Hand-held spool transport tool

A hand-held spool transport tool including a tubular body having a base end, a tip end, a plunging compartment formed therein near the tip end, and a trigger compartment formed therein near the base end; a generally dome-shaped forward guide axially aligned with the body and coupled to the tip end thereof; a pair of generally opposed elongated claws with each claw having an inboard end and an outboard end and with each inboard end pivotally coupled to the body; a handle coupled to the base end of the body for allowing a user a firm grip; a plunger slidably extended between the plunging compartment and the trigger compartment; a pair of wire cables with each wire cable secured between the plunger and one of the outboard ends of one of the claws; a spring mechanism for urging the plunger toward the forward guide; and a user-actuatable trigger mechanism secured to the plunger for extending and retracting the claws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a hand-held spool transport tool and more 
particularly pertains to allowing a user to readily pick up and carry a 
spool or cone of yarn from one location to another with a hand-held spool 
transport tool. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of spool carrying tools is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, spool carrying tools heretofore devised and utilized for the 
purpose of allowing a user to carry spools of material are known to 
consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural 
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the 
crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of 
countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,826 to Miller discloses a tube 
extracting mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,956 to Cooper discloses a pipe 
extractor tool. U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,591 to Grecksch et al. discloses a 
tube transport assembly for transporting yarn packages on a textile 
machine including a vertical transport component. U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,784 
to Foote, Jr. discloses an apparatus and method for transporting a spool 
of web material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,496 to King, Sr. discloses pipe 
pulling devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,834 to Stadele discloses an apparatus 
for transporting bobbin tools of a textile machine. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a hand-held spool 
transport tool that has a pistol-like shape for easy gripping and carrying 
and is actuated for spool-transporting operations through the depression 
and release of its trigger. 
In this respect, the hand-held spool transport tool according to the 
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and 
designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of allowing a user to readily pick up and carry 
a spool or cone of yarn from one location to another. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved hand-held spool transport tool which can be used for 
allowing a user to readily pick up and carry a spool or cone of yarn from 
one location to another. In this regard, the present invention 
substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
spool carrying tools now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved hand-held spool transport tool. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved hand-held spool transport 
tool and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of 
the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially, in combination, an 
elongated rigid tubular body having a base end, a tip end, an interior 
surface, an exterior surface, and an annular interior wall extended 
inwards from the interior surface to define a plunging compartment near 
the tip end and a trigger compartment near the base end. The body also has 
a pair of diametrically opposed wire holes disposed thereon in 
communication with the plunging compartment and a trigger hole disposed 
thereon in communication with the trigger compartment. A generally 
dome-shaped forward guide and a generally dome-shaped rearward guide are 
included with the forward guide axially aligned with the body and coupled 
to the tip end thereof and with the rearward guide axially aligned with 
and coupled about the body between the ends thereof. Each guide has a 
diametric extent sized for contacting an interior surface of a spool or 
cone of yarn. A pair of diametrically opposed elongated rigid claws is 
included. Each claw has an inboard end pivotally coupled to the body near 
the forward guide and an outboard toothed end generally projected toward 
the rearward guide. A handle is provided and coupled to and extended 
outwards from the base end of the body for allowing a user a firm grip. A 
padded frame is coupled to a lower extent of the handle and projected 
outwards in general alignment with the body. The frame has a length such 
that a rearward extent thereof is placed in contact with a forearm of a 
user when the user grips the handle. A strap is affixed to the frame and 
is securable in a closed-loop configuration about the forearm of the user. 
An elongated rigid plunger is included and slidably disposed within the 
body. The plunger has a head end extended within the plunging compartment 
and a rear end extended within the trigger compartment. A pair of 
elongated flexible wire cables is provided with each wire cable having one 
end coupled to the head end of the plunger and another end extended 
through one of the wire holes of the body and secured to one of the 
outboard ends of one of the claws. A spring is disposed between the head 
end of the plunger and the interior wall of the body for urging the 
plunger toward the forward guide. Lastly, a trigger is included and has an 
upper portion disposed within the trigger compartment and secured to the 
rear end of the plunger and a lower portion extended through the trigger 
hole for actuation by a user. The trigger is actuatable with a force for 
allowing inward extension of the claws. The trigger is further releasable 
for allowing outward extension of the claws for gripping a spool or cone 
of yarn. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptions, 
upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis 
for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying 
out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, 
therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent 
constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of 
the present invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool which has all the advantages of 
the prior art spool carrying tools and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
hand-held spool transport tool which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool which is susceptible of a low cost 
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such a hand-held spool transport tool economically 
available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool which provides in the apparatuses 
and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool for allowing a user to readily 
pick up and carry a spool or cone of yarn from one location to another. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved hand-held spool transport tool comprising a tubular body having a 
base end, a tip end, a plunging compartment formed therein near the tip 
end, and a trigger compartment formed therein near the base end; a 
generally dome-shaped forward guide axially aligned with the body and 
coupled to the tip end thereof; a pair of generally opposed elongated 
claws with each claw having an inboard end and an outboard end and with 
each inboard end pivotally coupled to the body; a handle coupled to the 
base end of the body for allowing a user a firm grip; a plunger slidably 
extended between the plunging compartment and the trigger compartment; a 
pair of wire cables with each wire cable secured between the plunger and 
one of the outboard ends of one of the claws; spring means for urging the 
plunger toward the forward guide; and trigger means secured to the plunger 
for extending and retracting the claws. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved hand-held spool transport 
tool embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described. 
