P-handle extraction tool

The present invention is directed to a P-handle extraction tool for removing and/or installing a tubular member when access to the external surface of the tubular member is restricted. The tool uses a P-shaped handle to orient the grip of the tool approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to be removed or installed that is engaged by the tool. Thus oriented, the tubular member is rotated by rotating the grip about the axis of rotation of the tubular member. The handle design also provides for the attachment of a torque arm, thereby allowing the user to generate additional torque necessary to remove tightly fitted tubular members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the installation of tubular 
objects and, more specifically, to a P-handle extraction tool for the 
removal and/or installation of threaded tubular objects. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
Many applications utilize threaded tubular members to connect one part to 
another part thereby allowing fluid flow between the parts. One such 
application occurs in in-ground sprinkler systems wherein a tubular 
member, commonly referred to as a nipple, is used to connect a sprinkler 
head to a water line. The nipple has external threads on either end, with 
the threads on one end being screwed into the water line and the threads 
on the opposite end being screwed into the sprinkler head. 
Generally, a tubular member such as the nipple may be screwed in using a 
pipe wrench or other tool that engages the external surface of the tube. 
Unfortunately, in many applications, the tubular member is surrounded by 
other components of the system that restrict access to the external 
surface of the tubular member, thereby preventing use of the pipe wrench 
to remove or install the tubular member. For example, in the sprinkler 
system described above, the nipple and the sprinkler head are recessed 
within an outer casing that protects the sprinkler head assembly when the 
assembly is installed in the ground. After the sprinkler assembly is 
installed, the only access to the nipple is through the open end of the 
casing and, therefore, a nipple cannot be installed or removed using a 
pipe wrench. Moreover, once installed, the sprinkler head assembly is 
buried in the ground. If maintenance is require, the entire sprinkler head 
assembly must be dug out of the ground in order to remove the tubular 
member. 
In order to remove or install a tubular member disposed in an area with 
restricted access, a tool must have an end adapted to be inserted into the 
open end of the tubular member and engage the inner surface of the member 
such that a torque may be applied in the direction of the desired rotation 
of the member without slippage. One type of tool previously used to 
install and remove tubular members like the sprinkler nipple includes a 
T-shaped handle with a shank or shaft extending therefrom and a tapered 
end. The handle, shank and tapered end are integrally formed as a single 
piece of metal. The tapered end includes four to six external ribs that 
run from the end of the tip toward the handle and are generally parallel 
to a longitudinal axis of the tool. 
To install or remove a tubular member, the tapered end of the T-handle tool 
is inserted into the open end of the tubular member until the external 
ribs engage the inner surface of the tubular member. Once the tapered end 
is installed, the installer grasps the handle and applies a torque in the 
direction of the desired rotation. The tubular member will rotate in the 
desired direction if the frictional or engagement force applied by the 
ribs on the inner surface is greater than the frictional force between the 
meshing threads of the tubular member and the member to which the tubular 
member is coupled. 
The previous T-handle tool may work adequately on PVC or phenolic tubing, 
or on metal tubing having non-circular bores, but the tool is ineffective 
on metal tubing with circular bores. The external ribs of the tool do not 
engage the inner surface of the metal tubing with sufficient frictional 
force to overcome the friction between the meshing threads. Therefore, the 
installer cannot tighten the tubular member sufficiently to prevent the 
fluid from leaking through the meshing threads. Additionally, the 
fixed-length shank of the T-handle tool is too short to be used in all 
applications. Moreover, the maximum torque that can be exerted on the 
tubular member is that which is generated by the strength in the 
installer's wrist. If the frictional force required to loosen a tubular 
member is sufficient to overcome the torque exerted by the installer's 
wrist, then the installer may be required to remove other components 
surrounding the tubular member, or dig out a buried assembly, in order to 
access the external surface of the tubular member. 
