GB2448693A

GB2448693A - Tool for use in lifting road cones

Info

Publication number: GB2448693A
Application number: GB0707825A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robert Alexander Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-27
Filing date: 2007-04-24
Publication date: 2008-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-24
Also published as: GB2448693A8; GB2448693B; GB0608316D0; GB0707825D0

Abstract

A tool for use in lifting road cones comprises two fingers 5 and a handle 1 located generally above the fingers. The tool may be engaged with the neck of a road cone to be moved thereby reducing the likelihood of repetitive strain injury. The fingers may be provided on a U-shaped member 3 that is connected to a shaft 2. The shaft may be telescopic, and the angle between the handle and fingers may be adjusted by a bolt.

Description

TOOLS FOR UFTING AND MOVING OBJECTS.

According to the British Health and Safety Executive website musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational illnesses affecting I million people per year and costing society 5.7 billion pounds in 1995/8. These include low back pain, joint injuries, and repetitive strain injuries of various sorts.

Such injuries may result from laying out, moving and lifting operations in traffic management which include the repetitive actions of lifting and shifting traffic cones.

This invention relates to tools for lifting and to moving objects with them.

In lifting objects by their necks by hand It is necessary to grip the neck and if this is done repeatedly discomfort or injury, for example repetitive strain injury, may result especially if the objects are heavy.

One example of this relates to the use of temporary warning markers for use out of doors. These are usually broad based and heavy (weighing up to 10 kilograms) to give stability against impact and wind and are commonly cone shaped. Markers such as this are used to divert vehicles away from prohibited areas or danger, for example from road works, when they are commonly called road cones.

Road cones may be laid over several kifometres and hundreds may be used. It is common to remove and lay them using a moving lorry. A platform may be provided for one worker at near road level who lifts them and passes them to a second worker who stacks them in the lorry and vice versa when laying. Cones are also moved by lifting and setting to the verge, nearsidepr to a central reservation of the road.

When it is wet the cones may become slippery requiring firmer gripping and as gloves are usually worn to protect the hands pressure must be exerted through the thickness of the gloves.

This invention comprises a tool which has two connected fingers which are parallel to each other towards their connected ends and are open and preferably splayed apart at their other ends and a handle located generally above the fingers and connected thereto. The tool may be adjustable to 2.

vary the distance between the fingers to accommodate the necks different objects if desired.

Splaying the open ends apart makes location of the neck of the object between the fingers easier.

The parallel parts of the fingers should be a little greater than the width of the neck for ease of entry and removal of the object.

Using the tool the handle may be held in the clenched fist, the fingers of the tool engaged with the neck of the object and the object moved to its new position with less stress on the worker's hand.

In a simple tool the fingers may be the sides of a U shaped member (for example a bent metal bar) with splayed ends.

The fingers may be contoured to conform to the shape of the neck to be engaged if desired; for example, if the neck is itself conical the inner faces of the fingers may be chamfered accordingly.

The handle may be parallel to but is preferably at an angle to the fingers of the tool permitting them to engage the neck of the object whilst the worker's hand is fairly straight so as to minimise strain on the wrist tendons.

An angle of preferably 50 to 600 and more preferably 10 to 50 may be suitable.

The handle may be directly above or displaced from this to either side of the centre line of the fingers according to the task to be undertaken. In the above case it may be suitable for the worker lifting or laying the cones on the road (who must reach out beside the lorry) to use a tool with an appropriately displaced handle and for the worker stacking the cones to use one with a non-displaced handle.

The handle may be ridged for ease of handling.

The handle should be sufficiently spaced from the fingers of the tool for the worker's hand not to hit the object.

To accommodate differences of height between different workers and different objects so as to limit unnecessary bending and straightening of the backs of the workers when handling the load it is preferred that if tools are to be used by different workers or for different objects the handle should be adjustably connected directly or indirectly to the fingers of the tool (for example by a telescopic shaft). 3.

The tool is preferably light, and may be made of or incorporate plastic which may be reinforced with metal wire or rod for strength. Durable and wear resistant material, for example steel, may be used as tips of the fingers or edging for them if necessary. Metal parts may be of a light metal where appropriate, for example aluminium or an alloy. The fingers may be coated with a low friction material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The invention also comprises a process of moving objects by their necks (for example in connection with road works, warehousing of objects with necks and in warning marker manufacture) which comprises engaging a tool according to the invention with the neck of the object and moving it to a different location.

If gloves are worn for protection out of doors the gloved hand will be warmer and drier for longer as there is no hand contact with wet cones. The tool is of course useful in moving objects by their necks under cover also, for example In storage depots and factories in which they are used or manufactured.

The invention also comprises a moveable assembly comprising a tool according to the invention engaged with an object to be moved by a neck of the object.

The invention also comprises a belt with a holster having two sleeves to accommodate the fingers of a tool according to the invention thereby securely holding the tool and such a belt when holding such a tool.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which shows a side view of a lifting tool for traffic cones.

The tool comprises handle I which is held by a bolt (not shown) to shaft 2 which is connected to a U shaped member 3 of which the free ends 4 are splayed apart. The bolt permits the handle to be adjusted in angle relative to member but a non-adjustable connection may be preferred if adjustment is not needed, as this is likely to be more robust.

Shaft 2 is shown as solid but can be telescopic if adjustment is needed. The handle is displaced sideways relative to the fingers 5 of the member 3 in this form of the invention but this is optional and chosen according to the intended use of the tool. 4.

The tool may be engaged with a road cone, which has a neck section slightly narrower than the separation of the parallel parts 6 of the fingers. The fingers of member hold the neck, permitting the cone to be lifted by the handle 1.

