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Gas cap wrench: a little-known wonder
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Mobility solutions come in all sizes, from the big, complex machinery of power vehicles and lifts to the .jpg)
small, elegant tools that enhance abilities sometimes overlooked. Such is the story of the gas cap wrench, a small unassuming, but powerful tool for those looking to maintain independence.
In the Texaco gas stations of days gone by when Mr. Car Man pumped the gas, checked the oil and washed your windows, the need for a gas cap wrench was minimal if at all. Who ever thought of pumping gas unless it was your job? As self-service stations became ubiquitous in our culture, so, too, the need for ways to ensure independence with some of the basic tasks, such as pumping gas. Unless someone is around who can assist an individual unable to the gas cap, people with limited hand mobility are stuck. Attendants are no longer able to leave their station behind a cash register and security glass to give assistance at the pump. Enter the gas cap wrench.
Most gas caps employ a universal design of a cross bar or two, forming a cross-shaped area to grip. With certain conditions and as a natural part of aging, hand muscles and fingers weaken, making most gripping action difficult to achieve. Small areas do not allow for much leverage, leaving an individual unable to perform the desired task. Unscrewing a gas cap is one such activity reliant nearly completely on finger strength and dexterity. Using other typical household grabbing tools, such as jar openers may work if the weakness is minimal. Arthritis and serious conditions such as ALS, Parkinson’s, or other neurological and muscular diseases have a profound impact on strength levels.
The gas cap wrench mimics the design of most gas caps with a horizontal and vertical crossbar and an extended handle, also with a crossbar design. The handle provides leverage requiring little force to loosen the cap. Once the cap is loosened, the individual can remove the cap with short turns without losing a grip on the cap. So, even those who generally cannot achieve a twisting motion are able to do so with this simple tool. The gas cap wrench also protects against backsplash and the release of fumes onto the skin while removing a gas cap, which makes this product useful for everyone.
At about $20, the gas cap wrench is an affordable and “must have” item in the collection of those serious about maintaining independence in all areas of their lives.
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