Abstract:
A rigid magnetic tag line safety tool is an apparatus that allows a user to guide and connect to a steel plate as it is placed onto or removed from a trench. The rigid magnetic tag line safety tool includes a handle bar, an electrically insulative shaft, a universal joint, a stator, and a magnetized rotor. The handle bar allows a user to grip the apparatus. The handle bar is positioned perpendicular to the electrically insulative shaft and is mounted adjacent to the first shaft end. The electrically insulative shaft distances the user from the steel plate. The stator is pivotably mounted to the second shaft end by the universal joint such that the present invention is not hindered by the varied path of a steel plate being positioned onto or removed from a trench. The magnetized rotor is rotatably mounted to the stator and attaches to the steel plate.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/276,481 filed on Dec. 15, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a construction safety tool. More specifically, the present invention is a rigid magnetic tag line safety tool that aids in the maneuvering and control of steel plates and other large or heavy steel objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When a trench is dug into a street for wet or dry utilities installation, repair, expansion or upgrades, large, heavy and dangerous steel plates are used to cover the trench when work is not being performed within the trench. Placing steel plates on top of trenches prevents people, animals, and vehicles from danger or from falling into the trench. The steel plates secure any completed work or in progress utilities work. Steel plates are generally large and heavy, making the daily removal and replacement of the steel plates onto and off of trenches difficult, tiresome and dangerous work. Typically, steel plates are moved into and out of position by using a heavy-duty chain sling and a large backhoe or excavator. 
         [0004]    It is widely known and accepted by companies who work with large, heavy steel plates that being anywhere near a hoisted or maneuvering steel plate is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death if a mistake is made or equipment fails. There are many reports found in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) accident database that describe numerous serious or even fatal injuries that have occurred while working with or near steel plates. The majority of work sites still use old and dangerous practices of having workers hold or use their feet to stabilize the steel plates while being lifted onto or off of a trench. These very risky and dangerous methods unnecessarily put workers at risk of serious injury or death and expose companies to large hospital bills, legal fees, increased insurance premiums, costly delays and degraded safety ratings. 
         [0005]    Current problem areas include injuries and electrical shock risk. Injuries include but are not limited to smashed feet or toes, amputation, broken legs, and other similar injuries. Electrical shock risk is a potential hazard which could result from the installation and maintenance of underground utilities such as electrical wires. Electrical shock is also a potential hazard when heavy equipment is positioned near aerial high voltage power lines or in other electric utilities work. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an objective of the present invention to introduce a rigid magnetic tag line safety tool. The present invention functions to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a worker with a tool that allows for complete control and stabilization of steel plates and other heavy steel objects being maneuvered by heavy equipment. The present invention does so while keeping said worker at a safe distance from the steel plate or heavy steel object. Use of the device functions to improve safety, reduce injuries, improve efficiency, reduce equipment damage, provide better insulation against electrical shock, and distance the user from hazardous steel objects being maneuvered into or out of position. Overall, the present invention is lightweight, durable, safer, and easy to use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in an upright orientation, wherein the electrically insulative shaft is a single continuous shaft in the preferred embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view an alternate embodiment of the present invention in a tilted orientation, wherein the electrically insulative shaft comprises a first shaft member and a second shaft member. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a prone orientation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a bottom side view of the present invention, wherein the magnetized rotor is a single magnet. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom side view of the present invention, wherein the magnetized rotor comprises a molding and a plurality of magnets. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the handle bar, the bar adapter, and the electrically insulative shaft of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    The present invention maneuvers a steel plate without being fastened to the steel plate. Before a steel plate is maneuvered onto or off of a trench, the present invention attaches to the steel plate, and a user guides the movement of the steel plate with the present invention. The present invention effectively adheres to a steel plate while allowing the user to quickly and safely detach himself or herself in the event of an emergency. The present invention does not separate from the steel plate as the user engages and guides the steel plate onto or off of the trench regardless of the path of the steel plate. In reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 5 , the present invention comprises a handle bar  1 , an electrically insulative shaft  10 , a universal joint  15 , a stator  19 , and a magnetized rotor  22 . The handle bar  1  allows a user to control the movement of a steel plate via the present invention as the user grips the handle bar  1 . The preferred embodiment of the handle bar  1  is a T-shaped handle bar as shown in  FIG. 1 . The electrically insulative shaft  10  allows a user to maneuver the steel plate while remaining a safe distance away from the steel plate and prevents an electric current from reaching the user via the present invention. The universal joint  15  pivots the electrically insulative shaft  10 , and consequently the handle bar  1 , so that the present invention remains attached to the steel plate throughout the movement of the steel plate onto the trench. The stator  19  attaches the magnetized rotor  22  to the universal joint  15 . The magnetized rotor  22  attaches the present invention onto the steel plate. 
