Wire twisting tool

• US 6,729,358 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Greenlee Tools, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Greenlee Textron Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Moffatt, Wilbur Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 140/104, 140/117, 140/118, 140/119, 140/120, 140/123, 811/771, 811/772, 229/93
• US Class Current: 140/118
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 1/002 by means of manually operated devices, e.g. pliers
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 15/04 without additional connecting elements or material, e.g. by twisting
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/162 Connectors or means for connecting parts for reinforcements E04C5/168 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1397 Article held by flexible connector [e.g., chain]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/27 including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32475 having detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7077 for telescoping members

Abstract

A tool is provided and includes a hook member which is attached to an extendable and retractable pole member, and a retainer which can retain the pole member in a collapsed position. The hook member is used to twist a short portion of a workpiece around a long portion of a workpiece in order to secure the short portion to the long portion when the workpiece is hung from an overhead support member. The retainer retains an inner pole of the pole member within an outer pole of the pole member when the pole member is in a collapsed position.

Claims

1. A hook member for twisting a first portion of a workpiece around a second portion of the workpiece, the workpiece being positioned over an overhead member, the first portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from one side of the overhead member and the second portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from an opposite side of the overhead member, said hook member configured to be connected to a pole member having a centerline, said hook member comprising:

a first portion which is connected to the pole member;

a second portion connected to said first portion of said hook member and which is angled relative thereto, said second portion of said hook member having means for securing the second portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of the pole member;

a third portion connected to said second portion of said hook member; and

a fourth portion connected to said third portion of said hook member and which is angled relative thereto, said fourth portion of said hook member having first means for securing the second portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of the pole member, said securing means of said second and fourth portions of said hook member being in alignment with one another, said fourth portion of said hook member having second means for securing the first portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of the pole member.

2. A hook member as defined in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said hook member is generally hollow and cylindrical such that said first portion of said hook member is configured to fit around the pole member.

3. A hook member as defined in claim 1, wherein said second portion of said hook member extends from an end of said first portion of said hook member at an angle generally outwardly from the pole member and in a first direction from the centerline.

4. A hook member as defined in claim 3, wherein said third portion of said hook member extends from an end of said second portion of said hook member generally outwardly from the pole member, said third portion of said hook member being parallel to said first portion of said hook member.

5. A hook member as defined in claim 4, wherein said fourth portion of said hook member extends from an end of said third portion of said hook member at an angle generally outwardly from the pole member and in a second direction from said centerline, said second direction being generally opposite said first direction.

6. A hook member as defined in claim 1, wherein said securing means of said second portion of said hook member is an aperture provided through said second portion of said hook member, and wherein said first securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member is an aperture provided through said fourth portion of said hook member.

7. A hook member as defined in claim 6, wherein said apertures of said second and fourth portions of said hook member are offset from said centerline in a first direction.

8. A hook member as defined in claim 7, wherein said second securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member is offset from said centerline in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction.

9. A hook member as defined in claim 1, wherein said second securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member includes at least one notch provided along an edge of said fourth portion of said hook member.

10. A hook member as defined in claim 9, wherein said at least one notch is offset from said centerline in a first direction.

11. A hook member as defined in claim 10, wherein said securing means of said second portion of said hook member and said first securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member are offset from said centerline in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction.

12. A hook member for twisting a first portion of a workpiece around a second portion of the workpiece, the workpiece being positioned over an overhead member, the first portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from one side of the overhead member and the second portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from an opposite side of the overhead member, said hook member configured to be connected to a pole member having a centerline, said hook member comprising:

a body;

first means for securing the first portion of the workpiece on said body upon rotation of the pole member, said first securing means being offset in a first direction from the centerline of the pole member, said first securing means includes a pair of apertures provided through said body which are in alignment with one another; and

second means for securing the second portion of the workpiece on said body upon rotation of the pole member, said second securing means being offset in a second direction from the centerline of the pole member, said second direction being opposite said first direction.

13. A hook member as defined in claim 12, wherein said apertures provided through said body are spaced apart from one another.

14. A hook member as defined in claim 12, wherein said second securing means includes at least one notch provided along an edge of said body.

