Patent ID: 8851796

Claim:
A pipe retriever for retrieving an unsecured pipe having a pipe joint, the pipe retriever comprising: a head connectable to a drilling pipe and defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the head arranged substantially parallel or coincident to a longitudinal axis of the drilling pipe when connected; and a tail extending from the head in a transverse plane at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head, the tail defining a hook shape and comprising: a proximal tail portion defining a pipe recess sized to receive the unsecured pipe, the pipe recess defining a substantially circular shape having a radius larger than an outer radius of the unsecured pipe and less than an outer radius of a pipe joint of the unsecured pipe; and a distal tail portion defining a talon shape that has a proximal end disposed on the proximal tail portion and extending away from the proximal tail portion to a free, distal end, the distal tail portion having a receiving surface defining an arcuate shape arranged for guiding the unsecured pipe to the pipe recess; wherein the pipe recess has a recess surface extending away incongruently from the receiving surface of the distal tail portion, the receiving surface of the distal tail portion having a radius of curvature larger than the radius of the pipe recess, an intersection of the recess surface and the receiving surface forming a protrusion extending along the longitudinal axis of the head.