US3897969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grapple
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-13
•
Granted: 1975-08-05
•
Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A grapple for the lifting and maneuvering of elongate members such as sections of large pipe or like objects. The grapple is comprised of a pair of arms with a common centrally located pivot forming tong-like members. A flexible member is connected to the upper end of each arm and is adapted for attachment to lifting means for raising and lowering of the grapple and effecting closing of lower disposed ends of the arms. The lower end of each arm has an elongated jaw with each jaw opening toward the other jaw and moveable into engagement with a substantial length of a pipe upon lifting of the grapple. A leverage device is connected to one of the jaws and the other arm for facilitating removal of the grapple from the pipe by spreading the jaws apart. A safety device is provided to prevent the jaws from opening and releasing the pipe from therebetween in the event that the flexible member or an upper portion of one of the arms breaks.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence L Dike
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:16
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C1/00; B66C1/10; B66C1/22; B66C1/28; B66C1/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A grapple for use with a crane for lifting elongate objects such as pipe, said grapple comprising; a. at least one pair of crossed arms with each arm having an upper and lower end; b. pivot means operably connected to said arms intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and permitting pivoting movement of said arms; c. a pair of elongate angle jaw members in generally parallel and opposed relation with each jaw member being secured to a respective arm adjacent the lower end thereof, said jaw members being movable toward and away from one another in response to movement of said arms and being engageable with a substantial length of an object positioned between said jaw members when said jaws move toward one another; d. a flexible member extending between and connected to the upper ends of said arms for connection to a lifting device whereby lifting of said arms effects movement of said jaw members toward one another for clamping engagement with opposite sides of the object; e. leverage means operably connected to each of said arms for shortening the distance between the upper end of one arm and the lower end of the other arm to effect movement of said jaw members away from one another; f. a safety means operably connected to said arms and said flexible member selectively preventing said jaw members from moving away from one another if one of said flexible members and said arms should break.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A grapple for use with a crane for lifting elongate objects such as pipe, said grapple comprising; a. at least one pair of crossed arms with each arm having an upper and lower end; b. pivot means operably connected to said arms intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and permitting pivoting movement of said arms; c. a pair of elongate angle jaw members in generally parallel and opposed relation with each jaw member being secured to a respective arm adjacent the lower end thereof, said jaw members being movable toward and away from one another in response to movement of said arms and being engageable with a substantial length of an object positioned between said jaw members when said jaws move toward one another; d. a flexible member extending between and connected to the upper ends of said arms for connection to a lifting device whereby lifting of said arms effects movement of said jaw members toward one another for clamping engagement with opposite sides of the object; e. leverage means operably connected to each of said arms for shortening the distance between the upper end of one arm and the lower end of the other arm to effect movement of said jaw members away from one another; f. a safety means operably connected to said arms and said flexible member selectively preventing said jaw members from moving away from one another if one of said flexible members and said arms should break.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
225 words
A grapple for use with an elevating mechanism for lifting elongate objects such as pipe, said grapple comprising: a. a pair of crossed arms, said arms each having upper and lower ends; b. pivot means connecting said arms intermediate the ends thereof; c. an elongate jaw member secured to each of said arms adjacent the lower ends thereof, said elongate jaw members being in generally parallel relation and adapted to engage a substantial length of an object to be lifted; d. flexibLe means extending between and connected to the upper ends of said arms for connection to a lifting device whereby lifting of said arms effects movement of said jaw members toward one another for clamping engagement with opposite sides of the object; e. a safety device including a first flexible member having opposite ends each secured to one of opposed jaw members and lower end of said arms and having a length greater than the spacing between said jaw members, and including a second member connected to said first flexible member and said means connecting the upper end of the arms, said second member having a length such as to induce tension in said first flexible member and maintain said jaw members in engagement with said object if one of said means connecting the upper end of the arms and said arms should break.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
225 words
A grapple for use with an elevating mechanism for lifting elongate objects such as pipe, said grapple comprising: a. a pair of crossed arms, said arms each having upper and lower ends; b. pivot means connecting said arms intermediate the ends thereof; c. an elongate jaw member secured to each of said arms adjacent the lower ends thereof, said elongate jaw members being in generally parallel relation and adapted to engage a substantial length of an object to be lifted; d. flexibLe means extending between and connected to the upper ends of said arms for connection to a lifting device whereby lifting of said arms effects movement of said jaw members toward one another for clamping engagement with opposite sides of the object; e. a safety device including a first flexible member having opposite ends each secured to one of opposed jaw members and lower end of said arms and having a length greater than the spacing between said jaw members, and including a second member connected to said first flexible member and said means connecting the upper end of the arms, said second member having a length such as to induce tension in said first flexible member and maintain said jaw members in engagement with said object if one of said means connecting the upper end of the arms and said arms should break.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The grapple as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said jaw members including angle members having flanges with one flange being generally upstanding and secured to a respective arm, the other flange being generally horizontally disposed and extending from said one flange toward the other jaw member, said other flange having object engaging surfaces adapted to engage said object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The grapple as set forth in claim 3 including: a. an elongate beam having a connector secured thereto and adapted to engagement with a lifting device; b. a plurality of said pairs of arms in spaced apart relation along said beam with each said jaw member being secured to an arm of each pair and having a said flexible means secured to and extending between the upper ends of the arms of each tongs; c. connecters securing said flexible means to said beam in spaced apart relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The grapple as set forth in claim 3 including: a. leverage means operatively connected to each of said arms for shortening the distance between the upper end of one arm and the lower end of the other arm for moving said arms about said pivot means to an open position of said jaw members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The grapple as set forth in claim 3 including: a. cushion members overlying and secured to an object engaging surface of each of said other flanges for providing resilient engagement between said other flanges and said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The grapple as set forth in claim 6 wherein: a. said arms being made of flat spring steel positioned in side-by-side relation; b. said flexible means including an elongate flexible member and having a connecter secured thereto intermediate said upper ends for engagement with portions of a lifting device; c. said pivot means including a bearing member on at least one of said arms and receiving therethrough a pivot pin with means retaining same through said bearing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |