Dual Size Conduit Bender

Abstract

A dual size conduit bender preferably includes a base member, an upper pole support member, a foot support member and a conduit support member. Opposing ends of the upper pole support member extend from a top of the base member. A pole boss extends upward from a top of the base member. The foot support member extends upward from one end of the base member. The conduit support member extends from an opposing end of the base member. First and second curved grooves are formed in a bottom of the base member. A pair of clearance slots are formed in an end of the foot support member. A pair of insertion slots are formed in a top of the conduit support member. A pole bore is formed through a top of the upper pole support member into the pole boss to receive a bending pole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part patent application which claims the benefit of patent application no. 63/304,711, filed on Jan. 31, 2022.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bending tools and more specifically to a dual size conduit bender, which allows two different conduit diameters to be bent with a single tool.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

It appears that the prior art does not teach or suggest a dual size conduit bender.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a dual size conduit bender, which allows two different conduit diameters to be bent with a single tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dual size conduit bender, which allows two different conduit diameters to be bent with a single tool. The dual size conduit bender preferably includes a base member, an upper pole support member, a foot support member and a conduit support member. Opposing ends of the upper pole support member extend from opposing ends of a top of the base member. A pole boss extends upward from a top of the base member. An opening is preferably formed between a bottom of the upper pole support member and a top of the pole boss. The foot support member extends upward from one end of the base member. The conduit support member extends outward from an opposing end of the base member. A first curved groove is formed in a bottom of the base member and a second curved groove is formed in the bottom of the base member, adjacent the first groove. The first and second curved grooves are preferably a constant radius.

A pair of clearance slots are formed in an end of the foot support member, which are on the same axis as the first and second curved grooves. A pair of insertion slots are formed in a top of the conduit support member to align and support one of two diameters of conduit. The pair of insertion slots are on the same axis as the first and second curved grooves. A pole bore is formed through a top of the upper pole support member into the pole boss to receive a bending pole. A conduit alignment mark is preferably created in at least one side of the base member to provide a reference to mark the conduit. The conduit alignment mark provides a start of the curvature of the conduit bend. A plurality of angle marks are preferably formed on at least one side of the base member to provide a reference for when to stop bending the conduit to achieve a particular angle of bend.

In use, a conduit is inserted into the appropriate size insertion slot. An end of the conduit is located outward from a front of the conduit support member. The conduit may be marked with a permanent marker to illustrate the start of a bend. The user puts one of their feet on the foot support member and pulls the bending pole toward them to bend the conduit to a form a specific bend angle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dual size conduit bender, which allows two different conduit diameters to be bent with a single tool.

These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a dual size conduit bender in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a dual size conduit bender 1. With reference to FIGS. 2 - 8, the dual size conduit bender 1 preferably includes a base member 10, an upper pole support member 12, a foot support member 14 and a conduit support member 16. Opposing ends of the upper pole support member 12 extend from opposing ends of a top of the base member 10. A pole boss 18 extends upward from a top of the base member 10. An opening 20 is preferably formed between a bottom of the upper pole support 12 member and a top of the pole boss 18. The foot support member 14 extends upward from one end of the base member 10. The foot support member 14 preferably includes a plurality of raised projections 22 to provide grip to a bottom of a shoe. With reference to FIG. 4, the conduit support member 16 extends outward from an opposing end of the base member 10. A center rib 17 of the base member 10 supports the conduit support member 16. A portion of a bottom of said base member 10 includes a radius 15 formed along a lengthwise axis of the base member 10 for pivoting on a support surface. The radius 15 has the same dimension across a width of the base member 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, a first curved groove 24 is formed in a bottom of the base member 10 and a second curved groove 26 is formed in the bottom of the base member 10, adjacent the first groove 24. The first and second curved grooves 24, 26 are preferably a constant radius, but may or may not be the same radius. The first curved groove 24 preferably receives a ½ inch EMT conduit and the second curved groove 26 preferably receives a ¾ inch EMT conduit, but other sizes could also be used. A second preferable combination of sizes would be ¾ inch EMT conduit and 1 inch EMT conduit. A first clearance slot 28 and a second clearance slot 30 are formed in an end of the foot support member 14. The first and second clearance slots 28, 30 are on the same axis as the first and second curved grooves 24, 26. With reference to FIGS. 7 - 8, a first clearance slot 32 is formed in a top of the conduit support member 16 and a second clearance slot 34 is formed in a top of the conduit support member 16 to align and support a diameter of the conduit. The center rib 17 is located between the first and second curved insertion slots 32, 34. The first and second curved insertion slots 32, 34 are on the same axis as the first and second curved grooves 24, 26. The upper pole support member 12 preferably includes an upper pole boss 36. A pole bore 38 is formed through the upper pole boss 36 and into the pole boss 18 to receive a bending pole (not shown). Bending poles are well known in the art and need not be shown in detail. With reference to FIG. 2, a conduit alignment mark 40 is preferably created on at least one side of the base member 10 to provide a reference to mark the conduit. The conduit alignment mark 40 provides a start of the curvature of the first and second curved grooves 24, 26. A plurality of angle marks 42 are preferably formed on at least one side of the base member 10 to provide a reference to when to stop bending the conduit to achieve a particular angle of bend.

