Abstract:
A tool for holding a rod having a threaded end, such as a bolt, in an aperture is disclosed. The tool comprises a handle with a knife portion extending from the handle. The knife portion has a first thread engaging edge and a second thread engaging edge that form a notch. The first thread engaging edge and the second thread engaging edge are configured and arranged to engage the threads on a bolt or a threaded rod to temporarily prevent it from being extracted from the aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to hand tools, and more particularly to a hand tool configured to temporarily hold a bolt, or threaded rod, securely within a pipe fitting, or other aperture where bolts and threaded rods are used, while the tradesman fastens a nut onto the end of the bolt or threaded rod.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In the construction trades, pipes are commonly used to transport and protect or isolate a variety of materials, like water, sewage, and even electrical cables. These pipes come in sections with a variety of diameters and lengths. However, the pipe sections must be connected together in order to form a continuous tube. To form angles and offsets between one section of pipe and another, pipe fittings with the appropriate angle or offset, are interposed between the two sections of pipes and coupled thereto.  
         [0005]     In plumbing and heating and ventilation systems, pipe couplings like those manufactured by Victaulic Company and other manufacturers are often used to connect sections of pipe and fittings together. In fire protection applications, such as fire suppressant systems, specialized pipe couplings, like FireLock® Brand pipe couplings, also manufactured by Victaulic Company, are often used.  
         [0006]     Generally, pipe couplings include two U-shaped halves with a flange at either end that are fitted together to form a ring. Each flange has an aperture formed thereon that is configured to receive a bolt therethrough. The two bolts fitted through apertures connect the two halves of the pipe coupling together. Nuts threaded onto the ends of the bolts prevent the two halves of the pipe coupling from separating. A rubber or synthetic rubber gasket is also used in conjunction with the pipe coupling to form a water-tight seal at a seam formed between two pipe sections, or fittings or combination thereof.  
         [0007]     To couple two sections of pipe together (or a pipe and a fitting, or two fittings), a liberal amount of grease is applied to the gasket and the ends of the pipe sections (or fittings) to help with positioning the gasket and to ensure a good seal is formed between the pipe sections (or fittings) and the pipe coupling. The gasket is positioned on one end of the pipe (or fitting). Next, the ends of the pipe (or fittings) are carefully lined up. If pipes are being coupled together, the pipes are often restrained at this point to prevent movement; however, this is not always the case. The rubber or synthetic rubber gasket is then repositioned over the seam formed between the two sections of pipe.  
         [0008]     The tradesman then positions the two halves of the pipe coupling around the pipe sections and over the gasket. Frequently, the tradesman uses a first bolt to loosely connect the two halves of the pipe coupling together. The tradesman then loosely tightens the nut on the first bolt (so that it will not fall off) and inserts the second bolt through the other set of apertures. While squeezing the flanges on unconnected side of the pipe coupling, the tradesman must thread the nut onto the second bolt and tighten it.  
         [0009]     This procedure suffers from disadvantages, however. Frequently, the tradesman&#39;s hands are covered in grease, making the nuts and bolts slippery and easily dropped and lost. This situation not only leads to construction delays, but also to great frustration of the tradesman. This procedure is further complicated in the case of coupling two fittings together or when coupling a fitting to a section of pipe because the fitting must often be held by the tradesman while attaching the coupling to the fitting and pipe section. In this instance, if the tradesman drops a nut or bolt or has forgotten to keep the requisite wrench to tighten the nuts and bolts on his or her person, the tradesman may have to remove the pipe coupling from the pipe sections and fitting in order to retrieve the dropped part or missing tool. This situation also leads to added fatigue of the tradesman and, consequently, the frequency of mistakes made by the tradesman increases.  
         [0010]     In many cases, the tradesman is working in tight quarters where there is little room for his or her hands, which increase the frequency with which nuts and bolts may be dropped and, as a result, the fatigue and frustrations of the tradesman.  
         [0011]     These procedures are further complicated by the fact that the tradesman is often working on overhead pipe sections, which ultimately leads to further fatigue of the tradesman as he or she is constantly reaching over his or her head.  
         [0012]     Therefore, there is a need for tool to aid the tradesman while installing a pipe coupling. There is also a need for a tool that minimizes the frequency that a tradesman may drop a nut or bolt while installing a pipe coupling. There is also a need for a tool that allows the tradesman to install of a pipe coupling within small confines.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a tool for holding a rod having a threaded end, such as a bolt, in an aperture. In particular, the tool comprises a handle with a knife portion extending from the handle. The knife portion has a first thread engaging edge and a second opposing thread engaging edge that, in effect, form a notch in the knife portion. The first thread engaging edge and the second thread engaging edge are configured and arranged to slidably engage the threads on a bolt or a threaded rod to temporarily prevent it from being extracted from the aperture.  
         [0014]     Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision for a tool temporarily restrain a bolt in an aperture to ease the process of connecting a nut onto the threaded end of the bolt.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is the provision for a tool to ease the installation of pipes, fittings and pipe couplings for tradesmen.  
         [0016]     Another object of the present invention is the provision for a tool to reduce the fatigue and frustration of tradesmen during installation of pipes, fittings and pipe couplings by reducing the likelihood of dropping nuts.  
         [0017]     Yet, another object of the present invention is the provision for a tool to restrain a bolt that can fit into small spaces.  
         [0018]     Yet, another object of the present invention is the provision for a tool to restrain a bolt that is disposable.  