Therefore, there is a need for an improved extraction/installation tool for 
tubular members that provides a reliable grip on tubular members 
fabricated from different materials and having differing bore geometries, 
is versatile enough for use in a wide variety of applications, facilitates 
quick and easy installation and removal of tubular members, and provides a 
mechanical advantage allowing the installer to apply a sufficient torque 
to remove tightly installed tubular members. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a P-handle extraction tool for 
removing and/or installing a tubular member when access to the external 
surface of the tubular member is restricted. The tool uses a P-shaped 
handle to orient the single grip of the tool approximately perpendicular 
to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member to be removed or installed 
that is engaged by the tool. Thus oriented, the tubular member is rotated 
by rotating the grip about the axis of rotation of the tubular member. The 
handle design also provides for use in combination with an extension 
allowing the user to generate additional torque necessary to remove 
tightly fitted tubular members. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, a hand tool includes a 
single grip having a grip portion, a grip longitudinal axis and a 
longitudinal center, and a shaft having one end connected to one end of 
the grip portion. The hand tool further includes a coupling portion having 
a coupling longitudinal axis and one end connected to the end of the shaft 
opposite the grip portion. Connected in this way, the coupling 
longitudinal axis of the coupling portion is approximately perpendicular 
to the grip longitudinal axis of the grip portion and intersects the grip 
portion at approximately its longitudinal center. 
The hand tool may further include an attachment member demountably attached 
to the coupling portion at the end opposite the shaft. In one embodiment, 
the attachment member may be a socket having a coupling end adapted to be 
demountably attached to the coupling portion, and a tapered end opposite 
the coupling end. The tapered end of the socket may further include a 
plurality of helical grooves disposed on the exterior thereof. 
The hand tool may further include an extension having an extension 
longitudinal axis that is adapted to be demountably coupled to the grip 
portion at the end opposite the shaft. When coupled to the grip, the 
extension longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to the grip 
longitudinal axis. Additionally, the curved shaft of the hand tool may 
include a straight portion, a first curve connecting the straight portion 
to the grip portion, and a second curve connecting the straight portion to 
the coupling portion. In a preferred embodiment, the first curve of the 
shaft is approximately 180.degree. and the second curve of the shaft is 
approximately 90.degree.. Moreover, the socket may be demountably coupled 
to the coupling portion using a quick release coupling mechanism that is 
well known in the art. In one embodiment, the end of the coupling portion 
coupled to the socket has an end portion having a detent member on the 
exterior thereof, and the socket has an aperture adapted to receive the 
end portion and having an inner surface adapted to engage the detent 
member to demountably couple the socket to the coupling portion. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, a hand tool is 
provided for use in installing and removing a tubular member having a bore 
and an open end. The hand tool includes only a single grip having a grip 
portion, a grip longitudinal axis and a longitudinal center, and a shaft 
having one end connected to one end of the grip portion. The hand tool 
further includes a coupling portion having a coupling longitudinal axis 
and one end connected to the end of the shaft opposite the grip portion. 
Connected in this way, the coupling longitudinal axis of the coupling 
portion is approximately perpendicular to the grip longitudinal axis of 
the grip portion and intersects the grip portion at approximately its 
longitudinal center 
The hand tool may further include an attachment member demountably attached 
to the coupling portion at the end opposite the shaft. In one embodiment, 
the attachment member may be a socket having a coupling end adapted to be 
demountably attached to the coupling portion, and a tapered end opposite 
the coupling end. The tapered end of the socket may further include a 
plurality of helical grooves disposed on the exterior thereof and adapted 
to frictionally engage the bore of the tubular member when the tapered end 
of the socket is inserted into the open end of the tubular member. 