In use, the conduit is inserted into the appropriate size of insertion slot 32, 34. An end of the conduit is located outward from a front of the conduit support member 16. The conduit may be marked with a permanent marker to a start of the bend. The user puts one of their feet on the foot support member 14 and pulls the bending pole toward them to bend the conduit to form a specific bend angle.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dual size conduit bender for use with a bending pole, comprising:

a base member having a bottom, a portion of said bottom is curved along a lengthwise axis, a pair of curved grooves are formed in said bottom thereof;

a foot support member extends from one end of said base member; and

a conduit support member extends from an opposing end of said base member, a pair of insertion slots are formed in said conduit support member to receive a conduit, wherein a conduit is inserted into one of said pair of insertion slots.

2. The dual size conduit bender of claim 1 wherein:

a pole boss extends upward from a top of said base member, a pole bore is formed in said pole boss to receive the bending pole.

3. The dual size conduit bender of claim 1 wherein:

a pair of clearance slots are formed in an end of said foot support member.

4. The dual size conduit bender of claim 1 wherein:

a plurality of raised projections extend upward from a top of said foot support member.

5. A dual size conduit bender for use with a bending pole, comprising:

a base member having a bottom, a portion of said bottom is curved along a lengthwise axis, a pair of curved grooves are formed in said bottom thereof;

an upper pole support member extends upward from a top of said base member, a pole bore is formed through said upper pole support and into said base member to receive the bending pole;

a foot support member extends from one end of said base member; and

a conduit support member extends from an opposing end of said base member, a pair of insertion slots are formed in said conduit support member to receive a conduit, wherein a conduit is inserted into one of said pair of insertion slots.

6. The dual size conduit bender of claim 5 wherein:

a pole boss extends upward from a top of said base member.

7. The dual size conduit bender of claim 6 wherein:

an opening is formed between a bottom of said upper pole support member and a top of said pole boss.

8. The dual size conduit bender of claim 5 wherein:

a pair of clearance slots are formed in an end of said foot support member.

9. The dual size conduit bender of claim 5 wherein:

an upper pole boss is formed in said upper pole support member, said pole bore is formed through said upper pole boss.

10. The dual size conduit bender of claim 5 wherein:

a plurality of raised projections extend upward from a top of said foot support member.

11. A dual size conduit bender for use with a bending pole, comprising:

a base member having a bottom, a portion of said bottom is curved along a longitudinal axis, a pair of curved grooves are formed in said bottom thereof, each one of said pair of curved grooves includes a different width;

an upper pole support member extends upward from a top of said base member, a pole bore is formed through said upper pole support and into said base member to receive the bending pole;

a foot support member extends from one end of said base member; and

a conduit support member extends from an opposing end of said base member, a pair of insertion slots are formed in said conduit support member to receive a conduit, wherein a conduit is inserted into one of said pair of insertion slots.

12. The dual size conduit bender of claim 11 wherein:

an upper pole boss extends upward from a top of said base member.

13. The dual size conduit bender of claim 11 wherein:

an opening is formed between a bottom of said upper pole support member and a top of said pole boss.

14. The dual size conduit bender of claim 11 wherein:

a pair of clearance slots are formed in an end of said foot support member.

15. The dual size conduit bender of claim 11 wherein:

an upper pole boss is formed in said upper pole support member, said pole bore is formed through said upper pole boss.

16. The dual size conduit bender of claim 11 wherein:

a plurality of raised projections extend upward from a top of said foot support member.