Abstract:
Arms serve as utility accessories to a tip of a soldering iron or a soldering gun. Preferably, the arms are held in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the heated tip or working end of the soldering device. Components are placed against the heating element and held in place by working ends such as clamp-like or tapered claws, jaws or forks on ends of the arms or rods. This arrangement allows the operator to hold the soldering device in one hand and to apply solder while the components remain fixed to the heating element or tip. Arms may be attached to a conventional soldering device or may be integrated with soldering device components to create a new form of soldering device for manual use. Arms serve as a safety mechanism to prevent a hot soldering tip from needlessly contacting proximate surfaces and encourages heat transfer to components receiving solder.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to soldering devices such as soldering irons and soldering guns, and more particularly, to arms, legs, clamps, handles, rests, holders and accessory components for attaching to handheld soldering devices for facilitating soldering of wires, electronic components and the like. 
     2. Related Art 
     Soldering is performed by briefly applying heat to a metal alloy, known as solder, until it reaches a liquid state. Solder is often a lead and tin alloy with a relatively low melting point that can be readily liquefied. Liquid solder is applied at a desired location with the assistance of a heat source like a soldering iron or soldering gun. After removal of a heat source, the liquid metal cools and returns to a solid state. Solder helps to form a required electrical connection, to secure a component to a lead or circuit board, or to secure two or more components together. 
     Technicians do not always have the luxury of using a soldering iron in a controlled environment such as on a workbench. Instead, some soldering jobs must be done in an awkward or confined location such as in vehicle while installing electronic equipment or during a home repair in or near a basement, ceiling, wall, floor or garage where the components to be soldered cannot be easily accessed for soldering. In these circumstances, a hot soldering iron can be a fire hazard and burn threat, and often can slide or roll around when the soldering iron is in the shape of a substantially round barrel. Accordingly, a hot or heat-bearing soldering iron must be handled with care in these circumstances. 
     In use, it is often awkward to position two or more components and simultaneously apply the tip of the soldering iron to the components, and then apply fresh solder to heated surfaces. If there is any movement available in the components, such as when applying solder to the ends of loose wires, it is exceedingly difficult to manually hold the components on the tip of the soldering iron and apply fresh solder at an appropriate location. Further, the internal temperature control of a soldering iron is often set to a temperature slightly above the melting temperature of common solder formulations. If contact between the hot tip of the soldering iron and the component is intermittent or imperfect, there is imperfect heat transfer and there ensues a constant fight to get all surfaces (e.g., wire ends, component leads) hot enough to encourage solder to melt and flow into desired locations. A significant amount of time can be needlessly consumed when multiple solderings must be performed due to repeatedly applying the soldering iron and manipulating moving components, finding a safe location to set down and pick up the soldering iron, and so forth. 
     Accordingly, there is an opportunity to improve soldering devices and facilitate holding in place wires, electronic components and the like in an appropriate orientation for applying heat and applying solder where desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments and techniques described herein relate to providing mechanical arms, extensions or supporting structures for soldering devices. 
     One objective is to provide a bracket or a set of assembly components to affix or attach arms to an existing soldering device such as a soldering arm or soldering gun. 
     Another objective is to provide arms which extend beyond the tip of the soldering device so as to prevent the heated tip of the soldering device from undesirably contacting objects and surfaces in front of or proximate to the soldering tip. 
     Another objective is to provide structures to hold movable components tight against a heated surface of the soldering device so as to facilitate quick and efficient heat transfer to surfaces intended to receive solder. 
     Another object is to provide structures to facilitate adding solder to heated components in a single heating cycle and reduce the need for reapplying heat to nearby surfaces when manually soldering components. 
     Another objective is to provide a set of jaws, claws, tapered opening and the like to hold objects stationary relative to the soldering device tip. 
     Another objective is to free a hand for an operator so that the hand is free to apply fresh solder to heated objects and the soldering device tip. 
     Another objective is to create a soldering device that may be placed on a working surface without allowing the heated tip to laterally contact proximate objects or surfaces and to provide stability to an unattended soldering device so as to reduce the opportunity for the hot soldering to fall over and allow contact between a heated tip of the soldering device with proximate objects or surfaces. 
