Cable clamp lock nut wrench
OwnerMark W. Steeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a wrench for manipulating lock nuts on cable clamps and conduit for securing electrical cable or conduit to electrical boxes. The wrench is useful for accessing difficult positions in a box such as securing a cable to a corner opening or in a back row of a box having multiple rows of cables. The wrench comprises a central handle shaft, two transition sections, one extending on either side of the handle shaft, and two arc shaped heads, one arc shaped head extending from each transition section, such that each arc shaped head is displaced at an angle to the handle shaft and at a distance normal to the handle shaft. Each head comprises at least two tabs for engaging a lock nut.
Claims15
A wrench for turning lock nuts of the type having a series of protrusions on an outer periphery thereof with spaces between the protrusions, comprising:
- a) an elongate handle shaft section having a first side and a second side;
- b) a first transition section extending at a first acute angle from the first side of the handle shaft as measured from an imaginary line extending the handle shaft on the first side, and for a first offset distance normal to the handle shaft, and a second transition section extending at a second acute angle from the second side of the handle shaft as measured from an imaginary line extending the handle shaft on the second side and for a second offset distance normal to the second side of the handle shaft;
- c) a first arc shaped head extending from the first transition section at a location near an end of the first arc shaped head, and a second arc shaped head extending from the second transition section at a location near an end of the second arc shaped head;
- and
- d) at least two tabs extending from the first arc shaped head and at least two tabs extending from the second arc shaped head;
- wherein each arc shaped head is adapted to fit over a lock nut with each of the at least two tabs thereon fitting in a space between two protrusions on the lock nut.
A method of manipulating a lock nut of the type having a series of protrusions on an outer periphery thereof with spaces between the protrusions, at a position in an electrical box of the type having access to the interior through a front panel, comprising the acts of:
- a) using a wrench comprising
- i) an elongate handle shaft section having a first side and a second side;
- ii) a first transition section extending at a first acute angle from the first side of the handle shaft as measured from an imaginary line extending the handle shaft on the first side, and for a first offset distance normal to the handle shaft, and a second transition section extending at a second acute angle from the second side of the handle shaft as measured from an imaginary line extending the handle shaft on the second side and for a second offset distance normal to the second side of the handle shaft;
- iii) a first arc shaped head extending from the first transition section at a location near an end of the first arc shaped head, and a second arc shaped head extending from the second transition section at a location near an end of the second arc shaped head;
- and
- iv) at least two tabs extending from the first arc shaped head and at least two tabs extending from the second arc shaped head;
- wherein each arc shaped head is adapted to fit over a lock nut with each of the at least two tabs thereon fitting in a space between two protrusions on the lock nut;
- b) choosing the more convenient arc shaped head to reach the position of the lock nut;
- c) engaging the more convenient arc shaped head with the lock nut such that the at least two tabs extending therefrom intermesh with spaces between protrusions in the lock nut;
- and
- d) turning the wrench to manipulate the lock nut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.