Patent ID: 7392974
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: B25B,H02G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. 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.