     Another object is to create assembly components including soldering arms which may be affixed to an existing soldering device without the need to disassemble or remove the assembly components when it is time to store the soldering device between soldering sessions. 
     Another object is to create an inexpensive set of components which may be easily assembled to a soldering device with as few tools as possible. 
     Another object is to create additional components or surfaces that are safe to grip with a bare hand when handling a heated soldering device. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and thus is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the appended claims set forth the features of the invention with particularity, the invention, together with its objects and advantages, is more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout, like numerals generally refer to like parts. Unless specifically indicated, the components and drawings are not shown to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is an overhead perspective view of a set of arms assembled to a soldering iron according to a first illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the set of arms assembled to the soldering iron as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is the side perspective view as shown in  FIG. 2  with the soldering iron shown in silhouette. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating orientation of components including arms and wires relative to the soldering iron tip. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembled components of  FIG. 1  shown from the back. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the arm assembly alone and disassembled. 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a set of arms without being assembled to a soldering iron according to a second illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a disassembled set of arms without being assembled to a soldering iron according to a third illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the set of arms shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a set of arms with articulable joints according to a fourth illustrated embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview. The instant invention solves many of the shortcomings of current designs of soldering guns and soldering irons. Instead of a soldering stand or station, arms are mounted or make part of the soldering instrument to provide stand-like elements to the soldering instrument and to provide structural elements to position and hold components near the heated tip of the soldering instrument. The arms are particularly effective in reducing movement of components, such as when applying solder to the ends of loose wires. 
       FIG. 1  is an overhead perspective view of a set of arms or safety arms assembled to a soldering iron according to a first illustrated embodiment. The overall arm assembly is generally designated as  1 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , the arm assembly  1  includes a bracket assembly  2  which includes a top bracket component  3 A and a bottom bracket component  3 B held together by two fasteners  4 . Other numbers of fasteners  4  are possible. While two substantially block-shaped bracket components  3 A,  3 B are shown, one atop the other, it is possible to have other types and shapes of bracket components that perform the functions of the components  3 A,  3 B. A single rod is bent to form two soldering arms  5 , one on each side of the soldering iron  20 . Alternatively, the soldering arms  5  may be formed two separate elements and mounted substantially similar to the configuration shown. Each soldering arm  5  passes through the lower or bottom bracket component  3 B. The rod includes matching bends  9  to form a loop  8  around a back portion of the handle  23  of the soldering iron  20 . The tip  22  of the soldering iron  20  is heated with electricity provided through the electric cord  24 . The loop  8  can form a leg, support or rest for the back side of the soldering tool or soldering arm assembly  1 . Additionally, the bottom bracket component  3 B can provide a balancing or support structure to the arm assembly  1 . While the arms  5  are shown as having a smooth, metallic surface, the arms may be made of any material and may be finished in any number of ways. For example, the arms  5  may be made of an iron- or steel-based metal. The arms  5  may be bare or may be coated with a heat resistant coating such as a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, or another carbon or non-carbon-based coating. Such a coating, if applied, would facilitate working with components and would resist undesired heat transfer. Alternatively, the arms  5  may be made from a carbon-based material, an aluminum or aluminum composite material and would not be coated. Yet further, the arms  5  may be textured to provide increased gripping of components and improved tactile feedback when the assembly  1  is in use. 
     The respective working ends  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5  each include a set of claws—a non-axial claw  6  and an axial claw  7 . The distance (not labeled) between the working ends  10 A,  10 B is shown as a fixed distance across the heating region  17  including the soldering iron tip  22 . This distance in  FIG. 1  is arbitrarily selected for purposes of illustration. The sizes of the various components of the arm assembly  1  may be varied with or without the use of tools to accommodate various geometries and sizes of various soldering irons  20  while still providing the benefits described herein. Incidentally, the arms  5  are each shown in a preferred implementation as circular or at least ovoid in cross sectional shape. However, other cross sectional shapes of the arms  5  may be implemented and such alternative cross sectional shapes may provide other benefits in certain circumstances and for certain applications. According to one alternative example, the arms are square or rectangular in cross section thereby providing a more relatively flat surface when the assembly  1  is set aside and placed at rest. 