The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of 
ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the 
preferred embodiment, which is made with reference to the drawings, a 
brief description of which is provided below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A P-handle extraction tool 10 for use in installing and removing tubular 
objects is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is an exploded front view. The 
P-handle extraction tool 10 has a single grip 12 at one end with a first 
longitudinal axis 14 and having either a knurled surface or a sleeve 16 
fabricated from a resilient, spongy material disposed thereon. The tool 10 
further includes a first curve 18 at an angle .theta. to the first 
longitudinal axis 14 at one end of the grip 12. The first curve 18 
connects the grip 12 to an intermediate portion 20 of the tool 10 having a 
second longitudinal axis 22. The angle .theta. of the first curve 18, as 
shown in FIG. 1, is approximately 180.degree. so that the second 
longitudinal axis 22 is approximately parallel to the first longitudinal 
axis 14. A second curve 24 at an angle .phi. to the second longitudinal 
axis 22 is located at the end of the intermediate portion 20 opposite the 
first curve 18 and connects the intermediate portion 20 to a coupling 
portion 26 of the tool 10. The angle .phi. of the second curve 24, shown 
as approximately 90.degree. in FIG. 1, is dimensioned so that a third 
longitudinal axis 28 of the coupling portion 26 is approximately 
perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis 14 of the grip 12. 
Additionally, the intermediate portion 20 has a length dimensioned such 
that the third longitudinal axis 28, if extended beyond the end of the 
coupling portion 26 and through the grip 12, would intersect the grip 12 
at approximately its 20 longitudinal center. 
The tool 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a first curve 18 having an angle 
.theta. of approximately 180.degree. and a second curve having an angle 
.phi. of approximately 90.degree. such that the third longitudinal axis 28 
is approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis 14 and 
disposed at approximately the longitudinal center of the grip 12. However, 
other combinations of angles .theta. and .phi. and lengths of the 
intermediate portion 20 that will achieve the desired relative orientation 
of the longitudinal axes 14, 28 will be obvious to those of ordinary skill 
in the art and are contemplated by the inventor as having use with the 
P-handle extraction tool according to the present invention. For example, 
the angle .theta. could be less than 180.degree. and the angle .theta. 
could be greater than 90.degree. such that the longitudinal axes 14, 28 
are perpendicular and the intermediate portion 20 is not parallel to the 
longitudinal axis 14. Moreover, the first curve 18 could be formed by a 
pair of curves connected by a relatively straight portion such that the 
longitudinal axes 14, 22 are parallel. In either configuration, and in 
other configurations that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in 
the art, the longitudinal axis 28 is properly oriented approximately 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 14 to form a P-handle extraction 
tool according to the present invention. 
The coupling portion 26 includes the male portion of a quick release 
coupling mechanism disposed at the end opposite the second curve 24. The 
male portion of the coupling mechanism will mate with a corresponding 
female portion of an attachment, such as a socket 30 or and extension 
member 32, such as the one shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1, the male 
portion of the coupling mechanism includes a tip 34 at the end of the 
coupling portion 26 having a detent ball 36 protruding through and 
extending beyond the outer surface of the tip 34. The ball 36 is biased 
outwardly by a mechanism (not shown) within the coupling portion 26. A 
knurled sleeve 38 is slidable on the outside of the coupling portion 26 
and controls the biasing mechanism for the ball 36. When the knurled 
sleeve 38 is slid toward the grip 12, the biasing mechanism releases the 
ball 36, thereby releasing the coupling mechanism. 
The socket 30 is adapted to be coupled to the coupling portion 26 of the 
tool 10 at one end and to engage a tubular member 30 at the other end. At 
the coupling end, the socket 30 includes a female portion of the coupling 
mechanism. The female portion includes an aperture 40 having an inner 
surface adapted to receive the tip 34. The aperture 40 further includes 
one or more recesses 42 for receiving and engaging the ball 36 when the 
tip 34 is inserted into the aperture 40, thereby locking the socket 30 on 
the coupling portion 26. The socket 30 is released by sliding the knurled 
sleeve 38 toward the grip 12 to unlock the ball 36. Although the coupling 
mechanism shown herein is similar to the type used in a socket wrench, 
other quick release coupling mechanisms will be obvious to those of 
ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated by the inventor as having 
use with the P-handle extraction tool 10 according to the present 
invention. At the end of the socket 30 opposite the aperture 40, the 
socket 30 includes a tapered end 44 having a plurality of helical grooves 
46 spaced evenly around the outer surface of the tapered end 44. 