The present invention is comprised of a plurality of components. In their 
broadest context, such components include a body, guides, and a 
spring-loaded claw mechanism. Such components are individually configured 
and correlated with respect to each other to provide the intended function 
of allowing a user the capability to readily pick up and carry a spool or 
cone of yarn from one location to another. 
Specifically, the present invention includes a rigid body 12 as shown in 
FIG. 2. The body has a base end 14, a tip end 16, an interior surface 18, 
and an exterior surface 20. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, an annular 
interior wall 22 is extended inwards from the interior surface to define a 
plunging compartment 24 and a trigger compartment 26. The plunging 
compartment is located near the tip end 16 and the trigger compartment is 
located near the base end 14. Both compartments are placed in 
communication with each other through the annular wall 22. The body has a 
pair of diametrically opposed wire holes 28 disposed thereon. The wire 
holes are placed in communication with the plunging compartment. The body 
also has a trigger hole 30 disposed thereon. The trigger hole is placed in 
communication with the trigger compartment 26. The trigger hole is further 
generally longitudinally aligned with one of the wire holes of the body. 
A generally dome-shaped forward guide 40 and a generally dome-shaped 
rearward guide 42 are provided. As shown in FIG. 6, each guide is formed 
of an external plastic cup 44 with an interior foam lining 46. The cup 44 
is rigid in structure. The forward guide 40 is axially aligned with the 
body and coupled to the tip end 16. The rearward guide 42 is axially 
aligned with and coupled about the body between the ends 14, 16. Each 
guide has a diametric extent sized for contacting an interior surface of a 
spool 50 or cone of yarn when disposed therein as best shown in FIG. 1. 
To provide gripping action between the present invention and a spool or 
cone of material such as yarn, a pair of diametrically opposed claws 60 is 
included. Each claw is elongated and rigid in structure. Each claw has an 
inboard end 62 pivotally coupled to the body near the forward guide 40 
with a bolt 64. Each claw also includes an outboard end 66 generally 
projected away from the body and toward the rearward guide as illustrated 
in FIGS. 1 and 2. The outboard end 66 includes a plurality of teeth 68 
formed thereon. The teeth are projected outwardly from the outboard end 
for gripping a recipient interior surface of a spool or cone of material. 
A handle 70 is coupled to and extended downwards from the base end 14. The 
handle is generally tubular in structure. The handle allows a user a firm 
grip for maneuvering the body 12. 
A padded rigid frame 80 is coupled to a lower extent of the handle and 
projected outwards therefrom. The frame is generally aligned with the body 
12. The frame has a length such that a rearward extent thereof is placed 
in contact with a forearm 86 and a wrist 88 of a user when the user grips 
the handle as shown in FIG. 2. A strap 90 is affixed to the frame 80 with 
buckle 92. The strap is formed of a canvas material or other similar 
flexible material. The strap includes a rectangular strip of pile-type 
fastener 94 sewn to one end and a rectangular strip of complimentary 
pile-type fastener 96 sewn to the other end as shown in FIG. 4. The 
fasteners 94, 96 are securable together for placing the strap in a closed 
loop configuration about a forearm of a user. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 5, an elongated rigid plunger 100 is slidably 
disposed within the body 12. The plunger has a head end 102 extended 
within the plunging compartment 24 and a rod with a rear end 104 extended 
within the trigger compartment. 
To actuate the claws, a pair of elongated flexible wire cables 110 are 
provided. Each wire cable has one end coupled to the head end 102 of the 
plunger and another end extended through one of the wire holes 28 of the 
body and secured to one of the outboard ends 66 of one of the claws. A 
spring 120 is disposed between the head end of the plunger and the 
interior wall 22 of the body. The spring has sufficient resilience for 
urging the plunger toward the forward guide, thereby causing the claws 60 
to be extended outwards. 
Lastly, a trigger 130 is included. The trigger has an upper portion 132 
disposed within the trigger compartment 26 and secured to the rear end 104 
of the plunger. The trigger also has a curved lower portion 134 extended 
through the trigger hole 30. The trigger is actuatable by a user with a 
force applied by a finger for allowing inward extension of the claws as 
shown in FIG. 2. The trigger is also releasable by a user for allowing 
outward extension of the claws for gripping a spool or cone of yarn when 
disposed therein as shown in FIG. 1. 
The present invention is a tool designed to allow a user to easily pick up 
spools of fiber such as yarn and thereby decrease possible injury to a 
user's wrist. The present invention also prevents repetitive stress 
disorders of the wrist and hand of a user that can occur when the user 
carries heavy spools or cones of fiber. The present invention allows a 
user to lift spools or cones of yarn weighing up to 30 pounds. Support for 
a user's forearm is provided by a padded frame that extends from the 
handle. After inserting the present invention into a spool, the 
spring-loaded claws press outwards against the sides of the core of the 
spool, thereby holding the spool securely as it is lifted and moved. To 
release the spool, the user squeezes the trigger, which causes the claws 
to retract and release contact with the spool. The present invention is 
formed of light weight rigid materials such as a combination of a plastic 
and aluminum alloy. The handle and frame are padded to provide optimal 
comfort. Consistent use of the present invention will help prevent 
repetitive stress disorders for textile workers who handle spools or cones 
of yarn. The frame has a shape that generally conforms to a peripheral 
extent of a user's wrist and forearm. 
In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is approximately 5 
inches in length. The handle of the present invention is generally tubular 
in shape and has a diametric extent of about 1.25 to 1.75 inches. The 
frame of the present invention is approximately 6 to 9 inches in length. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.