Abstract:
A hook device for coupling with a universal pole such as a utility pole or hot stick performs a plurality of functions including at least physically engaging a component of a utility device. The hook device has a base having an axis with a pole attachment for coupling with the universal pole. An arm extends from the base along the axis of the base at the arm&#39;s upper portion and bends at an elbow at a right angle extending in a forearm, which, together with the axis of the base define a first plane. A hook portion is connected to the forearm and has a geometry in a second plane at the first angle from the axis of the forearm. An end portion is connected to the hook portion and has the same axis as the forearm. A finger is angled from the axis of the forearm at the third angle and angled from the axis of the base at the second angle.

Description:
FIELD 
   This disclosure relates to the field of electric utility tools. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a pole-mounted hook device for electric utility applications and a method for using the same. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
   Extension devices referred to as “hot sticks” have been used in conjunction with tools to perform various functions on difficult to reach utility devices. Often the utility devices are mounted high on a utility pole, and many carry electric current. Thus, utility workers are continuously in danger while working on utility devices such as power-lines transformers, fuse boxes, and many others. The utility worker uses an extension pole with an attachment portion at its distal end, which allows the utility worker to removably attach a utility tool to the end of the extension and raise the utility tool to the location of a utility device requiring maintenance. Typically, such utility tools have physical components designed to assist in manipulating the utility device in some physical manner while isolating the utility worker from electrical current. 
   In one utility device application, a mounting connected to an external electric circuit such as a power conduit, including has two terminals which connect across a fuse, typically referred to as a fuse limiter. The fuse limiter regularly requires replacement or maintenance. Such utility devices are normally mounted high on utility poles and near electrically conductive power lines. Therefore, a utility worker often uses an extension pole to manipulate the fuse limiter such that it can be replaced. However, the tools currently available for performing this task do not provide efficient and easy manipulation of the fuse limiter. Specifically, the tools require awkward and difficult manipulation in order to perform the various functions associated with removing or installing the fuse limiter. 
   The above and other needs are met by a hook device for coupling with an extension pole that performs a plurality of functions including at least physically engaging a component of a utility device. The universal pole has a device attachment portion having a plurality of teeth at its distal end. 
   The hook device has a base having an axis and a pole attachment end and an arm end. At the pole attachment end is a pole attachment portion for coupling with the universal pole. The pole attachment portion is a modified cylindrical prism having a major axis perpendicular to the axis of the base. The pole attachment portion also has two surfaces, one of which has a plurality of teeth for coupling with the plurality of teeth of the device attachment portion of the universal pole. 
   An arm extends from the base of the hook device along the axis of the base. The portion of the arm immediately next to the base is referred to as the upper arm, which bends at an elbow at a right angle extending in a forearm portion of the arm. The forearm, together with the axis of the base, define a first plane. A hook portion is connected to the forearm and has a geometry in a second plane at a first angle from the axis of the forearm. An end portion is connected to the hook portion and has the same axis as the forearm. A finger is angled from the axis of the forearm a fourth angle and angled from the axis of the base a second angle. 
   In some embodiments, the hook portion has a first and second connector portions each having axes. In these embodiments, the first connector portion is connected to the forearm portion and the axis of the first connector portion is angled at a third angle from the axis of the forearm portion. The hook portion is connected in between the first connector portion and the second connector portion and has an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the forearm portion. Together, the axes of the first and second connector portions and the hook portion define a second plane, which is at the first angle from the first plane. The first angle is not equal to zero, which, in other words indicates that the first plane and the second plane are not the same plane. In these embodiments, the axis of the end portion is angled substantially at the third angle from the axis of the second connector portion. 
   In some embodiments, the arm has an end piece connected to the end portion for preventing the component of the utility device from disengaging the hook device while the hook device is in use and engaging the component. In some embodiments, the fourth angle and the third angle are substantially the same. In some embodiments, the second angle is greater than the first angle and in some exemplary embodiments the first angle is about 45 degrees and the second angle is in the range from about 75 to about 80 degrees. In yet other embodiments, the first and second angles are substantially the same, and in yet other embodiments, the third angle is in the range from about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hook device according to the disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the hook device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the hook device looking down its arm. 
       FIG. 4  is an overhead plan view of the hook device. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of another embodiment of the hook device coupled with a universal pole and being used to perform a function on a utility device. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the embodiment of the hook device shown in  FIG. 5  and coupled with a universal pole and being used to engage the ring of the fuse limiter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Perspective views of a hook device  10  for mounting on an extension pole are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3  shows the hook device  10  from a top plan view. With collective reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the hook device  10  has an attachment portion  12 , substantially in the form of a cylindrical prism having two opposite substantially flat sides  14  and  16  the surface of the sides defining a device plane, as indicated in  FIG. 1  by the X-Y plane. One side  14  of the attachment portion  12  has a plurality of teeth  18  for coupling with teeth of a receiving portion (not shown) of a mounting pole such as a utility pole also referred to as a “hot stick.” The attachment portion  12  has a fastening aperture  20  removed radially from a center of the attachment portion such that a fastener may be used to couple the attachment portion to the receiving portion of a mounting pole. The fastener may be a nut and bolt combination or other type of fastening apparatus. 
