Lever bender and related method of use

A device for bending a pipe comprising:

• a first handle including first means around which the pipe is bendable and second means for receiving and substantially preventing movement of the pipe relative thereto when engaged therewith, and
• a second handle pivotable relative to the first handle and including third means for engaging and bending the pipe around said first means when the second handle is pivoted toward the first handle,
• wherein said second means includes fourth means for fittingly receiving the pipe therein and fifth means for securing a pipe therebetween and for substantially preventing movement thereof adjacent to said fourth means, said fifth means including sixth means for retaining the pipe within the fourth means and for moving between (I) a normally projecting position wherein said sixth means directly engages the pipe such that the pipe is held between the fifth means and the fourth means, and (II) a retracted position wherein the pipe is one of (i) movable past the sixth means and into engagement with the fourth means and (ii) movable from engagement with the fourth means, past the sixth means, and out of engagement with the fourth means;
• and seventh means for exerting a biasing force on the sixth means and for biasing the sixth means toward the normally projecting position.

A method of bending a pipe comprising:

• a mounting step for mounting the pipe within a pipe bending device comprising a first handle including a forming mandrel having an outer edge around which the pipe is bendable and a stop member for receiving and substantially preventing movement of the pipe relative thereto when engaged therewith, and a second handle pivotable relative to the first handle and including a forming head adapted to engage and bend the pipe around the forming mandrel when the second handle is pivoted toward the first handle, wherein said stop member includes a pipe-engaging member adapted to fittingly receive the pipe therein and a locking member adjacent to said pipe-engaging member, said locking member including a retaining member moveable between (I) a normally projecting position where said retaining member projects toward and directly engages the pipe to secure the pipe between the locking member and the pipe-engaging member and, and in turn, substantially preventing movement of the pipe, and (II) a retracted position wherein the pipe is one of (i) movable past the retaining member and into engagement with the pipe-engaging member and (ii) movable from engagement with the pipe-engaging member, past the retaining member, and out of engagement with the pipe-engaging member, and a biasing member configured to exert a biasing force on the retaining member and bias the retaining member toward the normally projecting position;
• wherein the mounting step comprises
• an inserting step for inserting the pipe between the forming mandrel and the forming head at a first portion of the pipe to be bent;
• a moving step for moving a second portion of the pipe into engagement with the stop member by moving the second portion in between the locking member and the pipe-engaging member to secure the pipe therebetween, thereby substantially preventing movement of the pipe;
• and
• a pivoting step for pivoting the second handle toward the first handle to a desired bending angle, thereby bending the pipe around the forming mandrel to said bending angle.