     While not shown in  FIG. 1 , according to alternative implementations, instead of claws  6 ,  7  formed in the working ends  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5 , additional elements may be affixed to the ends of the arms  5  such as enlarged claws, fingers, non-articulating or articulating jaws and so forth. These non-illustrated alternative working ends may be affixed by sintering, welding, brazing, gluing, apply epoxy, and so forth. However, it is noted that any components added to the arm assembly  1  also adds additional cost to the overall product and therefore the inclusion of such additional components would need to be considered against the increased cost of producing the arm assembly  1 . 
     When the arm assembly  1  is attached to the soldering iron  20 , the working ends  10 A,  10 B are placed reasonably close to the heated tip  22  of the soldering iron  20  to accommodate a variety of parts to be soldered. The claws  6 ,  7  form a tapered opening  11 . The tapered opening  11  can accommodate various sizes of components to solder. As shown, the claws  6 ,  7  may have ridges  12  or teeth to facilitate gripping of a component within the tapered opening  11 . The claws  6 ,  7  are shown as non-articulating elements, but could take the form of a clamp or spring-loaded assembly so as to forcibly grasp a respective element to be soldered.  FIG. 1  illustrates a first wire  13  held by a first working end  10 A, and a second wire  14  held in place by a second working end  10 B. The wires  13 ,  14  are shown as insulated elements. Non-insulated wire ends  15 ,  16  are held on the heated tip  22  of the soldering iron  20  and are positioned to receive fresh solder which is shown in the form of solder wire  18 . According to a preferred method of use, assuming the bare wired ends  15 ,  16  are rolled, twisted or entangled together, a single free hand can place the first wire  13  into the first working end  10 A of a first arm  5 , up, over and firmly onto the heated tip  22  at the end of the soldering iron barrel  21  and back down and into the second working end  10 B of the second arm  5 . Such arrangement holds a bit of tension in the wires  13 ,  14 . If the working ends  10 A,  10 B required opening of articulating elements (e.g., a clamp, pincher) or if the working ends  10 A,  10 B were co-planar with the tip  22 , then it would be more difficult to manipulate the wires  13 ,  14  with a single hand while presumably holding the soldering iron  20  with or without an arm assembly  1  in the other hand. Once the wires  13 ,  14  are placed over the soldering tip  22 , and wedged in the working ends  10 A,  10 B, a user should have a free hand to grasp the solder wire  18  and apply the solder wire  18  to the heated tip  22  and exposed wire ends  15 ,  16  in the working zone or at the soldering target  17 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the set of arms  5  assembled to the soldering iron  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the wires  13 ,  14  and fresh solder  18  are omitted for sake of simplification of illustration. The working ends  10 A,  10 B are located coaxially along a horizontal axis  19  of the soldering iron  20  so that the working ends  10 A,  10 B are placed reasonably close to the heated tip  22  of the soldering iron  20 . The ridges  12  are visible in the tapered openings  11 . The size and spacing of the ridges  12  are selected so as to accommodate a variety of typically encountered components. In one implementation the ridges  12  are the width (and/or height) of a 12 gauge wire. According to a preferred implementation, the working ends  10 A,  10 B are formed into and from the rod that forms the arms  5  so as to keep manufacturing and assembly costs to a minimum. Preferably, the working ends  10 A,  10 B are placed so as to be slightly longer than or beyond the heated tip  22  of the soldering iron  20  so as to prevent unwanted touching of the heated tip  22  to surfaces directly in front of the soldering iron tip  22 . The electric cord  24  provides energy needed to heat the soldering tip  22  via a heating element (not illustrated in this figure). In this way, heating and application of fresh solder is applied when desired and thereby provides an additional level of safety when working with the completed arm assembly  1 . Further, the arms  5  and working ends  10 A,  10 B are configured and assembled in the bottom bracket component  3 B so as to be in a plane that does not include the axis through the center of the soldering iron  20  and/or the axis through the center of the soldering tip  22 . This configuration is shown schematically and with additional description in  FIG. 4 . When placed at rest on a surface (not shown), the arm assembly  1  rests either on a tripod defined by the working ends  10 A,  10 B and the bottom bracket component  3 B of the bracket assembly  2 , or on the combination of the bottom bracket component  3 B and bottom edge of the arm loop  8  that passes under the handle  23  of the soldering iron  20 , depending on the center of gravity of the assembly and arrangement of components. While a single bend  9  is shown in each arm  5  in  FIG. 2  to accommodate the soldering iron handle  23 , several bends may be made so as to provide additional shapes of the along the loop near the handle. When at rest, the assembly  1  maintains the heated tip  22  and barrel  21  off of a surface, which provides a measure of safety akin to placing the soldering iron  20  in a holder, stand or holster as is known in the art. Thus, the arm assembly  1  provides increased safety beyond the benefits provided by a soldering iron stand. The arm assembly  1 , if left attached to the soldering iron  20 , can also provide the convenience of always being assembled to the soldering iron  20  so as to offer the benefits of the arm assembly  1  during normal use including its safety benefits when the soldering iron  20  is heated. The arm assembly  1  is conveniently sized so as to take up approximately a similar amount of space as the unencumbered soldering iron  20 . 