In use, the P-handle extraction tool 10 is used to install and/or remove a 
tubular member 48, such as a sprinkler head nipple. The socket 30 is 
attached to the coupling portion 26 via the coupling mechanism described 
above. The tapered end 44 of the socket 30 is inserted into an open end 50 
of the tubular member 48 until the tapered end 44 engages the inner 
surface of the bore of the tubular member 48. The grooves 46 on the 
tapered end 44 frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular member 
48 so that the tubular member 48 rotates with the tool as the installer 
rotates the grip 12 about the third longitudinal axis 28 of the coupling 
portion 26. When resetting his/her hand for the next rotation of the tool 
10, the installer releases the grip 12, repositions his/her hand, and 
regrasps the grip 12 without interference from the other components of the 
tool 10. The tool 10 can be used with virtually any tubular member 30 
because the grooves 46 will frictionally engage inner surfaces of tubular 
members 30 having varying bore geometries, such as circular, square and 
hexagonal, and will frictionally engage tubular members 30 fabricated from 
different materials, such as metal pipe and PVC and phenolic tubing. 
The P-handle extraction tool 10 may further include an extension member 32, 
such as the one shown in FIG. 2, in order to reach tubular members 30 that 
are too isolated to be reached by the coupling portion 26. The extension 
member 32 includes a female end 52, similar to the coupling end of the 
socket 30, that includes an aperture 54 having one or more recesses 56 for 
engaging the ball 36 on the tip 34. The extension member 32 further 
includes a male end 58 opposite the female end 52 similar to the male 
portion on the coupling member 26 and including a tip 60, detent ball 62 
and a knurled sleeve 64. The extension member 32 couples the socket 30 to 
the coupling portion 26 in a similar manner as the socket 30 couples 
directly to the coupling portion 26, as shown in FIG. 3. The tip 16 is 
inserted into the aperture 54 of the extension member 32 and the ball 36 
is engaged by one of the recesses 56 to lock the extension member 32 in 
place on the coupling portion 26. The tip 60 at the male end 58 of 
extension member 32 is inserted into the aperture 40 of the socket 30 and 
the ball 62 is engaged by one of the recesses 42 to lock the socket in 
place on the extension member 32. 
In some situations, the strength in the installer's wrist is not sufficient 
to generate enough torque to loosen the tubular member 48. To enable the 
installer to generate additional torque, the tool can be used in 
combination with moment arm. As shown in FIG. 1, the tool 10 further 
includes a female coupling end 66 extending from the end of the grip 12 
opposite the first curve 18 and having an aperture 68 and one or more 
recesses 70, as previously described. The female coupling end 66 is 
adapted to receive a moment arm 72 (FIG. 3) having male portion of a quick 
release coupling mechanism including a tip 74, detent ball 76 and a 
knurled sleeve 78. The moment arm 72 is coupled to the female coupling end 
66 in the same manner as previously discussed. When the moment arm 72 is 
coupled to the grip 12, the installer can grasp the grip 12 with one hand 
while using the other hand to exert a force on the moment arm 72, thereby 
creating a greater torque on the tubular member 30 than is possible using 
only the installer's wrist strength. 
The P-handle extraction tool is primarily intended for use in the 
installation and maintenance of in-ground sprinkler systems. However, the 
tool may also have utility in other areas such as automotive repair and 
plumbing. Additionally, the tool may also be provided with sockets having 
tapered ends with different diameters and different geometries to 
facilitate use of the tool with tubular members with different bore 
diameters and/or geometries. Also, the handle portion of the P-handle 
extraction tool may be used as to drive virtually any attachment adapted 
to be coupled by a quick-release coupling mechanism, such as a crow's foot 
adapter, a socket wrench, a screw driver and the like. Moreover, in an 
alternative embodiment for use in applications with a need for one 
particular tool, the handle and the attachment, such as a socket, of the 
P-handle extraction tool are integrally formed as a single unitary tool. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to the 
specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to 
be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary 
skill in the art that changes, additions, and/or deletion may be made to 
the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention.