The present application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application serial number 1717873.2, filed on Oct. 30, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety at least by reference.
The present invention generally relates to hand tools but more particularly to a lifting clamp for lifting open floor gratings and the like.
The standard size of a floor grating whether steel or fiberglass reinforced resin is 3 feet by 24 feet, for a weight of approximately 500 pounds or less for fiberglass reinforced resin. Due to their size and weight, there is great difficulty moving floor gratings. Further, there is a lack of specialized tools for the handling or the lifting of a floor grating. Currently, known methods for handling or lifting floor gratings teach rigging slings to the outside of the floor grating perimeter. This method prevents from placing the floor grating directly at its final location, since the grating is always enclosed within other structural elements. The rigger must therefore place it as close as possible to the required location on the structure where it will be possible to remove the slings and then manually finish the installation at its final location. This method greatly increases the risk of injury and makes it very difficult to install the floor grating.
In one embodiment of the present invention a tool for lifting a floor grating comprising: a body member having a top surface and a bottom surface; the slot extends downwardly generally halfway into the body member, and a second slot is located at the bottom surface configured for receiving a butterfly hook mechanically attached to a bottom portion of the shaft by way of mechanical fasteners; the push member has an opening at a top end which extends integrally from an upper portion of a shaft, and a butterfly hook mechanically attached at a bottom portion of the shaft by way of mechanical fasteners; a biasing member configured to upwardly bias the push member to an upper position; and, wherein the tool is configured to be positioned on the top surface of the floor grating, the butterfly hook is inserted between two bearing bars, wherein the push member is configured to be pushed with a downward force overcoming the upwardly bias such that the butterfly hook extends below the floor grating, and the opening of the push member slides inside the body and wherein the tool is configured to be rotated a quarter turn such that the butterfly hook may not pass through the bearing bars of the floor grating, and releasing the downward force such that the push member is forced back to the upper position such that the butterfly hook makes contact with the bottom surface and partially surrounds the bearing bars so as to hook onto the floor grating, simultaneously, the opening of the push member comes back out of the body.
In one embodiment, a pair of cambered handle members attached to the body member for ease of transportation and installation is provided. In one embodiment, a shackle is configured to be installed through the opening of the push member such that a steel cable may be attached to the shackle for hoisting the floor grating. In one embodiment, the body member is constructed to form a pyramid shape. In another embodiment, the pyramid shape has parallel bottom and top flat surfaces. In yet another embodiment, the shaft is perforated.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for lifting a floor grating comprising steps: (a) providing a tool, the tool comprising a body member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first slot extending generally halfway down from the top surface and a second slot at the bottom surface, the slot configured to receive a push member, wherein the push member has an opening at a top end, a butterfly hook mechanically attached at a bottom end of the shaft by mechanical fasteners, and a biasing member configured to upwardly bias the push member to an upper position; (b) placing the tool on the floor grating in a first position defined as the butterfly hook is inserted between two bearing bars of the floor grating; (c) applying a downward force to the push member overcoming the upwardly bias such that the butterfly hook extends below the floor grating and bearing bars and the opening slides inside the body; (d) rotating the tool a quarter turn such that the butterfly hook may not pass through two bearing bars of the floor grating; (e) releasing the downward force such that the push member is forced back to the upper position, the opening of the push member comes back out the body and the butterfly hook reaches the bottom surface and partially surrounds two bearing bars on the bearing bars of the floor grating; (f) installing a shackle pin through the opening; and, (g) placing a steel cable through the shackle such that the tool may be hoisted with the attached floor grating via the steel cable.
In one embodiment, a further step is provided wherein the steel cable and attached floor grating is lifted via a crane.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide a tool for lifting open floor gratings and the like.
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Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1717873.2 | Oct 2017 | GB | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190127185 A1 | May 2019 | US |