       FIG. 3  is the side perspective view as that shown in  FIG. 2  with the soldering iron  20  and related components shown in silhouette. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the arm assembly  1  is shown assembled to the soldering iron  20 . A passage or opening  25  in the bracket assembly  2  is visible and defined by a respective rounded or contoured surface  27  in the bracket components  3 A,  3 B. The respective contoured surfaces  27  and passage  25  accommodate the handle  23  of the soldering iron  20 . In on embodiment, the surface  27  is coated with a material substantively different from the material of the bracket components  3 A,  3 B so as to provide an improved or increased gripping force or contact with the surface of the handle  23 . The coating of the surface  27  may take the form of an additional element (not shown, but would substantially match the contours of the surface  27  shown) so as to provide a heat barrier between the bracket components  3 A,  3 B and the handle  23 . The loop  8  formed by the bends  9  in the bar forming the arms  5  extends the bar vertically a distance  29  perpendicular to the length axis  19  that runs through the center of the respective arms  5  thereby providing another point of contact against a resting surface (not shown) when the assembly  1  is not in use in a user&#39;s hand. The electric cord  24  facilitates delivery of electric energy to the heating element  26  visible inside the handle  23  and barrel  21  of the soldering iron  20 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating orientation of components of the assembly  1  and wires  13 ,  14  in their respective distinct locations as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the arms  5  are vertically displaced a certain distance  33  from the heated soldering iron tip  22 . That is, in particular, a first plane  30  is defined by the axes that pass through the center of the substantially parallel arms  5 . While the arms  5  extend generally coaxially with the soldering iron tip  22 , a second plane  31 , one that includes the axis of the tip  22  and that extends parallel to the first plane  30 , is displaced the vertical distance  33  relative to the soldering iron tip  22 . In use, the first wire  13  is placed into the first working end  10 A of the first arm  5 , extended upward and against or over the end of the tip  22  of the iron  20  where the exposed, non-insulated wire ends  15 ,  16  are placed against the heated surface of the tip  22 . The second wire  14  is extended down and placed into the tapered opening  11  of the second working end  10 B of the second arm  5  thereby inducing a bit of tension in the stretch of wires  13 ,  14  held in such orientation. The wires  13 ,  14  and non-insulated wire ends  15 ,  16  are then held in appropriate places thereby freeing a user to apply fresh solder to the heated non-insulated wire ends  15 ,  16 . A preferred vertical distance  33  between the arms  5  and tip  22  is at least one-quarter of an inch so as to provide a sufficiently large vertical air space or gap between a resting surface when the assembly  1  is not in use, a surface that would lie substantially at the location of the first plane  30 . This relative positioning of the arms  5 , working ends  10 A,  10 B, and heated tip  22  provide the benefits described herein. Further, each working end  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5  is displaced a respective horizontal distance  32 A,  32 B from a vertical plane (not shown) that contains an axis through the tip  22 . The size of each of these horizontal distances  32 A,  32 B is at least such that there is a one-quarter of an inch air gap between surfaces so as to provide a sufficient distance for working with components relative to the arms  5  and the heated tip  22 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembled components of  FIG. 1  shown from the back. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the assembly  1  includes arms  5  which pass substantially horizontally through apertures through the lower or bracket component  3 B of the bracket assembly  2  which also includes the top bracket component  3 A and recessed fasteners  4  embedded therein and holding the two bracket components  3 A,  3 B together. The first working end  10 A lies at the distal end of the right arm  5 . The second working end  10 B lies at the distal end of the left arm  5 . The arms  5  are made from a single rod that includes bends  9  to form a loop  8  that passes a vertical distance  9  under the handle  23  of the soldering iron  20  that is supplied with electricity through the cord  24 . At the end of the barrel  21 , the heated tip  22  is visible. The working ends  10 A,  10 B are each a respective horizontal distance  32 A,  32 B away from a vertical plane containing the axis defining the tip  22 , the plane bisecting the soldering