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US 7,392,974 B2Granted
Rope/wire puller
AssigneeMarc M. Khristo
InventorMarc Khristo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rope/wire pulling device designed to provide maximum pulling pressure by the use of two handles and a non-slip ratcheting clutch which grasps the rope or wire tighter as additional pulling pressure is applied.
Claims18
An apparatus for pulling wire or rope, the apparatus comprising:
- a gripping device that includes a substantially enclosed rigid housing that comprises a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall connecting the top and bottom walls an a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a slot disposed in a top wall of the housing for receiving a section of rope or wire therein, said rope or wire having a diameter;
- a handle member fixedly attached to the bottom wall of the housing configured with handles that extend on opposite sides of the housing;
- at least one ratcheting member rotatably mounted to the gripping device between the top wall and the bottom wall of the housing, wherein in response to moving the gripping device in a first direction along a length of the wire or rope disposed in the slot, the at least one ratcheting member is configured to rotatably engage the wire or rope such that the at least one ratcheting member squeezes the wire or rope between the second sidewall of the housing and the at least one ratcheting member to generate a gripping force, wherein when the rope or wire is engaged by the ratcheting member, at least a portion of the top wall extends past the rope or wire diameter, wherein when the gripping device is moved in a second direction along the length of the wire or rope, the at least one ratcheting member is configured to rotate to release the gripping force, and wherein when the wire or rope is disposed within the housing, the portion of the top wall, the second sidewall, and the at least one ratcheting member are prevent the wire or rope from exiting the slot when the rope or wire moves along the second direction relative to the second sidewall.
A method for pulling wire or rope, the method comrising:
- receiving a wire or rope through a slot disposed in a rigid enclosure that comprises a bottom wall, a top wall opposite the bottom wall, a first side wall connecting the top and bottom walls an a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a slot disposed in a top wall of the housing for receiving a section of rope or wire therein, said rope or wire having a diameter;
- wedging the wire or the rope between a gripping surface of a rotating clutch member and the stationary second sidewall of the enclosure housing said rotating clutch member being rotatably attached between top stationary wall and bottom stationary wall of the enclosure;
- and
- pulling the enclosure along the wire or rope in a first direction using a handle member rigidly attached to the bottom wall of the enclosure, said handle member including handles extending on opposite sides of the enclosure, wherein the rotating clutch member is configured to rotate in response to a pull resistance of the wire or rope directed in opposition to the first direction, or in response to a change in a diameter of the wire or rope, thereby moving the gripping surface toward the stationary second sidewall, wherein the gripping surface and the stationary second sidewall generate a gripping force that is responsive to the change in pull resistance wherein when the wire or rope is disposed within the enclosure, the stationary second sidewall, the top stationary wall of the enclosure, and the rotating clutch member are configured to prevent the wire or rope from exiting the slot when the rope or wire moves in a direction in opposition to the first direction.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.