         [0019]     Another object of the present invention is the provision for a tool to restrain a bolt that will not damage the threads of the bolt. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the tool of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view exemplifying how the tool of the present invention is used to aid the installation of a pipe coupling;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention securely holding the threaded end of a bolt in a pipe coupling;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2C  is a partial cross-section side view through line  2 C- 2 C of  FIG. 2B ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment securely holding the threaded end of a bolt in a pipe coupling. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the tool of the present invention is shown generally at  10 . As will be further described below, the preferred embodiment of the tool  10  of the present invention includes a handle  14  with a flat elongate knife portion  12  extending therefrom. The knife portion has a tip end  16  that has a first thread engaging edge  13   a  and a second opposing thread engaging  13   b  edge that, in effect, form a notch  18  extending inwardly from the tip end  16 . The handle  14  optionally includes an aperture  15  for hanging the tool  10  when not in use.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 2B and 2C , the notch  18  is configured to be slidably received around the shank of a bolt  24  such that the thread engaging edges  13   a ,  13   b , of the notch  18  becomes wedged between the threads  30  of the bolt  26 . In particular, the thread engaging edges  13   a ,  13   b  are configured to be thin enough to fit between the space  33  between the threads  30  of the bolt  24  created by a pitch “p” of the threads  30 . The opposing thread engaging edges are also spaced by a distance “d” substantially equal to the width of the shank of the bolt  24 . In this regard, the tool  10  may be adapted for use with different size bolts. The knife portion  12  may also be configured to be angled, curved or bent to allow the tradesman to reach into small spaces with the tool  10 .  
         [0029]     Referring back not to  FIG. 2A , to use the tool of the present invention, the tradesman begins installing the pipe coupling  20  on the pipe sections (or fittings)  22  as he or she is accustomed to. However, after the tradesman inserts the second bolt  24  into the apertures  26  on the flanges  27 ,  28  of the pipe coupling  20  as described above in the background section, he or she instead secures the bolt  24  with the tool  10  of the present invention.  
         [0030]     In particular, the tradesman grips the tool  10  by the handle  14  with one hand  29  and maneuvers the tip end  16  of the knife portion  14  towards the exposed threaded end  30  of the bolt  24  protruding from the apertures  26  on the flanges  27 ,  28  of the pipe coupling  20 . While squeezing the flanges  27 ,  28  of the pipe coupling  20  with the other hand  31 , the tradesman slides the notch  18  around the threaded end  30  of the bolt  24  as near to the flange  28  as practical. The first thread engaging edge and the second thread engaging edge on the notch engage the threads of the bolt  24 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 2B and 2C , once the notch  18  on the tool  10  is seated against the bolt  24 , and the first thread engaging edge and the second thread engaging edge are wedged between the threads of the bolt  24 , the tradesman releases the flanges  27 ,  28  of the pipe coupling  20 . The pipe coupling  22  naturally attempts to spring open when released. However, the flange  28  will jam against the tool  10  of the present invention as the thread engaging edges  13   a ,  13   b  of the notch  18  grip the threads  30  of the bolt  24  thereby keeping the pipe coupling  20  temporarily secured around the pipe sections (or fittings)  22 .  
         [0032]     As can be appreciated, the tradesman can then release the tool  10  thereby freeing both hands  29 ,  31  so that he or she may secure the nut (not shown) on the threaded end  30  of the bolt  24  with a reduced likelihood of dropping the nut. Even if the tradesman were to drop a nut at this point, he or she may look for it without having to remove the pipe coupling  20  from the pipe or fitting  22 . Once the nut is started on the bolt  24 , the tradesman can then tighten the nut until it is finger tight on the bolt  24 . The tradesman can then pull the tool  10  free from the bolt  20  and finish tightening the nuts onto the bolts  24  to finish securing the pipe coupling  20  to the pipe sections or fittings  22 .  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in an alternative embodiment  100 , the tool of the present invention is configured to be a disposable clip that is intended to be left on the pipe section (or fittings)  122  and the pipe coupling  120  after tightening the bolts  124 . Accordingly, it is preferable that the alternative embodiment  100  is molded or cut from plastic, although, other materials could be used provided that they have sufficient strength to hold the bolt from the forces of the pipe coupling  120  attempting to open.  
         [0034]     The alternative embodiment  100  has a small U-shaped knife portion  112  that has a first thread engaging edge  113   a  and a second thread engaging edge  113   b  the form a notch  118  thereon. The notch  11  slides onto the threaded end  130  of a bolt  124 , where the thread engaging edges  113   a ,  113   b  wedge between the threads  130  of the bolt  124 . Extending rearward from the knife portion  112  is a handle portion  114  that serves as a grip for the tradesman to hold on to.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , like the preferred embodiment described above, the alternative embodiment is used in the same manner. However, after finger-tightening the bolts  124  the tradesman does not need to remove the alternative embodiment  100  from the bolt  124 , but rather may finish tightening the nuts (not shown) onto the bolts  124 . The alternative embodiment  100  may be left on the bolt  124  permanently. Alternatively, the tradesman may remove and reuse the alternative embodiment  100  of the tool of the present invention.  
         [0036]     Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a tool to hold a bolt on a pipe coupling in place that frees the tradesman&#39;s hands, reduces the likelihood of the tradesman dropping a nut or a bolt, and reduces fatigue and frustration experienced by the tradesman while installing the pipe coupling.  
         [0037]     As can be appreciated, although the present invention has been described in detail for use with installing a pipe coupling, the tool of the present invention may be used in a variety of situations to temporarily restrain a bolt while connecting a nut thereto. Moreover, the present invention may also be used to restrain threaded rods in addition to bolts.  
         [0038]     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the appended claims.