iron  20  in this view. The working ends  10 A,  10 B are each a respective vertical distance  33  away from a horizontal plane (not shown) containing the axis defining the tip  22 . The axes defining the working ends  10 A,  10 B are each a respective distance  34 A,  34 B away from the axis defining the top  22 . An arc may be measured between the two axes defined at the working ends  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5 , preferably along the bottom or under side of the arrangement as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the safety arm assembly  1  alone and disassembled. With reference to  FIG. 6 , the assembly  1  includes a rod-like structure forming two arms  5 , each arm  5  passing substantially horizontally through a passage or aperture in the lower or bottom bracket component  3 B. The size of the respective apertures is such as to permit the arms  5  to pass through the bottom bracket component  3 B, but not to slide freely. Such sizing thereby keeps the proximal ends  10 A,  10 B substantially fixed relative to the front face of the bottom bracket component  3 B and keeps these ends  10 A,  10 B fixed relative to the position of the tip of the soldering iron or device (not shown) mounted in the bracket  2  of the assembly  1 . The rod-like structure includes two bends  9  that form a loop  8  that passes over or under a soldering device handle (not shown). The proximal ends of the arms  5  include a respective working end  10 A,  10 B. The working ends  10 A,  10 B each include a non-axial claw  6  and an axial claw  7 . Alternatively, the working ends  10 A,  10 B each may include two non-axial claws  6 . In either configuration, a tapered opening  11  is formed in the working ends  10 A,  10 B. Ridges  12 , teeth or some form of coating or texture may be applied to or formed in the surfaces of the claws  6 ,  7 . A cutout or semi-circular contoured surface  27  is formed in each of the upper and lower bracket components  3 A,  3 B so as to accommodate a round or substantially round barrel-shaped handle  23  Visible in the upper bracket component  3 A is a pair of threaded fasteners  4 . The fasteners  4  pass through passages in the upper bracket component  3 A. The ends of the fasteners may be inserted and turned into threaded recesses  35  which are formed in matching locations in the lower bracket component  3 B. The heads  36  of the fasteners  4  may be hollow and formed so as to accept an Allen hexagonally shaped wrench such that, when the fasteners  4  are installed and the bracket components  3 A,  3 B are assembled, the heads  36  lie below the top surface of the top bracket component  3 A thereby forming a flat, nicely finished top surface when the arm assembly  1  is affixed to the handle of a soldering iron or soldering device (not shown). 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a set of arms without being assembled to a soldering iron according to a second illustrated embodiment. With reference to  FIG. 7 , there are two arms  5 A similar to those shown in  FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6 . There are two additional arms  5 B which pass through a top bracket component  37  which has been modified to accept two additional arms  5 B. The additional arms  5 B pass substantially horizontally through the top bracket component  37  and extend to points above the tip of the soldering iron (not shown) as the first arms  5 A extend to points below the tip of the soldering iron. The rod material of the top arms  5 A have bends  9  which create a respective loop  8  in a top position similar to the one in the bottom position. The additional arms  5 B each include a respective working end  10 C,  10 D. The first arms  5 A end in working tapered apertures  11 A. The second arms  5 B end in working tapered working opening or apertures  11 B. While the working openings  11 B are shown in a substantially horizontal orientation like those of the first openings  11 A, according to an illustrative implementation, the second apertures  11 B may be formed with tapered apertures that are open in a substantially vertical orientation so as to accommodate working with wires and other components in a vertical orientation relative to the tip of the soldering iron thereby providing additional functionality depending on the nature of the soldering project to be completed. 