Patent ID: 7357434

Claim:
A load ring for raising and/or lowering an oilfield tubular having a box end, a threaded pin end and a non-threaded exterior surface between said box end and said threaded pin end, comprising: a cylindrical ring sized to slide over the non-threaded exterior surface of said tubular, said cylindrical ring having a first end, a second end, and a shoulder ring having top and lower surfaces at the first end of said cylindrical ring and a sidewall between the second end of said cylindrical ring and said first end of said cylindrical ring, said sidewall having a circumferential groove about its interior surface, and a second groove through said sidewall for accessing said circumferential groove, the outside diameter of said sidewall being less than the outside diameter of said shoulder ring; a split-ring metal band having, at least in part, a metal saw tooth inner diameter for gripping the non-threaded exterior surface of said oilfield tubular between said box end and said threaded pin end, and 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.