US2968510A - Lifting tool for building blocks - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1961 c. J. ELLIS ETAL LIFTING TOOL FOR BUILDING BLOCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 51, 1957 Clayton .11 E //is Frederick C. McLaughl/h INVENTORS BY M Jan. 17, 1961 c. J. ELLIS ETAL LIFTING TOOL FOR BUILDING BLOCKS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1957 Clayton J. Ellis Frederick 6. McLaugh/m INVENTORS 401626..

BY mzsm United States Patent LIFI'ING TOOL FOR BUILDING BLOCKS Clayton J. Ellis, 1 Green Mountain Place, Middlebury, Vt., and Frederick C. McLaughlin, Poultney, Vt.

Filed Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,392

2 Claims. 01. 294-62) The present invention relates to an improved hand tool or implement through the medium of which a user thereof may readily catch hold of a concrete or similar building block, lift it, carry it, and otherwise handle it as is done with the aid of similarly constructed tools commonly referred to in'the art as lifting and carrying tongs.

As the preceding statement of the invention reveals, many and varied styles and forms of block lifting and handling tools have been devised by others. The present invention relates, obviously, to a structurally different tool which, it is believed, is not only simpler in construction but is easier to use, is highly efficient in accomplishing the ends desired, and is otherwise aptly suited to comply with manufacturing requirements and the need for a tool which may be not only quickly engaged with the block but just as easily released from the block.

Some users of tools in this category of invention employ a single hand for lifting and carrying requirements. Others find it necessary to employ both hands. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which is characterized by a handle having a central hand-grip for single handed use and optional hand-grips at the left and right end portions which may be used when both hands are needed.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a handle having a centrally mounted hand-grip for single-handed use and optional hand-grips at its respective end portions for use when both hands are needed, a first leg rigidly attached to and depending from one end portion of the handle, said leg being provided at its lower end portion with at least one block engaging and gripping member, and a second leg complemental to said first leg and depending from said handle, fixed thereon and spaced from the other end portion of the first leg and provided at its lower end with a spring biased pivotally mounted block engaging and gripping member.

Further novelty is directed to a construction wherein each leg is provided adjacent the upper end with a crosshead which is shaped to guidingly pilot the leg into the intended operating position and is also shouldered to limit the degree of insertion of the leg into the opening in the block.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a view of a concrete block in section and showing the improved lifting and handling tool with parts in section and elevation and with the gripping pins engaged.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections on thelines 22, 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. l the building block (cement or an equivalent material) is denoted by the numeral 6 and the usual cored openings in the block are denoted at 8.

2,968,510 Patented Jan. 17, 1961 ice The handle as an entity is denoted by thenumeral 10 and it comprises a linearly straight rod member of requisite length denoted at 12, provided at the center with onehand grip 14 and at the respective left and right ends with additional hand-grips 16 and 18. As explained thecenter grip 14 is for single-handed use and theend grips 16 and 18 are used with both hands when needed.

The first depending leg is denoted at 20 and has a straightlower end portion 22 which parallels the wall of theopening 8 and is provided with upper and lowerpointed gripping pins 24 and 26. The upper end portion is formed into asplitcollar 28 the portions of which embrace thepart 30 of the hand-grip and are fastened thereto by clampingbolt 32. The handle has akeyway 34 into which a key 36 carried by the collar is fastened. Theupper portion of the leg, denoted at. 38, depends at right angles from the axis of the handle and theintermediate portion 40 is disposed at an oblique angle and has across-head 42 which as shown in Fig. 2 has stopshoulders 44 and convergingedge portions 46 defining a pilot to assist in feeding the leg into the opening 8 positioning it and regulating it when thestops 44 come into the position shown.

The second companion leg is denoted by thenumeral 48 and inasmuch as it is structurally the same insofar as the principal components are concerned, the same reference numerals are used to designate like parts. There is a difference however in the lower end construction which, as shown in Fig. 4, is bifurcated to provide a pair of spaced furcations. These furcations straddle ablocklike member 50 which is fitted between thefurcations 52 and is removably pivoted in place at 54. The block-like member carries a pointed pin or prong 56 which, like thepins 24 and 26, is adapted to be embedded in the surface of the block to obtain the desired grip. There is acoil spring 58 provided and this spring is parallel to theleg 48 and is anchored at the upper end at 69 and has itslower end 62 connected to thepivoted block 50 to exert a pull in a direction to keep the pin 56 engaged with the wall surface.

It will be evident that in use the legs are inserted into the respective coredholes 8 in the block 6, said legs being, by reason of their particular construction, self-centering. The block can then be lifted with one hand using the center hand-grip 14 or with both hands using theouter grips 16 and 18. To release all that is necessary is to exert a slight upward pull on thegrip 16 above theleg 20. As is evident, thecoil spring 58 keeps thepivoted block 50 under tension to maintain the pointed pin 56 in its desired gripping position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in handling and carrying a concrete building block, a manually usable lifting tool comprising a rigid elongated handle straight from end. to end, a primary hand-grip for balanced single-handed use mounted on said handle midway between the respective ends of the handle, auxiliary hand-grips mounted on the respective end portions of said handle and adapted to be simultaneously gripped when both hands of the user are needed in satisfactorily catching hold of and using the handle, a first leg having a lower end portion disposed at right angles and transversely to the axis of said handle, pointed block engaging and lifting members fixed to and project ing outwardly from said lower end portion of the first leg,

a median portion of said leg slanting upwardly and inwardly from the lower end portion of the first leg, the upper end portion of said first leg being disposed at an approximate right angle to the axis of .the handle and being provided with a collar embracing and removably clamped on a portion of said handle at the inner end of an adjacent auxiliary hand-grip and an adjacent end portion of said primary hand-grip, a second leg of a length corresponding to the length of said firstlegand disposed transversely .of the axis of said handle in spaced relation from the first leg, the upper end portion of .said second leg being secured to the handle between the inner end of the other auxiliary hand-grip and the adjacentend of the primary hand-grip, the major portiontof said second leg extending downwardly and outwardly from said handie, a spring-biased member pivotally mounted on the low- .er end of said second leg, and an outwardly projecting pointed gripping pin provided on said spring-biased member and adapted to engage a cooperating surface of the .block to be lifted, portions of said first and second legs below said handle being provided with correspondingly constructed cross heads the portions of which are at right angles to the lengthwise axes of said legs, said crossheads having outstanding portionsconstituting stops adapted to 4 rest atop the block and to limit the descent of the lower end portions of the legs into the openings provided thereor in said block.

2. The devices as defined inclaim 1 wherein the lower end of said second leg is bifurcated, said spring-biased member being pivotally mounted between the furcations of said bifurcated leg end, the spring-biasing means of said member comprising a tension spring disposed inwardly of the second leg and anchored at one end thereof to an ,upper end portion of the latter, the other end of said spring being anchored to said-member whereby to pivotally urge the same to a position wherein said pin is in gripping engagement with said cooperating surface of the block to be lifted. V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 796,642 Hall Aug. 8, 1905 820,946 Blazar May 22, 1906 1,495,179 Hoffer May 27, 1924 2,541,863 Deans et a1 Feb. 13, 1951 2,617,548 Falkner Nov. 11, 1952 2,879,102 Kughler Mar. 24, 1959

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