   The pole attachment portion  12  is part of a body  22  of the hook device  10 . An upper portion  23  of an arm  24  of the hook device  10  extends from the body  22  upwardly in the positive-Y direction and bends at substantially a right angle at an elbow  26 , continuing in the negative-X direction for a forearm portion  28 . The forearm portion  28  has a major axis, which is shown in  FIG. 2  as dotted line  29 . The major axis of the forearm portion  28  is also substantially the major axis of an end portion  36 . The arm  24  has a hook portion  30  that lies in a plane extending at the first angle to the X-Y plane as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In other words, the hook portion  30  lies in a plane angled about (180—the first angle) degrees measuring in the Z-Y plane from the positive-Y axis. 
   The structure of the arm  24  may be illustrated in further detail by reference to  FIG. 3 , wherein the X-axis is perpendicular to the surface of the figure and the positive-X axis goes into the figure as indicated by the circle-X on the axes.  FIG. 3  is a view of the arm  24  of the hook device  10  looking down the major axis  29  of the forearm  28 , which is parallel to the X-axis. Beyond its elbow  26 , the arm  24  of the hook device  10  generally extends in the negative-X direction as discussed above. The hook portion  30 , in addition to a first hook connector  32  and a second hook connector  34 , has major axes which lie substantially in a single plane. That plane extends at the first angle from the X-Y plane. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the hook portion  30  extends from the forearm portion  28  via the first hook connector  32 . A major axis of the first hook connector  32 , as represented by dotted line  33 , is bent at the third angle from the major axis of the forearm portion  28 , which is in the negative X-direction. The hook portion  30 , having a major axis represented by dotted line  31  and which is substantially parallel to the major axis  29  of the forearm portion  28 , extends to a second hook connector  34 , which has a major axis represented by dotted line  35  is also bent at the third angle from the forearm portion  28  and then extends to the end portion  36 , which has substantially the same major axis  29  as the forearm portion  28 . The end portion  36  has an end piece  38 , which functions to prevent a loop, ring or other utility apparatus from slipping off the end portion  36  of the hook device  10  while it is in use. In an exemplary embodiment, the third angle, which is measured in the Z-X plane, is about 45 degrees. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the major axis of finger  40  as represented by dotted line  41  is substantially bent from the major axis of the forearm  29  at the third angle. However, with reference to  FIG. 3 , the major axis  41  of the finger  40  is bent at the second angle from the Y-axis, whereas the major axes  33 ,  31 , and  35  of the first hook connector  32 , the hook portion  30 , and the second hook connector  34  respectively (all of  FIG. 4 ) are bent at the first angle from the Y-axis as discussed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the second angle is greater than the first angle, and in an especially exemplary embodiment the first angle is about 45 degrees and the second angle is between about 75 and about 80 degrees. In some embodiments, the first angle and the second angle are substantially the same and in some embodiments, the second angle is less than the first angle. 
   In other embodiments, the hook device  10  does not have first and second connector portions  32  and  34 , but rather has one singular hook portion  30  that connects to both the forearm  28  and the end portion  36 . Such embodiments include hook portions having a substantially curved geometry such as a semicircular geometry or an arcing or otherwise curved geometry. In yet other embodiments, the hook portion  30  has a combination of straight members and curved members. For example, in one embodiment, the first and second connector portions  32  and  34  are present and the hook portion is a curved member, semicircular, acing or otherwise curved. In other embodiments, the portion of the arm  24  between the forearm  28  and the end portion  36  has several sections, for example five sections each angled in equiangular geometries to one another forming a hook or trough for physically receiving a component of the utility device to be worked upon, such as the loop  64  of the fuse limiter  54  as discussed regarding  FIGS. 5 and 6  below. 
   In some embodiments, the finger  40  of the arm  24  is substantially cylindrical and in other embodiments it is a polygonal prism such as a rectangular prism or otherwise shaped prism, such as an oval prism. Likewise, in some embodiments, the other components of the arm, for example the upper portion  23 , the forearm  28 , the first connector portion  32 , the hook portion  30 , the second connector portion  34 , and the end portion  36  are cylindrical prisms, but in other embodiments the components are each a polygonal prism such as a rectangular prism or otherwise shaped prism such as an oval prism or a combination of the above. 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , the hook device  10  is shown attached to an extension pole  50 , which in an exemplary embodiment is a “hot stick”. The pole attachment portion  14  of the hook device is coupled with a similar attachment portion at a distal end of the pole  50 . The teeth  18  of the pole attachment portion  14  function to prevent the hook device  10  from moving with respect to the pole  50  after having been coupled with the pole  50 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  is a different embodiment than shown in  FIGS. 1-4  in that the arm  24  of the hook device  10  is rotated 180 degrees about the y-axis ( FIG. 1-4 ) such that it extends in an opposite direction from the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . This embodiment of the hook device  10  may be beneficial in different applications than the previously discussed embodiments. Additionally, this embodiment may be more comfortable for a user of the hook device  10  when coupled with a pole  50 . For example, a right-handed user may feel more comfortable handling a hook device  10  such as that illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  whereas a left-handed user may feel more comfortable handling a hook device  10  such as that illustrated in use in  FIGS. 5 and 6  or vice-versa. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 5 , a fuse limiter  54  is shown attached to a mounting  56 . In various utility operations and applications, devices such as the fuse limiter  54  must be manipulated physically. For example, when a current surge results in a “blown” or open fuse within the fuse limiter  54 , the fuse limiter may require maintenance. Such maintenance typically includes repairing or replacing the fuse within the fuse limiter  54 . In order to do so efficiently and safely, a utility worker typically removes the fuse limiter  54  from the mounting  56  from the ground or from a location relatively distant from the mounting  56 . 
