Patent ID: 7159619

Claim:
A thread protector for protecting the pin end of the oilfield tubular having a box end and a pin end comprising: a first cylindrical ring sized to slide over the exterior surface of the pin end of said tubular, said ring having a first end, a second end, and a shoulder ring having upper and lower surfaces at its first end and a sidewall between said second end and said shoulder end, said sidewall having a circumferential groove about its interior surface, and a second groove through said sidewall for accessing said circumferential groove; a split-ring metal band having first and second ends positioned within said circumferential groove having a latch mechanism connected between said first and second ends of said band, said latch mechanism having a handle accessible through said second groove which, when activated, reduces the internal diameter of said band, and when deactivated, increases the internal diameter of said band, whereby the activation of said handle causes said band to grip the non-threaded, exterior surface of said tubular, and the deactivation of said handle causes said band to release the non-threaded, exterior surface of said tubular, wherein said apparatus does not depend upon engaging the threads to protect such thread.