and the next branch of the instrument can be out of service for more than a month and repairs may cost thousands of dollars per instrument. Thus, a high school band, orchestra, or professional symphony with multiple instruments in need of repair can quickly incur tens of thousands of dollars in expenses each time instrument repairs are undertaken.

Therefore, there is a need for a quick, effective, inexpensive, and non-damaging system for removing the dents from the metal of musical instruments and from other metals.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION These and other limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which provides a system for quickly and effectively removing dents from metal surfaces. A preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention includes both a device and a method for removing dents from metal, and metal tubing in particular. A preferred embodiment of this invention may be used with musical instruments such as tubas, sousaphone, and timpani, all of which are typically made from brass of varying degrees of thickness.

In the broadest sense, the device component of the present invention preferably includes at least one disc-shaped magnet having a handle detachably held to a one face of the disc by magnetic attraction, and a roller detachably held to the face of the disc opposite the handle by the magnetic forces of the magnet. Preferably, the device component of the present invention is used by a method which includes the steps of attaching the magnet to the handle, placing the roller inside the tubing of a dented instrument, placing the face of the disc opposite the handle against the exterior of the instrument, catching or acquiring the roller with the magnet such that the magnet and the roller form a magnetic assembly, wherein the roller is on the interior of the instrument and the magnet is on the exterior of the instrument,

and moving, sliding, or rocking the magnetic assembly across the dents until the dents are removed from the metal.

Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. la is a side view the magnetic assembly of the present invention.

FIG. lb is an exploded view of the magnetic assembly shown in FIG. la.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the magnetic assembly of FIG. la is used to remove dents from metal tubing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device and method for removing dents from metal.

While this device and method are useful for a variety of metals such as steel, aluminum, and tin, a preferred embodiment of this invention is particularly useful for removing dents from brass musical instruments. The present invention does not require disassembly of the instrument to be repaired and causes virtually no perceptible damage to the metal from which the dent is removed. As shown in FIGs. la and lb, a preferred embodiment of the device component of the present invention includes magnetic assembly 10 which further includes at least one disc-shaped magnet 12, protective cover 14, handle 16, handle grip 18, and roller 20.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. la, handle grip 18 has been placed around handle 16 to provide the user of the device with increased grip and control. Preferably, handle grip 18 is plastic, although rubber, leather, and other similar materials may be used for handle grip 18. In a preferred embodiment, handle 16 is about 4.5 inches (11.43 cm) in length, about 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter, is manufactured from cold-rolled, high carbon steel, and is cylindrical in shape to correspond to the shape of magnet 12. Presumably, handle 16 has the effect of focusing the pull of magnet 12 when handle 16 is attached to magnet 12. In a preferred embodiment, magnet 12 is removably attached to or held against handle 16 by the magnetic forces of magnet 12.

Preferably, magnet 12 is a disc-shaped neo-magnet (AES Magnetics, Cincinnati, Ohio, product no. H-4162) having a diameter of about 2 inches (5. 08 cm) and a thickness of about 0.5 inches (1.27 cm). While a single magnet 12 produces sufficient pull on roller 20 to remove dents from the metal of most brass musical instruments, additional disc-shaped magnets may be stacked on top of one another to provide increased pull. Increased pull may be required to remove dents from brass instruments having metal of greater thiclmess than that of a tuba or sousaphone, or to remove dents from other types of metal. Although the disc shape is preferred, magnet 12 may be manufactured in a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, magnet 12 is tapered such that the portion of the magnet that contacts the metal is smaller in diameter than the portion of the magnet attached to the handle. When removing small dents, a tapered magnet presumably provides greater control to the user of the device, thereby increasing the overall accuracy of the dent removal process.

As shown in FIG. la, protective cover 14 is attached to the face of magnet 12 that contacts the metal surface from which a dent is to be removed. Protective cover 14 reduces the likelihood magnet 12 will scratch or otherwise damage the surface of the metal from which a dent is being removed. Preferably, protective cover 14 is felt with an adhesive backing; however, any soft, non-scratching material which may be attached to magnet 12 is suitable for use as protective cover 14.

Roller 20 removes the dents from metal by actually rolling the dents out. In the embodiment shown in FIGs. la, lb, and 2, roller 20 is a chrome ball bearing. Such ball bearings are made of steel, and are magnetically attracted to the pull of magnet 12. In embodiments where roller 20 is a ball bearing, ball bearings of various sizes may be used. In the case of musical instruments, the size of the ball bearing used to remove dents is determinable by the diameter of the tube into which the ball bearing is inserted. For example, <BR> <BR> a larger ball bearing (e. g. , 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) in diameter) may be appropriate for a tuba,<BR> while a smaller ball bearing (e. g. , 1.0 inch (2.54cm) in diameter) may be appropriate for a trombone. In alternate embodiments, roller 20 is cylindical, oblong, or other shapes appropriate to the apparatus or surface from which dents are being removed.

Magnetic assembly 10 may be provided as part of kit for removing dents from metal.

Preferably, this kit includes at least one disc-shaped neo magnet 12, a steel handle 16, at least one roller 20, and a case for holding the contents of the kit. Other preferred kit components include at least one handle grip 18, at least one protective cover 14, and instructions for how

to use the contents of the kit. Preferably, roller 20 is a steel ball bearing. Additional rollers of various sizes and shapes may also be included in the kit. For example, ball bearings having diameters of 2.5 inches (6.35 cm), 1.75 inches (4.45 cm), 1.25 inches (3.18 cm), and 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) may be included. Another embodiment of the kit includes a container of metal polish for use on the surfaces from which dents are removed.

With reference to FIG. 2, magnetic assembly 10 is used according to the following preferred method: (i) attach magnet 12 to handle 16; (ii) place a roller 20 inside the tubing 22 of a dented instrument; (iii) place the face or portion of magnet 12 opposite handle 16 against the exterior of the instrument; (iv) catch or acquire roller 20 with magnet 12 such that magnet 12 and the roller 20 form a magnetic assembly 10, wherein roller 20 is on the interior of the instrument and magnet 12 is on the exterior of the instrument ; and (v) move, slide, or rock magnetic assembly 10 across dents 24 until the dents are removed from the metal. This preferred method may also include the step of attaching protective cover 14 to the face of magnet 12 opposite handle 16, and the step of placing handle grip 18 around handle 16.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplification of preferred embodiments. Numerous other variations of the present invention are possible, and it is not intended herein to mention all of the possible equivalent forms or ramifications of this invention.