         [0015]    The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows a user to guide a steel plate onto or off of a trench throughout the path of the steel plate. The electrically insulative shaft  10  further comprises a first shaft end  11  and a second shaft end  12 . The first shaft end  11  and the second shaft end  12  are positioned opposite each other along the electrically insulative shaft  10  as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The handle bar  1  is positioned perpendicular to the electrically insulative shaft  10  so that the user may completely grip the handle bar  1  as the electrically insulative shaft  10  moves according to the position of the steel plate. More specifically, the handle bar  1  is mounted adjacent to the first shaft end  11  so that there is a safe distance between the steel plate and the user. The stator  19  is pivotably mounted to the second shaft end  12  by the universal joint  15 , which allows the magnetized rotor  22  to pivot in relation to the electrically insulative shaft  10  while being attached to the steel plate, thereby allowing the steel plate that is attached to the magnetized rotor  22  to move in a variety of directions. Furthermore, the magnetized rotor  22  is rotatably mounted to the stator  19  so that which allows the magnetized rotor  22  to rotate. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bar adapter  6  connects the handle bar  1  to the electrically insulative shaft  10 . The bar adapter  6  is detachably attached to the first shaft end  11  so that the handle bar  1  may be replaced or interchanged with another. More specifically, the handle bar  1  is centrally mounted through the bar adapter  6 . This arrangement stabilizes the grip of the user about the electrically insulative shaft  10 . The bar adapter  6  comprises a cylindrical body  7 , a bar hole  8 , and a fastener  9 . The cylindrical body  7  mounts the bar adapter  6  onto the electrically insulative shaft  10 . The bar hole  8  houses the handle bar  1 . The configuration of the cylindrical body  7 , the bar hole  8 , and the fastener  9  is such that the bar hole  8  laterally traverses through the cylindrical body  7 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , and the handle bar  1  is positioned through the bar hole  8 . This configuration maintains the perpendicular orientation between the handle bar  1  and the electrically insulative shaft  10 . Both the handle bar  1  and the cylindrical body  7  is fixed to the first shaft end  11  of the electrically insulative shaft  10  by the fastener  9 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the handle bar  1  is rotatably mounted adjacent to the first shaft end  11 , further accommodating the varied paths of the steel plate onto or off of the trench. 
         [0017]    The handle bar  1  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a first handle member  2 , a first gripping sleeve  3 , a second handle member  4 , and a second gripping sleeve  5 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The first handle member  2  and the second handle member  4  both allow a user&#39;s hands to grasp the present invention and move the present invention in any direction the user desires. Consequently, the steel plate is moved in the given direction. The first gripping sleeve  3  and the second gripping sleeve  5  increase the friction between the user&#39;s grip and the first handle member  2  and the second handle member  4 , respectively. The arrangement between the first handle member  2  and the second handle member  4  is such that the first handle member  2  and the second handle member  4  are diametrically opposed to each other about the electrically insulative shaft  10 . This arrangement enhances the user&#39;s control of the present invention while guiding a steel plate onto or off of a trench. The first handle member  2  is encircled by the first gripping sleeve  3 . Similarly, the second handle member  4  is encircled by the second gripping sleeve  5 . More specifically, the first gripping sleeve  3  and the second gripping sleeve  5  are positioned opposite each other along the handle bar  1 . The arrangement between the first handle member  2  and the first gripping sleeve  3  lessens the chances of the user&#39;s hand from slipping past the first handle member  2 . Likewise, the arrangement between the second handle member  4  and the second gripping sleeve  5  lessens the chances of the user&#39;s opposite hand from slipping past the second handle member  4 . 