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a disassembled set of arms  1 B without being assembled to a soldering iron according to a third illustrated embodiment. With reference to  FIG. 8 , each of the first pair of arms  5  is similar or identical to those shown in  FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6 . The arms  5  include a first pair of bends  9 A which forms a loop  8  in the rod. There are two additional arms  38  which pass through a bracket component  39  which has been modified to accept an additional rod bent into the configuration shown. The bar or rod includes additional bends  9 B which provide arms  38  which are projected to and lie substantially parallel with a resting or proximal surface (not shown) that lies below a plane that is defined by the arms  5 . This additional pair of arms  38  is meant to provide an additional height above the resting surface for working with the assembly when the assembly is attached to a soldering iron so as to maintain the heated tip of the soldering iron a substantially greater distance above the surface and to provide additional space for hands and components at the working ends  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5 . The proximal ends of the additional arms  38  may include additional bends  9 C so as to tilt the ends of the additional arms  38  away from the proximal surface so that the ends of the arms  38  do not gouge or mar the finish of the proximal surface. 
       FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of an assembly  1 B including the set of arms  5 ,  38  shown in  FIG. 8 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , the second arms  38  lie below first arms  5 . The first bends  9 A form loops  8  in the rods. The second bends  9 B bring the second arms  38  lower than the first arms  5 . The additional bends  9 C tilt the proximal ends of the arms  38  away from any surface that may contact the ends of the arms  38  thereby potentially protecting the surface from being marred by the assembly  1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a set of arms  5  with articulable joints according to a fourth illustrated embodiment. With reference to  FIG. 10 , along a portion of the length of the arms  5  between the bottom bracket component  3 B and the working end  10 A,  10 B of the arms  5  are articulable joints  40 . The top bracket component  3 A is substantially similar to the others described in reference to other figures such as  FIGS. 1-3 . Each of these joints  40  allow each arm  5  to change direction along a certain short length of the arm  5 . By combining bends, a desired overall bend  9 D may be made which places a working end  10 A,  10 B at a desired location relative to the assembly  1 C and relative to the soldering tip (not shown) of the soldering iron or soldering device to which the other components are attached. Each joint  40  is comprised of alternate ball and socket members such as the joints described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,927, which is incorporated herein by reference, along with the patents disclosed therein. The positions of the adjustable working ends  10 A,  10 B may be adjusted between each application of solder depending on the geometry of the particular component or location of components. 
     GLOSSARY 
     
         
         
           
               1  arm assembly 
               2  bracket assembly 
               3 A,  3 B bracket component 
               4  fastener 
               5  soldering arm 
               6  non-axial claw 
               7  axial claw 
               8  support loop 
               9  arm bend 
               10 A,  10 B working ends 
               11  tapered opening 
               12  ridges 
               13 ,  14  insulated wires 
               15 ,  16  uninsulated wire ends 
               17  soldering target 
               18  solder 
               20  soldering iron 
               21  barrel 
               22  soldering tip 
               23  handle 
               24  electric cord 
               25  opening in bracket 
               26  heating element 
               27  contoured surface 
               29  vertical displacement of loop 
               30  plane of arms 
               31  plane of tip 
               32 A,  32 B horizontal distances 
               33  vertical displacement of arms 
               34 A,  34 B distance between axes 
               35  threaded recess 
               36  fastener head 
               37  alternative top bracket 
               38  resting arms 
               39  alternative bottom bracket 
               40  articulating joints 
           
         
       
    
     CONCLUSION 
     In the previous description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures, devices, systems and methods are shown only in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or implementation is included in at least one embodiment or implementation of the invention. Appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. 
     It will be evident that the various modification and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit of the description. In this technology, advancements are frequent and further advancements are not easily foreseen. The disclosed embodiments may be readily modifiable in arrangement and detail as facilitated by enabling technological advancements without departing from the principles of the present disclosure.