Tool for lifting and carrying elongated objects

Abstract

A hand-held pipe tool comprises a curvilinear rod having a series of curved segments and straight segments that form a cradle capable of grasping an elongated object such as a pipe or a hose. The curvilinear rod has a handle on one end that preferably comprises a foam rubber or other resilient material to facilitate grasping the tool under slippery or wet conditions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/197,951 filed Apr. 17, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to tools for lifting and carrying elongated objects such as pipes and hoses.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In oil field operations, it is frequently necessary to manually lift and carry oil field pipe or frac pipe. Similarly, in firefighting operations, fire hoses must be lifted and carried by hand. Typically, such pipes and hoses must be handled under wet and slippery conditions, which are generally hazardous to the personnel involved. Additionally, such pipes and hoses are generally quite heavy and difficult to handle, even under dry conditions, which causes physical fatigue in the personnel involved.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,658, issued to Murphy on Nov. 8, 1994, discloses a hand tool for guiding a rubber hose being wound on a reel. The Murphy tool comprises a helix depending from a T-shaped handle. The helix is adapted for receiving a hose such that the hose runs lengthwise along the axis of the helix. Although the Murphy tool appears to be capable of guiding a flexible rubber hose, rope, or cable onto a reel, the Murphy tool is not directed to lifting and carrying heavy, relatively stiff, elongated objects such as steel pipe or fire hoses.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,476, issued to Massey on Jun. 18, 1991, discloses a tool for assisting in manually raising a heavy elongated article a small distance (e.g., a few inches) off a firm surface so that a lifting sling may be passed beneath the article. The Massey tool comprises a handle having a pair of co-acting, part-cylindrical jaw members that operate in a scissor-like manner for gripping the article to be raised, and a fulcrum projects from one of the jaw members on which the tool can be pivoted to raise the article a short distance off the surface. Although the Massey tool is directed to handling heavy elongated objects such as oil field pipe, the Massey tool involves mechanically moving parts, which makes it relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. Further, the Massey tool is not directed to be used for manually carrying such pipe.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,704, issued to Thompson et al. on Aug. 11, 1998, discloses a tool for manipulating irrigation pipes. The Thompson et al. tool involves a pivotally mounted arcuate jaw with a handle secured thereto, and a second arcuate jaw fixedly mounted to the handle. A spring biases the jaw members into clamping engagement with an irrigation pipe. The Thompson et al. tool is directed primarily to turning, connecting, and disconnecting irrigation pipe without the operator having to bend over and grasp the pipe by hand. Like the Massey tool described above, the Thompson et al. tool involves moving parts, which makes it relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, and it is not directed to be used for manually carrying such pipe.

[0009] Thus, a need exists for a simple tool with no moving parts that would allow personnel to easily grasp, lift, and carry pipes, hoses, and other heavy elongated objects, particularly under wet and slippery conditions. Such a tool would increase safety and decrease physical fatigue of pipe handling personnel. Such a tool would also be simple to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and maintenance-free.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To overcome the disadvantages of the existing tools described above, a tool in accordance with the present invention comprises a simple rod having a series of curved segments and straight segments that form a cradle capable of grasping an elongated object such as a pipe or a hose. The curvilinear rod has a handle on one end that preferably comprises a foam rubber or other resilient material to facilitate grasping the tool under slippery or wet conditions.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple tool with no moving parts for grasping, lifting, and carrying elongated objects such as pipes and hoses.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool for grasping, lifting, and carrying elongated objects under slippery and wet conditions.

[0013] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 being engaged with a section of pipe.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 fully engaged with a section of pipe.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative tool in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative tool in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a tool 10 in accordance with the present invention preferably comprises a handle 12 depending from a rod 13 having a series of straight segments 14, 16, 20 and curved segments 18, 22 that form a cradle capable of engaging an elongated object (not shown), such as a pipe or a hose. When properly positioned with respect to tool 10, such an elongated object will lie generally along axis 32 and will be engaged with curved segments 18 and 22 of rod 13 such that the elongated object may be lifted and carried by manually grasping handle 12. Preferably, straight segment 16 is substantially perpendicular to straight segment 14, and straight segment 20 is substantially parallel to straight segment 14. Preferably, curved segments 18 and 22 are coaxial and are disposed in substantially parallel planes that are substantially perpendicular to straight segment 20. Curved segments 18 and 22 are generally opposed to one another as shown, and the combined circumference of curved segments 18 and 22 preferably encompasses slightly more than 360 degrees. To provide increased stiffness to rod 13, a gusset 24 may be secured to segments 14 and 16 of rod 13, and a gusset 26 may be secured to segments 16 and 18 of rod 13. Handle 12 may be integral to rod 13, or handle 12 may be a separate piece fastened to rod 13.