         [0018]    In order for the handle and the electrically insulative shaft  10  to freely pivot about the stator  19  and the magnetized rotor  22 , the universal joint  15  comprises a clevis  16 , a pin  17 , and a tang  18 . The clevis  16  retains the pin  17 , allowing the tang  18  to rotate about the pin  17 . The tang  18  is shown perpendicular to the clevis  16  in  FIG. 1  and parallel to the clevis  16  in  FIG. 3 . More specifically, the tang  18  is mounted adjacent to the second shaft end  12 , and the stator  19  is mounted adjacent to the clevis  16 , offset the tang  18 . The pin  17  is mounted across the clevis  16  so that the tang  18  does not slip past the distal ends of the pin  17 . The tang  18  is rotatably connected about the pin  17  such that the electrically insulative shaft  10  and the stator  19  may freely pivot about the universal joint  15 . The rotation of the tang  18  about the pin  17  allows for even more movement of the steel plate as it is lowered onto or raised up and away from the trench while the steel plate is attached to the present invention. 
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stator  19  comprises a base plate  20  and a tubular housing  21 . The base plate  20  defines the structure of the tubular housing  21  and provides a mountable surface for the universal joint  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 . The tubular housing  21  frames the magnetized rotor  22  and protects the magnetized rotor  22 . The tubular housing  21  is positioned perpendicular to the base plate  20  and is perimetrically connected about the base plate  20 . This arrangement effectively surrounds the magnetized rotor  22  and defines an open end of the tubular housing  21 . The open end of the tubular housing  21  allows the magnetized rotor  22  that is housed within the stator  19  to attach to a steel plate. More specifically, the open end of the tubular housing  21  and the base plate  20  are positioned opposite each other along the tubular housing  21  so that the magnetized rotor  22  may press against a steel plate. Consequently, the magnetized rotor  22  is positioned adjacent to the base plate  20  and is encircled by the tubular housing  21 . This arrangement allows the magnetized rotor  22  to spin freely within the tubular housing  21  as the magnetized rotor  22  attaches onto a steel plate. The magnetized rotor  22  is preferably a single magnet  23 . The magnetized rotor  22  as a single magnet  23  is shown in  FIG. 4 . However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetized rotor  22  may comprise a molding  24  and a plurality of magnets  25 . The molding  24  houses the plurality of magnets  25  as the molding  24  spins within the stator  19  and the plurality of magnets  25  attaches the magnetized rotor  22  to the steel plate. The arrangement between the molding  24  and the plurality of magnets  25  is such that the plurality of magnets  25  is integrated into the molding  24  and is distributed through the molding  24 . More specifically, the molding  24  is a disk, and the plurality of magnets  25  is radially distributed within the molding  24 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0020]    In order for the stator  19  and magnetized rotor  22  to be connected to the handle bar  1  and to therefore be controlled by the user, the electrically insulative shaft  10  is preferably a single continuous shaft. The single continuous shaft provides a stronger electrically insulative shaft  10  and simplifies the manufacturing of the electrically insulative shaft  10  given a predetermined length. However, the distance between the user and a steel plate is not always known as the steel plate is lowered onto a trench. Therefore, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the electrically insulative shaft  10  comprises a first shaft member  13  and a second shaft member  14 . This alternate embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The first shaft member  13  and the second shaft member  14  accommodates the extend distance between the user and steel plate. The second shaft member  14  is preferably a solid fiberglass rod such that the electrically insulative shaft  10  remains electrically non-conductive while the first shaft member  13  may not necessarily be electrically non-conductive. The first shaft member  13  and the second shaft member  14  are telescopically engaged to each other, further accommodating the varied path of the steel plate onto the trench. In this alternate embodiment of the present invention, the first shaft end  11  is terminally positioned on the first shaft member  13 , offset the second shaft member  14 . Similarly, the second shaft end  12  is terminally positioned on the second shaft member  14 , offset the first shaft member  13 . The arrangement allows for more distance between the handle bar  1  and the stator  19  and the magnetized rotor  22 . 
         [0021]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.