15. A tool for twisting a first portion of a workpiece around a second portion of the workpiece, the workpiece being positioned over an overhead member, the first portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from one side of the overhead member and the second portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from an opposite side of the overhead member, said tool comprising:

a pole member having first and second end portions and a centerline; and

a hook member including,

a first portion which is connected to said second end portion of said pole member,

a second portion connected to said first portion of said hook member and is angled relative thereto, said second portion having means for securing the first portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of said pole member,

a third portion connected to said second portion of said hook member,

a fourth portion connected to said third portion of said hook member and is angled relative thereto, said fourth portion having first means for securing the first portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of said pole member, said securing means of said second and portion of said hook member and said first securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member being in alignment with one another, said fourth portion having second means for securing the second portion of the workpiece thereto upon rotation of said pole member.

16. A tool as defined in claims 15, wherein said pole member is generally cylindrical and said first portion of said hook member is configured to fit around the second end portion of the pole member.

17. A tool as defined in claim 15, wherein said second portion of said hook member extends from an end of said first portion of said hook member at an angle generally outwardly from said pole member and in a first direction from the centerline.

18. A tool as defined in claim 17, wherein said third portion of said hook member extends from an end of said second portion of said hook member generally outwardly from said pole member, said third portion of said hook member being parallel to said first portion of said hook member.

19. A tool as defined in claim 18, wherein said fourth portion of said hook member extends from an end of said third portion of said hook member at an angle generally outwardly from said pole member and in a second direction from said centerline, said second direction being generally opposite said first direction.

20. A tool as defined in claim 15, wherein said securing means of said second portion of said hook member of said aperture is an aperture provided through said second portion of said hook member, and wherein said first securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member is an aperture provided through said fourth portion of said hook member.

21. A tool as defined in claim 20, wherein said apertures of said second and fourth portions of said hook member are offset from said centerline in a first direction.

22. A tool as defined in claim 21, wherein said second securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member is offset from said centerline in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction.

23. A tool as defined in claim 15, wherein said second securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member includes at least one notch provided along an edge of said fourth portion of said hook member.

24. A tool as defined in claim 23, wherein said at least one notch is offset from said centerline in a first direction.

25. A tool as defined in claim 24, wherein said securing means of said second portion of said hook member and said first securing means of said fourth portion of said hook member are offset from said centerline in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction.

26. A tool as defined in claim 15, wherein said pole member has at least first and second poles, said second pole capable of moving within said first pole to either a collapsed position or an extended position.

27. A tool as defined in claim 26, wherein said first pole includes a retainer assembly provided at an end thereof, said retainer assembly being configured to retain said second pole in said collapsed position and to allow said second pole to be positioned in said extended position.

28. A tool as defined in claim 27, wherein said retainer assembly includes first, second and third sections, said first and second sections capable of fastening to one another beyond said end of said first pole to retain said second pole within said first pole, said third section being positioned around said first pole and being fastened to said first and second sections.

29. A tool as defined in claim 28, wherein said retainer assembly further includes a ring section connected to said end of said first pole, said ring section having a pair of slots extending therethrough which are opposite one another, said first section extending through one of said slots, said second section extending through the other one of said slots.

30. A method of securing a workpiece to an overhead member comprising the steps of:

a) positioning said workpiece over the overhead member, said workpiece having a first portion extending downwardly from one side of the overhead member and a second portion extending downwardly from an opposite side of the overhead member;

b) providing a tool having a pole member and a hook member, said pole member having a centerline, said hook member having a first portion which is connected to said pole member, a second portion connected to said first portion of said hook member and which is angled relative thereto, said second portion having an aperture provided therethrough which is offset from said centerline in a first direction, a third portion connected to said second portion of said hook member, and a fourth portion connected to said third portion of said hook member and which is angled relative thereto, said fourth portion of said hook member having an aperture provided therethrough which is offset from said centerline in said first direction, said apertures of said second and fourth portions of said hook member being in alignment with one another, said fourth portion of said hook member having at least one notch provided along an edge of said fourth portion of said hook member and which is offset from said centerline in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction;

c) positioning said first portion of said workpiece through said aperture of said fourth portion of said hook member;

d) positioning said first portion of said workpiece through said aperture of said second portion of said hook member;

e) positioning said second portion of said workpiece into said at least one notch of said fourth portion of said hook member;

f) rotating said pole member such that said first portion of said workpiece is kept substantially secure within said apertures and said at least one notch of said hook member and such that said second portion of said workpiece is twisted around said first portion of said workpiece by said hook member; and

g) removing said first portion of said workpiece from said apertures of said second and fourth portions of said hook member.