[0020] The use of tool 10 in lifting a pipe 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the process of engaging tool 10 with pipe 30 begins with placing pipe 30 between curved segments 18 and 22. Initially, pipe 30 is oriented generally transverse to straight segment 20 of rod 13. To engage tool 10 on pipe 30, tool 10 is rotated by moving handle 12 in the direction indicated by arrow 28 until straight segment 20 of rod 13 and handle 12 are generally parallel to pipe 30 as shown in FIG. 3. In the fully engaged position shown in FIG. 3, curved segment 18 supports the lower portion of pipe 30, and curved segment 22 engages the upper portion of pipe 30 such that pipe 30 may be lifted and carried by manually grasping handle 12.

[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternative handles for a tool in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows a tool 110 having a handle 112 that is substantially perpendicular to segment 114, and FIG. 5 shows a tool 210 having a handle 212 attached to segment 214 with a U-shaped bracket 215. Other suitable handles could also be incorporated into a tool embodying this invention so long as an appropriate series of straight segments and curved segments are provided for grasping an elongated object.

[0022] If tool 10 is to be used for lifting and carrying oil field pipe or frac pipe, rod 13 is preferably made from ½-inch diameter steel, which may be heated and formed into the shape shown in FIG. 1. Rod 13 may also be manufactured by other processes, such as machining or casting, and materials other than steel may also be used. Rod 13 is preferably coated with a rubber or plastic material so that segments 18 and 22 will more effectively grip pipe 30, particularly when pipe 30 is slippery from a liquid such as oil or water. Similarly, handle 12 preferably comprises a foam rubber material or other suitable resilient material that may be grasped more effectively under slippery or wet conditions such as those frequently encountered in the oil field or around fire hoses. Although the primary application of this invention is contemplated in connection with oil field pipe or fire hoses, this invention may be applied to advantage in any endeavor in which elongated objects must be moved. Additionally, although the present invention is intended primarily as a manual tool, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that handle 12 may be replaced by a suitable fitting that would allow tool 10 to be attached to a machine that could be used to lift and move the desired elongated objects.

[0023] Although the foregoing specific details describe a preferred embodiment of this invention, persons reasonably skilled in the art will recognize that various changes may be made in the details of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims Therefore, it should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A tool for grasping and moving an elongated object having a central axis, said tool comprising:

a rod having a first curved segment and a second curved segment spaced apart from said first curved segment, said first and second curved segments being generally opposed to one another; and

a handle depending from said rod;

wherein said first and second curved segments are engageable with the elongated object such that the elongated object may be lifted by lifting said handle.

2. The tool of

claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a resilient material.

3. The tool of

claim 1 wherein said first curved segment is disposed within a first plane and said second curved segment is disposed within a second plane that is substantially parallel to said first plane.

4. The tool of

claim 3 wherein said first and second curved segments are substantially coaxial.

5. The tool of

claim 4 wherein said tool is positionable such that the central axis of the elongated object is substantially coaxial with said first and second curved segments.

6. The tool of

claim 4 wherein the combined circumference of said first and second curved segments encompasses about 360 degrees.

7. The tool of

claim 4 wherein the combined circumference of said first and second curved segments encompasses slightly more than 360 degrees.

8. The tool of

claim 3 wherein said handle is generally straight and substantially perpendicular to said first and second planes.

9. The tool of

claim 3 wherein said handle is generally straight and substantially parallel to said first and second planes.

10. A tool for grasping and moving an elongated object having a central axis and an upper portion and a lower portion, said tool comprising:

a rod having a first curved segment and a second curved segment spaced apart from said first curved segment, said first curved segment being disposed within a first plane and said second curved segment being disposed within a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, said first and second curved segments being generally opposed to one another, said first and second curved segments being connected with a first straight segment substantially perpendicular to said first and second planes, said rod further having a second straight segment connected to said first curved segment, said second straight segment being substantially perpendicular to said first straight segment, said rod further having a third straight segment connected to said second straight segment, said third straight segment being substantially parallel to said first straight segment; and

a handle depending from said third straight segment of said rod, said handle comprising a resilient material;

wherein said first curved segment is adapted for supporting the lower portion of the elongated object and said second curved segment is adapted for engaging the upper portion of the elongated object such that the elongated object may be lifted by lifting said handle.

11. The tool of

claim 10 further comprising a gusset connected to said first curved segment and said second straight segment.

12. The tool of

claim 10 further comprising a gusset connected to said second straight segment and said third straight segment.

13. The tool of

claim 10 further comprising:

a first gusset connected to said first curved segment and said second straight segment; and

a second gusset connected to said second straight segment and said third straight segment.

14. The tool of

claim 10 wherein the combined circumference of said first and second curved segments encompasses about 360 degrees.

15. The tool of

claim 10 wherein the combined circumference of said first and second curved segments encompasses slightly more than 360 degrees.