   This is done by use of a utility tool referred to as a “hot stick,” (herein referred to as a hot stick or extension pole  50 ) which is appropriately named for its ability to remove the possibility of electrical shock from utility device when the worker uses the hot stick to make contact with an electrically conductive utility device. The finger  40  of the hook device  10  is used to engage a ring  58  of the fuse limiter  54  in order to detach the fuse limiter from the mounting  56  at the upper end  60  of the fuse limiter  54  and interrupt the electrical circuit. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , typically fuse limiters  54  rotate at their bottom end  62  about a shaft or axis  64 , which is removably attached to a shaft receiver  66  of the mounting  56 . Thus, once the ring  58  has been used to disengage the upper end  60  of the fuse limiter  54  from the mounting  56 , the fuse limiter  54  swings downward about the shaft  64  by rotating within the shaft receiver  66 . This motion may be guided and the speed of such motion may be regulated by continued use of the hook device  10  engaging the ring  58 . 
   For example, a process for disengaging and removing the fuse limiter  54  from the mounting  56  is discussed below. First, the finger  40  of the hook device  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , is manipulated by the utility worker holding the pole  50  so that the finger  40  of the hook device engages the ring  58  by passing through the ring  58 . The utility worker may manipulate the pole  50  coupled with the hook device  10  in order to disengage the upper end  60  of the fuse limiter  54  from the mounting  56 . The fuse limiter  54 , because of the force of gravity, then tends to swing downward about the shaft  64 . The hook device may be used to guide the fuse limiter in a cautious and controlled motion from the closed position (wherein the upper end  60  of the fuse limiter  54  engages the mounting) to a fully open position (wherein the fuse limiter  54  is hanging solely from the shaft receiver  66  by its shaft  64 . 
   At this point, the utility worker then disengages the finger  40  of the hook device  10  from the ring  58  of the fuse limiter  54  and manipulates the hook device  10  such that the arm  24  of the hook device engages and passes through the opening of a loop  64  proximate to the lower end  62  of the fuse limiter. Applying an upward force against the pole  50 , the utility worker manipulates the hook device  10  to apply push the look  64  of the fuse limiter  54  upward. This results in the shaft  64  of the fuse limiter  54  to disengage the shaft receiver  66  of the mounting  56 . The hook device  10  has the fuse limiter  54  engaged and hanging by its loop  64  free from the mounting  56  and carefully brings the fuse limiter down from the utility device for inspection and maintenance. 
   In a similar and substantially opposite process to the fuse limiter  56  removal process discussed above, the fuse limiter is raised and properly engaged with the mounting  56 . First, the utility worker attaches the hook device  10  to the pole  50  if necessary. Next, the worker hangs the fuse limiter  56  on the arm  24  of the hook device  10  such that the loop  64  of the fuse limiter  54  rests securely within the trough created by the hook portion  30  and its first and second hook connectors  32  and  34  respectively ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). The utility worker then raises the pole  50  having a coupled hook device  10  holding the fuse limiter  54  toward the mounting  56 . The utility worker then carefully manipulates the pole  50  such that the shaft  64  of the fuse limiter  54  comes to rest inside the shaft receiver  66 . Next, the utility worker manipulates the pole  50  such that the hook portion  30  of the arm  24  is removed from the loop  64  of the fuse limiter  54 . At this point, the fuse limiter  54  is hanging and swinging by its shaft from the shaft receiver  66 . 
   In the next step of the process, the utility worker manipulates the pole  50  such that the finger  40  of the hook device  10  engages the ring  58  of the hanging fuse limiter  54 . By applying an upward force on the universal pole  50 , the utility worker rotates the fuse limiter  54  about its shaft  64  and upward such that the upper end  60  of the fuse limiter  54  engages and connects with the mounting  56 . Finally, the utility worker disengages the finger  40  of the hook device  10  from the ring  58  of the fuse limiter  54  and removes the pole  50  coupled with the hook device  10  from the proximity of the utility device. 
   The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.