In use, a worker holds the handle I and passes member 3 round the neck of the cone, lifts the cone to a different location and withdraws the tool. The splayed ends 4 of member 3 assist in passing the member 3 round the neck especially if the worker's judgement of the exact position of the cone relative to himself is impaired by the motion of a vehicle carrying him or any other reason.

Claims

What I claim is; 1. A tool which has two connected fingers which are

parallel to each other towards their connected ends and are open and a handle located generally above the fingers and connected thereto.
2.Atoolaccordingtoclaiml mwhichtheflngersaresplayedapartattheirnon connected ends.
3. A tool according to claim br 2 which is adjustable to vaiy the distance between the fingers to accommodate the necks of different objects.
4. A tool according to claim 1,2 or 3 in which the fingers are contoured to conform to the shape of the neck desired to be engaged.
5. A tool according to claim 4 example, if the in which the inner faces of the fingers are chamfered to accommodate a conical neck.
6.Atoolaccordingtoanyofclairnsltosinwhichtheliandjejsatanangbetothe fingers of the tool.
7.Atoolaccordingtoanyofclaimsl to6inwhichthehandleisatanangleof5 to 600 to the fingers.
S.Atoolaccordingtoanyofclainisl to7inwhicbthehandleisdisplaced from either side of the cenfre line of the fingers.
9. A tool according to any of claims i toS in which the handle is ridged for ease of handling.
10. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 9 in which the handle is adjustably connected directly or indirectly to the fingers of the tool.
11. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 10 in which the handle is adjustably connected directly or indirectly to the fingers of the tool by a telescopic shaft.
12. A tool according to any of claims ito 11 which is light and incorporates plastic which may be reinforced plastic.
13. A tool according to claim 12 reinforced with metal wire or rod.
14. A tool according to any of claims ito 13 in which a durable and wear resistant material, for example steel, is used as tips of the fingers or edging them.
15.Atoolaccordingtoanyofclaims 1 to 14 inwhichsomepartsareofalightmetal for example aluminium or an alloy.
16. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 15 in which the fingers are coated with a low friction material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
17. A process of moving objects by their necks using a tool according to any of claims ltoI6.
18. A process of moving objects by their necks using a tool according to any of claims 1 to 17 in connection with road works, warehousing of objects with necks or in their manufacture, for example in warning marker manufacture which comprises engaging a tool according to the invention with the neck of the object and moving it to a different location.
19. A inoveable assembly comprising a tool according to any of claims 1 to 16 and an object to be moved which has a neck, in which the tool is engaged with the neck.
20. A belt with a holster having two sleeves to accommodate the fingers of a tool according to any of claims 1 to 16 thereby securely holding the tool.
21. A tool according to any of claims ito 17, a process according to claim 18 or 19 or an assembly according to claim 20 substantially as described with reference to the drawing. * * * *** S... * * *..* *.S. * S S...

S..... * * *. .. * . S * S *. S * . S S.

21. A belt according to claim 20 holding a tool according to any of claims I to 16.

22.Atoolaccordingtoanyofclaims ito 16,aprocessaccordingtoclaiml7orl8or an assembly according to claim 19 substantially as described with reference to the drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows What I claim is; 1. A tool which has two connected fingers which are parallel to each other towards their connected ends and are open and a handle located generally above the fingers and connected thereto.

2. A tool for lifting an object with a neck by its neck which tool has two connected fingers which are parallel to each other towards their connected ends thereby forming a region which can be passed round a said neck with some clearance the fingers being open to receive said neck thereby enabling the object to be moved by the tool and the tool to be then withdrawn and a handle located generally above the fingers and connected thereto.

3. A tool according to claim 1 or 2 in which the fingers are splayed apart at their non connected ends.

4. A tool according to claim 1, 2 or 3 which is adjustable to vary the distance between *. the fingers to accommodate the necks of different objects. * *..

5. A tool according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the fingers are contoured to conform to the shape of the neck desired to be engaged.

6. A tool according to claim 5 in which the inner faces of the fingers * * . are chamfered to accommodate a conical neck.

7. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the handle is at an angle to the fingers of the tool.

8. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 7 in which the handle is at an angle of 50 to 600 to the fingers.

9. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 8 in which the handle is displaced from either side of the centre line of the fingers.

10. A tool according to any of claims I to 9 in which the handle is ridged for ease of handling.

11. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 10 in which the handle is adjustably connected directly or indirectly to the fingers of the tool.

12. A tool according to any of claims I to 11 in which the handle is adjustably connected directly or indirectly to the fingers of the tool by a telescopic shaft.

13. A tool according to any of claims I to 12 which is light and incorporates plastic, which may be reinforced plastic.

14. A tool according to claim 13 reinforced with metal wire or rod.

15. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 14 in which a durable and wear resistant material, for example steel, is used as tips of the fingers or for edging them.

16. A tool according to any of claims 1 to 15 in which some parts are of a light metal for example aluminium or an alloy.

*****, 17. A tool according to any of claims ito 16 in which the fingers are coated with a * e..

low friction material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). **.*

18. A process of moving objects by their necks using a tool according to any of claims 1 to 17. * . S * *

*:*. 19. A process of moving objects by their necks using a tool according to any of claims 1 to 18 in connection with road works, warehousing of objects with necks or in their manufacture, for example in warning marker manufacture which comprises engaging a tool according to the invention with the neck of the object and moving it to a different location.

20. A moveable assembly comprising a tool according to any of claims 1 to 17 and an object to be moved which has a neck, in which the tool is engaged with the neck.